Today, I just noticed that I’ve been listening to whole albums start to end instead of either my playlists, or generated by Spotify.
Edit: and just in time, one of my favorite youtuber dropped this video about listening to whole albums https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4cJmPkL9a0
Because I’m moving away from Spotify and YouTube Music, I’m starting to collect MP3s like people used to do. Since I’m too lazy to create my own custom playlists, I’ve also started listening to entire albums. It’s definitely a different experience than listening to randomized playlists.
I couldn’t find a good mp3 rip of the album that I can give you, and I don’t have a cd/DVD drive at the moment, so instead here’s an unsolicited recommendation for you to “acquire”
Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. II: Scenes from a Memory
Great album, the tracks flow together and are meant to be listened to in order, it tells a story, and the album is quite diverse. Also, best album opener in history of albums and possibly history itself.
And if it is to your liking, the “Live Scenes from New York” version is amazing.
Thanks for the recommendation. Although I don’t normally listen to prog rock, I listened to the whole album. I was surprised how much I liked it. Some snippets of the album reminded me of the non-orchestral tracks from the soundtrack of Operation Flashpoint, and I really enjoyed the beginning of Home. I’ll definitely try to acquire the album from somewhere.
My unsolicited recommendation is Ninajirachi’s I Love My Computer. It’s probably my favourite album of 2025.
Will check it out. I’ll prefer to do that in my car during long drives for proper sound and immersion, otherwise my experience will constantly be interrupted by the fact that I Cosplay as a responsible adult in a household of six. So next week probably.
DT - M2SFaM is one of their more accessible albums, and it’s how many get into the band in general, as it has something for “everyone”. I saw them play the entire album start to finish live, and it was amazing.
I’m starting my move away from streaming as well. Spotify jacking up the price again while still not delivering on their promise of higher res like they say, as well as just more enshitification with AI bullshit, makes me reconsider my subscription.
Just have to rely on the old school way of asking for recommendations and word of mouth for new music, as well as following the artists I like.
Kicking myself for not taking care of my old mp3 and flac collection back before Spotify became mainstream. I put a lot of private tracker ratios on some of them and I don’t know which external drive I put them in lol