Thank you! I know a lot of people use it without any issues, or don't even realise what I am referring to, so it's great to hear from someone who understands what I'm talking about but who has nonetheless found a way of "silencing" those pesky voices and all that annoying noise. It's probably the healthiest way to use it, I reckon.
It still has just about anything you're likely to be looking for.
It has some actual decent writing about artists and albums.
It has a download store (because you can't have *everything* on vinyl. ;)
I personally don't notice much difference in the sound quality between Qobuz lossless and Spotify Premium set to Maximum quality. If anything the lossless is just slightly louder sometimes which makes it seem better. If your device is cranked up to the max regularly that might help a little.
It doesn't make headlines by announcing its going to pay out even less in royalties to smaller iartists while still paying Joe Rogan $50 million or whatever
Thanks for the thorough review! Sounds like it’s a lot better than Spotify. It’ll be interesting to see how many people end up making the switch. Fingers crossed!
I think what your post illustrates is that Spotify isn't really meant for us: the aficionados, the music heads. Its meant for people who dont want to spend time or energy thinking about their music; who just want to listen to "content" on their way to somewhere. Thats why they went so big on podcasts. Its all just "content".
Your restaurant analogy was perfect 😜.
It is a useful app for discovery and exploring if you can train yourself to push away all the recommendation nonsense. Just go straight to the search bar or the My Library tab.
Thank you, Joaquin, for your comment and kind words. I agree that Spotify seems to be increasingly focusing on "content". It all feels a bit too empty. No contemplation: purely fast-paced entertainment.
Glad you enjoyed the restaurant analogy!
Great tip about searching directly on the library. Thanks!
I'm planning to phase out Spotify and possibly move over to Qobuz. Several people here have been singing its praises, it's cheaper than Spotify and has a ever-growing hi-res streaming catalog. I am not an audiophile, but I do like as little compression as possible without breaking my wifi. It supposedly can import Spotify playlists, which is huge, as I have thousands of playlists and to lose them all would be a nightmare to try and rebuild from scratch. I'd simply change it from paid to the free version so I would still have access to my account and playlists, but would play the music on Qobuz (if it is the winner....jury is still out....should know soon).
I have been with Spotify long enough to navigate the constant "you might like" and pop-over suggestions, but it's getting worse and I don't think that's going to slow down anytime soon.
Thanks, Steve! What you say about Qobuz sounds promising. It will be interesting to hear your experience once you give it a go.
I only have one playlist (for parties) on my Apple Music which I only play when I need to entertain. When listening to music by myself, I tend to listen to albums 95% of the time. But I can imagine if you're a fan of playlists, having them handy is huge.
For the time being, I don't think I'll be exploring other streamers. My streaming consumption is very limited, and Apple Music does the job for me (particularly as most tracks are lossless, and they've been doing some cool stuff with Dolby Atmos).
If I thought there was a way, Andy, I'd find a way to have Stephan allow me access, where I would, then, be standing by your wall o' vinyl, and when you approach, I'd dutifully ask, "Would you like to see something in a '70s classic rock, then? How about a Mariah-adjacent track? I know....I've seen you here before, and we happen to have a special on late-'90s post-punk, neo-dream pop from New Zealand! Will that be one or two?"
Nicely done, and certainly timely, my tolerant friend! I've never tried Apple Music (I'm just on a laptop...no phone involved). You're right about Spotify, in every respect, however! It may be my age, but, as long as it has a song I can use in one of my posts, I'm good. You may have noticed, I usually include a similar YouTube video of the song, also...that's a fairly recent accommodation for the Spotify allergic. Proof that FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE listens...somewhat tardily at times, but we hear!
I wonder when that site/app will diversify, and design a whole new arm of streaming that caters to the football, soccer, baseball, hockey, etc crowd? They could just call it Sportify. Looks like a slam dunk to me! As you were.........."Would you like a take-home box of Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band to go?"
Thank you, Brad! You make me laugh so much. You’re so right on everything you say.
