Comments on: The Album is Dead, Long Live the Random Playlist http://paulmdavis.com/2009/08/the-album-is-dead-long-live-the-random-playlist/ Chicago-based writer, editor and web tinkerer. Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:36:07 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: paulmdavis http://paulmdavis.com/2009/08/the-album-is-dead-long-live-the-random-playlist/comment-page-1/#comment-185 paulmdavis Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:36:07 +0000 http://paulmdavis.com/2009/08/the-album-is-dead-long-live-the-random-playlist/#comment-185 Well, my dirty little secret is that I listen to a hell of a lot more NPR, podcasts and Coast-to-Coast AM than I do music at this point in my life. But still, I don't mean to negate the value or charm of the album; I certainly understand and respect it, even if I don't share it. Honestly, as a musician, I'd be much happier if there was an infrastructure to release songs in packs of 2-3; something like digital 7-inches. I also get frustrated by the arbitrary sense of legitimacy that the album confers upon an artist within the music industry; it's ridiculous that in 2009, you still have to shell out $2000 to DiscMakers to book a show anywhere that isn't a total dump. But that is probably a whole other discussion! Well, my dirty little secret is that I listen to a hell of a lot more NPR, podcasts and Coast-to-Coast AM than I do music at this point in my life. But still, I don’t mean to negate the value or charm of the album; I certainly understand and respect it, even if I don’t share it.

Honestly, as a musician, I’d be much happier if there was an infrastructure to release songs in packs of 2-3; something like digital 7-inches. I also get frustrated by the arbitrary sense of legitimacy that the album confers upon an artist within the music industry; it’s ridiculous that in 2009, you still have to shell out $2000 to DiscMakers to book a show anywhere that isn’t a total dump. But that is probably a whole other discussion!

]]> By: Levi http://paulmdavis.com/2009/08/the-album-is-dead-long-live-the-random-playlist/comment-page-1/#comment-184 Levi Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:30:11 +0000 http://paulmdavis.com/2009/08/the-album-is-dead-long-live-the-random-playlist/#comment-184 Well right, I get that lots of people don't listen to albums - it's more that I was surprised you as a fellow musician would say that (and in a year that has brought us a new DM3 album, among other gems). I've made my peace with being a dinosaur, I just hoped you were one too. Well right, I get that lots of people don’t listen to albums – it’s more that I was surprised you as a fellow musician would say that (and in a year that has brought us a new DM3 album, among other gems).

I’ve made my peace with being a dinosaur, I just hoped you were one too.

]]> By: paulmdavis http://paulmdavis.com/2009/08/the-album-is-dead-long-live-the-random-playlist/comment-page-1/#comment-183 paulmdavis Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:10:40 +0000 http://paulmdavis.com/2009/08/the-album-is-dead-long-live-the-random-playlist/#comment-183 Really? I guess I've never felt all that connected to the concept of an album. Pre-mp3's, I preferred mixtapes to CD's or records. The onset of adult mp3-listening syndrome has only exacerbated these tendencies. There are certainly albums that I love as full albums in themselves, but I find that already-tenuous connection to the album decreasing with every year. Albums are what I listen to when I'm too lazy to make a playlist, I find. Judging from what I've seen of hard digital sales figures and what I've heard from others, this seems to be pretty common--people are buying songs digitally, not entire albums. I think as musicians, we tend to have an emotional and professional connection to the form that many listeners don't have. There are purist listeners who share that connection, but the majority of casual listeners don't seem to care--the old saw "I hate having to buy an album just to get the one or two songs I want" comes to mind. iTunes/eMusic/Amazon mp3 figures I've seen seem to bear this out. Really? I guess I’ve never felt all that connected to the concept of an album. Pre-mp3′s, I preferred mixtapes to CD’s or records. The onset of adult mp3-listening syndrome has only exacerbated these tendencies. There are certainly albums that I love as full albums in themselves, but I find that already-tenuous connection to the album decreasing with every year. Albums are what I listen to when I’m too lazy to make a playlist, I find. Judging from what I’ve seen of hard digital sales figures and what I’ve heard from others, this seems to be pretty common–people are buying songs digitally, not entire albums.

I think as musicians, we tend to have an emotional and professional connection to the form that many listeners don’t have. There are purist listeners who share that connection, but the majority of casual listeners don’t seem to care–the old saw “I hate having to buy an album just to get the one or two songs I want” comes to mind. iTunes/eMusic/Amazon mp3 figures I’ve seen seem to bear this out.

]]> By: Levi http://paulmdavis.com/2009/08/the-album-is-dead-long-live-the-random-playlist/comment-page-1/#comment-182 Levi Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:46:35 +0000 http://paulmdavis.com/2009/08/the-album-is-dead-long-live-the-random-playlist/#comment-182 "I can’t remember the last time I had the desire to listen to a full album . . ." Well that just makes me sad. “I can’t remember the last time I had the desire to listen to a full album . . .”

Well that just makes me sad.

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