Okay, I was a little bit teasing, though on Spotify Altered Beast comes in last place (411,678 all time plays), close behind Spoken For (478,488), Dinosaurs (490K) and That's What Counts (538K). Interestingly, Apple Music's numbers suggest a different story, with That's What Counts at 552, Dinosaurs at 611, Altered Beast at 622, and Spoken For at 681. Of course, those aren't "thousands." Anyone reading this could go listen to Dinosaurs 12 times and drag it past Altered Beast. It would take a little more time — and ideally the help of a few friends — but you could actually put Altered Beast in **second place** (among BTM songs) on Apple Music by listening to it 594 times, landing it just the other side of Ghouls's 1,215 listens.
The real lesson here? Apple Music listeners have bad taste. 😆
I'm not a data guy by any means, but having looked at a lot of streaming numbers on Spotify for different artists and albums, I truly believe there's something or the other that skews those numbers in a surprising direction, and it'd be difficult for anyone to pinpoint what it is because it's probably different case to case. Sometimes the explanation is normal – for example album closers are almost always much higher than the tracks preceding them, as we can see here too – and sometimes really inexplicable, such as an album track having significantly lower listens than the general average of the rest of the album. (I'm talking 1k listens compared to the others having 5k listens.)
What does all this mean? I don't know, it's just something I've noticed. Who can guarantee this is anything? Nobody worth their salt. Will you know better about all this than me? Probably if not most definitely.
All I do know is, there isn't yet a machine that can measure the plays Altered Beast (or Headlights off Helter Seltzer) gets in my /heart and mind/, body and soul. And until the day that happens, I will never believe objective data from Spotify (that contradicts objective data from Apple Music).
Just here to sing the praises of the (unjustly maligned) tour diaries. Scrappy but charming and often downright hilarious, they represent much of what I love about you as a band outside of your music. I’m personally a huge fan of Sean McVerry’s camera work at the Temple Newsam show as well as the American cheese debate. What’s not to love? 🤷♀️
You sure got it right about WYWIG being nostalgia laden, it’s been on repeat for me today and it’s filling me with emotional nostalgia even though the UK tour only ended 2 weeks ago 🥹 I need another UK tour, preferably a London date as that was missed off last time. Or maybe come to Essex, we’d certainly welcome you and my local establishment, Grays Civic Centre is surely on a par with Crookes Social Club 😉
Don't have access to the VIP site. Already preordered the album on vinyl from the US webstore. How does one prove that they have preordered the album to gain access if access was not automatically given?
Also just bought tickets for the Brooklyn show. Never been to a WAS show before but recently became wayyyyyyy too obsessed with this band. Probably should have listened beyond The Great Escape and Nobody Move a few years ago, because the rest of the music is world changing and ridiculously underrated.
Hit us up at managementATwearescientists.com, Dr. Ship. We’ll send you a series of increasingly difficult Qs designed to discern whether you did in fact place a preorder. **The process is infallible.**
Came here to defend Altered Beast 🙅🏻♂️
A beautiful song with a video comprised of loving fan submissions? Oh, my heart! 💓
Timecode 0.00 & 3.15 in Brussels ☺️
See you in Liverpool at Cains Brewery 🍻
💥
aw what the hell I love Altered Beast!
Okay, I was a little bit teasing, though on Spotify Altered Beast comes in last place (411,678 all time plays), close behind Spoken For (478,488), Dinosaurs (490K) and That's What Counts (538K). Interestingly, Apple Music's numbers suggest a different story, with That's What Counts at 552, Dinosaurs at 611, Altered Beast at 622, and Spoken For at 681. Of course, those aren't "thousands." Anyone reading this could go listen to Dinosaurs 12 times and drag it past Altered Beast. It would take a little more time — and ideally the help of a few friends — but you could actually put Altered Beast in **second place** (among BTM songs) on Apple Music by listening to it 594 times, landing it just the other side of Ghouls's 1,215 listens.
The real lesson here? Apple Music listeners have bad taste. 😆
I'm not a data guy by any means, but having looked at a lot of streaming numbers on Spotify for different artists and albums, I truly believe there's something or the other that skews those numbers in a surprising direction, and it'd be difficult for anyone to pinpoint what it is because it's probably different case to case. Sometimes the explanation is normal – for example album closers are almost always much higher than the tracks preceding them, as we can see here too – and sometimes really inexplicable, such as an album track having significantly lower listens than the general average of the rest of the album. (I'm talking 1k listens compared to the others having 5k listens.)
What does all this mean? I don't know, it's just something I've noticed. Who can guarantee this is anything? Nobody worth their salt. Will you know better about all this than me? Probably if not most definitely.
All I do know is, there isn't yet a machine that can measure the plays Altered Beast (or Headlights off Helter Seltzer) gets in my /heart and mind/, body and soul. And until the day that happens, I will never believe objective data from Spotify (that contradicts objective data from Apple Music).
Likewise! A constant contender for my favourite WAS song. Perhaps only appreciated by the most dedicated and erudite fans?
I was thinking that too! Love Altered Beast. Would have thought Spoken For would get the vote 🤔
Same! Underrated Classic!
Just here to sing the praises of the (unjustly maligned) tour diaries. Scrappy but charming and often downright hilarious, they represent much of what I love about you as a band outside of your music. I’m personally a huge fan of Sean McVerry’s camera work at the Temple Newsam show as well as the American cheese debate. What’s not to love? 🤷♀️
So glad to be part of the community that finally reversed climate change through all the pre-saving 🙏🏼
Will the Kingston show(s) be electric? ⚡
Someone build me a teleport device to get me back from London to NYC for that birthday gig.
I know that’s called a plane, but who wants to do TSA more than they have to
You sure got it right about WYWIG being nostalgia laden, it’s been on repeat for me today and it’s filling me with emotional nostalgia even though the UK tour only ended 2 weeks ago 🥹 I need another UK tour, preferably a London date as that was missed off last time. Or maybe come to Essex, we’d certainly welcome you and my local establishment, Grays Civic Centre is surely on a par with Crookes Social Club 😉
Too much to process here but a second Kingston date would be incredible! Keep us posted!
Please, please, please can we get some Irish dates in there too 👀 we miss you!
Don't have access to the VIP site. Already preordered the album on vinyl from the US webstore. How does one prove that they have preordered the album to gain access if access was not automatically given?
Also just bought tickets for the Brooklyn show. Never been to a WAS show before but recently became wayyyyyyy too obsessed with this band. Probably should have listened beyond The Great Escape and Nobody Move a few years ago, because the rest of the music is world changing and ridiculously underrated.
Hit us up at managementATwearescientists.com, Dr. Ship. We’ll send you a series of increasingly difficult Qs designed to discern whether you did in fact place a preorder. **The process is infallible.**
Glad you’re enjoying the oeuvre! Welcome!
Time code 0.10 Utrecht and 3.41/42 Brussels
My name doesn't appear but it doesn't matter. We had an amazing time.
Time code 0.10 in Utrecht and 3.41/42 in Brussels
Maybe an arctic monkeys cover? Arabella?
I thought about this too, although the first Sheffield bands to pop into my head were Pulp and Human League!