Note: If you're one of those people that only buys the most popular songs off of an album, or you don't buy an entire album for whatever reason, please, skip this thread.
(In case you don't know, I'm talking about the music albums):
We all know that albums contain songs. That's obvious, right? What not may be so obvious is how well those songs in question flow together, or how they tell a story. Of course, some of us may single out a song or songs to be the best once.
So my question to you is this: What do you expect out of an album? I, personally, expect the closing track to an album to be the best part. A closing track should bring a sense of closure to an album. But, of course, that's just me.
I expect an album to tell a story, but vary. I know this sounds contradicting. I don't want an album where every single song s about the same thing, i want one that combines different stories but flows, f you get me?
I'm the inverse, OP. I think the starting track has to be a "hook", something to keep my listening. Sadly, most artists go with the short tune, phonecall or skit to start their music off, which I don't like.
I also hate albums that make me skip tracks. For example, I love Linkin Park's "Reanimation" but it wastes like four tracks and a few minutes of incoherent phonecall babble. Thing is, I sleep to music. And waking up, or trying to fall asleep to a phonecall is frustrating. Even when I'm not. It's annoying.
I also desire multiple interpretations to lyrics. Something open, so anyone can relate. I listen to a couple of christian bands because they're good at this, even though I'm an atheist.
But otherwise, I just pick and choose and put them on my mp3. Guess I shouldn't have replied then, huh?
I'm the inverse, OP. I think the starting track has to be a "hook", something to keep my listening. Sadly, most artists go with the short tune, phonecall or skit to start their music off, which I don't like.
I think a good example of that is "Horizons" by Parkway Drive. They start off with "Begin" which is only 39 seconds long. And it's only instrumental. However, they end with "Horizons", the title track, by far the best song on that album. I guess that album would've disappointed you, but pleased me, if you even listen to that stuff.
But otherwise, I just pick and choose and put them on my mp3. Guess I shouldn't have replied then, huh?
I consider continuity to be one of a good album's most important aspects. I generally get bored when the album seems like a dull collection of songs, regardless of how good they may be, instead of a complete work. Really, a good intro and closing track that "tie" the whole album together is enough to turn a decent album to a fantastic one.
I think is related more to the genre of the music and the way the company see the fans. Not sure though but albums from EDM, New Wave, Rock, Folk... etc etc probably are different in concept.
From my experience (as far i can remember) in general the catchy song comes first and the experimental/technical/lengthy is the last.
If an album tells a story (or something as a whole) is called a conceptual album, and that is rare (not in progressive rock though).
I like an album that maintains the tension (parrot657's continuity)
I generally get bored when the album seems like a dull collection of songs, regardless of how good they may be, instead of a complete work
Well, seeing as I usually go with entire discographies, albums are a given. Individual songs is a hassle, and leads to a small and uninteresting collection of music.
I expect an album to be phenomenal throughout, and not use the same formula in every song. I like variance, not verse chorus verse verse chorus etc. I like creativity, that's where the gold is.
This confuses me. I buy the whole album if it is really good or if i like all the songs, but how does it have a story unless it's so emotional?
A good example of conceptual album would green day's ''american idiot''. While I don't really like them nowadays, this is the album that introduced me to music. You get to be told a story seen by the eyes of different characters that sometimes interacts whit each other; it's really interesting. Sometimes, when I feel like it, I go back on you tube and listen to ''Jesus of Suburbia'', an amazing classic.
I expect an album to deliver itself to me. If I like, then it's good, if I don't, too bad. I prefer albums that are constant; sometimes, you'll have two or three songs you'll just want to skip because you prefer the others, well this has never happened to me with a Coldplay albums for example. If an album has any kind of special concept, I'll notice it and be impressed, if not, I'll appreciate every song individually and rate the album given those songs.
What I don't like though are albums that start out very strong and then wear themselves out halfway through. Take Porcupine tree's ''In absentia'': an amazing album, however, all the best songs are focused in the beginning, and the end is two mellow, too long for the album's good; you're always driven back to songs like ''trains'', and ''blackest eyes''. Even though I feel like it's an intended build-up, the end lacks some substance.
Trains is really one of my favorite songs ever. If you don't know about Porcupine tree, take a look at this.
