Each week, one thing you’re bound to see online or even heard spoken by friends when a new album or movie comes out is something like:
“The new album by ____ is their best yet!”
or
“_________ is awesome! It’s my favorite movie!”
But the truth is… can we really call a brand new album we’ve only heard a handful of times over the course of a couple hours or a couple days — or a movie we’ve only seen once — our “Favorite” or “the best?”
Let’s look at it this way… If you were to only be able allowed to watch one movie for the rest of your life, would it be that one? If you were only able to listen to one album, would that be it?
When I was a teenager, I remember seeing a movie in the theater and enjoying it enough to call it my favorite film. Upon multiple viewings, and as I got older, I realized I enjoyed the movie still, but it was in no way my favorite movie. At around the same time in my life, I found my “favorite band” changing a bit too much as well. I’d hear one band, see them live, and love ’em to death. Then a few months or a year or two later, they’d have a new album, but a different band would put out a BETTER album. Well then, THAT album was my favorite, and so was that band. Then it happened again. Then, as I got a little older, a previously favorite band put out an album that really hit home. They were my favorite once again, and pretty much lasted that way past their retirement.
Why does this matter? It’s tough for true music fans to discuss music openly when things like “Album of the Year,” “Best album by far!”, etc, are statements used far too often time and time again by the same people. (Don’t get me started about it being overused in music reviews!) Are these listeners just really easy to please? Or are these albums REALLY each the best… at the time they hear them? So what’s the criteria for “best”? Sure, it’s exciting to have new music. But sometimes when we get music weeks or even months in advance, it’s still difficult to boldly proclaim “This is their best album yet!” or “Album of the Year” (especially, with the latter, when there’s plenty of music yet to come out that year). It just seems like a pretty big statement to make.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found it important not to jump to conclusions. Did I love that one new movie? Actually, yeah, but will it endure to be a favorite of mine 5, 10, 15 years from now? I’ve found that the movies that are my absolute favorites are ones I’ve seen many times over the course of several years and still really like them. I can honestly tell you that my absolute favorite, hands-down go-to movie is Ghostbusters because I first saw it as a kid and still can watch it at almost any time. It’s held up pretty well, despite being dated (but what isn’t, right?) and it’s also nostalgic for me. And it still brings a smile to my face. For music, I’ve also found bands like PFR, their songs just feel like a warm blanket, a dip in a hot tub, or reclining after a day of being on your feet without a second’s rest. I think that warrants calling their music a favorite. It feeds my soul too. Is that one new album by _____ awesome? Yeah! I like it! But let me get back to you on if it’s their best or if it’s one of my favorites. I’ve had albums that I’d never dreamed would be a favorite still sound like gold to my ears many years later. I love that. But I’ve also had albums I was quick to call amazing or the best not hold up very long at all.
Maybe none of this really matters, I do realize that, but every street week when glowing comments for new albums (or negative ones, actually) flood the internet on THE DAY an album comes out, praising (or condemning) an album after what could be no more than just a handful of listens, you have to wonder how much time was devoted to really digging into the music and letting it just soak in. For real music fans, that’s important. I know it’s new and exciting and you were waiting a couple years for it since the last street day, but give it time. Sure, we sometimes read reviews to see if something is better than what came before it, but it can be much too hasty to just jump at calling something the best prematurely. There’s nothing wrong with letting it simmer and sit with you a bit. You’ll be surprised, in the end, just what IS the best or your favorite to you down the line. Happy listening!