[Shaun]

When you listen to a song, or album, or mixtape (etc.) do you believe that the condition(s) you are in at time of listening have a significant impact over your enjoyment of the music itself or not?

And carrying on from this - do you therefore try to establish a norm before you judge music for its merits?

For example, a new album comes out. You give it a listen. It's raining, you've got a bit of a toothache and you're worrying about an exam next week.

Contrast this with: a new album comes out. It's summer, you're with friends and having a nice drive somewhere.

There's bound to be a change in your perception of the music, no? I mean other than the obvious associations we make with music: such as what a song reminds us of (people, places, events).