Moby And The Album
Moby wrote a letter to Bob that seems pretty genuine and authentic. You never know with these things. The cynical part of me wants to put it down in some way but it’s exhausting to be so pessimistic all the time. It seems like a good email and it’s expressing a valid and inspiring message so I’m not going to denigrate it.
It did raise a thought, however, that continues to revolve in my head around the future of the album and the ideal amount of music that should constitute an autonomous and independent ‘work’.
Many musicians continue to talk about ‘the album’ and I too love a good ‘album’. The way we’ve digested ‘the album’ has changed of course as the format shifted from vinyl to compact disc. Typically, (I think, could be wrong) a platter of vinyl holds about 15-20 minutes of music per side and so old timey albums are typically 30-40 minutes long with double albums like Exile or London Calling being about 65-75 minutes long. Four sides of music and all that.
The CD holds 74 minutes of music and so some musicians have stretched the concept of the album to around 60-65 minutes in some cases.
The number of songs on an album seems to have moved upwards as well. In the old days there seemed to be many more 8 and 9 song albums and now I hardly ever see those floating around.
I am hear to make the case that a great album should be no more than 11 songs and really should be either 9 or 10.
I am hear to tell you that the act of editing out a couple filler songs and getting into the 9/10 range will create a body of music that will not bore, that will shift and delight and never tire (if it’s good) and that a great song as track 11 of a 13 song record has been done a disservice even if you are adamant that all 13 songs are great, and they very well may be.
I am hear to say that if we’re going to preserve the concept of the album, let’s get it down to a digestible, coherent and concise body of work that averages 37 minutes of music, is typically 10 songs and leaves you wanting more rather than wanting less.
I am hear to say that a pop record by the Chili Peppers or Modest Mouse featuring 10 of their very best tightest material is better than a 13-16 song record with either a terrible set of funk inanity (in the former’s case) or some maudlin Waits stuff which is good but has trouble fitting in with the rest of the collection (in the latter).
10 songs, 37 minutes, record 11-13 songs, cut out 1-3. Powerful, compact, emotional, leaving the listener with some breathing room rather than exhaustion.
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Mike
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theflyingchange
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Derek
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theflyingchange
