You'll get my albums when you prise them from my cold dead hands. As far as I'm concerned I download individual tracks as a sampler to see if I like an act before going out (to an actual record shop) and buying their album (on an Actual CD). I can think of loads of songs that I wasn't sure about when I first heard them but when I listened to it as part of a collection of songs it worked. There is also sound quality issues to consider, if you download from soulseek or iTunes or wherever you are going to get poorer sound then on CD (which is worse than Vinyl, why is it that each new technology that comes along ot store music makes it sound worse). Considering the lengths that the bootlegging community goes to to try to ensure that shows they tape are only ever traded in a lossless format and how bitchy they get when they discover that people have encoded stuff to MP3 I find it odd that bands are so willing to allow a shoddy version of something that they've spent so much time creating go out like this.

I feel an OpEd coming on here from someone. As I stated earlier, I'm much more of an album person. So clearly I wouldn't agree with the statement, if it were made, that the album is on its deathbed. Singles will always be popular (with downloading or buying tunes online maybe replacing the actual purchase of a cd single) but so will albums. We cannot define musicians by one catchy track that they produce. Ok we can for the bad musicians but for example, Queen are best known for Boheiman Rhapsody but genuine music fans know that Queen jam packed their albums with equally great tunes. Albums are essential in discovering an artist, more of their sound, capaibilities they have and the element of surprise that they produce. Even with the recent bombardment of re-issued albums, people (or maybe its just record companies) are demanding even more tracks eg. bonus tracks, b-sides. The cd album will easily fend off competition, it brushed aside the cassette and mini-disc already. Albums will always be important, in my opinion anyway.

The album looks in absolutely no danger for the moment. For all the hype about music and the internet online downloads still represent only a really tiny proportion of music sales. People like CDs, and will continue to buy them for some time, it's that simple. Rather than looking at this from a negative point of view "the death of the album" we should rejoice and see i-Tunes and similar services as sort of "rebirth of the single".

Don't get me wrong, I use itunes everyday and applaud the introduction of buying music online. I just don't think it will get so popular that we will be all rushing down to Chapters to cash in on our albums.

Its not only album which are at risk, it is the small, stores that sell them too. I was walking past my friendly neighbourhood record store the other day to see the sign, 'closing down sale' in the window. Not to get too heavy here, but a whole way of life is dying before our very eyes. The small owner run stores (well the one I went to) would play stuff for you, tell you what was coming in, order for you, and generally shoot the breeze. All gone now.

Jules, what record store is that? And are there any good bargains? Don't mean to cash in on the store's closure but I'm sure he'll be looking to flog off alot of stuff. I know what you are saying about the small independent stores. It would be a shame if they disappeared. I try to get alot of my stuff from Road Recs, nice selection and really nice people there.

The demise of the small record store has nothing to do with the greatly exaggerated reports of the death of the album or with online downloads. It does have a lot to do with the internet though. They can't really survive selling "top 40" albums anymore because supermarkets like Tesco and sites like CD WOW will always undercut them on price. Sites like Amazon, rough trade, CD Baby, etc. will also offer more choice and thanks to the net, ordering stuff directly from record labels has never been easier.

Sorry, I retract my previous greedy statement......

The plane has crashed into the mountain.

I think buying online is the way forward. Whether it be albums or download. HMV ruined it on everyone. Their prices are simply ridiculous. Ever wandered in looking for an album from a band's back catalogue only to discover its about 25 quid?

Cheers flipperstired, I didn't mean for my post to come across like that. But what's done is done at this stage. I've noticed that you are becoming a regular now so make sure you start threads too. These boards need new threads daily. And someone should mention Brian's Plantxy live review aswell as Anna's well structured album review, which are just put up.

np Gar, I have been watchin this site alot lately, just tappin into the people and trying to get familiar with names and stuff. Am happy enough replying to other posts at the moment. I came to the defence of a particular band awhile back in here in a very heated debate and got bitten so am wary enough. Still, i love the site.

You didn't say that you liked the Frames did you? Because thats a big no-no, people seem to interprit it as "I'm am going to break into the house and rape your granny".

lmao!!!(laughing my ass off) No the Frames would not be in my current favourite things to eat in the fridge!... am sure if people want to read back hard enough they will find the piece in question!....

Back to the topic. The whole internet thing has just exasperated the whole globalisation effect currently comsuming the record industry. As certain sites (eg itunes) become the new megastores for music then the big three companies are going to streamline even more and concentrate on the sure fire commercial successes. This leaves the independent/alterantive scene to fend for itself. BUT is that such a bad thing? The more small labels and sites that crop up promoting alternative music the better. But I can't help thinking that sooner or later the bubble is going to burst for the big three and they'll be left scratching their heads. Afterall their whole philosophy is still singles driven when the majority of record sales are now albums. Do we really need another Busted?