Live albums
I have been reflecting a lot recently on the question: who am I? I think of the answer primarily in terms of, "I am the kind of person who..." For example, I am the kind of person who listens to a live album and thinks: why would I want to listen to this when there is a much better version recorded in a studio? I get it, people value the spontaneity of live music. I guess I don't, for the most part. I have The Who's "Live at Leeds" album, which is generally regarded as one of the best live albums ever. I kind of appreciate it, the random interjections, the weird transitions and musical medleys. But I've had that album for 30 years now, so I've gotten used to it. I just listened to a different live album, and I can't help thinking: yuck. This is just like the studio release, only sloppier.