How do you digest an artists discography that is extensive and all, or mostly all, unknown to you? Slowly or quickly? 1 album a day, week, month? Multiple albums a day, week, month?

Start with an album and listen for as long as you want. When you're ready to move on, move on.

I think we're done here

For Radiohead and Oasis, I spend at least a month on each release and realted tracks before going onto the next. Starting from the first release.
With Smashing Pumpkins, I've consumed each re-issue as it has been released. Lots of time between releases. Though I am still digesting Adore and MCIS. MCIS is just holy fuck and immense.

Chronological or no?

Sometimes. Do you want to listen chronologically? Or would you rather start with something in the middle that stands out? There's no wrong answer here.

Radiohead, Oasis, and the Smashing Pumpkins don't really have large discographies. Medium-sized.

I let my heart guide me

I think that before proper guidance can be offered, we need to know whose discography Leatherhead is checking out. For example, if it were Fugazi, I'd say start somewhere in the middle. If it were Bill Callahan, I'd say start somewhere around 2000. But if it were Sonic Youth, I'd say start at the beginning.

I went with REM chronologically and that worked great.

Yea, I think REM is another start-from-the-beginning band.

There are several bands/artists of which I am only familiar with a couple albums because I don't know where to go next.

Give us the list and we will guide you.

Hmm, good question. I just 'found' Public Image Ltd by way of The Clash so I'm going through their respective catalogs. Basically starting at the front and going forward with them since I seem to recall both bands were 'new' to music so it would make more sense to get into them and then listen to them grow.

Chronological, always. Lots of band's early records can be gotten through quickly, and vice-versa.

yeah you're probably right

Even The Beatles don't deserve a chronological run through. You could just start with Rubber Soul and go forward from there.

I prefer to jump around haphazardly based on what seems interesting.

Taking a chronological approach feels a little too scholarly.

Going through Springsteen's discography chronologically was extremely rewarding, but it hasn't worked out as well with other artists.

I used to do this sorta intensely. Say Springsteen. I'd get the best biography and then work through the discography as I was going through the book. Can't remember which one but there was a book on him that was really informative about the recording of each album and contributions from the band members.


Then I stopped liking music in any kind of serious way a few years ago and stopped.