The Post Rock Era, Changing Listening Habits, Taylor Swift & more! | The Album Years Podcast Live

This episode is comprised of highlights from our recent live podcast debut, filmed at West Hampstead Arts Club in London on 7th June 2024. We discuss how the podcast started, the current 'post rock era' of music we are living in, our changing listening habits with streaming and how we both meet up occasionally and 'blind swap' records!
00:00:16 How did The Album Years start?
00:04:33 The Reminiscence Bump
00:08:11 The Post Rock Era
00:11:13 Changing Listening Habits
00:16:47 Opinions on Music
00:19:56 Collective Experiences
00:27:47 Curating Soundtracks
00:29:59 Collecting Music
00:32:10 Steven and Tim's Swaps
Listen to The Album Years on Spotify/Apple Podcasts: thealbumyears....
Check out The Album Years website: thealbumyears.com

[@thealbumyearspodcast]

Send us your album reviews and questions for inclusion on future episodes of The Album Years, we'd love to hear from you! fanlist.com/thealbumyears

[@nicolasbascunan4013]

Full episodes please! (best podcast ever 🖤)

[@nicolasbascunan4013]

And release the unedited versions too 👹

[@deimne970]

@@nicolasbascunan4013 And even the instrumental versions too!! 😬

[@bellisariosonic]

Few talk about the LP's development outside of rock music. Without Jazz and Classical music we would not have the LP. Record companies however did not know how to market the LP beyond the advantage of more playing time when it first arrived on the scene through Columbia in 1948. It wasn't until about 1955 that the record companies even decided to go with the 12" LP rather than the 10" or even the 7" LP format. Jazz music was what drove the concept album, the "live" record, and the studio record that "captured" the true performer's vision of their recorded music. Ellington's Newport live record, Miles Davis' Prestige recordings, Sinatra's albums, and producers like George Avakian, Orrin Keepnews, Bob Winestock, Teo Macero, Norman Grantz, and others are the unheralded true pioneers of the LP.

[@HappyAppart]

Sure, but Rock is what defined "the album" as a format, beyond the medium and within its limitations at the same time.

[@drssexy2142]

@@HappyAppart Dream on u pleb. JAZZ defined the format decades b4 rock.

[@Baronvonfarron]

Due to you Steven, I now regularly listen to Zeit with my morning coffee.

[@antonpreacher2900]

It must’ve tainted your perception of your daily routine ^^

[@Baronvonfarron]

@@antonpreacher2900 Yes it has...it`s good though...in fact I`m about to start now.

[@miguelmelchior986]

@@Baronvonfarron ..and your gay partner.

[@Baronvonfarron]

@@miguelmelchior986 Eh??

[@jimfarrell4635]

I misspelled and all I got was investment advice. I don't get the Gay thing either. I never thought of Rammstein as particularly appealing to the LGBTQ community. Maybe someone can enlighten us. Anyway, back to Kali Malone and her organ.

[@leonnehaaijman4709]

Steven's analysis of changing listening habits made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It was as if he was describing my personal situation. In the 80s, as a teenager, I'd sit in my room, listening to records, reading the liner notes, the lyrics, singing along, having a sneaky cigarette (😂), etc. And that's all I did in that moment. Then I got into a relationship, we moved in together and life changed. I listened to music less and less (different musical tastes doesn't help either). Fast-forward to 2004, when I started working from home as a translator. I find it difficult to find music I can listen to when I'm translating. As Steven said in his case, it's mostly ambient, otherwise I can't concentrate. So my favourite bands, Roxy, the Banshees, Suede, Arctic Monkeys, that's something I listen to in the evenings, when I'm drawing or collageing. So it's in the background, and I tend to pay less attention to lyrics now. Unless I'm in the car: that's when I indulge in Alex Turner's musical poetry and the volume goes all the way up.... Do I play my records/CDs? Nope, they're gathering dust. Lack of space for a good sound system in my hobby room (as well as in my office, in a different place in the house). So I use Spotify or iTunes .... I'll stop rambling now 😁

[@alexc3744]

Steven hit the nail on the head. ‘Most people don’t go beyond the greatest hits.’ And it was always the case. I’m British. In my 50s. Most of my peers - pre streaming obviously- one single: that was enough. They’d buy Fashion by Bowie. But not Scary Monsters. And so on and so on. So, I think streaming is often held up as the new ‘death of the album’…. But people to whom music is important, to whom it is an obsession, a state of feeling, a kick in the head; listen to albums. And always have and always will. For me, it’s not generational; it’s about individuals and always has been. Very interesting and enlightening video.

