is "the album" dead?
- Thread starter Flying Spaghetti Monster
- Start date
I still buy CD's.
Then I rip them to MP3 for listening on the computer.
I just like the idea of the "whole package", plus most whole albums cost as much to download as when I buy the CD from the cheapest seller.
Unless you only want a few songs per album, then of course it can be a savings.
Then I rip them to MP3 for listening on the computer.
I just like the idea of the "whole package", plus most whole albums cost as much to download as when I buy the CD from the cheapest seller.
Unless you only want a few songs per album, then of course it can be a savings.
I still like the idea of a group of songs collected together for a specific purpose, as an album - either as a concept album with a proper story, narrative or a series of themes; or simply as a snapshot of an artist's musical, expressive, artistic and intellectual development at a certain moment in time or at a pivotal moment in their career. In that respect, I don't feel the idea behind albums will die.
There are still lots of artists, even mainstream ones that produce cohesive albums, yes even "concept" albums.
The big shift in music isn't that people are going to start releasing 1-2 songs all the time and no albums, it's that the singles and albums aren't the primary means of generating revenue anymore and instead serve as the promotional platform for the artist to make money doing tangible things like touring and selling merchandise and generating website hits.
The big shift in music isn't that people are going to start releasing 1-2 songs all the time and no albums, it's that the singles and albums aren't the primary means of generating revenue anymore and instead serve as the promotional platform for the artist to make money doing tangible things like touring and selling merchandise and generating website hits.
People still like albums, and they will continue to exist, but they aren't a big deal to an increasing number of listeners. There are ever-increasing numbers of people listening to a few favorite tracks here and there of artists, playlists/mixes, etc. rather than entire albums from start to finish.
Once there were singles then during the 60s the ideal of the concept album came and the cool people proved how hip they were by listening to the entire album. Then came the price increases and the punk movement and peole started asking why are they paying for an album of crap for one good song. Unfortunately by that time the single was a cassatte tape.
Enter the digital age and it became easy to buy the single again. Single videos are starting to overwelm the industry. Soon someone will try a video album, a mini musical movie in effect. If they do a good job that will be the future of albums.
Enter the digital age and it became easy to buy the single again. Single videos are starting to overwelm the industry. Soon someone will try a video album, a mini musical movie in effect. If they do a good job that will be the future of albums.
I want to thank you for all your great responses!
I love albums. Granted, I may download them and put them on my iPod, but I still enjoy listening to a full album from start to finish. I have a couple playlists that shuffle, but for the most part I prefer to listen to albums. If I want random songs, I'll listen to the radio.
In the end I guess that is better then the strategy of being on iTunes and holding back the hit as album only
Lol, someone's already tried that. Remember Green Jello?
Albums are already dead to me. If I'm ever in a situation where I have to buy a physical CD because it's not on Amazon or iTunes, I just rip it to my hard drive and throw the disc and jewel case in the closet. Then I burn all the songs onto CD in whichever order I want. Sometimes I'll listen to one album all the way through, but I usually prefer to listen to a wide variety of stuff.
I think the "album with one good song" is a myth propagated by people who want to justify illegally downloading music. Maybe there are some flash in the pan pop artists who think they can build an album around one good song and lots of filler, but if you buy an album by an artist who gives a damn about their music, I think you'll find it's usually strong all the way through.
I think the "album with one good song" is a myth propagated by people who want to justify illegally downloading music. Maybe there are some flash in the pan pop artists who think they can build an album around one good song and lots of filler, but if you buy an album by an artist who gives a damn about their music, I think you'll find it's usually strong all the way through.
Count me in the group of people who still loves albums. As Zion Ravescene said, the best albums are those that have a narrative or series of themes. It's not wonder such albums as Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, Sgt. Peppers' Lonely Hearts Club Band, Graceland, Hotel, Wait For Me, or anything by Godspeed You! Black Emperor are some of my favorite albums.
I don't see it as a myth, neither the artist or the record company produces"crap" or "filler" by design. Even if they didn't expect that the "B side" had as much of a chance of being a hit they expect the song to work. For whatever reason the audience does not agree
I still buy, and love, CDs. I'm more of an album listener than a 'singles' guy. Only if I'm a casual fan of an artist or group will I purchase a 'greatest hits' disc rather than the individual albums.
And I'm not an oldie. I'm 27.
I like albums to be designed as such. Made for a complete listening experience. Not just a random collection of singles thrown onto a disc. I don't think the Dark Side Of The Moon, Sgt Peppers, Close To The Edge, or 2112 days are completely dead. There's still plenty of artists making proper albums. You have to look for them, though. Most aren't really in the mainstream. Radiohead, Tool, Porcupine Tree, Mars Volta, Rush, Spocks Beard, Dream Theater, Sigur Ros, et al are still making 'concept albums' the way they used to be.
And I'm not an oldie. I'm 27.
I like albums to be designed as such. Made for a complete listening experience. Not just a random collection of singles thrown onto a disc. I don't think the Dark Side Of The Moon, Sgt Peppers, Close To The Edge, or 2112 days are completely dead. There's still plenty of artists making proper albums. You have to look for them, though. Most aren't really in the mainstream. Radiohead, Tool, Porcupine Tree, Mars Volta, Rush, Spocks Beard, Dream Theater, Sigur Ros, et al are still making 'concept albums' the way they used to be.
I think I was born in the wrong generation (Y). Most people my age don't have the patience for a whole album, preferring single downloads. I love albums, and buy and listen to them regularly.
The album, as a concept (i.e. a collection of songs packaged together and sold as a group), is not dead. I don't see that changing anytime soon.
The *CD* itself, on the other hand, just might be dead - I personally buy all of my music from iTunes. I don't even HAVE any CDs. If the CD isn't dead now, it soon will be.
The *CD* itself, on the other hand, just might be dead - I personally buy all of my music from iTunes. I don't even HAVE any CDs. If the CD isn't dead now, it soon will be.
Same here, except it would be live praise and worship service albums. What I refuse to do is buy a disc to get the "album only" hit. I will buy a cover version before pirating or giving in to greed.
They might not be everyone here's cup of tea, but Green Day is about as big a rock band as they come these days and American Idiot was a huge record that was *drumroll* a concept album. As is their latest.
One of my favourite concept albums of recent times is Our Lady Peace's Spiritual Machines which is inspired by Ray Kurzweil and his story concerning the singularity.
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