How do you guys handle musical indecision (or do you)?

Been going through something strange. Well, a couple of things actually. The biggest problem is indecision. I'm browsing my library or Spotify, trying to pick something to listen to, and just cannot pick something. If I finally do, after about a minute my brain tells me I need to pick something different or give something new a chance etc. I'll hop madly from Metal Church to Aerosmith to Hendrix to Iced Earth to the Stones to etc etc etc. I can't seem to be satisfied with any one choice. It's unprecedented; I've never had this problem. Have you?

A lot. Usually happens when you have many different tastes and a large selection to choose from. In my short morning playlists I usually stick to a theme but I only have time for about 30 minutes. I will be torn on which songs to include and which to leave out.

That's what makes it more difficult, not having very much time to listen.

I just grab an album that I haven't heard in a looong time and go with it!

I have a system. I have my cds counted by letter. I divide each letter count by 6 (the average # I listen to in a day) and make one scrap of paper for every 6 cds. So, if I have 30 cds in the A column, I have 5 scraps of paper with the letter A on it. I do this for every letter in the alphabet. I then put all of the scraps of paper into a coffee cup. I blindly draw one. If the scrap of paper is T, then I pull 6 cds from the top of the T pile, and put the paper in the discard coffee mug (which when it's full will then become the draw mug). When I'm done with those 6, I put them on the bottom of the pile and draw a new letter.

This is my way of choosing, as I used to face this dilemma in the past, and it's also a way to listen to my cds in a roughly even way.

I will listen to new cds more often for 6-12 months before I enter them into their letter pile, when they then become part of the normal rotation.

I don't think about it for too long. If I have a couple of albums I can't quickly decide between, I'll just grab whichever and make a mental note to listen to the other ones the next time. Once the disc is in the player, the decision has been made and I'm only focused on what I'm listening.

I'm also a very fast shopper. The red shirt is nice and fits me, the tan shirt is nice and fits me. Since both are nice, it doesn't matter at all which one I pick. Pick whichever, leave shop.

I try to search for new songs daily, so my music stays fresh! I also play my fav playlist, so I know I wont grow tired of the songs!

I used to have this problem until I discovered Diamond Dogs.  No, not the Bowie album; the Scandinavian band.  I bought all their albums and put together a Best Of consisting of more than 100 tracks.  The music is so varied that I always find something to scratch a musical itch. 

Nowadays when I can't decide what to listen to, I always go to my Best Of Diamond Dogs.  So maybe you could do something like that; create a personal comp of a band you really like that has music that's multi-dimensional.

tohostudios wrote:

I used to have this problem until I discovered Diamond Dogs.  No, not the Bowie album; the Scandinavian band.  I bought all their albums and put together a Best Of consisting of more than 100 tracks.  The music is so varied that I always find something to scratch a musical itch. 

Nowadays when I can't decide what to listen to, I always go to my Best Of Diamond Dogs.  So maybe you could do something like that; create a personal comp of a band you really like that has music that's multi-dimensional.

I would usually do that with several songs from several bands. Since I no longer am able to listen to music at work, I usually do small playlists like that. I really don't listen to much music anymore as I just don't feel like it much these days (maybe I'm still slightly depressed because I have no social life, I don't really know). However, since at this point I can't buy any music it's not so bad. What I did do when I listened to music at work and have playlists spanning 8 hours or more was alternate between favorites and new or not listened to much albums whether I was in the mood for them or not. That way even if I just plod through an album, the next one will be one I like no matter the mood. If the new one or the not listened too much one is really good sometimes they become favorites.

Can't say I've ever had that problem.

Ahhhhh the old musical ADHD. I hate when I suffer from this while working out. One minute I want to hear Starship Trooper by Yes then remember I haven't listened to Yes Union in Ages which also reminds me that I haven't listened to Slaughters Wild Life in 15 years which reminds me I have an unopened Monkees CD I bought in 1995 that I need to get around to playing. Which reminds me Hendrix opened for The Monkees and I really wanna hear machine Gun but do I want the live version from Band Of Gypsys or the studio version from Midnight Lightning? Then while looking at LP's I remember I have ZZ Top that I bought on vinyl 3 months ago and still haven't played.

Now do you see what you did? You really messed me up with this thread........