In your case, as someone who lived and breathed the golden era (and boy did you live and breathe it), I completely understand the convenience of Spotify. If I had ever owned the amount of vinyl you had, and had had to carry all those records all over the wide territory of the US of A like you did, I am sure there would have come a point where I would have said (in Spanish, because there are certain things which can only be said in a certain language):“BASTA!!” (Enough!!). I mean, can you imagine me, with my (very limited) patience and my extremely nervous temperament? I wouldn’t have lasted a day.
So, for someone like you, who doesn’t need me to teach them anyhing, I completely get it: Spotify (and YouTube, and Apple Music, Tidal, etc. etc.) is a game changer. I also think you guys have a muuuch better bullshit detector and are a lot less easy to manipulate than current younger generations.
One of my biggest fears about younger generations is that they might lose the autonomy to choose and the ability to “hunt” or chase records they feel connected to. As music is so accesible nowadays, and even basic decisions are automated, I just fear teens will never truly know how to appreciate the availability of music (or lack thereof).
I may be wrong, and I hope I am, but until then, I’ll keep insisting on this from time to time. For me, the format matters less than the level of autonomy and independence in the decision-making process. The older generations, by and large, are safe, especially those with your experience and critical thinking skills. But I think the young ones need to take heed.
As always, thanks for your invaluable contributions!
My pleasure, Andy.......I think my age helps too, in the way I don't demand that Spotify, for example, deliver studio-quality, crisp, clean sound! Besides making song links available to readers, my personal listening needs are, at most, "just give me sound good enough for me to remember how my records sounded 50 years ago, when I first heard them!"
This may sound shocking or even disappointing to some who seem to be daily answering the ole "what are you rebelling against?" question with an instant, "Whaddaya got?", but, I haven't the time nor the energy to wring my hands over how insufficient any given stream app's sound-reproducing qualities may or may not be!
And, while I feel sorry for the pittance musicians are paid by such streamers, it takes a lot more than that to motivate me to raise my fist in the air with anything that resembles indignance. Again, I'll leave that to the whippersnappers who can actually raise their fist into the air.....or care to! Plus, me staying away from Spotify won't be motivating anyone in their board rooms to change anything with their algos or payment schedules.
There. You got it outta me! Good writing begats open hearts! Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a Tune Tag to fill with Spotify links!😉👍
Thank you, Brad! Oh, absolutely. As I said, you guys lived the best years. I think I might have said at least once that I feel everything we young vinyl fans do — the intentionality, the pure magic of analogue, the mono v stereo debates — are our attempt to recreate, somehow, a little bit of those holy decades in music you lived in the flesh.
You could even argue that for someone who had to buy (or somehow physically acquire) every single record you wanted to listen to, a platform or system like Spotify IS revolutionary.
For me, the joy of holding my CDs as a kid (which was already a downgrade from what you had as a kid) was abruptly snatched off my hands and replaced with computer files, so my revolution is going back to basics.
We may be on different journeys when it comes to certain things, but that doesn’t mean we’re not travelling together 😉
I'm, frankly, stunned when I can find an artist or an album I'm quietly betting with myself, "Oh, there's no way Spotify will have THAT!" So, it's clear the artists who had vinyl (and, necessarily, CDs, so as to be digitized online), are elbowing their ways to get their product on the streamers, not only to make those pennies-per-thousand, but to keep their names and music alive for the new generations.
That gets me right to Stephen Michael Schwartz, who never had his 1974 RCA Records album digitized, as his LP was deleted from the label's catalog long before the onset of CDs (early '80s). Which is why you can't find his album on the streamers!
No CD? Literally no chance to have your product streaming....now, there ARE some artists who own their original masters, and they can do something digital then.
I told Stephen, once, that had he recorded a second album (and those albums had made it into the '80s to be made into CDs by RCA), those albums could be picked up by an archivist/re-issue label like Rhino, Collectibles, or others who, routinely, take 2 '70s or '80s albums and make 2-fer CDs, with two albums on one CD (as two 35-minute LPs can fit onto one 80-85-minute CD).
So, vinyl, streaming, digital, et al....you know what they say (I think it's the same thing for people who eat exotic birds): Different storks for different forks.
This is fascinating. I didn’t know that level of detail (about formats and the particular impact on Stephen’s story). Playing his album now… I looove the soothing soulful funky vibes! Yes please!
