Is the Album Dying? If You Ask Me, Yes

A Journal of Musical Things ^ | January 12, 2015 | Alan Cross

[Squawk 8888]

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[Beowulf9]

Funny thing is tapes are gone, eight tracks are gone, cd’s are on the way out and the next thing will be too soon I’m sure.

But the albums, they still play.

[henkster]

One thing you will lose when you lose the album: Great album art.

[ClearCase_guy]

I've been thinking a lot lately about how music has changed over the past 50 years -- which is largely because the music industry has changed.

Everything changes; you can't stop it. And I'm an old fogey enough to know that I'm grumpy and no longer "with it". But I listen to music from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and I hear singers with real emotion, musicians who could really play, and bands that were tight, tight tight.

Nowadays, the big hits seem to belong to women with big voices but little emotion, backed by throbbing beats that are about as exciting as a metronome. And there is too much autotune.

I never even consider paying for the new stuff, unless it's obscure and unlikely to be found on any sort of "popular" radio station. The "popular" stuff just has no soul at all. And that's because the industry lost it's soul a good 20 years ago (at least).

A lot of young people treat music like wallpaper -- they don't actually listen to it, and the idea that people used to sit and pay attention to this stuff seems very alien to some of them.

[kevao]

And the inner sleeves. Queen’s Jazz album comes to mind.

[aomagrat]

And the notes. I would listen to the music while reading the notes on the album cover. That’s how I learned the names of the people in the band, and what instruments they played.

[Red_Devil 232]

Well heck what do I do with all my vinyl Albums?

[Inyo-Mono]

Bttt.

[KC_Lion]

One thing you will lose when you lose the album: Great album art.

Which I can't find on the iTunes Layout!!!

I KNOW the CD's use to come with them in some sort of preview on some function (I know I am not crazy)

Could some of those Apple Guys Help Me?

I miss all Extra Pics off the CD Album Art? (Shots?)

[Mercat]

Now you can go to the website and read about the people. And then link to the individual artists and see what other projects they’re working on.

[left that other site]

(Sigh) Those were the days.

My Favorite Albums:

Let It Bleed-The Rolling Stones
Van Morrison-Live in London
Steely Dan-Royal Scam
Allman Brothers-Eat A Peach
Led Zeppelin-ZOSO (or whatever it was called!)
Bob Marley-Babylon By Bus
Bob Dylan-Blood on the Tracks
Hector Berlioz-Symphanie Fantastic
Eugene Ormandy-Carmina Burana
Blind Faith-Their one Album
Good Bye Cream
Switched On Bach (LOL!)

I had wallfulls of albums, Classical and Classic Rock, but those were my favorites.

I also had some independent Jazz albums that had been done by some friends of mine. Boston had an amazing music scene back then.

[Squawk 8888]

A lot of young people treat music like wallpaper -- they don't actually listen to it

You've nailed it. Few people have any interest at all in the content, they just can't stand silence. The broadcast industry is geared to that, so most stations deliberately avoid playing anything that would make people stop and listen.

[henkster]

The death of the band is the precursor of the death of the album. Who plays bass for Kelly Clarkson? MTV killed the band because everyone wanted to be a diva and musical talent became secondary. Great bands make great albums. No bands, no albums.

[mykroar]

Yep, but they rarely do any ONE thing...they’re always doing 2 or 3 things at a time.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Dying? I thought dead was more like it. Except to collectors.

[ClearCase_guy]

In the movie "Monterey Pop", Janis Joplin -- largely unknown at the time -- sings a killer version of "Ball and Chain". At one point, the camera cuts to Cass Elliot in the audience, who is staring, with her mouth open, and then she just says, "Wow".

Music used to grab people and shake people. Today, as you say, having people stop and listen is NOT what it's all about.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Cd’s still play, too. I am not giving up my cd’s. I have albums but they get damaged easier than cd’s.

[relictele]

Many disjointed thoughts...

-The format (33 1/3 LP) and concept of a collection of songs were somewhat joined at the hip therefore the loss of one means the loss of the other

-Many bands didn’t have more to say than a few songs or an EP’s worth...albums had a lot of filler even from good bands

-Unfortunately the by-the-song purchase format in the digital age plays right into the hands of the bubblegummers (both producers and audience) and is a return to the bad old days of the 78 when albums were a rarity and songs were purchased on a whim not because of interest in or loyalty to any one artist.

-Modern albums are blighted by record companies’ stupid tricks in the form of expanded/deluxe/special/fanclub editions on the first day of release. If you’re going to issue an album as a statement, then make ONE statement and let it stand.

-As always, the record companies’ desire to hold onto to old delivery media and sales methods clashed with quickly changing buyer tastes and preferences.

[rockrr]

I spent thousands of dollars on albums - I don’t think I ever bought more than a handful of singles. Then I had a burst pipe that flooded my living room and destroyed everything. It all went into the dumpster, ruined by water damage. I didn’t have the heart to rebuild the collection.

I enjoyed the album art almost as much as the music itself.