I suffered the same problem when doing my cardio. It was either endless flipping on the ipod or like Mike it was endless stream of music thoughts of what I could be listening to instead. Eventually in order to not drive myself crazy I devised a set pattern which gave me a lot more discipline in listening. Certain days would be certain genres. I also devised a system much like Scott's where I organize it according to letter. This took away the "too many options problem" and narrowed down the selections. It has been working great for a good while now.

This is why I love this board - I've tried to explain my music selection decision making to others and I may as well have told them I like peeing my pants for fun or something. That, or I'm rainman.

Happens to me all the time as well.I usually go the route Toho does and pick a bands best of that is pretty varied.

I don't over think any of it. Nothing in my collection is organised in any way whatsoever. The stuff I have on itunes is alphabetical but that's it. I just have a record come into my head and I listen to it.

mikeinfla wrote:

Ahhhhh the old musical ADHD. I hate when I suffer from this while working out. One minute I want to hear Starship Trooper by Yes then remember I haven't listened to Yes Union in Ages which also reminds me that I haven't listened to Slaughters Wild Life in 15 years which reminds me I have an unopened Monkees CD I bought in 1995 that I need to get around to playing. Which reminds me Hendrix opened for The Monkees and I really wanna hear machine Gun but do I want the live version from Band Of Gypsys or the studio version from Midnight Lightning? Then while looking at LP's I remember I have ZZ Top that I bought on vinyl 3 months ago and still haven't played.

Now do you see what you did? You really messed me up with this thread........

Boom, this is exactly what I go through. I suppose it is a lot like ADHD. Just yesterday I went Metal Church, Presto Ballet, Ronny Munroe, Pamela Moore, Queensryche, Crimson Glory, Running Wild, Skyliner...I don't think I ever heard more than one song off of each album. Drove me insane.

Scott, that is one elaborate method you've got there.

I get to the point sometimes when i am burnt out on a certain style but i tend to listen to a lot of different stuff which keeps everything fresh.

exact33 wrote:

I get to the point sometimes when i am burnt out on a certain style but i tend to listen to a lot of different stuff which keeps everything fresh.

Same here.

When I really need to cleanse the "aural palate", I pop in something like Sonia Dada or Alabama 3; something completely off the hard music map.

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

I get to the point sometimes when i am burnt out on a certain style but i tend to listen to a lot of different stuff which keeps everything fresh.

Same here.

When I really need to cleanse the "aural palate", I pop in something like Sonia Dada or Alabama 3; something completely off the hard music map.

I go for 80s pop - more specifically Huey Lewis and the News.

exact33 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

I get to the point sometimes when i am burnt out on a certain style but i tend to listen to a lot of different stuff which keeps everything fresh.

Same here.

When I really need to cleanse the "aural palate", I pop in something like Sonia Dada or Alabama 3; something completely off the hard music map.

I go for 80s pop - more specifically Huey Lewis and the News.

Love me some Huey Lewis! Grew up listening to him and other pop artists. These days I also listen to songs from a cartoon I won't mention. Seems weird, but I like what I like (which is unusual because I normally HATE music in my cartoons-though there is just as much in this one that makes me cringe). Also I listen to soundtracks on occasion.

Admitting this probably invalidates my metal man card, but these days I care less and less what others think about me.

DallasBlack wrote:

exact33 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

I get to the point sometimes when i am burnt out on a certain style but i tend to listen to a lot of different stuff which keeps everything fresh.

Same here.

When I really need to cleanse the "aural palate", I pop in something like Sonia Dada or Alabama 3; something completely off the hard music map.

I go for 80s pop - more specifically Huey Lewis and the News.

Love me some Huey Lewis! Grew up listening to him and other pop artists. These days I also listen to songs from a cartoon I won't mention. Seems weird, but I like what I like (which is unusual because I normally HATE music in my cartoons-though there is just as much in this one that makes me cringe). Also I listen to soundtracks on occasion.

Admitting this probably invalidates my metal man card, but these days I care less and less what others think about me.

i dont care for metal in cartoons either unless its Tranformers - The Movie (1986). I like all kinds of music outside of metal - swing, classical, space rock, krautrock, jazz, 20s music, some country and of course prog.

exact33 wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

exact33 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

I get to the point sometimes when i am burnt out on a certain style but i tend to listen to a lot of different stuff which keeps everything fresh.

Same here.

When I really need to cleanse the "aural palate", I pop in something like Sonia Dada or Alabama 3; something completely off the hard music map.