Be sure to check out his "Da Doo Ron Ron" cover! It beat Shaun Cassidy's hit version by three years, but Stephen's producer (the great David Kershenbaum...talk about a resume over the decades!) elected to leave "Da Doo Ron Ron" off the track listing for Stephen's RCA debut! Imagine if it'd made the album, and RCA elected to release it as a single! I've got the song link to it on one of our Stephen articles, but it's also on his website!
Don't sleep on his children's music with Parachute Express trio (early-'80s into the new century)! All fully-digitized (most on Disney Records), and vids all over YouTube!
Like you, I primarily listen to my records and have a sizeable collection to dig through (and one that seems to be constantly growing).
That said, I use Spotify when walking my dogs, on public transport, in my classroom, and sometimes when painting as I often get paint on my hands and I don't want to flip LPs.
To be honest, I have discovered a lot of good stuff via its algorithms, and as I am a record connoisseur I then go on the search for the actual LP.
Thank you for your comment and it's interesting to hear your point of view as a fellow vinyl lover. I'm glad Spotify has been kinder to you. I do what you do with regards to streaming, but on Apple Music instead, which I find easier to navigate. Importantly, it's a lot more LP (album)-centred, which obviously has a strong pull for me.
Ultimately these things are subjective by their very nature -- much, if not most, of what we find convenient or inconvenient is a question of habit.
I thought it would be funny to share my first reaction to Spotify after all these years the platform has been widely available.
It's a music app designed by people who don't like music, or don't have a habit of listening to music. You can't even add a song to the end of the tracks you are playing. "Add to queue" slots the track in directly after the one that is playing. That's just wrong!
No, you are not a party pooper Andy :-) Loads of people share your view. What I found remarkable though was your remark about Apple Music. I started my "streaming journey" on Apple Music. Not only did I find there app useless but, without me asking a thing, it started changing & replacing my carefully tailored digital music collection on my iTunes. It took me months to get everything back to the way it was. Pure evil :-)
Thank you! Glad you share my Spotify frustration 😅
I didn’t have the issues you mention with Apple Music, but I feel the platform has improved a lot in the last few years or so. I find the navigation easier, and I like the fact it’s album-centred (as opposed to track-centred).
Its not good at all. So odd to me that EVERYTHING seems to revolve around the Spotify universe in terms of playlisting and sharing etc, yet it feels so clunky to navigate.
Hi, Andres. Some time ago I tried a comparison between Spotify and Deezer (I think). I don't have a trained ear, so couldn't really get the difference in sound (I did the test using my Zenfone 8 and a good pair of Sennheisers, wired). So, I kept using Spotify because, at the time I was practicing capoeira and couldn't find the songs I needed on other platforms. I'm 54 years-old and began listening to music on vinyl, switched to CDs, and finally made the transition to streaming. But all the while I kept my CDs and my vinyls. You are right about the compression, but most of the time I don't notice it (untrained ears). One thing I have to say, though, is that I discovered so many artists, songs, albums in such a short period, by simply letting the algorithm's suggestions to play. I still buy LP's, don't get me wrong, but the way Spotify works doesn't bother me that much anymore. I am considering switching to some other platform simply because of the royalties payed to musicians. But I will still want to transport my playlists over to whatever new platform I choose.
Olá! Thanks a lot for your comment. It’s great to hear your experience with records as well as streaming. Spotify’s catalogue is indeed impressive. I struggled with the navigation and the huge contrast in the listening experience when compared with vinyl, but this is probably a question of habit.
Steve and Joaquin in their comments above were mentioning that Qobuz apparently lets you transfer your Spotify playlists, but I haven’t tried it.
The most important thing, at the end of the day, is that you seem to have a system that works for you. The rest is preference (and habit).
Drop the needle, and hear and feel the connection between songs that the artist created, the sequence, the tonal narrative, the climax and the conclusion. Every time i try to play an "album" on Spotify, I get a mish mash of re-engineered versions, live versions, enhanced this or that. The sacredness of the album has been decimated by Spotify. Not so with vinyl.
Let's have a resurrection of the album as an art form!
