Does Anyone Else Avoid Listening to Songs from Dark Matter until Release Date?

pleatherman

Somehow I cannot believe I made it this far.  Then again, since the first new PJ album I bought- Vitalogy, I vowed not to listen to any tracks prior to owning it.  And for one reason or another, I broke that promise time and time again.  

Is anyone else out there making such an absurd declaration?  If so, I would be curious to hear your reason(s), what you are doing to while away the time, and finally how you plan to implement your debut listening experience once that fateful day in April is upon us?
Or perhaps if others are abstaining from the new songs, this forum could be the last place to visit.

bootlegger10

I can understand doing that because you can get the vibe from a few songs, and wanting to really remember the first listen.  But I don't worry about that stuff anymore.

One time I wanted to experience the songs live first so I was thinking about not listening.  But if only going to one or two shows you want to get familiar first.

Spunkie

Ask @mookeywrench, who is also waiting

2-feign-reluctance

Other than Dark Matter, I think I'm going to do the same. Or at least try to. Gigaton landed in my inbox early last time and I wish I had waited to listen to it on release day on my birthday, for the first time! 

Loujoe

I'm pretty much waiting. Like the snippets. Didn't listen to dm. Still never really heard Gigaton. Whatever

SVRDhand13

Hell no lol 

Spunkie

SVRDhand13 said:

Hell no lol 

  

I don't know what's on your Calandar... but mine is "Running" today!

pleatherman

Yeah, it is an odd stance to take.  Although some artists even embrace it by not dropping any singles ahead of time, or surprise releasing their entire album.
My reasoning goes back to first becoming a fan in '94.  Thanks to numerous rebroadcasts of the Atlanta concert, taping the SNL episode, and FM radio's insatiable appetite for any PJ material, plus my growing bootleg collection, I was left with only a few unheard tunes after I got my hands on Vitalogy.  At the time, I was kind of let down because it didn't feel new at all.
In the end, each of us end up in the same place, whether we listen to the music over the course of several weeks, or all at once.  

Right now, I am looking forward to the experience of picking it up on Record Store Day.  It is quite rare I get to re-experience what it feels like to be a kid on Christmas morning.

Spunkie

pleatherman said:

Yeah, it is an odd stance to take.  Although some artists even embrace it by not dropping any singles ahead of time, or surprise releasing their entire album.
My reasoning goes back to first becoming a fan in '94.  Thanks to numerous rebroadcasts of the Atlanta concert, taping the SNL episode, and FM radio's insatiable appetite for any PJ material, plus my growing bootleg collection, I was left with only a few unheard tunes after I got my hands on Vitalogy.  At the time, I was kind of let down because it didn't feel new at all.
In the end, each of us end up in the same place, whether we listen to the music over the course of several weeks, or all at once.  

Right now, I am looking forward to the experience of picking it up on Record Store Day.  It is quite rare I get to re-experience what it feels like to be a kid on Christmas morning.

Fantastic reasoning. Merry Record Store Day!💥

pleatherman

Spunkie said:

pleatherman said:

Yeah, it is an odd stance to take.  Although some artists even embrace it by not dropping any singles ahead of time, or surprise releasing their entire album.
My reasoning goes back to first becoming a fan in '94.  Thanks to numerous rebroadcasts of the Atlanta concert, taping the SNL episode, and FM radio's insatiable appetite for any PJ material, plus my growing bootleg collection, I was left with only a few unheard tunes after I got my hands on Vitalogy.  At the time, I was kind of let down because it didn't feel new at all.
In the end, each of us end up in the same place, whether we listen to the music over the course of several weeks, or all at once.  

Right now, I am looking forward to the experience of picking it up on Record Store Day.  It is quite rare I get to re-experience what it feels like to be a kid on Christmas morning.

