4 ms·

That kinda bums me out to hear. I know Radiohead's m.o. lately is revolutionizing the process of music production, and maybe they think albums are a relic of th

That kinda bums me out to hear. I know Radiohead's m.o. lately is revolutionizing the process of music production, and maybe they think albums are a relic of the old regime and passe or something. But can you really imagine if OK Computer was released one iTunes download at a time? yuck.

jpwagner 17y ago
OK Computer moreso than Kid A. From stuff he says, sounds like he may be a bit out of gas...
SwellJoe 17y ago
The Bends (which, I've always felt is their best album overall) would work pretty well in a singles model, though it is even better taken as a whole. I think it's worth realizing that the "album" concept came about because of technological changes...and the singles model is coming back, again, because of technology. I also don't think most songwriters can really deliver an album, in the grand sense of the word. I think the list of truly great whole albums is shockingly short. There are only a few people on earth that can deliver an album of the caliber of Dark Side of the Moon, Abbey Road, Rumors, London Calling, etc. Most of even the best selling bands of all time would have served their customers better by providing a few great singles at a fair price. Journey, for example. Great bunch of very successful singles over a long career...but even their best album is at least half filler, and none of their albums are better appreciated as a whole (Don't Stop Believing is not improved by being heard with the surrounding tracks on Escape). Bands that want to make long cohesive concept pieces are more free than ever to do so; the cost of album production is lower than ever, and the distribution costs have reached approximately zero. Their customers are also more free than ever to say, "$12 for 15 songs is too steep. But I'll give you a buck each for those two really good songs." The casual listener has a chance to take part and support artists in ways they may not have in the past, while the artist and dedicated fans can still choose big productions and long-form recordings (and pay more for that experience). These are good times for music, both artists and fans. The recording industry, on the other hand, is approaching a long-deserved reckoning.

jpwagner 17y ago

OK Computer moreso than Kid A. From stuff he says, sounds like he may be a bit out of gas...

SwellJoe 17y ago

The Bends (which, I've always felt is their best album overall) would work pretty well in a singles model, though it is even better taken as a whole. I think it's worth realizing that the "album" concept came about because of technological changes...and the singles model is coming back, again, because of technology. I also don't think most songwriters can really deliver an album, in the grand sense of the word. I think the list of truly great whole albums is shockingly short. There are only a few people on earth that can deliver an album of the caliber of Dark Side of the Moon, Abbey Road, Rumors, London Calling, etc. Most of even the best selling bands of all time would have served their customers better by providing a few great singles at a fair price. Journey, for example. Great bunch of very successful singles over a long career...but even their best album is at least half filler, and none of their albums are better appreciated as a whole (Don't Stop Believing is not improved by being heard with the surrounding tracks on Escape). Bands that want to make long cohesive concept pieces are more free than ever to do so; the cost of album production is lower than ever, and the distribution costs have reached approximately zero. Their customers are also more free than ever to say, "$12 for 15 songs is too steep. But I'll give you a buck each for those two really good songs." The casual listener has a chance to take part and support artists in ways they may not have in the past, while the artist and dedicated fans can still choose big productions and long-form recordings (and pay more for that experience). These are good times for music, both artists and fans. The recording industry, on the other hand, is approaching a long-deserved reckoning.