Yeah this is a great idea. I often miss the days when all I had access to was what I actually bought. I was rarely disappointed, because everything had time to grow on me. My friends were never as much into music discovery as I was, they'd actually discover a lot from me, so it's not like I got CDRs or dubbed tapes all that often back then.

You're not alone! I think many MBers have or will at some point come to the harrowing realisation that there just isn't enough time in life to hear all the music you want. It's hard to find time to check out all the new releases, explore all the existing music you haven't heard and revisit favourites - especially if you want to maintain a life outside music! And if you play instruments on top of listening to music, you find yourself with even less time. :D

Have a break from music for a week or so and then start listening to it again?

The problem is not music itself - you don't need a break from music. You need to work on your own obsession with it. I think it's a symptom of music addiction which many people probably suffer. The only way I know how to deal with it is to trust my instincts. That means - when I start feeling burnt out or overwhelmed by music I need to forget about my quest to hear new things and just listen to whatever pops into my head - even if my addiction is screaming "no, that's boring! check out something else!". Ignore the obsessive-compulsive part of your mind and throw on that album that you have heard hundreds of times before and that you already love. Then stop thinking about music and just listen.

I find most recommendations tend to be rubbish anyway.

I can do without listening to the latest fad bands that come along. If they're any good they'll still be around in a few years time anyway. I'll check them out then.

I'm quite happy listening to old favourites most of the time and occasionally listening to something new to me.

I think far too many people here are too obsessed with finding new stuff all the time & not spending time enjoying what they already have.

This can certainly ring true 90% of the time but I enjoy hearing new stuff constantly and find it a constant joy to find an album that you know nothing about to find it's bloody great. I think people should always seek new music as there is so much to find out there but like you say, never forget what classics you do have already. Another thing I will say is that my Last.fm obviously relates to my PC listening and I would say 80% of that is listening to new music/ albums. I do devote a huge amount of time to listening to my old stuff on my Hi Fi and MP3. There is nothing like blowing the dust of an old CD and being transported back to when you bought it and the fact that it's still relavent today.

in line with what Engine and Urban mentionned...

it sounds like you need to get over your OCD about quantity of music. i suppose what you're experiencing is one of the new downsides to digital distribution of music and what easy access to pirated discographies provides.

is it really the music that stresses you out or the fact that you're getting older and saddled with more responsibilities which take away from your ability to do as much as you enjoyed when you were young (like listening to new music at your leisure)?

I think I'm at the stage where certain tracks by certain bands are beginning to attract my attention, rather than an entire album these days. Probably due to the easy accessibility to music via the pc.
Shame really.

i don't see the shame in this. most albums have a fair pile of filler, so why not go straight for the good stuff?

I guess I'm berating the days when I'd listen to an album from start to finish.
That's what I miss most. I don't seem to have the patience or the inclination now and I blame it on the computer.

Edit: I'm not referring to the older and the familiar to me albums, cos I still listen to them straight through.
It's the newer album releases I'm having trouble with.