Cactus Annie
Refugee
I'd like to hear World Music.
U2 is awful at singles now though. Releasing them, recording them; the works. If they don't get back to the art of making coherent, memorable LPs, I can't imagine what else they could do. I suppose had U2 released the first 4 tracks on NLOTH + Breathe as an EP, they would have gotten less shit, so I suppose that is an option.
The fact is, U2 has ALWAYS been an album band with a penchant for concepts and running themes, and I can't imagine them severing those.
The album is dead, it has been for awhile.
Not for people who still view music as art.
Le Noise on vinyl, bitch.What was the last true album you bought and what did you play it on?
Le Noise on vinyl, bitch.
...This is a really good point. Honestly, an 8-song SOA EP that sticks to the original concept would probably be better than a full album version that doesn't.But an 8 song collection that clocks in at less than 38 minutes wouldn't be considered an album by many.
The album was defined by the space allowed on vinyl, the format fit easily on cassettes, both having about the same time and having sides. When the CD came out artist started putting out overbloated releases some 17 18 song collections. Now some have gone back to the 10 to 12 song "album" but for little or no reason except that is what they grew up with...
What was the last true album you bought and what did you play it on?
i think u2 should write the album they want to write. to fuck with what the rest of us think. that's when they'll write their last masterpiece... when they don't worry about how it will be received and just write.
You missed my point by miles. Let me ask you again, what was the last album as art that you bought? One that wasn't a collection of songs, one that didn't have filler, where the artwork was intertwined with the music, who is still doing this?As I alluded to, I am talking about the album as art.
An "album" is whatever the artist says it is. Regardless if it's 35 or 70 minutes.
Just like a song is only completed when the artist stops working on it.
The cinematic work known as The Godfather is a film, whether it's on VHS, DVD, BluRay or broadcast by cable or satellite. It's also literally a 'film'.
So there is the format and there is the artform.
"Album" is both as well. The format in which the product is delivered by hardcopy (vinyl, CD, cassette, 8-track) is still apparently selling enough to warrant production (CD's). The artist's want to create the artform has clearly not diminished. The album is not dead. The CD may be dead one day but the "album" clearly won't be, otherwise it would be dying right now (see my question below*).
This is akin to saying that "film is dead" when VHS went by the wayside.
There will always be a format to deliver a film, whether it is quite literally film or digitally captured. Just like there will always be some way to deliver "albums" as artforms.
The last album I bought was an old used CD (I often buy old CD's and transfer them digitally to my PC). But I've bought albums as digital downloads, vinyl (collector) and CD all within the last month.
Is there anyone out there that thinks the vast majority 15 year olds in their basements right now trying to form a band and sustain a career will suddenly be more consumed by single songs than albums? If so, WHY? The financial argument tilts HEAVILY towards albums rather than singles. Why? Because I can force you to buy 12 songs rather than the only 4 you like. There isn't a single argument against the viability of "albums" that isn't wrapped in some notion about how CD sales are declining. And digital downloads are still in their infancy, more or less. If I can charge you more money to buy an album, then I will.
If I don't care about making more money, I am probably more artistically inclined. Why would I then be consumed by only making songs to sell here and there? There isn't any real logic to it. Sounds like 'Record label' excuse making. The cassette was supposed to have killed the album too. The death of the 45 was supposed to have killed the single, and what happened?
Sufjan Stevens, Ash, and Prince have all released non-album formats either digital singles or EPs.Now allow me to ask you a question*, BVS.
Can you name me any kind of significant music artist currently moving away from 'albums' as an artform?
You missed my point by miles. Let me ask you again, what was the last album as art that you bought? One that wasn't a collection of songs, one that didn't have filler, where the artwork was intertwined with the music, who is still doing this?
That is not how they have been functioning during their career, is it ?
I think Arcade Fire's latest is a fine example
I think Arcade Fire's latest is a fine example
Because a free ep wouldn't have made much impact or hype.
Then I suppose, at least commercially, the LP is not dead. Or, on the flipside, the EP is in its formative years. Either way, it will be years until regular EP releases are a commercially viable option. You could use Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster as an example, but even she refers to that as an album.
Nickelback says "hi."more reason to record an album in canada
end result is an album, not a collection of songs.
Nickelback says "hi."
bahaha... can't wait for the Chad Kroger duet version of Beautiful Day for the new Canadian branch of (RED)...