...you bought an lp by an artist whose work you (presumably) like a lot and only listened to it once??

tragic. you don't have to like it, but to give it no chance to grow on you is v sad my friend...

i seem to remember lots of folk on this board not liking it very much at time of release. most people now agree that while not his best, certain tracks are v good, and som (reason or rhyme) amongst the finest of all time.

paraphonix,

Indeed. Some songs need to grow on you.

Thing is, these days, some people want instant
gratification.

Roots strain, against the grain.

Ageing Hipsters,
Paraphonix & Erland make a great point.
The digital revolution sees us swamped with product and seems to have resulted in an explosion of disposable music and I'm sure that many quality artists are overlooked in the stampede for instant gratification.
The art of listening to an album in it's entirety and giving the artist the benefit of repeat plays seems to be really under threat.
Ferry's albums were designed as ensemble pieces and putting the phones on and listening to the whole thing is just magical - particularly with a large Talisker at hand.
Of course, this could be just another one of the idiosyncrasies that I am developing as an ageing hipster - along with my love of English white Morris 1000 travellers, velvet jackets and women on bikes with baskets?
Although I don't think so. It's the way quality music of any genre should be listened to and "Olympia" is no exception.
Regards, Windswept

Music should NOT be listened to through headphones, that`s for sure. However, I`m all for that albums should be listened to in it`s entirety. Take it all in, the lesser good songs too, that`s my advice. Olympia benefits from this approach, just as Roxy`s Avalon benefits from this approach, although it`s a far better album.

I agree, though I would add Outside and Hours to the list of recent good ones.

As for Ferry, I mentioned on another thread that I adore In Your Mind-I even like Bride-but I really disliked Boys and Girls and find Taxi and Mamouna unlistenable. Frantic was a very pleasent surprise and parts of Dylanesque quite good to these ears. Olympia hasn't grabbed me deeply, but there are songs that I think are superb on it. Looking forward to the next one as each always has surprises.

Cher Monsieur le freak,
You may or may not be correct about headphones but were you wedded to Madame Windswept, you would quickly learn that they are essential.
Regards,
Windswept

Windswept, le freak,

Thanks for your comments in defense of RM & BF growing on you.

Their music is like a sophisticated, fine wine that only the true, die-hard fans are only capable of drinking, and may be too refined for some tastes.

As a joke & in jest, I think John should add separate pages for...

1. whiners - all could cry cry cry there about what they don't like

2. lukewarm fans - ones that can complain they don't like this song, that album, etc.

3. real fans - where they love everything RM & BF have ever done, where there would be peace in the valley, buttercup daises, and most anything sweet & lovely.

waddya think John?

Thanks for all the advice on how many times I should listen to something before making a decision as to whether I like a record or not. But, don't you think that it comes from within? You just sort of know. I didn't need to listen to Frantic more than once to make up my mind that I liked it, nor any RM album. As for Mamourna, B&G, Bette Noire they are the dust gatherers along with Olympia. Not that I dislike every song on these albums, I love Song to the Siren, a masterpiece. But one nice day doesn't make a summer. So for me, if I like it - I like it, if I don't .............. After all, we are entitled to our own opinion on here aren't we?

I'm a real fan, but I don't like everything that Roxy/BF have ever done. The Siren back-up singers on the Siren tour were an aural disaster no matter what they looked like. You Are My Sunshine might have sounded like a good idea but the recorded version is uninspired and tedious. And Goin' Down on Frantic is as good an example of "album filler" as might ever be found.

The good and interesting far outweighs the trite and dull in the Roxy/BF catalog, but there have been missteps along the way. Real fans don't have drink the Kool-aid and like everything Roxy and BF have ever done. But Real Fans are ever hopeful that the next time is the best time.

Everyone is, of course, entitled to their own opinion, however bizarre they might sometimes seem to others. Certainly DCJ's is closest to my own. Never fail to be excited over a new release and never disappointed. Every album has highs and lows - if for no other reason that it's surely impossible to love EVERY song on an album equally isn't it, and occasionally there'll be the odd song that just doesn't do it for you. But overall BF and Roxy have never failed to please me and I guess the overwhelming majority of fans. Surely, that's why we're still here, 40 years on?

November? Can't wait. And for once, it looks like the date won't slip - after all we had it pretty unequivocally from the man himself last week.