Does anyone else prefer albums to playlists?

[MinNCompany]

I didn't realize that albums themselves are an art form, until I chanced upon a video of a music artist discussing how the songs and order itself contribute to how an artist wishes for you to perceive their work. Ever since then I found myself listening to full albums rather than songs shuffled in random order.

The albums almost become like songs themselves, with you anticipating the next song after one ends - like how one memorizes the lyrics to a song.

I always had a weird preference for B-list songs anyways ^^;;;

So what's your opinion?

[youcannotread]

Albums are my favorite. I listen to music constantly, as long as it's practical. I usually prefer to listen to an artist rather than one song from that artist along with similar artists. But friends I have only listen to playlists and prefer songs over artists.

[Kura]

A playlist of Albums

[XzynderVexymous]

No way. Playlist without a doubt. I never like ALL the songs in an album. That’s why I crest playlists; It’s to pick out the songs I want.

[Hodge]

I listen to a lot of post-rock, which is almost always experienced by the full album. Kinda like how you don't just stop after one movement in a symphony. Though I also have playlists for songs that I really like.

[VibrantFox]

For me it depends. Sometimes I like playlists/mixes. But if it's a beat tape or an album I'll usually try to listen to the whole thing. I've found artists where it really is ideal to listen to the album as a whole. One that comes to mind would probably be Bo En's Pale Machine album, each song fades into the other almost like it tells a story so listening to them individually kind of takes away from it. Owl City/Adam Young has done it with his albums as well especially some of his score compositions.

Usually the only time I prefer a playlist is if I'm just looking for background noise or I'm looking for the collection of songs related to a story I'm working on.

[jurinova]

While I do listen to music on shuffle at times I think the best way to experience music is by listening to an album. Putting on headphones and just listening to an album the way the artist meant it to be listened is a magical thing for me. Albums are not just songs after another but a collection with intention. Often there is a theme to an album and the songs follow a path that takes the listener through specific moods. Songs on their own are wonderful too but sometimes there can be additional meaning found when listened within the context of an album.

[punkarsenic]

i love a good album so much.... especially concept albums. fuck, i love concept albums.

i enjoy playlists as my own way of doing what an album does - putting the songs in a certain order to make the listener feel some type of way or to tell a story. but hearing a master (read: beyonce) do it is amazing.

[OliviaMerteli]

I'm kinda in between. What I prefer are best-ofs.

[maelstrom51210]

There are some albums that I feel are just better when they're listened to in one sitting. But I will listen to my iPod in shuffle and stuff like that from time to time. I've never been much of a playlist person, though.

[fakey]

I started growing more fond of full albums with this one group I really like. I would only listen to their full albums because it felt like each song contributed to the overall experience. Then earlier this year, Youtube began recommending me full albums by people I'd never heard of and I found some good stuff. Now I've got a folder on my computer of just complete albums that I only listen to as wholes. I guess it's because I was introduced to those works as full pieces and so listening to the individual tracks would just feel like I'm missing out.

I still have my fair share of albums I skip around on though. It just depends on the song.

[nikaalexandra]

i can't remember what piece of media had the line "an album is like a mixtape the artist made for you themselves" but i really identify with that