Is the concept of an "album" dying?

[Elong]

I've mainly been listening to Kanye West's new album the last couple of weeks, it's growing on me and getting better and better with every listen. I think it's a great example of an album being one song and not a collection of songs.
There's a good 40-odd minute short film with most of the songs from the album integrated into it, Runaway being the main song in it and the title of the movie, should be checked out it's very good in my opinion.

 

[SimplyBlue]

I do that with music I'm familiar with, it is indeed fun and quite personal.

But always with new bands, and for the most part with most music, I'm a track 1, track 2, track 3 kind of guy. I treat albums like films; I don't skip to my favourite scenes, or change it around.

Some albums work best like this, but admittedly others don't. Muse are a good example. I love their debut album, it's my favourite of theirs, but most of my favourite songs are on Absolution, OoS and Black Holes (their 2nd, 3rd and 4th albums). My Muse playlist is dominated by these albums, but I keep Showbiz separately, because it's got its own sound and flows really well as an album. I hope that makes sense, although for once I'm finding it hard to effectively express what I'm talking about!

I love Muse I got into their music a couple of years back and have slowly been working my way through their albums. Each one has a distinct sound and feel to it. I also have their music on my mp3 but, I enjoy just sitting and listening to the album all the way through while reading the lyrics.
I can get lost in their music for hours.

 

[RFUS]

I love Muse I got into their music a couple of years back and have slowly been working my way through their albums. Each one has a distinct sound and feel to it. I also have their music on my mp3 but, I enjoy just sitting and listening to the album all the way through while reading the lyrics.
I can get lost in their music for hours.

They're a great band.

They get a lot of criticism for being a Radiohead rip-off, but as the biggest Radiohead fan I know, I hate those claims. They're their own band, and a very, very good one. Even better live.

I still hate the Resistance though.

 

[SimplyBlue]

They're a great band.

They get a lot of criticism for being a Radiohead rip-off, but as the biggest Radiohead fan I know, I hate those claims. They're their own band, and a very, very good one. Even better live.

I still hate the Resistance though.

I'm not sure I have heard much of Radiohead, but I think I may have to give them a listen.

Is it the entire album you dislike or just the song? There are a few songs I do like on the album, but there are a few that are rather slow and I find myself skipping over. I save the slow songs like Symphony 1, 2, and 3 for when I am in a melancholy mood. ha ha

 

[RFUS]

I'm not sure I have heard much of Radiohead, but I think I may have to give them a listen.

Is it the entire album you dislike or just the song? There are a few songs I do like on the album, but there are a few that are rather slow and I find myself skipping over. I save the slow songs like Symphony 1, 2, and 3 for when I am in a melancholy mood. ha ha

I love MK Ultra and quite like Uprising, but the rest is pants. And honestly, there's not a single song I don't at least like on their previous 4 albums. That contrast makes The Resistance seem even worse than it is, for me.

 

[chrissyjack]

I like Resistance, me. Mind you, it's the only Muse album I own. My lad has the rest of them on his PC. I have some of their tunes on a cd in the car . The singles, mostly, including Knights Of Cydonia , which I like coz I can play the end riff on me lads leccy guitar

 

[RFUS]

I like Resistance, me. Mind you, it's the only Muse album I own. My lad has the rest of them on his PC. I have some of their tunes on a cd in the car . The singles, mostly, including Knights Of Cydonia , which I like coz I can play the end riff on me lads leccy guitar

The best songs are mainly on Absolution and Origin of Symmetry. Check out:

Plug In Baby
Stockholme Syndrome (my personal fav)
Hysteria
Assassin
New Born
Citizen Erased
Micro Cuts
The Small Print
Thoughts of a Dying Atheist
Map of the Problematique
Bliss
Space Dementia
Hyper Music
Darkshines
Feeli...

I'm naming basically everything here... just get the two albums: "Origin of Symmetry" and "Absolution".

 

[chrissyjack]

Isn't New Born a bit similar to Unnatural Selection , though?. I first heard Stockholm Syndrome when they performed it at Glastonbury, so I quite like that one. Off that list I have three tunes on my car CD

 

[SimplyBlue]

The best songs are mainly on Absolution and Origin of Symmetry. Check out:

Plug In Baby
Stockholme Syndrome (my personal fav)
Hysteria
Assassin
New Born
Citizen Erased
Micro Cuts
The Small Print
Thoughts of a Dying Atheist
Map of the Problematique
Bliss
Space Dementia
Hyper Music
Darkshines
Feeli...

I'm naming basically everything here... just get the two albums: "Origin of Symmetry" and "Absolution".

You named just about all my favorite songs!
Have you ever gotten to see them play live? I wanted to see them when they came to town, but I missed out and couldn't go. I bought their live HARRP DVD and have just about wore it out.

 

[RFUS]

Isn't New Born a bit similar to Unnatural Selection , though?. I first heard Stockholm Syndrome when they performed it at Glastonbury, so I quite like that one. Off that list I have three tunes on my car CD

I really don't think so. But if it does, it would be more that Unnatural Selection resembles New Born, seeing as New Born predates it by 8 years!

You named just about all my favorite songs!
Have you ever gotten to see them play live? I wanted to see them when they came to town, but I missed out and couldn't go. I bought their live HARRP DVD and have just about wore it out.

I saw them when they were touring the Resistance. Thankfully most of the set list was from their other stuff though! They were fantastic. Second only to the Flaming Lips in terms of putting on an awesome show, for me.

 

[chrissyjack]

I know New Born came first. I meant they both sound similar as in they start of quietly then go into a monster riff. Do the albums prior to Resistance have a distinct Muse sound ? Resistance sounds like it has been influenced by groups like Queen ( United states of Eurasia ) Led Zeppelin ( the middle bit of Unnatural selection) an ELO ( Exogenesis- symphony part 1 )

 

[RFUS]

I know New Born came first. I meant they both sound similar as in they start of quietly then go into a monster riff. Do the albums prior to Resistance have a distinct Muse sound ? Resistance sounds like it has been influenced by groups like Queen ( United states of Eurasia ) Led Zeppelin ( the middle bit of Unnatural selection) an ELO ( Exogenesis- symphony part 1 )

That's exactly why I don't like The Resistance; half of it sounds like a compilation of crappy Queen b-sides.


Whereas, yes, their first 4 albums all sound like Muse. They were clealy influenced by the likes of Radiohead, maybe even a bit of Jeff Buckley at times, but everyone is influenced by someone. They did however, have their own very distinct sound, which I think they lost in The Resistance.

 

[chrissyjack]

I'll check out those Muse albums

* see. I'm not as old a fart as you think

 

[RFUS]

I'll check out those Muse albums

* see. I'm not as old a fart as you think

You're old, mate.

But age and awesomeness aren't mutually exclusive. You rank high in both departments!