Are you listening to songs/tracks or albums?

I know albums should be the correct answer... and of course when I buy an album I do listen to it whole several times. But usually I'm done digesting it, I rip the songs I like best for my IPod, with lists for the artist, genre, etc. in which said songs will fit. If I happen to like the whole album, then it's likely I'll end up listening to it on my IPod... or sometimes I end up making my versions of the albums, with my favourite versions of the songs, or alternate versions that might have been of the album with outakes that I happen to like better than the songs that actually made it to the album... it all depends on what's available and what I liked.

I listen primarily to songs.. (and parts of albums);  one pops up in my head and I rush to play it :)

Edited by Machinemessiah - January 03 2022 at 10:24

If I'm going to be listening to music for a while, I'll put on an album. But sometimes I just want to listen to one track; especially with prog, albums and songs can be so dense that it's a lot to take in with one bite. Sometimes I just want to get to know the album song by song, then when I listen to it fully it's easier for me to enjoy. I never bother with playlists though.

There's not a wrong answer here, I mean I had an I-pod for maybe a couple of years when I used to jog and really, really enjoyed listening to nothing but great tracks so I get it. But I am an album guy all the way. And it's so rare for me to even skip tracks. And I need a physical copy. Also I see so many mistakes with some who stream the music then review it. No liner notes so wherever they get their info is often wrong. My oldest daughter is like me in that she pours over the liner notes, it's half the fun with the music being that other half.

Mostly albums. Sometimes tracks. Sometimes playlists. Sometimes discographies.

Tracks on shuffle mode most of the time ( I-pod or Alexa) . When I buy a new album I listen to it about 3-5 times and that's usually it. The music I truly love will still get played properly (albums) but I tend to obsess on a a small number of albums in that regards (BSS, Red, ATOTT etc) so it's still only represents a small amount of time overall. 

When I'm listening on the various hosted shows that I visit, songs/tracks, or when taking part in the Interactive Poll here, same.  When I listen on my own, the entire recordings, usually of purchases.  I also preview what I would like to buy, when the "storefront," allows (such as Bandcamp), so may not listen all through if something wasn't as promising as I'd hoped.  

Dellinger wrote:   I guess it's OK to review music by streaming it... if it is listened thoroughly enough, and only the information available is used. Hearing the music and how it is liked should be more than enough, if nothing more is known about it.

Edited by David_D - January 07 2022 at 09:14

If it is CDs or Vinyls, obviously whole albums. If it is on Spotify, depends on what I am listening. When it is bands whose albums that I consider the enjoyable, I will most probably pick up one their albums to listen. 

Mostly albums, with the occasional thematic playlists that I have created.