[@jimfarrell4635]

I agree. I have listened to a far wider range of music since starting streaming with Roon. Whole new genres, sub genres, sub sub genres and ungenreable music has opened itself to my musical gaze. And I still listen to albums. On vinyl, reel to reel, cassette, cd, sacd, blu ray as well as streaming. It's never been a better time to be a music fan, even if at times of stress I still return to 70s prog as my Happy Place.

[@craigchapman8220]

Thank you gentlemen! Best show on KZbin.

[@miguelmelchior986]

for gays.

[@rupambaruahmusic]

​@@miguelmelchior986 Not for fools.

[@miguelmelchior986]

@@rupambaruahmusic just for gays

[@MetalGearSolidtwitter]

Grace for drowning and the raven were fantastic albums , thanks steven

[@dylansantos5958]

@@MetalGearSolidtwitter agree

[@kurcsics2012]

And the No-Man catalogue! The best of SW - with Tim Bowness!

[@petronio63]

Finally you mentioned Stephen Duffy!!

[@kdcndw1]

This podcast is so great and refreshing since I loath classic rock radio in the US and that format had stunted exploration of music by many people.

[@dylansantos5958]

OMG Steven's wearing shoes

[@miguelmelchior986]

@@perryostrin8622 Gay’s

[@miguelmelchior986]

@@perryostrin8622 yes , Gays are english made

[@kevinwilkinson2972]

I still allow myself to listen to an album properly. Not as much as I used too but I still do it. The last album was Radioheads A moon shaped pool. That's an exquisite album to melt into especially wearing headphones.

[@deimne970]

The way I listen to full-length albums these days, often by Steve Wilson, is to walk around town with noise-cancelling headphones. It's the best way nowadays to disconnect and listen to music... and you also do some sport!

[@jimfarrell4635]

So long as you don't walk in front of a bus. Musica Interruptbus.

[@deimne970]

@@jimfarrell4635 In my case, I have eyes :D and try to do the walk in zones without traffic (parks, etc)

[@jimfarrell4635]

No criticism intended. Though I did nearly take out an old lady last week in Glasgow Central Station at a particularly good bit of Okkervil River. At least that's what she said she was listening to.

[@kenmeyerjr57]

Apropos of nothing, I have recently thought about the idea of "good taste." It does seem that when one individual remarks on another's good taste...they are basically just saying, "you agree with me, so your taste is great!"

[@milk3n858]

Yeah, there's probably nothing like "Good taste", is there

[@SteveReadswithSeamus]

David Byrne talks about the confluence of music and form in his wonderful book How Music Works. This would even give me optimism that music will now evolve into something new and human creativity will still make magical moments that impact hearts… even if the form isn’t what we old guys like.

[@douglasstruthers8307]

I've really struggled, as well, to find rock albums or hit music that I like in since 2000. I have completely embraced electronic music (Moby, Boards of Canada, Ghosting Season, etc.) and its sub-genres such as the more ambient and jazz-infused. Even Canada's Esmerine & Rebecca Foon (modern chamber music/post punk) I find incredibly interesting to listen to. Beth Gibbons, from Portishead, has also put out some great music. Lots of great music is coming out, I just don't find it in rock music or "hit" music which sounds frightfully repetitive and without soul and grossly autotuned without artistic purpose. I am embracing albums old and new covering many genres from every decade and it has been a real pleasure. To answer your question: I now sit down and fully engage with headphones to listen to my (mostly vinyl) purchases more than I have in decades. I avoid relegating music to background filler. I have created a "vinyl room" for this purpose. I listen to ZERO % of my music on my phone. I want to listen carefully to each instrument being played and who played which instrument, who produced & engineered the album, and absorb the hopefully creative album art. My approach is to fully commit to the music and I am enjoying music so much more than I have in a long long time. Thanks for this podcast discussion.

[@progbc]

Love this show! Very interesting especially the banter between Tim and Steven .It is great to hear people so interested in music like I am .Going to record stores was something I loved most of my life but in my small town in Canada there is just one new and used but it has lots of selection and I like to support it. Just the other day a new store announced it was reopening, To be honest I think there are a lot of new progressive bands that I am really big on and I am 63.Have to admit I do stream and do understand the quick gratification that can take away from the listening experience compared to say c.d. which I still listen to a lot. Thanks guys!!

