The difference between what you look for in an album and what you look for in a single

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The ILM end-of-year "most listened" poll turns up some interesting juxtapositions between most-listened tracks and albums. How different ly do you approach albums and single? Do you want an album to just be 12 singles, or do you want a different dynamic?

― Sick Mouthy (sickmouthy), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 13:55 (seventeen years ago) link

i don't buy singles, they're a waste of everything.

― wogan lenin (doglatin), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 13:58 (seventeen years ago) link

What about when a single might as well be an album, e.g. "Fizheuer Zieheuer"?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 13:58 (seventeen years ago) link

mind you a perfect single ought to have at least four tracks, a stunning non-album opener, a very good "why wasn't this on the album?" second track, a crazy mental piece of studio artwank genius and finally a storming dance remix.

― wogan lenin (doglatin), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 14:00 (seventeen years ago) link

In my day it was two tracks, A side and B side, i.e. Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 14:01 (seventeen years ago) link

"single" = "individual track" i guess? though for pop acts, or anyone with any sort of eye on the mainstream, there'll always be the difference between a good song and a good single. rachel stevens' 'negotiate with love' was the former but not the latter.

i don't think i really mind whether an album is 12 singleworthy tracks which happen to be on one cd, or a coherent piece of work which flows and hangs together well. both are good.

― lexpretend (lexpretend), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 14:10 (seventeen years ago) link

This is the digital age! Both formats are obsolete.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 14:17 (seventeen years ago) link

single = something on my computer i can keep playing over and over again
album = something i can put on whilst falling asleep (i think unless i am reviewing it thats the only time i seem to listen to albums atm. which is lame.)

― acrobat (acrobat), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 14:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Marc, 1967 was never "your day" now don't exag.

― M Grout (Mark Grout), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 15:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Bobby Gillespie was admittedly ahead of me in the queue at HMV on the day of release; two prams in front IIRC.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 15:29 (seventeen years ago) link

In my day it was two tracks, A side and B side, i.e. ~~Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane~~ Ally's Tartan Army and I Wanna Be A Punk Rocker (but ma mammy willnae let me)

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 15:32 (seventeen years ago) link

I can't remember the last time I bought a single. ye gods.

an over-reliance on remixes killed off the single long before anyone thought to blame the internet. three of four slightly different and incrementally inferior versions of the same song? yes please!

― mister the guanoman (m the g), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 15:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Mostly, I buy albums - ceedees and vinyl.

But I buy dance, pop and hip-hop singles more than albums in those genres. Sometimes I'm just in it for one perfect song, and the remixes, instrumentals and acapellas are a nice bonus.

When I'm in the exploration stage with a new band of any sort, I'll often buy whatever's out there: singles, EPs, compilations, etc. Singles are like dating. A good, sorta-cheap way to flirt without making awkward committments.

― adam beales (pye poudre), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 16:04 (seventeen years ago) link

In my day it was two tracks, A side and B side, i.e. Mr. Roboto and Snowblind.

― atm (atm), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 17:11 (seventeen years ago) link

I only infrequently look for good singles, always when i'm in a situation which involves access to a radio but not my own music collection. i look for something that truly involves me for four or so minutes before it's back to work.

albums are a different kettle of fish. I look for, oh god, erm, an experience, an involving collection of brilliant moments and sustained musical entertainment that at first surprises me with its originality and then sinks into my head so i can memorise and follow it upon subsequent listens. i look forward to albums by proven artists, and i hold them dearer than any other works of art.

― Louis Jagger (Scourage), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 17:18 (seventeen years ago) link

i've given up on the idea of expecting to like a whole album. so all i really look for from it or pick up on is the 'keeper' tracks. i suppose you could say i am bored with the perceptions of what an album should do/how it should play (downloading and/or being able to listen to tracks in 'wrong' order has fuelled this to some extent). but then i was never really that into it in the first place. i'd rather listen to compilations as background listening because of the tendency for the range to be wider (combined with my short attention span).

i don't buy singles in physical form but obv. individual songs or even an EP length piece don't carry the same baggage as the album (or at least this perceived archetype of an album) and so continue to appeal as they have always done.

― sede vacante (blueski), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 17:30 (seventeen years ago) link

in my day it was a different satchel of bacon, let me tell you

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 17:35 (seventeen years ago) link

mmmmm satchel

― sede vacante (blueski), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 17:36 (seventeen years ago) link

http://www.thebebopshop.com/acatalog/louisarmstrongsatchelmouthswing.gif

― M Grout (Mark Grout), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 17:38 (seventeen years ago) link

what i look for in bacon: a smoky tang that hits me like a freight train, followed by a hot, luxurious shit

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 17:41 (seventeen years ago) link

uh...

― sede vacante (blueski), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 17:44 (seventeen years ago) link

wait, what day is today?

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 17:48 (seventeen years ago) link

ok, sorry

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 17:48 (seventeen years ago) link

i should have said "luxuriant"

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 5 December 2006 17:49 (seventeen years ago) link

For me singles are only for dance tracks I mix. I prefer 4 track eps, but even still I find they're a lot easier for me to buy than full albums on vinyl. Anywhere else. . . forget it, I'm cheap and like to listen to lots of music at a time.

― mehlt (mehlt), Wednesday, 6 December 2006 02:17 (seventeen years ago) link

single = instant musical gratification
album = long-term cohesive presentation

― Jesus Dan (dan perry), Wednesday, 6 December 2006 13:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Bobby Gillespie was admittedly ahead of me in the queue at HMV on the day of release; two prams in front IIRC.

I read grams instead of prams. Would work as well, I guess.

What do I look for in a single (and that I will rarely find in records)? Instant orgasms.

― nathalie (stevienixed), Wednesday, 6 December 2006 13:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Uh, what Dan said, I guess.

― nathalie (stevienixed), Wednesday, 6 December 2006 13:24 (seventeen years ago) link

single = one night stand
album = relationship
?

― sede vacante (blueski), Wednesday, 6 December 2006 13:26 (seventeen years ago) link

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