what makes an album/song a "grower"?

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so i was skimming the "human after all" thread and came across several comments that call it a grower. my question is why do people think this and do you think that musicians consciously set out to make "growers"? yeah, i know that's a bit like reading into intention and all, but i still think the question is an interesting one. i did a search and couldn't find a thread, but maybe that's because the answer is obvious. i don't know. thoughts?

― it's tricky (disco stu), Thursday, 27 January 2005 18:38 (twenty-one years ago)

patience

― snoozefest, Thursday, 27 January 2005 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Presumably things that are "growers" are things that you admire on an intellectual/theoretical level but don't feel any emotional connect to.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 27 January 2005 18:45 (twenty-one years ago)

that makes perfect sense. thanks, dan. i guess it's more interesting when the piece of music is authored by an artist where there is already some emotional connection.

― it's tricky (disco stu), Thursday, 27 January 2005 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Subtlety. The willingness to give multiple spins to something that doesn't immediately hit hard. Changing tastes.

― Jeff Reguilon (Talent Explosion), Thursday, 27 January 2005 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Changing tastes is a very important part of it.

― David Allen (David Allen), Thursday, 27 January 2005 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Sometimes the rest of the album makes you realize what's good about the song.

― David Allen (David Allen), Thursday, 27 January 2005 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

if it only takes patience, snoozefest, why does some criticism of music immediately label albums that way?

― it's tricky (disco stu), Thursday, 27 January 2005 18:53 (twenty-one years ago)

sometimes on subsequent plays you start hearing new things in the mix. the increasing familiarity of the music allows you to look beyond the hooks/obvious signposts.

― amanda lear (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 27 January 2005 18:55 (twenty-one years ago)

i just think the grower quality is a great piece of music flotsam. i love "growth" and "float".

― it's tricky (disco stu), Thursday, 27 January 2005 18:56 (twenty-one years ago)

i also love immediacy and confusion, but i don't think those are always opposites to growth and float.

― it's tricky (disco stu), Thursday, 27 January 2005 18:58 (twenty-one years ago)

f it only takes patience, snoozefest, why does some criticism of music immediately label albums that way?

Because either:

A. They listened to it repeatedly all night long

B. They do not hate and recognize a 'grower' when they hear one after years of experience.

I was kidding about the patience, but for ME, if I like a song right off, I KNOW that I am going to hate it very soon. The BEST songs are ALWAYS growers.

― snoozefest, Thursday, 27 January 2005 19:09 (twenty-one years ago)

looks like a small cock, but hurts like a motherfucker when put to use

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Thursday, 27 January 2005 19:35 (twenty-one years ago)

When you're done listening to the album and you think either "man that was disappointing" or "meh, pretty average" but it leaves you with this weird feeling that you just gotta listen to it again to make sure. So you leave it on the shelf, avoiding it because of your bad first impression, and when you finally get back around to listening, you pick up small things. Beats, sounds, 1 or 2 moments or hooks or lyrics that get stuck in your head and you can't get out. After a shorter while, you listen again just to hear those parts, and pick up on other things.

Most of my albums I'd label "growers" I didn't really like until the 4th or 5th listen, but then fell in love with.

― yarjax14 (yarjax14), Thursday, 27 January 2005 19:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, that's what I was about to say. There's something that nags at you to keep playing it, like you haven't quite gotten your mind around it yet.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 27 January 2005 20:14 (twenty-one years ago)

appreciating The Fall is like this at first.

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Thursday, 27 January 2005 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

There's an implied "subconsciously" in my original statement.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 27 January 2005 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

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