THIS. 100% agree. My listening experience is predominantly (if not exclusively) album-centred, and when not at home with my turntable, I want the streaming platform to "replicate" (as closely as possible) the experience of listening to an album from start to finish. I find Apple Music respects that a lot more than Spotify.
My last attempt at sp0tify was about 2 years ago. a local band I really like released a live album, exclusively on sp0tify, on the assumption that all of their fans were already there. i managed to get logged in, pay my toll so I could listen to the whole album, captured it using piezo, and the cancelled the account and logged out. i couldn't believe how complicated it was just to listen to one album! at 49 I guess I just don't get it anymore hahah
Thank you, Greg! That — exactly what you have described — encapsulates so well everything (or most of) what is wrong with the current state of play. I loved how you managed to get what you needed and move on. I’m concerned younger generations won’t have the skills (should I say balls) to do something like that.
Spotify is a dreadful app. It’s like an onion. The more you peel through its layers, the more stinky and tearful it gets. I commute to work which means I can’t take my turntable w/ me. But when I stream music in my car or listen to music at work, I use Amazon Music. It’s not without its faults but I find it’s a much better interface than Spotify. It does a better job of suggesting related artists whereas Spotify insists them on you.
Thank you, Chris! I love the onion analogy. Spot on. Great to hear Amazon music has a kinder interface. Sounds a bit like Apple Music: it certainly does not replace our turntables, but does the job while on the move, and is less “in your face” than Spotify.
Spotify is a mess, and I'm mystified as to the way others seem to engage with it in a way that puts them right into that mess.
I never pay any attention to the recommendations, etc. I just walk through the ads at the front of the store, get what I need and get out!
Thank you! I know a lot of people use it without any issues, or don't even realise what I am referring to, so it's great to hear from someone who understands what I'm talking about but who has nonetheless found a way of "silencing" those pesky voices and all that annoying noise. It's probably the healthiest way to use it, I reckon.
I'm sort of like, "just minding me own business, pay no attention to me and I'll pay no attention to you" when I'm on there.
So great you can "bypass" all the flashes and yelling. Gives me hope if I ever need to access it again 😅
I think you'll like Qobuz. I'm about 75% transitioned over to it.
Sheesh these comments are making me think I should give Qobuz a try.
It still has just about anything you're likely to be looking for.
It has some actual decent writing about artists and albums.
It has a download store (because you can't have *everything* on vinyl. ;)
I personally don't notice much difference in the sound quality between Qobuz lossless and Spotify Premium set to Maximum quality. If anything the lossless is just slightly louder sometimes which makes it seem better. If your device is cranked up to the max regularly that might help a little.
It doesn't make headlines by announcing its going to pay out even less in royalties to smaller iartists while still paying Joe Rogan $50 million or whatever
Thanks for the thorough review! Sounds like it’s a lot better than Spotify. It’ll be interesting to see how many people end up making the switch. Fingers crossed!
If you do, let me know!
I think what your post illustrates is that Spotify isn't really meant for us: the aficionados, the music heads. Its meant for people who dont want to spend time or energy thinking about their music; who just want to listen to "content" on their way to somewhere. Thats why they went so big on podcasts. Its all just "content".
Your restaurant analogy was perfect 😜.
It is a useful app for discovery and exploring if you can train yourself to push away all the recommendation nonsense. Just go straight to the search bar or the My Library tab.
Thank you, Joaquin, for your comment and kind words. I agree that Spotify seems to be increasingly focusing on "content". It all feels a bit too empty. No contemplation: purely fast-paced entertainment.
Glad you enjoyed the restaurant analogy!
Great tip about searching directly on the library. Thanks!
I'm planning to phase out Spotify and possibly move over to Qobuz. Several people here have been singing its praises, it's cheaper than Spotify and has a ever-growing hi-res streaming catalog. I am not an audiophile, but I do like as little compression as possible without breaking my wifi. It supposedly can import Spotify playlists, which is huge, as I have thousands of playlists and to lose them all would be a nightmare to try and rebuild from scratch. I'd simply change it from paid to the free version so I would still have access to my account and playlists, but would play the music on Qobuz (if it is the winner....jury is still out....should know soon).