Fantastic reasoning. Merry Record Store Day!💥

Thanks.  Now I am just working out phase 2 of my plan, which involves vacating the house for an hour or two.  I'm sure there will be some bribery involved.

spankyMP

pleatherman said:

Yeah, it is an odd stance to take.  Although some artists even embrace it by not dropping any singles ahead of time, or surprise releasing their entire album.
My reasoning goes back to first becoming a fan in '94.  Thanks to numerous rebroadcasts of the Atlanta concert, taping the SNL episode, and FM radio's insatiable appetite for any PJ material, plus my growing bootleg collection, I was left with only a few unheard tunes after I got my hands on Vitalogy.  At the time, I was kind of let down because it didn't feel new at all.
In the end, each of us end up in the same place, whether we listen to the music over the course of several weeks, or all at once.  

Right now, I am looking forward to the experience of picking it up on Record Store Day.  It is quite rare I get to re-experience what it feels like to be a kid on Christmas morning.

I had a similar experience with Vitalogy and preferred some of the live versions to the album versions.

I can't resist listening to the new stuff, so Dark Matter has been on repeat for a month and now Running has played 5 or 6 times....

JojoRice

For Gigaton, I held off on listening to any live versions until the shows that I was attending happened. Might do that this time too since I won't be seeing them until the Seattle shows. 

dreamweaver

I think you're missing out on some of the excitement leading up to the release. It's a chance to sink into one song, rather than getting it all in one lump sum. You pay less taxes. 

With that said, you still have a small window of time to soak up DM single tonight, then experience the next one tomorrow. 

bootleg

spankyMP said:

pleatherman said:

Yeah, it is an odd stance to take.  Although some artists even embrace it by not dropping any singles ahead of time, or surprise releasing their entire album.
My reasoning goes back to first becoming a fan in '94.  Thanks to numerous rebroadcasts of the Atlanta concert, taping the SNL episode, and FM radio's insatiable appetite for any PJ material, plus my growing bootleg collection, I was left with only a few unheard tunes after I got my hands on Vitalogy.  At the time, I was kind of let down because it didn't feel new at all.
In the end, each of us end up in the same place, whether we listen to the music over the course of several weeks, or all at once.  

Right now, I am looking forward to the experience of picking it up on Record Store Day.  It is quite rare I get to re-experience what it feels like to be a kid on Christmas morning.

I had a similar experience with Vitalogy and preferred some of the live versions to the album versions.

I can't resist listening to the new stuff, so Dark Matter has been on repeat for a month and now Running has played 5 or 6 times....

I had this problem with Grievance.  I taped the Letterman performance on VHS and listened to it it so many times before the album came out.  That letterman performance had all this energy and the guitars were so raw that by the time I heard the album version it just felt too thin.  I still prefer that letterman version more.

I do miss sitting down with the album in full for the first time and just soaking it all in.  I can still remember where I was for each of the albums up through Avacado.  After that I think I probably had too much access to clips, or the CDs came in the mail or download instead of me having to go out and get it which took away from me remembering the whole experience.  I still don’t have the ability to hold out but I do try not to overplay the singles so that I’m not burned out by the time I hear the whole album.

pleatherman

dreamweaver said:

I think you're missing out on some of the excitement leading up to the release. It's a chance to sink into one song, rather than getting it all in one lump sum. You pay less taxes. 

With that said, you still have a small window of time to soak up DM single tonight, then experience the next one tomorrow. 

Yeah, and I have fond memories of hearing lead singles, like Given to Fly on the radio or downloading WWS prior to their respective release date.  

Then there was the time I streamed the entire Lightning Bolt album prior to attending the 2013 Pittsburgh concert since that show preceded the album's official release.  It felt like a homework assignment I was glad to be immersed in.
I am still reading Dark Matter articles and interviews, which serves as a kind of nicotine patch for me.  And discovering other artists, such as Jeff Rosenstock, has helped a great deal.  Hmm, maybe I could finally start those New Year's resolutions as a welcome distraction.

Loujoe

dreamweaver said:

I think you're missing out on some of the excitement leading up to the release. It's a chance to sink into one song, rather than getting it all in one lump sum. You pay less taxes. 

With that said, you still have a small window of time to soak up DM single tonight, then experience the next one tomorrow. 

Ok!

