Getting into an artist

How do you get really into an artist? I could say I'm into a few artists, but really there's only one I really know. You could always do an Archive Binge, but are there any easier ways?

If you hear about an artist and think you'd like them just search a song or two on Youtube to see if you like them.

...after that point. When you want to become an actual fan.

You become a fan when you start calling yourself one, everything else is just a matter of degree.

If you dug their stuff that you heard enough, you'll be willing to engage in that archive binge.

If they have a huge archive it can be annoying. Especially if you don't own the albums, and godammit why did nobody upload the album version of Sehnsucht on to Youtube.

It's not like Rammstein D Ls are hard to find....

(*Not Condoning Piracy*)

Not Rammstein.

Derp. >.<

Which album is that one from?

The one I was looking for is from Halber Mensch

We're talking about completely different bands, aren't we?

We're talking about Einsturzende Neubauten, right?

And I don't have that one, but I've never been a big fan.

Oh... I thought you were talking about Rammstein. Yeah, we are talking about EN.

I'm in the beginning of an archive binge.

Usually when I want to get into an artist, I just download and listen to one of their albums. Usually the one people say is the best or most accessible, or their first one if I can't find any recommendations of that sort.

And then, you know, if I like it, I'll get another one, eventually. I don't think you should feel the need to binge the whole discography at once.

edited 1st Jan '12 4:26:15 PM by Nyktos

Unless there's a generally agreed-upon "best" album I like to start with their earliest and most recent.

edited 1st Jan '12 6:46:06 PM by xexyzl

I just randomly search a bunch of songs on Youtube and see how many I like which let's me judge weather or not I am fan of the artist.

@Post 6: Fair point. I'd look for a "best of" compilation first then, and maybe seek out the strongest in their catalogue (or what suits your taste best) first.

I never Archive Binge an entire discography right from the start. If you acquire that much music at once, chances are you won't take the time to really listen to any of it attentively. Rather, I read something about their history and discography on The Other Wiki, then pick two or three albums which seem to be important (first album / breakthrough album / Crowning Moment Of Awesome) and download them. If I like it, it stays, and after I've listened to it extensively, I may start looking for more of their material.

Or, if the artist is from the "pre-album" age (e.g. a blues singer), I'll just download a "best of" compilation of them.

In order to begin with an artist, I pick an album on RYM that has a good balance between its popularity and rating (if there's only one album listed in bold, I pick that one). I tend to give the album I've picked a good amount of listens before proceeding to the next one (I often go for ten listens, tracking them via Last.fm).

I don't really have a system for proceeding further. For example: with Ulver I'm going chronologically (I'm currently on Blood Inside, having skipped the William Blake album for no real reason); with Neurosis I just go by how cool I think the album might be (last time I went with Souls at Zero just because I really liked the name).

What's for sure is that I never download the artist's full discography from the get-go and almost never "test drive" songs on YouTube in order to pick a starter album.

edited 21st Jan '12 6:42:43 AM by Litis

It depends. I'll check out the artist's most acclaimed hits/albums first, and go from there. Or check the most recent stuff. What it mostly depends on is the artist's longevity.

For example, I got into Eminem pretty late. As in circa Relapse, as he had come back from his hiatus. That's not to say I was bumping Relapse all that much though.. probably one song on there I still like. I went into his library of older stuff, and obviously there's quite much to choose from. There's still classics I haven't gotten around to copping yet, even though I could probably recognize certain tunes via ambiguous memory.

First, I hear a song that gets them on my radar because I like it.

Then, either on a whim or because someone else suggests it, I listen to other songs by them to assure to myself that they don't only have one song I like.

The more I like their songs, the more likely I am to listen to more of them. If I like enough of their songs, I can say that I "am into" the artist.

I do pretty much what Midnight Rambler said. For almost any band, they usually have one or two albums that are considered "important" (a breakthrough for them, or even for the whole genre). I'll give those a listen, and if it works I'll try the lesser known material.

I go on You Tube and listen to the song and other songs that are by the same artist. If I like it, I grab the album that had the highest chart position or the album the song is on.

There's more to it than "Oh, that's number one." If there are other albums before that charted at 23, I'll pick that one first.

Pre-60s: I get a greatest hits.

edited 23rd Jan '12 4:29:43 PM by Completion

I go with the album with the best Allmusic score. Allmusic can be off, but I've found them more reliable than a lot of critics.

If they don't have any Allmusic reviews, I just wade in.

What would you do if you were (hypothetically) trying to get into The Beatles using that system? Allmusic gave every album in their official "canon" a perfect 5 star rating. Even the ones they didn't like.

I'd go with a greatest hits album. The album 1 is probably the best shot.