I go for 80s pop - more specifically Huey Lewis and the News.

Love me some Huey Lewis! Grew up listening to him and other pop artists. These days I also listen to songs from a cartoon I won't mention. Seems weird, but I like what I like (which is unusual because I normally HATE music in my cartoons-though there is just as much in this one that makes me cringe). Also I listen to soundtracks on occasion.

Admitting this probably invalidates my metal man card, but these days I care less and less what others think about me.

i dont care for metal in cartoons either unless its Tranformers - The Movie (1986). I like all kinds of music outside of metal - swing, classical, space rock, krautrock, jazz, 20s music, some country and of course prog.

This wasn't metal music. Some of it even had a modern pop sound. It's written by an award winning composer for cartoon soundrtracks, Daniel Ingram. There was also an episode in the show where Weird Al was a guest voice and sang some songs (though not written by Al, they fit him perfectly).

DallasBlack wrote:

exact33 wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

exact33 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

I get to the point sometimes when i am burnt out on a certain style but i tend to listen to a lot of different stuff which keeps everything fresh.

Same here.

When I really need to cleanse the "aural palate", I pop in something like Sonia Dada or Alabama 3; something completely off the hard music map.

I go for 80s pop - more specifically Huey Lewis and the News.

Love me some Huey Lewis! Grew up listening to him and other pop artists. These days I also listen to songs from a cartoon I won't mention. Seems weird, but I like what I like (which is unusual because I normally HATE music in my cartoons-though there is just as much in this one that makes me cringe). Also I listen to soundtracks on occasion.

Admitting this probably invalidates my metal man card, but these days I care less and less what others think about me.

i dont care for metal in cartoons either unless its Tranformers - The Movie (1986). I like all kinds of music outside of metal - swing, classical, space rock, krautrock, jazz, 20s music, some country and of course prog.

This wasn't metal music. Some of it even had a modern pop sound. It's written by an award winning composer for cartoon soundrtracks, Daniel Ingram. There was also an episode in the show where Weird Al was a guest voice and sang some songs (though not written by Al, they fit him perfectly).

Weird Al was great in the Transformers Movie!

corplhicks wrote:

mikeinfla wrote:

Ahhhhh the old musical ADHD. I hate when I suffer from this while working out. One minute I want to hear Starship Trooper by Yes then remember I haven't listened to Yes Union in Ages which also reminds me that I haven't listened to Slaughters Wild Life in 15 years which reminds me I have an unopened Monkees CD I bought in 1995 that I need to get around to playing. Which reminds me Hendrix opened for The Monkees and I really wanna hear machine Gun but do I want the live version from Band Of Gypsys or the studio version from Midnight Lightning? Then while looking at LP's I remember I have ZZ Top that I bought on vinyl 3 months ago and still haven't played.

Now do you see what you did? You really messed me up with this thread........

Boom, this is exactly what I go through. I suppose it is a lot like ADHD. Just yesterday I went Metal Church, Presto Ballet, Ronny Munroe, Pamela Moore, Queensryche, Crimson Glory, Running Wild, Skyliner...I don't think I ever heard more than one song off of each album. Drove me insane.

Scott, that is one elaborate method you've got there.

It was a pain to start, but once it's done it's self-sustaining and oh so easy. Liberating!

I sometimes make lists, but anything can trigger I listen to a band, a documentary I watched, a conversation I've had or a music magazine I am reading

DallasBlack wrote:

exact33 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

I get to the point sometimes when i am burnt out on a certain style but i tend to listen to a lot of different stuff which keeps everything fresh.

Same here.

When I really need to cleanse the "aural palate", I pop in something like Sonia Dada or Alabama 3; something completely off the hard music map.

I go for 80s pop - more specifically Huey Lewis and the News.

Love me some Huey Lewis! Grew up listening to him and other pop artists. These days I also listen to songs from a cartoon I won't mention. Seems weird, but I like what I like (which is unusual because I normally HATE music in my cartoons-though there is just as much in this one that makes me cringe). Also I listen to soundtracks on occasion.

Admitting this probably invalidates my metal man card, but these days I care less and less what others think about me.

Gotta agree here and I think you just decided what I want to hear today! My wife and I went and saw Huey in concert last month and it was awesome. 30th Anniversary Sports tour so they played most of that album.