What? After they 'revolutionised' the way we listen to music....how dare they!

Seriously though, why do musicians seem to hate albums so much? I can't think of a single person I know who would welcome the death of the LP.

This makes me sad. Radiohead albums were always a real event for me. I'll miss them.

Still though, EPs ain't half bad.

Posted By jan on 11 Aug 2009 09:38 AM
This makes me sad. Radiohead albums were always a real event for me. I'll miss them.

Still though, EPs ain't half bad.

Plus, no more albums mean no more album reviews. And then where would you be? ;D

Aside from my facetious dig at the 'Head, I'm not so sure the demise of the album would be a bad thing. It would mean the end of album filler tracks, for one thing: can you think of albums that have a full set of genuinely gripping, single-quality songs? Even Beatles albums have Ringo songs.

I think I've said this before here: the best thing about download culture is that it has re-established the song as the unit of music.

I don't want every song on an album to be single quality necessarily, sometimes six minutes of brooding intensity underpinned with innovative noodling is all a person wants, non? But most of all albums are about the piece of work as a whole...Kid A is a perfect example, the artwork, the lyrics and of course the music all contribute to the aesthetic...Sufjan Stevens' Come On Fell the Illinoise and Michigan records are the same - there's countless examples. But you're right often albums are merely a bunch of singles padded out with filler tracks but isn't that what makes the good ones all the more exciting?

Posted By jan on 11 Aug 2009 10:59 AM
I don't want every song on an album to be single quality necessarily, sometimes six minutes of brooding intensity underpinned with innovative noodling is all a person wants, non? But most of all albums are about the piece of work as a whole...Kid A is a perfect example, the artwork, the lyrics and of course the music all contribute to the aesthetic...Sufjan Stevens' Come On Fell the Illinoise and Michigan records are the same - there's countless examples. But you're right often albums are merely a bunch of singles padded out with filler tracks but isn't that what makes the good ones all the more exciting?

Sure, there are times when I want innovative noodling - for example, in a Chinese restaurant. (Sorry. I'm on holiday.)

I think I listen to albums as a bunch of tracks rather than as a whole, so I feel cheated if each track on an album can't stand alone as a good piece of music, even a one-minute instrumental. But I'm a pop kid, and pop = singles, rock = albums.

I've said this here before, but the best thing about download culture is that it has re-established the song as the unit of music. If an act must sell each track individually, surely they'll have to up their game?

And wouldn't it be cool to be able to pay into a gig just for the band's one decent song? Two euro to hear their hit, then back out to the pub ;D

I think I must be some kind of pop/rock hermaphrodite kid so

Posted By jan on 11 Aug 2009 10:59 AM
I don't want every song on an album to be single quality necessarily, sometimes six minutes of brooding intensity underpinned with innovative noodling is all a person wants, non? But most of all albums are about the piece of work as a whole...Kid A is a perfect example, the artwork, the lyrics and of course the music all contribute to the aesthetic...Sufjan Stevens' Come On Fell the Illinoise and Michigan records are the same - there's countless examples. But you're right often albums are merely a bunch of singles padded out with filler tracks but isn't that what makes the good ones all the more exciting?

Absolutely agree. Thats why I dont use shuffle on my ipod until I've listened to an album for a solid period. Also I dont think Yorke meant they never intend on recording another album, just for quite a while as its such an intensive process.

I love albums, I devour them from cover sleeve to cover sleeve.  That's one of many reasons why I don't download music, you lose that multi-sensory experience.  Also, re album fillers, some of my favourite songs were never released as singles and, without the album, I'd have never heard them.

Posted By aidan on 11 Aug 2009 03:28 PM
But I'm a pop kid, and pop = singles, rock = albums.

When you think about, the "album" only really came to prominence in the 60s when Rock and Roll morphed slowly into the more serious, pompous and self important form we know as "Rock". The Beatles "Rubber Soul", The Beach Boys moving away from fun songs about cars, girls and surfing to the introspection of "Pet Sounds", Cream, Zeppelin, etc.

The album as an artistic format peaked in the 70s but has been arguably less and less relevant since, even before the digital era. We continued buying albums because that's how we were used to consuming music, and also CD singles were an absolute rip.

The only album I can think of in recent times that was really felt a complete album in that 70s rockist sort of way would be "Sound of Silver" by LCD soundsystem. Kinda ironic seeing as dance music is normally the preserve of the 12" single.

The plot thickens.....

http://www.ateaseweb.com/2009/08/13/new-radiohead-track-leaked/