I have been with Spotify long enough to navigate the constant "you might like" and pop-over suggestions, but it's getting worse and I don't think that's going to slow down anytime soon.
Curious if you plan to explore other streamers.
Thanks, Steve! What you say about Qobuz sounds promising. It will be interesting to hear your experience once you give it a go.
I only have one playlist (for parties) on my Apple Music which I only play when I need to entertain. When listening to music by myself, I tend to listen to albums 95% of the time. But I can imagine if you're a fan of playlists, having them handy is huge.
For the time being, I don't think I'll be exploring other streamers. My streaming consumption is very limited, and Apple Music does the job for me (particularly as most tracks are lossless, and they've been doing some cool stuff with Dolby Atmos).
If I thought there was a way, Andy, I'd find a way to have Stephan allow me access, where I would, then, be standing by your wall o' vinyl, and when you approach, I'd dutifully ask, "Would you like to see something in a '70s classic rock, then? How about a Mariah-adjacent track? I know....I've seen you here before, and we happen to have a special on late-'90s post-punk, neo-dream pop from New Zealand! Will that be one or two?"
Nicely done, and certainly timely, my tolerant friend! I've never tried Apple Music (I'm just on a laptop...no phone involved). You're right about Spotify, in every respect, however! It may be my age, but, as long as it has a song I can use in one of my posts, I'm good. You may have noticed, I usually include a similar YouTube video of the song, also...that's a fairly recent accommodation for the Spotify allergic. Proof that FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE listens...somewhat tardily at times, but we hear!
I wonder when that site/app will diversify, and design a whole new arm of streaming that caters to the football, soccer, baseball, hockey, etc crowd? They could just call it Sportify. Looks like a slam dunk to me! As you were.........."Would you like a take-home box of Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band to go?"
Thank you, Brad! You make me laugh so much. You’re so right on everything you say.
In your case, as someone who lived and breathed the golden era (and boy did you live and breathe it), I completely understand the convenience of Spotify. If I had ever owned the amount of vinyl you had, and had had to carry all those records all over the wide territory of the US of A like you did, I am sure there would have come a point where I would have said (in Spanish, because there are certain things which can only be said in a certain language):“BASTA!!” (Enough!!). I mean, can you imagine me, with my (very limited) patience and my extremely nervous temperament? I wouldn’t have lasted a day.
So, for someone like you, who doesn’t need me to teach them anyhing, I completely get it: Spotify (and YouTube, and Apple Music, Tidal, etc. etc.) is a game changer. I also think you guys have a muuuch better bullshit detector and are a lot less easy to manipulate than current younger generations.
One of my biggest fears about younger generations is that they might lose the autonomy to choose and the ability to “hunt” or chase records they feel connected to. As music is so accesible nowadays, and even basic decisions are automated, I just fear teens will never truly know how to appreciate the availability of music (or lack thereof).
I may be wrong, and I hope I am, but until then, I’ll keep insisting on this from time to time. For me, the format matters less than the level of autonomy and independence in the decision-making process. The older generations, by and large, are safe, especially those with your experience and critical thinking skills. But I think the young ones need to take heed.
As always, thanks for your invaluable contributions!
My pleasure, Andy.......I think my age helps too, in the way I don't demand that Spotify, for example, deliver studio-quality, crisp, clean sound! Besides making song links available to readers, my personal listening needs are, at most, "just give me sound good enough for me to remember how my records sounded 50 years ago, when I first heard them!"
This may sound shocking or even disappointing to some who seem to be daily answering the ole "what are you rebelling against?" question with an instant, "Whaddaya got?", but, I haven't the time nor the energy to wring my hands over how insufficient any given stream app's sound-reproducing qualities may or may not be!
And, while I feel sorry for the pittance musicians are paid by such streamers, it takes a lot more than that to motivate me to raise my fist in the air with anything that resembles indignance. Again, I'll leave that to the whippersnappers who can actually raise their fist into the air.....or care to! Plus, me staying away from Spotify won't be motivating anyone in their board rooms to change anything with their algos or payment schedules.