Gibson

I wouldn't consider it absurd, but I try my best to avoid overexposure and overplay before the release. I don't want to be sick of any singles before I hear the album or get to a live show.

If I hear it, I hear it..but spotify wouldn't show Dark Matter in my top 25 list.

MJ178168

I don't avoid the singles, but don't listen to them a ton.  I take a few listens to quench my curiosity and then just plan on listening to the entire album on repeat when it comes out.

JOEJOEJOE

I usually wait to hear the songs live before I listen to the record......gives me nice memories of the songs!

jjflash

I've listened to Dark Matter 2x, and am on some social media platforms where snippets of it are all over PJ's posts. Also enjoyed the fun experiment of aiming my phone at the sky earlier this week to get a snippet of a song. If 'Running' drops tomorrow then I'll give it a least one listen. But, for the most part, I'm trying to look the other way until the proper album drops (in less than a month !!)

jimjam1982

I just try to avoid unofficial snippets like the bootlegged listening party recording from the beyond the door of muffled noises. Other then that nope, just listen to new music if it's good. Never avoided hearing singles my whole life, can't teach an old dog new tricks.

jonbond1779

my best memories of listening to new PJ albums is when I had not listened to a thing before the drop - Listening to Yield for the first time is an experience I will never forget!

kmcmanus

pleatherman said:

dreamweaver said:

I think you're missing out on some of the excitement leading up to the release. It's a chance to sink into one song, rather than getting it all in one lump sum. You pay less taxes. 

With that said, you still have a small window of time to soak up DM single tonight, then experience the next one tomorrow. 

Yeah, and I have fond memories of hearing lead singles, like Given to Fly on the radio or downloading WWS prior to their respective release date.  

Then there was the time I streamed the entire Lightning Bolt album prior to attending the 2013 Pittsburgh concert since that show preceded the album's official release.  It felt like a homework assignment I was glad to be immersed in.
I am still reading Dark Matter articles and interviews, which serves as a kind of nicotine patch for me.  And discovering other artists, such as Jeff Rosenstock, has helped a great deal.  Hmm, maybe I could finally start those New Year's resolutions as a welcome distraction.

I’m seeing Rosenstock this Saturday! I’m pretty psyched. First show of ‘24.

kmcmanus

I actually kind of like to know the singles well before the album and then see how they change in context. Especially once there are more than one. Because for the next month DM will roll right into Running but after the release it never will again.

Niko80

Haven’t heard anything yet, not even the snippets. So yeah, waiting. 

tino_11

I tried but failed miserably with Dark Matter, so looking forward to hearing Running tomorrow

pleatherman

I applaud anyone who can listen to a new track a couple times and put it away until 4/19.   I know from experience leading up to their previous albums that all it takes is but a sample to open up the floodgates.  

But this has also given me an excuse to do a deep dive into PJ's discography.  When a band like this has gone through so many amazing eras, it's easy to take for granted.
And next month marks 30 years as a diehard fan.  I didn't think I was capable of being a fan of anything for that long, let alone celebrate that anniversary with a new album in my hand.

CarryTheZero

pleatherman said:

I applaud anyone who can listen to a new track a couple times and put it away until 4/19.   I know from experience leading up to their previous albums that all it takes is but a sample to open up the floodgates.  

But this has also given me an excuse to do a deep dive into PJ's discography.  When a band like this has gone through so many amazing eras, it's easy to take for granted.
And next month marks 30 years as a diehard fan.  I didn't think I was capable of being a fan of anything for that long, let alone celebrate that anniversary with a new album in my hand.

Yes to this! I’ll probably listen to Running tomorrow and then try and wait for the album. It’s almost here!

Love this band and super excited we not only have a new tour, but a new album as well!

BF25394

I could be dead by April 19. I'll listen to whatever they want to give me. It will not spoil the album even a little bit. And, hopefully, the album will find its way into the light well before April 19.

spankyMP

👍👍

pleatherman

In a delightful turn of events 'Dark Matter in Dark' will be showing at a theatre near me.  This should serve nicely as a proper introduction to the album.  Followed closely by Record Store Day of course.

Unless...