Can Length Ruin An Album?

Pillowmint · 09-05-2009, 01:58 PM

If it is a really good album, i don't care how long it is. I agree that loading an album with filler is a terrible idea.

Laces Out Dan! · 09-05-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

I'd rather be left wanting more than wishing something would end.

I feel the exact same way.

jackhammer · 09-05-2009, 03:27 PM

Tool spring to mind. I really like them but always ending up playing something else and turning off by the time I'm 3/4 of the way through an album. Some of The Orb's work has the same effect.

As for wanting more? I'm not usually like that at all and just thankful that I can really enjoy an album in it's entirety no matter how short.

simplephysics · 09-05-2009, 03:42 PM

I don't think The Cold Vein was 'ruined' by its length, but it does run a bit long.. kind of loses its momentum after about 7 or 8 tracks. Not to say I don't enjoy song after song from the Cannibal Ox crew, especially since they couldn't bother with a follow up, but by the time I reach the second half of the album the rest of the songs just seem to run together.

SATCHMO · 09-05-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreadnaught

I don't think The Cold Vein was 'ruined' by its length, but it does run a bit long.. kind of loses its momentum after about 7 or 8 tracks. Not to say I don't enjoy song after song from the Cannibal Ox crew, especially since they couldn't bother with a follow up, but by the time I reach the second half of the album the rest of the songs just seem to run together.

I feel your pain. It's a long album, especially for a hip hop release. They could've split it up into two ep's if that was all the output they were good for.

simplephysics · 09-05-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SATCHMO

I feel your pain. It's a long album, especially for a hip hop release. They could've split it up into two ep's if that was all the output they were good for.

It makes me sad when artists pair up once for a mind blowing collaboration album and then are never to be heard of again, only releasing the mediocre solo album from time to time while still dangling hints of a follow up album in front of their fans. Those bastards. >:

NumberNineDream · 09-05-2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

I'd rather be left wanting more than wishing something would end.

I second that, nothing more to say.

BawmKackio · 09-10-2009, 10:43 AM

Tool folks.
For me their albums aren't long enough. It's rare for me to listen to the entire thing in one sitting but I need more from bands like that.
Crystal Method on the otherhand just end up repeating themselves, and I find that a lot of Hip Hop / Rap albums usually end up losing steam and getting kind of vague and abstract by the last song... even one of my favorite rappers Mos Def's Black on Both Sides just kind of gets skewed and difficult to stick with and I usually end up skipping to Mathematics so I can move on to something else.

Basically I have to suggest that I don't think the album length REALLY has anything to do with "ruining" or "making" the record for any of you at all. I think it's the way it's put together that matters, when it flows beautifully and chills out when you want it to, and delivers that "punch" just when you need it, the album COULD go on forever and you would lap it up like a dog.

I'm partial to Tool, Lateralus specifically, but also Undertow, other examples would be Incubus - both Morning View and Make Yourself, Foo Fighters - The Colour and The Shape, Nirvana - Nevermind, Clapton Unplugged, just to name a few of which that I feel are true SOLID albums.

dollarsandcents · 09-10-2009, 10:59 AM

I think it's one of the main problems with many albums I feel. Very common that I thoroughly enjoy an album, but sometimes feel that it's dragging or could have quite easily cut a bit of filler out. I feel it happens quite a lot in hip hop albums, although a few tracks are usually skits, there's often a decrease in quality before a few of the better tracks later on, a sort of 50-75 percentile dip you might say.

I think some of the better albums are, like someone has already put, ones which leave you wanting more rather than trying to make an album a certain length. I'd much rather have a series of shorter but more cohesive EPs than more sparse lengthy releases which maybe drag or lack cohesion.

**Janszoon** · 09-10-2009, 11:19 AM

One of the worst offenders I can think of in this category is Outkast's Stankonia. It's a good album that runs way, way too long. If they had cut out about 25 minutes it could've great instead of merely good.

09-05-2009, 03:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Tool spring to mind. I really like them but always ending up playing something else and turning off by the time I'm 3/4 of the way through an album. Some of The Orb's work has the same effect. As for wanting more? I'm not usually like that at all and just thankful that I can really enjoy an album in it's entirety no matter how short. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

09-10-2009, 10:59 AM	#19 (permalink)
dollarsandcents more tea vicar? Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England Posts: 193	I think it's one of the main problems with many albums I feel. Very common that I thoroughly enjoy an album, but sometimes feel that it's dragging or could have quite easily cut a bit of filler out. I feel it happens quite a lot in hip hop albums, although a few tracks are usually skits, there's often a decrease in quality before a few of the better tracks later on, a sort of 50-75 percentile dip you might say. I think some of the better albums are, like someone has already put, ones which leave you wanting more rather than trying to make an album a certain length. I'd much rather have a series of shorter but more cohesive EPs than more sparse lengthy releases which maybe drag or lack cohesion. __________________ My Blog: You And Whose Army?

09-10-2009, 11:19 AM	#20 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	One of the worst offenders I can think of in this category is Outkast's Stankonia. It's a good album that runs way, way too long. If they had cut out about 25 minutes it could've great instead of merely good. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

09-05-2009, 01:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
Pillowmint I Am the Lizard Queen Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 134	If it is a really good album, i don't care how long it is. I agree that loading an album with filler is a terrible idea.

09-10-2009, 10:43 AM	#18 (permalink)
BawmKackio Groupie Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 6	Tool folks. For me their albums aren't long enough. It's rare for me to listen to the entire thing in one sitting but I need more from bands like that. Crystal Method on the otherhand just end up repeating themselves, and I find that a lot of Hip Hop / Rap albums usually end up losing steam and getting kind of vague and abstract by the last song... even one of my favorite rappers Mos Def's Black on Both Sides just kind of gets skewed and difficult to stick with and I usually end up skipping to Mathematics so I can move on to something else. Basically I have to suggest that I don't think the album length REALLY has anything to do with "ruining" or "making" the record for any of you at all. I think it's the way it's put together that matters, when it flows beautifully and chills out when you want it to, and delivers that "punch" just when you need it, the album COULD go on forever and you would lap it up like a dog. I'm partial to Tool, Lateralus specifically, but also Undertow, other examples would be Incubus - both Morning View and Make Yourself, Foo Fighters - The Colour and The Shape, Nirvana - Nevermind, Clapton Unplugged, just to name a few of which that I feel are true SOLID albums.