There. You got it outta me! Good writing begats open hearts! Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a Tune Tag to fill with Spotify links!😉👍
Thank you, Brad! Oh, absolutely. As I said, you guys lived the best years. I think I might have said at least once that I feel everything we young vinyl fans do — the intentionality, the pure magic of analogue, the mono v stereo debates — are our attempt to recreate, somehow, a little bit of those holy decades in music you lived in the flesh.
You could even argue that for someone who had to buy (or somehow physically acquire) every single record you wanted to listen to, a platform or system like Spotify IS revolutionary.
For me, the joy of holding my CDs as a kid (which was already a downgrade from what you had as a kid) was abruptly snatched off my hands and replaced with computer files, so my revolution is going back to basics.
We may be on different journeys when it comes to certain things, but that doesn’t mean we’re not travelling together 😉
I'm, frankly, stunned when I can find an artist or an album I'm quietly betting with myself, "Oh, there's no way Spotify will have THAT!" So, it's clear the artists who had vinyl (and, necessarily, CDs, so as to be digitized online), are elbowing their ways to get their product on the streamers, not only to make those pennies-per-thousand, but to keep their names and music alive for the new generations.
That gets me right to Stephen Michael Schwartz, who never had his 1974 RCA Records album digitized, as his LP was deleted from the label's catalog long before the onset of CDs (early '80s). Which is why you can't find his album on the streamers!
No CD? Literally no chance to have your product streaming....now, there ARE some artists who own their original masters, and they can do something digital then.
I told Stephen, once, that had he recorded a second album (and those albums had made it into the '80s to be made into CDs by RCA), those albums could be picked up by an archivist/re-issue label like Rhino, Collectibles, or others who, routinely, take 2 '70s or '80s albums and make 2-fer CDs, with two albums on one CD (as two 35-minute LPs can fit onto one 80-85-minute CD).
For the record (and your format of choice!), Stephen has, smartly, digitized his recorded product, and made it available on his website: https://www.stephenmichaelschwartz.com/new-index#new-page-1
So, vinyl, streaming, digital, et al....you know what they say (I think it's the same thing for people who eat exotic birds): Different storks for different forks.
You rock🤘, Andy!
This is fascinating. I didn’t know that level of detail (about formats and the particular impact on Stephen’s story). Playing his album now… I looove the soothing soulful funky vibes! Yes please!
You rock, Brad!
Be sure to check out his "Da Doo Ron Ron" cover! It beat Shaun Cassidy's hit version by three years, but Stephen's producer (the great David Kershenbaum...talk about a resume over the decades!) elected to leave "Da Doo Ron Ron" off the track listing for Stephen's RCA debut! Imagine if it'd made the album, and RCA elected to release it as a single! I've got the song link to it on one of our Stephen articles, but it's also on his website!
Don't sleep on his children's music with Parachute Express trio (early-'80s into the new century)! All fully-digitized (most on Disney Records), and vids all over YouTube!
Greetings from coach E on Peru Rail.
Like you, I primarily listen to my records and have a sizeable collection to dig through (and one that seems to be constantly growing).
That said, I use Spotify when walking my dogs, on public transport, in my classroom, and sometimes when painting as I often get paint on my hands and I don't want to flip LPs.
To be honest, I have discovered a lot of good stuff via its algorithms, and as I am a record connoisseur I then go on the search for the actual LP.
Hi Michael! Glad to hear your trip is going well.
Thank you for your comment and it's interesting to hear your point of view as a fellow vinyl lover. I'm glad Spotify has been kinder to you. I do what you do with regards to streaming, but on Apple Music instead, which I find easier to navigate. Importantly, it's a lot more LP (album)-centred, which obviously has a strong pull for me.
Ultimately these things are subjective by their very nature -- much, if not most, of what we find convenient or inconvenient is a question of habit.
I thought it would be funny to share my first reaction to Spotify after all these years the platform has been widely available.
It's a music app designed by people who don't like music, or don't have a habit of listening to music. You can't even add a song to the end of the tracks you are playing. "Add to queue" slots the track in directly after the one that is playing. That's just wrong!
That was my impression. It’s among the least user-friendly and most counter-intuitive apps I have ever used.
Thanks for your comment!
Excellent read! Go to Qobuz👍
Thank you, Chris! I appreciate it. Yes, Qobuz sounds like the real deal!
