What makes a great album?

[johnnydawg68]

If you buy an album that has several GREAT songs on it, but the rest is either average or below average vs an album where every song is good, but doesn't have the highlights as the other one...which would you consider the better album?

 

[Allezfan]

Interesting one. I own albums like both.

I guess in the modern day, Itunes means you don't have to own the whole album if there's only a handful of decent songs on it. I very rarely listen to 'single albums' in full any more. I just load up the songs I want and discard the rest.

I guess, I'd listen to the more consistent one more but be more likely to buy another album by the band with the higher highs.

 

[roydo]

I find albums that have several great songs tend to make the other become growers, and you end up liking them as much as the great ones. Thinking of Led Zep IV for example. Only really listened to Side one at first, but now prefer side 2.

Christ that dates me! Vinyl FFS!

 

[Baines' left foot]

If you buy an album that has several GREAT songs on it, but the rest is either average or below average vs an album where every song is good, but doesn't have the highlights as the other one...which would you consider the better album?

I wouldn't class either of those albums as "great", to be honest.

For me, for an album to be considered great then at least 8/10 of the tracks must be at least "very good" with a few standout tracks. Something that keeps you wanting to come back for more.

 

[johnnydawg68]

Interesting one. I own albums like both.

I guess in the modern day, Itunes means you don't have to own the whole album if there's only a handful of decent songs on it. I very rarely listen to 'single albums' in full any more. I just load up the songs I want and discard the rest.

I guess, I'd listen to the more consistent one more but be more likely to buy another album by the band with the higher highs.

Yeah with spotify and itunes you can really slice it up. But I still prefer albums I can put on and leave on. I think for me the answer is B.

 

[johnnydawg68]

I wouldn't class either of those albums as "great", to be honest.

For me, for an album to be considered great then at least 8/10 of the tracks must be at least "very good" with a few standout tracks. Something that keeps you wanting to come back for more.

Ok let's re-phrase to "which is the BETTER" album?

 

[Baines' left foot]

Ok let's re-phrase to "which is the BETTER" album?

I'd say the more consistent one.

Nothing irritates me more in music than a sh*t song blatantly put in an album just to bulk it out. Like those 1min "interludes" you get randomly in albums where it's just a concoction of noises or someone talking.

 

[johnnydawg68]

I'd say the more consistent one.

Nothing irritates me more in music than a sh*t song blatantly put in an album just to bulk it out. Like those 1min "interludes" you get randomly in albums where it's just a concoction of noises or someone talking.

Same here. Just wait another 6 months or year until you have more good songs.

 

[roydo]

The bands I grew up with rarely, if ever released singles, so when the albums came out there was not a song you had heard before, so you made your mind up as to the stand out tracks/album. When I bought an album of a band based on a single I might have heard on radio, I was often disappointed in the subsequent album.

Apart from The Smiths & The Cult. And Blondie.

 

[BlueLlama]

Anything with "filler" does not count as great.

 

[Baines' left foot]

Same here. Just wait another 6 months or year until you have more good songs.

Or just make the album shorter? I much prefer an album with 8-10 good songs than throwing in more for the sake of making it longer.

Or just make an EP. EPs seem quite fashionable these days.

 

[Baines' left foot]

Anything with "filler" does not count as great.

Foo Fighters immediately spring to mind.

 

[Furey1878]

An album that you get more out of for listening to it from beginning to end as opposed to all the tracks in a random order is a sign of a good album.

 

[johnnydawg68]

Or just make the album shorter? I much prefer an album with 8-10 good songs than throwing in more for the sake of making it longer.

Or just make an EP. EPs seem quite fashionable these days.

Yep, I'm ok with that.

 

[johnnydawg68]

Anything with "filler" does not count as great.

It bugs me when bands are clearly capable of writing really good songs and then put absolute dross next to something wonderful. What's the point? Do they really think people won't notice?