How long do you like an album to be?

[Thor]

It may be a stupid idea for a thread, it may not be. But wallertons' comment in the bloc party thread made me wonder what other people think about long/short albums...

So, what is the perfect album length, in your opinion?

Some people think the shorter the better (a good example is Reign in Blood by Slayer. it's probably the only metal album I still ocassionly listen to, and it clocks in at about 29 minutes, a fucking onslaught, too), some people adore the double album (electric ladyland being a good example, and most prog being... well.... who knows what kind of example).

I've always thought around 45 minutes is ideal (the original LP length, I suppose). Sometimes a bit longer is okay, but once you enter double cd/lp territory, all bets are off. ... it could go either way.

Most people (except Patrick) can remember the wave of horribly long albums released when CD's first became popular around 90-94.

Whaddaya think?

(of course this is apparently (according to numerous stupid articles and commentaries I've seen) the age of downloaded singles and (for fucks sake) ring tones, rendering the album 'unneccesary'. but I assume most here have a level of musical listening sophistication well beyond such a vapid, commerical fad)

[Lukas]

It totally depends on the album and band.

[Thor]

Originally posted by Lukas
It totally depends on the album and band.

that's undeniably true, but lets just be sweepingly general for the sake of it.

[Lukas]

alright, for albums like wowee zowee i think it needs to be lengthy. I can't imagine it in any other form. For bands who have a more concentrated vision, or are only able to make music one way should stick to the 45 minute format.

[tinobeat]

35-40 minutes.

there's exceptions, but they're very rare...

[johansen smith]

48:52

[Thor]

Originally posted by johansen smith
48:52

typical johansen answer...

[Wallerton]

I'm with Tino. 35-40 minutes is ideal. Long enough to fit comfortably on a single LP. Short enough to listen to in one sitting.

I think one of the most unfortunate byproducts of the "CD revolution" was that albums got longer and longer and longer...

[Lukas]

Originally posted by johansen smith
48:52

I was going to write that, but then I erased it cause I thought it was too sarcastic. Nice.

Btw that was supposed to be a compliment

[tinobeat]

Originally posted by Wallerton
I think one of the most unfortunate byproducts of the "CD revolution" was that albums got longer and longer and longer...

so true. ESPECIALLY with hip hop albums. I can't believe that every hip hop artist *has* to stuff 74-77 minutes of songs and skits onto every album.

also suffering, oddly enough, are Greatest Hits albums. I don't really go for those much, as I prefer to get the actual records, but sometimes you get the greatest hits album. For example, my fiancee recently got the Duran Duran greatest hits. By song 14 it starts wearing. they didn't have a full 74 minutes of "greatest hits" and you can see them stretching near the end. "Electric Barbarella"? I dunno, man.

Yo La Tengo somehow gets away with making long-ass albums, but they're treading dangerous water sometimes...

[Wallerton]

Originally posted by tinobeat
Yo La Tengo somehow gets away with making long-ass albums, but they're treading dangerous water sometimes...

True. I'm able to listen to And then nothing turned itself inside-out all at once. I'm not quite as patient with their other double albums, however.

[Thor]

Originally posted by tinobeat
and skits onto every album.


god, those skits are horrible.

[earl grey]

thanks to the length of my commute, i tend to be unusually familiar with the first 25 minutes of some albums. but as long as there isn't filler, i don't really care how long an album is.

[Salman]

Originally posted by earl grey
thanks to the length of my commute, i tend to be unusually familiar with the first 25 minutes of some albums. but as long as there isn't filler, i don't really care how long an album is.

Yeah, same. My commute is about 35 minutes, and I get pretty familiar with the first 35 minutes.

[dola]

Does this 45 min rule apply for mixes you make for people as well? I tend to pack as much as possible on each tape/cd.

[Paul]

I used to cram as much onto mixes as I could get away with, but then I realized that most of the end part of the discs were just manic and unfocused. It took some effort, but now I can routinely make a bitchin' 16-track mix instead of just making pretty forgettable 22-track mixes.

[earl grey]

yeah song totals in general are pretty important. make the songs as long as you want, but not too many bands can put over 15 songs on an album and actually pull it off.

(i mind this much less with mixes though.)

[japanese_moon]

Like anything having to do with music, it's all situational. With certain bands, I never want the record to end. Some albums are just right, and they have a certain repeat quality so when the album ends and the record starts again, it just seems to flow naturally. Those are the Best, those are the ones you can listen to over and over (Elliott Smiths Either/Or is in my C.D. player right now and I was just thinking all this on my way to work this morning)