[@pnwtreehugger806]

I seldom allow any distraction to interfere with my listening to a CD. But then again, I'm from the Jones era of the Boomer generation and I'm dubious about the various electronic/online distractions anyway. I do love KZbin though and The Album Years has become one of my favorite podcasts. I've learned so much and discovered great music I was totally unaware of before. Thank you, Tim and Steven for enriching my life. Peace.

[@SteveReadswithSeamus]

David Byrne talks about the confluence of music and form in his wonderful book How Music Works. This would even give me optimism that music will now evolve into something new and human creativity will still make magical moments that impact hearts… even if the form isn’t what we old guys like. 13:37

[@stefanstern3542]

I just LOVE this podcast! Please keep going, boys!.....

[@kenmeyerjr57]

Yeah, boy...if you have gotten people into Prefab Sprout, as one mentioned, it is a huge success!!! Love this podcast to death, as much for the interplay as the info.

[@joelgrumblatt2747]

Your recent cursory mention of Prefab Sprout’s “Swoon” album was appreciated. Been listening to that for 2 weeks straight now.

[@gregdale1066]

You definitely got me into prefab sprout ! I hated the name so much growing up i would have never listened.

[@pnwtreehugger806]

Same here. Prefab Sprout wasn't even a band I'd heard of before this podcast. Such a great band!

[@isashax]

We had soooo much fun!

[@drssexy2142]

all eleven of you?

[@JeffCooper10538]

I’ve discovered and even rediscovered through revisiting a quite few albums as a result of this superb Podcast (my favourite in the ‘Podcast genre’) and ‘Common One’ is my absolute favourite. Such a great and influential record. 1980 … only took me 44 years. Thanks chaps! 👍

[@normanmorrow4897]

Been following the Podcast since episode 1. I like these 'Tube vids, but there is something about the Pod that is somewhat magical. Great stuff!!

[@parakart]

Wonderful stuff! Virginia Ashley had completely passed me by until this podcast

[@ephil105]

One area that seems really healthy in the last ten years is guitar based instrumental music; from Polyphia's re-writing of what guitar playing means to Lari Basilio or Cory Wong. I think instrumental music has become more viable with artist presenting their music via KZbin first and then backing it up via albums and tours.

[@duartelucas5746]

Here from day one!

[@markgatland977]

I like Tim's method of buying stuff 'on spec' still...I've got to say, (as a man of 51), that most of my collection was purchased on that thing of hearing 1 song and then taking a punt on the album. Either that, or buying albums on labels you could 'trust' like 4AD and Factory. Amazingly, there are very few duffers in the whole collection

[@pajamajesse]

i learn so much from you guys! thank you endlessly

[@ViktorKralovic]

Best episode 😄 You might do this sort of format from time to time.

[@doggity5149]

I dont know if its cute you both hold an SM58 (causing leak) or if it's a bummer.... Nah I think a neckband mic would've been a better solution! But fuck me and my audiotism (is that a word? Well it is now), lovely conversation gents! Such a joy listening to you guys, it's actually inspiring. Bonus compliment, I've been obsessed with "I love you to bits" for well over 4 months. I can't fucking get enough of it. It's bordering on insanity

[@blackmoofou6385]

Fantastic stuff, witty, engaging, intelligent and insightful. Listening and watching the podcast has taught me so much of how the current system for delivering music and engagement works. I wish I had been there just to hear Tim say "Fucking Shite' in the classic Cheshire accent. 🙂

[@floydemerson7072]

Thank you for The Album Years👍it's great👏Steve mentioned can't listen to an album from beginning to the end. I can no longer do that either. This multitasking-thing and the overload of information etc. leads to concentration problems and short attention span. It's a shame ...good music/albums deserve more! I think that this is a common problem these days.

[@electricwhiterabbit]

Great show! Would love to hear the whole thing un-edited.

[@drumvc8060]

Brilliant as ever 😀

[@kenmeyerjr57]

Paul Young rules!

[@kenmeyerjr57]

As for this reminiscence bump...I think, many times...the stuff we get into when we are very young...if we heard/saw it now, we might think it sucks (one example is the movie, Highlander...I never saw it as a teenager, but relatively recently, and it felt like the most cliche 80s music video...but a lot of people think of it as a huge classic)

[@DSM9]

I was an album-listening obsessive growing up in the '70s, '80s and '90s. These days, sadly, I'll mainly skip through assorted tracks on Alexa while making my coffee in the mornings.

