Albums, how long is too long

General music discussion.
AdamRamone
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Albums, how long is too long

Post by AdamRamone »

I dont want to sound like an elitist, but except for a handful of albums, I really really dislike the way some artists put filler in an album. Artists should really think about whether they want to give their fans an album with 10 really good songs or and album with 10 really good songs and 3 or 4 shitty ones.

Dylan's albums hardly went over the 10 track mark and while he has had a few albums that were floosies, for the most part he was really good about keeping it short and sweet.

Highway 61 Revisited is 51 minutes well spent.

what do you think?
Last edited by AdamRamone on 19 Jun 2008, 1:51pm, edited 1 time in total.
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In A Rut
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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by In A Rut »

rancid are guilty of this on numerous occasions. come to think of it, i think every album they have released is too long.

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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by matedog »

AdamRamone wrote:I dont want to sound like an elitist, but except for a handful of albums, I really really dislike the way some artists put filler in an album. Artists should really think about whether they want to give their fans an album with 10 really good songs or and album with 10 really good songs and 3 or 4 shitty ones.

Dylan's albus hardly went over the 10 track mark and while he has had a few albums that were floosies, for the most part he was really good about keeping it short and sweet.

Highway 61 Revisited is 51 minutes well spent.

what do you think?
I'm sorry but Highway 61 seems like 80 minutes. Something about Like a Rolling Stone and Desolation Row repeating structure over and over again for 6 and 11 minutes, respectively. And the other songs are okay.

I think LP length (40-55 minutes) is ideal. Some groups could improve their albums greatly by trying to get them to fit on two sides of vinyl (Mars Volta, all of hip hop).
Look, you have to establish context for these things. And I maintain that unless you appreciate the Fall of Constantinople, the Great Fire of London, and Mickey Mantle's fatalist alcoholism, live Freddy makes no sense. If you want to half-ass it, fine, go call Simon Schama to do the appendix.

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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by tepista »

In A Rut wrote:rancid are guilty of this on numerous occasions. come to think of it, i think every album they have released is too long.
Yup, I've said it before, just because a CD holds 80 minutes, doesn't mean your new record has to be 80 minutes.

35-45 minutes is a good lp time
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AdamRamone
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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by AdamRamone »

I like the Chili Peppers, but I hated Stadium Arcadium.

Lets not forget Sandinista!, an album that coulve been easily cut to 2 Lps, dare I say even 1.

maybe the boys were trying to see how far they could push the record company.

why do artists release lenghty albums? besides giving their fans more bang for their buck. that isnt always a good thing.
Last edited by AdamRamone on 19 Jun 2008, 1:57pm, edited 1 time in total.
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In A Rut
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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by In A Rut »

tepista wrote:
In A Rut wrote:rancid are guilty of this on numerous occasions. come to think of it, i think every album they have released is too long.
Yup, I've said it before, just because a CD holds 80 minutes, doesn't mean your new record has to be 80 minutes.

35-45 minutes is a good lp time
i totally agree.

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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by Dr. Medulla »

45-50 mins is a good length. However, give your fans some value by adding bonus tracks—demos, remixes, live versions to max it out. For the album-oriented fiends, stop at the last cut proper. See, a happy medium.
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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by daredevil »

In A Rut wrote:rancid are guilty of this on numerous occasions. come to think of it, i think every album they have released is too long.
except for "Life Won't Wait" great cd from start to finish.

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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by Rat Patrol »

AdamRamone wrote:I like the Chili Peppers, but I hated Stadium Arcadium.
Last band ever that should be doing double albums.

But John Frusciante is a muso-artiste douche of the highest order who confiscated Anthony's, Flea's, and Chad's testicles when he rejoined the band, so what do you expect.

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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by AdamRamone »

Im gonna throw myself to the dogs and say.


I never got into Rancid. tried, but no dice.
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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by tepista »

AdamRamone wrote:Im gonna throw myself to the dogs and say.


I never got into Rancid. tried, but no dice.
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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by In A Rut »

AdamRamone wrote:Im gonna throw myself to the dogs and say.


I never got into Rancid. tried, but no dice.
i could fit all the songs i like from them on 1 cd.....which would once again violate my 35-45 min "ideal". i guess they just can't win in my eyes.

almo
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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by almo »

Personally, I think albums should be no longer than 45 minutes and no shorter than 30. It helps if I like all the songs, but that's rarely the case these days. As you first put it, there's just too much damn filler more often than not. Rarely these days do I hear a release that's most/all solid tracks.

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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by Flex »

Yeah, the LP range is when an album is usually at its most solid. That said, the killer EP is not to be forgotten and there are occasional albums that clock in close to 80 minutes and are good all the way through.
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Re: Albums, how long is too long

Post by AdamRamone »

one of them being London Calling
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