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This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says about You by Susan Rogers, Ogi Ogas
thechanelmuse's review against another edition
5.0
As a person who was enrolled in a sonic arts program and obtained a BFA in Music and Audio Production well over 10 years ago, I made sure to grab a knife and fork before I dived into This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You. This is right up my musical, analytical alley. Susan Rogers, who was Prince's sound engineer and currently teaches at Berklee College of Music, delivers a unique approach into the science and soul of music that creates an interactive experience for readers to understand their musical appetite and discover which listener profile — authenticity, realism, novelty, melody, lyrics, rhythm, or timbre — is their "sweet spot."
"We each seek out different sorts of experiences and emotional rewards from our musical encounters. Some listeners favor songs that evoke sweet nostalgia, while others crave a groove that matches their inner rhythm. Some listeners prefer to let their imaginations wander freely when they enjoy their favorite records, while others visualize specific scenes evoked by a song's lyrics. Some listeners covet innovative sound design, while for others it's all about that bass."
I already knew where I landed — the timbre profile — well before I began reading, but it's a treat to go through the process in the shoe's as an alternative profile before you find your Goldilocks group. This book doesn't drag down a daunting path when it comes to any technological or neuroscience aspect. From the average listener to a producer, it's straightforward for music enthusiasts at any level.
"We each seek out different sorts of experiences and emotional rewards from our musical encounters. Some listeners favor songs that evoke sweet nostalgia, while others crave a groove that matches their inner rhythm. Some listeners prefer to let their imaginations wander freely when they enjoy their favorite records, while others visualize specific scenes evoked by a song's lyrics. Some listeners covet innovative sound design, while for others it's all about that bass."
I already knew where I landed — the timbre profile — well before I began reading, but it's a treat to go through the process in the shoe's as an alternative profile before you find your Goldilocks group. This book doesn't drag down a daunting path when it comes to any technological or neuroscience aspect. From the average listener to a producer, it's straightforward for music enthusiasts at any level.
roxymaybe's review against another edition
2.0
I cannot explain how disappointed I am in this book. I'm not a Music Guy, but I was hoping this book would turn me into one. Instead, it just cemented my opinion that Music Guys are fucking annoying. A "record pull" sounds like my version of socializing hell: a bunch of people sit around and show off their musical taste to each other. And that's what this book felt like. A record producer with a lot of knowledge on how the different parts of music work together to make a whole gives you examples of songs that exemplify those aspects. There was vanishingly little neuroscience and what was included was so shallow you may as well have said "the brain has a few different regions that analyze sound." I didn't get any navel-gazing satisfaction in seeing myself in even one single aspect of a "listener profile." If you're already a Music Guy go ahead and pick this book up, but for the love of god don't try to talk to the rest of us about it.
rballenger's review against another edition
3.0
Type of read: Lunch/Weekend Read.
What made me pick it up: I picked up 'This Is What It Sounds Like' as part of the TN READs April prompt of reading a book by or about a musician. Additionally, growing up as a musical theatre kid and church choir kid, 'This Is What It Sounds Like' felt like a good fit. And as a Minnesota girl, you know the connection to Prince caught my eye.
Overall rating: I want to start by saying it should come as no surprise that 'This Is What It Sounds Like' is more of an academic, learning book than a sit-down, relax, and get lost in the pages book. Rogers does a great job of setting up the expectation of the book by literally saying it's all about the science, soul, and secrets of why we interact with music the way we do. I read this one in smaller bits and pieces (I don't like to feel like anything I'm reading is moving past reading and into full-on lecture mode), and that was the perfect way, at least for me, to enjoy 'This Is...' It's not the book for everyone but Rogers has a wonderful way of explaining the science and emotional aspects behind sound. An interesting read!
Reader's Note: I enjoyed 'This Is...' as an audiobook and used the premade Spotify playlist to listen to the music as suggested by Rogers. I searched 'This Is What It Sounds Like' in my Spotify app and it was the first playlist to appear in the list. The songs are also in order as they appear in the book, super helpful!
What made me pick it up: I picked up 'This Is What It Sounds Like' as part of the TN READs April prompt of reading a book by or about a musician. Additionally, growing up as a musical theatre kid and church choir kid, 'This Is What It Sounds Like' felt like a good fit. And as a Minnesota girl, you know the connection to Prince caught my eye.
Overall rating: I want to start by saying it should come as no surprise that 'This Is What It Sounds Like' is more of an academic, learning book than a sit-down, relax, and get lost in the pages book. Rogers does a great job of setting up the expectation of the book by literally saying it's all about the science, soul, and secrets of why we interact with music the way we do. I read this one in smaller bits and pieces (I don't like to feel like anything I'm reading is moving past reading and into full-on lecture mode), and that was the perfect way, at least for me, to enjoy 'This Is...' It's not the book for everyone but Rogers has a wonderful way of explaining the science and emotional aspects behind sound. An interesting read!
Reader's Note: I enjoyed 'This Is...' as an audiobook and used the premade Spotify playlist to listen to the music as suggested by Rogers. I searched 'This Is What It Sounds Like' in my Spotify app and it was the first playlist to appear in the list. The songs are also in order as they appear in the book, super helpful!
lydie95's review against another edition
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
A fascinating insight into why we listen to the music we listen to. How everything from our prefrences for strong melody or certain Rythem patterns influences the sounds we are drawn to. I felt this book expand an already deep personal love for music. Although, I would have maybe liked a little more data for each of the chapters in regards to listener habits and examples to back this up. A cracking read all round!