[@kenmeyerjr57]

I love cds....have about 2500, and a fair amount of new stuff in there! In fact, for example, when I hear something on TAY, I get a cd as well as stream.

[@grantwallace1882]

I listened to albums from beginning to end very often when running 🏃

[@miguelmelchior986]

Thanks for sharing your gay routine.

[@norbertovelazquez7441]

Amazing!!

[@donaldmilne5352]

wrt Power Windows... great music, dated production, and that from a Rush fan. So I was quite aware of where you were coming from with that one. Anyway, great stuff as always!

[@OniLink97]

I try and listen to two albums a week with no distractions whatsoever. I often listen to music while doing things but whenever listening to a new album i want to do so with no distractions.

[@miguelmelchior986]

Thats gay cmon

[@markfirth3204]

I have set up my hi-fi in a room where I can listen to albums (vinyl and CD) more frequently and without distraction. Like I used to do when I was a teenager. Unfortunately I am prone to nodding off part way through (it may be an age thing + busy day at work).

[@erikleenhouts834]

Love this ❤

[@makkietakkie]

I would love to attend (or even ambitiously host) an edition based in the Netherlands.

[@vickyp.3274]

Wow!!! That's a surprise!!! We will watch the podcast until the end...of course!! Warm atmosphere...total "chemistry"..and the basic for me... Humor..2 :41..🙊😂😂❤ which all know how easily and magically every communication unlocks.... Specially with the "audience"!!! Tim and Steven... You are fantastic... We love you!!!I 👍👌🏽💯💎💿💎❤❤❤❤🌹🌬🌊🎶🎶 ☆ it was very short!!.😪😁🫶🫶🫶

[@kenmeyerjr57]

Interesting on the concept of The Album Years...for me at least, the album years still exist now...because I never listen to, for example, one song from any given artist...it's always the whole album (whether it's a cd or series of downloads).

[@cowieda]

Steven is a Swiftie, he had definitely listened to the new album

[@stuartraybould2574]

Classical music as never conformed to the Lp/cd/dvd/bluray and now streaming. It's all about the music, live performance above anything else. It may be a niche area but it's always been that way, the music changes a lot over the years, it's still progressive, one of the few areas that still is. Classical music as never been about the album, it's about the symphony or the quartet or the ballet or the opera, never made to fit a particular medium because of length. It's always been about the music, it's always going to be about the music, it doesn't conform and that goodness for that. When I listen to music, I listen, I don't do anything else, I give it the attention it deserves. This says more about the quality of music people are listening to, if it's good, it demands to be listened to. There is far too much shit around that's so easy to access but it's not worth listening to, so people don't put the effort in anymore. That's the issue, the pop music culture now is full of crap. Give me classical music every day, all day long.

[@NZVideoMaker]

20 zillion, billion plays, top songs classic artists and then reducing massively, so true.

[@sspbrazil]

What’s up with those sneakers Steve? Lol. Great episode guys.

[@nuisanceguru]

well, at least he's wearing some

[@sspbrazil]

@@nuisanceguru true.

[@dobieprime]

This just tells me the Steven needs to slow his ass down and chill and listen more…be still Steven :)

[@antonpreacher2900]

I’m always kind of pissed off when Steven inevitably say (about modern music) “guitar, bass, drums are over. Electronics are still fresh”. That’s kind of a bulllshit argument. Instruments or sounds are never “over”, rock music has a future. There’s a lot of innovations out there. The fact that he is not willing to partake in it, I respect. But don’t shit on it because you feel stuck in a genre. Those kind of broad generalizations is kind of lame. I can’t help to see it as “hoo I’m gonna say rock music is over and old, it will pissed off the Prog heads”. Love you Mr Wilson but sometimes you’re a bit much. (Sorry if I made mistakes, being French is not easy believe me)

[@nuisanceguru]

right? says the guy who made the harmony codex

[@DemskePaul2017]

Lenny Kravitz is doing the Rock genre great justice, and his work is consistent, with analog sensibilities.

[@lilizambrano2430]

Benny Hill, that’s funny. Although I don’t know what it’s called or don’t remember, I could just hear the popular theme playing in my head when he was mentioned.

[@isashax]

And Steven, you said quintessential :P

[@ileutur6863]

Has Karnivool ever been mentioned on this podcast? If not, they absolutely should be. The absolute best prog released in the last 20 years

[@nottssundayvinyl4064]

What's Mr Bowness packing in his undercrackers? That is next level manspreading.

