FaSho

Ever been listening to an album, and though 'Wow this is just TOO long!'?
It's not neccasarily because an album has filler, but sometimes I just don't have enough time to listen to a whole album, and can even get bored if I feel like the album's neverending.
Perfect example:

Almost all of the songs on it are great, but I can't give 2pac 2hours of my life every time I want to listen to him.

Discuss?

__________________

gunnels

Well, I usually listen to an album halfway, listen to something else, then come back to it if it is a rather song based album. So album length doesn't really matter to me.

__________________
Let's Play TF2 Sometime.|Unrepresentative Last.fm.|Puns, Pokemon, and Miscellany

Zarko

I feel longevity can almost make or break an album at times. I don't necessarily have a problem with short albums - In fact, I reckon an album's quality can be improved by keeping the length lower and controlled, rather than offering a cluster**** of 80 minutes, half of which is garbage. Keeping the songs at a minimum also means that there is a greater chance for a quality album overall (Simply because bands don't need to fill it with filler) and that the fans will also get albums at a better rate.

A good example of an album going overboard IMO concerns Techno Animals release 'Re-Entry'. The album starts with promise and interest, and then you look at the track list... Double album


1-01 Flight Of The Hermaphrodite (10:56)
1-02 The Mighty Atom Smasher (10:04)
1-03 Mastodon Americanus (7:23)
1-04 City Heathen Dub (10:04)
1-05 Narco Agent Vs. The Medicine Man (14:00)
1-06 Demodex Invasion (19:14)

2-01 Evil Spirits / Angel Dust (9:45)
2-02 Catatonia (15:44)
2-03 Needle Park (10:41)
2-04 Red Sea (11:20)
2-05 Cape Canaveral (21:28)
2-06 Resuscitator (7:46)

And its a fine album unfortunately, but I rarely chuck it on. It just isn't worth it. Half the time its pure wank to drag an album on that much.

Unfortunately there are a few albums I have that just drag on far too long, and I rarely chuck them on and listen throughout.

I can handle an album of just one hell long song though, oddly enough (The Necks or Kashiwa Daisuke sort of songs, 45 to 60 minutes a piece).

Perfect album length - 35 to 45 minutes. I find it much more satisfying to get a short album that is perfect in its entirety over a pointlessly long album that's a hit and miss.

sidewinder

Exactly. I'd even say 40-50 minutes but it depends on the genre. A fast punk album is better in the 30-35 minute range and something slower or more creative where ideas take longer to develop could be at the longer end of the range.

__________________
last.fm | my collection on RYM | vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear
I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

sidewinder

Short answer: YES.

Maybe not ruin, but reduce overall rating.

__________________
last.fm | my collection on RYM | vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear
I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

Urban Hat€monger ?

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

__________________

Laces Out Dan!

I feel the exact same way.

__________________

NumberNineDream

I second that, nothing more to say.

__________________

Bulldog

Exactly! Scott 4 and the Gilded Palace Of Sin are a couple of examples of albums that do just that which spring to mind.

The longer albums have to be something truly special to keep my attention all the way through, somethingExile On Main Street, Costello's Get Happy and London Calling achieve for me. Then there's the flipside of the coin with albums like David Bowie's Outside, the Manics' Generation Terrorists and so on.

Minstrel

I can understand that, from an aesthetic point of view...it's satisfying to be able to think of an album as "perfect." To me, though, I'd rather have more good songs, even if it means getting more bad songs too. Ultimately, I can program past the bad songs on future listens and I have more enjoyable songs. An album that is "too short" leaves potential enjoyment on the table (or cutting room floor, or in the musician's head, as the case may be).

__________________
"Blow your tuneless trumpet, the choice is yours / We don't want the glamour, the pomp and the drums / The Dublin messiah scattering crumbs"