So, you got a backlog - How do you Pick?

[Dan Gould]

Jim R. mentioning the need to revisit music led me to this question:

How do you choose what you listen to in an average listening session? Is it purely by mood, or do you try to cut into that backlog? And do you have a system to ensure that new CDs get an adequate listening before they get filed away?

Here's my system:

New CDs get stacked on the home entertainment center. On the main rig, they get two listenings, though sometimes its more if something really appealed. The stack of CDs that have had their two times then end up in the CD Wallet for the car, where they get their third listening before being filed away.

And of course, with the A-to-Z office project, the archives are steadily getting new hearings, too.

OK, maybe I'm a bit anal here, and maybe this system has something to do with the size of the backlog. But it works pretty well for me, so long as I keep with the regular listening on the main rig. Then I have a steady supply of music for the car, where I spend less time and it takes longer to get through.

But I do get two listenings done and the a third, less attentive listening in the car.

How's about you?

[Bright Moments]

if i am alone, i grab the ayler, brontzman, ornette - you get the idea.

if i am with the kids the hard bop comes out. :rsmile:

if i am with my wife - i grab whatever will fit the mood!

[Bright Moments]

if i am with my wife - i grab whatever will fit the mood!

of course i mean i grab whatever "cd" will fit the mood!

[neveronfriday]

I have this handy little CD stand (holds just about 40 Cds, depending on the cover) next to my CD player and things get rotated in and out of there.

In the beginning of the week, I usually pick 5 to 10 Cds to go in there (about 5 of which haven't gotten much air time), new ones are added if any arrive that week and the rest ends up in there as the various moods dictate I add this or that CD.

This sounds a bit anal as well, but it ensures I always have a pretty good selection within reach.

Cheers!

Edited October 6, 2004 by deus62

[nmorin]

When I get new discs I always give them a few listenings right off. Other than that, for by-myself listening, I usually have some thematically-related scheme, such as listen to all Billie Holiday's studio material for a week, or somesuch. With my wife around, I try to choose something that we both enjoy.

[jazzmessenger]

I usually pick 7-10 CDs that I think are good mix of leaders. After I go through them, then I pick another 10.

[Sundog]

I rip new discs onto my mp3 player which allows me the listen to them while traveling to and from work, at lunch, and during those stretches at work that involve mind numbing paperwork. Seems like I do 75% of my listening under these circumstances. It takes care of any backlog (which seems to hover in the 20-30 disc range) very quickly.

The other approach I take is to load up the disc changer with a bunch of sides, maybe 7-10 and hit random play. It's kind of like a pseudo blindfold test. I usually do this at home on my main rig when time isn't at as much of a premium. I also like this random approach for large boxset backlog brought on by "Mosaic Fever".

[GloriousBlues]

I've got 6 drawers full of CDs: 3 jazz, 2 rock, the other blugrass/salsa/classical/etc. I like to grab 1 CD from each drawer. And I like to make sure there's some variety in the 6 CDs: some old and some new, something hummable and something challenging, a CD that I've listened to too many times and another that I've neglected.

I admit that's not so much a system as it is a guideline for making sure I don't just listen to the same things over and over.

Once the 6 discs are selected I do have a very simple system for picking which order to play them in. I do it alphabetically, based on the 2nd letter in the name of the 3rd track. I don't really remember when "3rd track, 2nd letter" became my rule but it rarely lets me down.

[Jazzmoose]

If I don't listen to a new CD the first week I have it, it just gets filed with all the other CDs. I'll get to it eventually, when I'm in the mood for it. I'm not going to force the issue. If listening to music ever gets to feel like a chore, obviously I need to find a different hobby...