When an Album Announces Itself

What happens when we stop asking what to listen to and start asking what to listen for? This episode begins the weekly topic on Dave’s Side One: Seven Things to Listen For. The first exercise is musical identity. Using Earth, Wind & Fire's I Am and the opening of “In the Stone,” Dave listens for the musical information arriving almost immediately: rhythm, horns, voices, arrangement, energy and scale. Then he introduces The Album-Introduction Test: ARRIVE — Does the album command attention? IDENTIFY — Does it establish a recognizable personality? PROMISE — What expectations does the opening create? DELIVER — Does the rest of the album develop that identity? A great opening doesn't need to tell us everything that's coming. It teaches us what to listen for. Side One Spin: What album announces itself almost immediately?