[@mikethomas410]

I kind of like this Post Rock era because of the 3 good looking, super talented sisters in the Gen Z rock band "The Warning". I never thought I'd ever like an all girl rock band this much. Ever since I discovered them in spring 2022 I've gradually gotten to like nearly all of their songs. Check em out on KZbin. My favorite songs from their first 3 albums are ... Evolve, Animosity, Z, Disciple, Money, Choke, Amour, Martirio, Error, Dust to Dust, Ugh, Queen of the Murder Scene, Crimson Queen, Dull Knives, Survive, Narcissista, Shattered Heart, Show Me the Light, Black Holes and When I'm Alone. My favorite songs so far from their brand new "Keep Me Fed" album are Automatic Sun, Hell You Call a Dream, Satisfied, Burnout, More, Sick and Six Feet Deep. Google this ... The Warning on new music, meteoric rise, fears & superpowers - Alison Hagendorf. Google this ... The Warning - Full Concert Live at "Teatro Metropólitan" (CDMX).

[@angecaphile]

YESSSS

[@Z-eb]

I bet Steven Wilson would love the shoegaze/dreampop band "Night Tapes" - They use real instruments, but makes it sound very electronic.....Listen to their song "Selene" or "Projections"

[@nuisanceguru]

i never thought id like something like this, thanks for plugging me onto it

[@Z-eb]

@@nuisanceguru Your welcome !!

[@clivesilver463]

Streaming is terrible, you have to have sit down, with your physical format of choice and listen to the album, from beginning to end, make a habit of an album a day, with a good HI FI system, its how we used to do it and still can, music should not be jumping from track to track like using the remote control.

[@zacharynathanson2003]

You need to mention Alice Cooper.

[@TheEldestBoyTV]

Will the FULL episode be made available?

[@RS-zo1xg]

what you don't understand about Taylor Swift is that she's backed by the system - you don't get that big organically..

[@jimhardiman3836]

Imagine if the mainstream media at large decided to promote all the other amazing but struggling musicians NOT named Taylor Swift.

[@RS-zo1xg]

@@jimhardiman3836 man knows.

[@bjhellstream]

What absolute bs. She is big because loads of people relate to her music. That also means that media catch on and fuel her success. There's no conspiracy here.

[@FriedlichChiller]

I wonder when these two last went to a small (

[@michaelantonyaustin]

Currently huge artists like Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran etc. might be talented songwriters working with some talented people but the format is bland. Instead of using their ‘elevated platform’ to innovate change they’re doing the same thing musically as everyone else in pop. I’ve loved a handful of artists over the last 20 years - Arctic Monkeys, Editors, Lady Gaga, Sierra Ferrell, The Dead South, The Feeling, Bright Light Bright Light… but mostly these days I’m still discovering the ‘best’ music by looking back. This show alone has reminded me how much great work I missed back in the ‘80’s.

[@miriamearthling4107]

You failed at not mentioning Sgt. Pepper, though! (Just going through the 1967 podcast) 🙂

[@opinion3742]

I listen to whole albums often - while I am walking

[@miguelmelchior986]

To the gay store?

[@opinion3742]

@@miguelmelchior986 Gay store is twenty minutes from me, just far enough to mince my way through both sides of an average album.

[@nuisanceguru]

if we hold hands and walk to the next one we might just make it to both sides of a long album

[@pitch_imperfect]

You guys discussed ppst rock era without discussing post-rock. What more you can do with bass, guitar and drum is restructure the playing pattern. Let just music do its thing and hit hard the listeners and let them create their own narratives. We don't want to listen to words that i don't relate to. I would rather use the music as background to my own thoughts and it creates a personal experience which you get to live woth when you see the artist live.

[@bobby666666]

It must be the first time Steven has worn footwear on stage 😊😊.

[@HannahWachtStellarXx-xXCa8]

🫠

[@murraycampbell1548]

I think that new generations of people seem increasingly disconnected from the history of everything from music to cinema to visual art. There is little to no understanding of what has come before and how it all integrates with the present, or even the future. It’s both puzzling and kind of sad to me.

[@thekeywitness]

Taylor Swift benefits from her cultish fan base and relationship drama, which drives media attention. The fact that she’s a talented singer songwriter doesn’t hurt. But I still don’t care about her-I’m not her audience.

[@stevejones3868]

Out of phase?

[@bucephalas67]

Two sad old guys 😢 you talk vividly about music but don't seem to listen to it. Take a break boys put your phone's down it's not difficult ffs