01-04-2009, 03:30
Thanks for the response! Right off the bat, I agree that a poll really does restrict the possible way you can answer, especially with the phrasing. I admit that my question wasn't perfectly phrased, either. Maybe I mean more that single song downloads, and similar methods of obtaining music, are taking away the relevance of full albums?
Either way, I just see a lack of relevance (which I think is what I'm really trying to say personally) coming on with all of this. It just isn't the same, downloading a song compared to owning the disc. So much really does make a difference, and a strong album can say a lot about a band (although, as you said, not everyone can pull together a strong album). Classic albums in whatever genre tend to stand so strong because of so many different factors. Slayer's Reign in Blood, for example (though not everybody's favorite), is strengthened because of those very aspects. Starting with Angel of Death and ending with Raining Blood, while having very short songs in between. This results in not even thirty minutes of music, yet one of the most well recognized albums in the trash metal subgenre.
These new forms of obtaining music, to me, take that away. Even if the whole album is available online, I just personally wouldn't get the same kick out of it. Being able to turn the pages of that booklet, and see the art of the CD. Then being able to listen to the songs in the order they came in for the first time, while reading anything in the book (whether it be lyrics, or just tidbits of information left by the artist).
There's always going to be change in how music is distributed. I understand that. But all digital downloads... it has its pros and cons, and I'm sitting more on the cons really. The idea just doesn't float well, because I think one of the most important parts of an album is the physical aspect to it. Get what I mean?
Either way, I just see a lack of relevance (which I think is what I'm really trying to say personally) coming on with all of this. It just isn't the same, downloading a song compared to owning the disc. So much really does make a difference, and a strong album can say a lot about a band (although, as you said, not everyone can pull together a strong album). Classic albums in whatever genre tend to stand so strong because of so many different factors. Slayer's Reign in Blood, for example (though not everybody's favorite), is strengthened because of those very aspects. Starting with Angel of Death and ending with Raining Blood, while having very short songs in between. This results in not even thirty minutes of music, yet one of the most well recognized albums in the trash metal subgenre.
These new forms of obtaining music, to me, take that away. Even if the whole album is available online, I just personally wouldn't get the same kick out of it. Being able to turn the pages of that booklet, and see the art of the CD. Then being able to listen to the songs in the order they came in for the first time, while reading anything in the book (whether it be lyrics, or just tidbits of information left by the artist).
There's always going to be change in how music is distributed. I understand that. But all digital downloads... it has its pros and cons, and I'm sitting more on the cons really. The idea just doesn't float well, because I think one of the most important parts of an album is the physical aspect to it. Get what I mean?