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.
March 20th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Blood Sugar Sex Music could have been a GREAT record rather than just a good one based on your comments. I really like it, but it is hard to listen to the whole thing in one setting. Too long, not much cohesion, etc. I like the 10 song limit, I love putting on a record where every song is a banger and time flies listening to it. I think Nas – Illmatic is a perfect example.
March 20th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Of course I totally agree with you. The Chili Peppers have a great record
in them that is 8 songs. This is heresy but I think Illmatic could've been
8 songs and packed an even more powerful punch. It still beats every other
hip-hop record with the interludes and the skits and the nonsense. Kanye's
808 record is an example of someone learning a good lesson. The problem is
you fall in love with your songs. Like directors that get final cut and
fashion a 3 hour opus. Sometimes it works. Often it won't. The Moon and
Antartica would've been one of the absolute great records of all time
without that ponderous middle section. Instead its just great.
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:26 am
Now how bout those albums that spare us on the number of songs, but whose songs are so fully loaded with ideas that their lengths simply CANNOT BE CONTAINED.
Van Morrison / Astral Weeks — 8 songs, 46 minutes
Built to Spill / Perfect from Now On — 8 songs, 54 minutes
Eno / Music for Airports — 4 songs, 50 minutes
Kraftwerk / Autobahn — 5 songs, 43 minutes
VU / Whilte LIght/White Heat — 6 songs, 40 minutes
How do you classify these records? Longer than the traditional LP, but spare in terms of the tracklist. Can they be amputated (a la Peppers/Mouse), or would that mean cutting them at the very core?
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:34 am
I think you've identified some of the great albums of our time and I
wouldn't touch a hair on their beautiful heads.
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Now how bout those albums that spare us on the number of songs, but whose songs are so fully loaded with ideas that their lengths simply CANNOT BE CONTAINED.
Van Morrison / Astral Weeks — 8 songs, 46 minutes
Built to Spill / Perfect from Now On — 8 songs, 54 minutes
Eno / Music for Airports — 4 songs, 50 minutes
Kraftwerk / Autobahn — 5 songs, 43 minutes
VU / Whilte LIght/White Heat — 6 songs, 40 minutes
How do you classify these records? Longer than the traditional LP, but spare in terms of the tracklist. Can they be amputated (a la Peppers/Mouse), or would that mean cutting them at the very core?
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I think you've identified some of the great albums of our time and I
wouldn't touch a hair on their beautiful heads.
April 8th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
[...] written something similar that I think, in general and at a minimum, most albums are too long. I think a package of about [...]