No, you are not a party pooper Andy :-) Loads of people share your view. What I found remarkable though was your remark about Apple Music. I started my "streaming journey" on Apple Music. Not only did I find there app useless but, without me asking a thing, it started changing & replacing my carefully tailored digital music collection on my iTunes. It took me months to get everything back to the way it was. Pure evil :-)
Thank you! Glad you share my Spotify frustration 😅
I didn’t have the issues you mention with Apple Music, but I feel the platform has improved a lot in the last few years or so. I find the navigation easier, and I like the fact it’s album-centred (as opposed to track-centred).
Its not good at all. So odd to me that EVERYTHING seems to revolve around the Spotify universe in terms of playlisting and sharing etc, yet it feels so clunky to navigate.
Thanks, Erik! Exactly my thoughts, yes. Glad I’m not alone! 😊
Hi, Andres. Some time ago I tried a comparison between Spotify and Deezer (I think). I don't have a trained ear, so couldn't really get the difference in sound (I did the test using my Zenfone 8 and a good pair of Sennheisers, wired). So, I kept using Spotify because, at the time I was practicing capoeira and couldn't find the songs I needed on other platforms. I'm 54 years-old and began listening to music on vinyl, switched to CDs, and finally made the transition to streaming. But all the while I kept my CDs and my vinyls. You are right about the compression, but most of the time I don't notice it (untrained ears). One thing I have to say, though, is that I discovered so many artists, songs, albums in such a short period, by simply letting the algorithm's suggestions to play. I still buy LP's, don't get me wrong, but the way Spotify works doesn't bother me that much anymore. I am considering switching to some other platform simply because of the royalties payed to musicians. But I will still want to transport my playlists over to whatever new platform I choose.
Cheers from Brazil.
Olá! Thanks a lot for your comment. It’s great to hear your experience with records as well as streaming. Spotify’s catalogue is indeed impressive. I struggled with the navigation and the huge contrast in the listening experience when compared with vinyl, but this is probably a question of habit.
Steve and Joaquin in their comments above were mentioning that Qobuz apparently lets you transfer your Spotify playlists, but I haven’t tried it.
The most important thing, at the end of the day, is that you seem to have a system that works for you. The rest is preference (and habit).
Thanks again for your comment!
Drop the needle, and hear and feel the connection between songs that the artist created, the sequence, the tonal narrative, the climax and the conclusion. Every time i try to play an "album" on Spotify, I get a mish mash of re-engineered versions, live versions, enhanced this or that. The sacredness of the album has been decimated by Spotify. Not so with vinyl.
Let's have a resurrection of the album as an art form!
THIS. 100% agree. My listening experience is predominantly (if not exclusively) album-centred, and when not at home with my turntable, I want the streaming platform to "replicate" (as closely as possible) the experience of listening to an album from start to finish. I find Apple Music respects that a lot more than Spotify.
My last attempt at sp0tify was about 2 years ago. a local band I really like released a live album, exclusively on sp0tify, on the assumption that all of their fans were already there. i managed to get logged in, pay my toll so I could listen to the whole album, captured it using piezo, and the cancelled the account and logged out. i couldn't believe how complicated it was just to listen to one album! at 49 I guess I just don't get it anymore hahah
Thank you, Greg! That — exactly what you have described — encapsulates so well everything (or most of) what is wrong with the current state of play. I loved how you managed to get what you needed and move on. I’m concerned younger generations won’t have the skills (should I say balls) to do something like that.
Empezó con un cliente enojado y terminó como una pelea épica contra las máquinas
Jaja tal cual! Es que es así!
Spotify is a dreadful app. It’s like an onion. The more you peel through its layers, the more stinky and tearful it gets. I commute to work which means I can’t take my turntable w/ me. But when I stream music in my car or listen to music at work, I use Amazon Music. It’s not without its faults but I find it’s a much better interface than Spotify. It does a better job of suggesting related artists whereas Spotify insists them on you.
Thank you, Chris! I love the onion analogy. Spot on. Great to hear Amazon music has a kinder interface. Sounds a bit like Apple Music: it certainly does not replace our turntables, but does the job while on the move, and is less “in your face” than Spotify.