electro-music.com   Dedicated to experimental electro-acoustic
and electronic music
 
    Front Page  |  Radio
 |  Media  |  Forum  |  Wiki  |  Links
Forum with support of Syndicator RSS
 FAQFAQ   CalendarCalendar   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   LinksLinks
 RegisterRegister   ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in  Chat RoomChat Room 
 Forum index » Discussion » Composition
How long should an album be?
Post new topic   Reply to topic Moderators: elektro80
Page 1 of 1 [19 Posts]
View unread posts
View new posts in the last week
Mark the topic unread :: View previous topic :: View next topic

How long should an electro-music CD be?
no more than 45 minutes
70%
 70%  [ 7 ]
about 60 minutes
30%
 30%  [ 3 ]
70+ minutes
0%
 0%  [ 0 ]
Total Votes : 10

Author Message
A E J O T Z



Joined: Aug 14, 2011
Posts: 423
Location: Griffith, Indiana, USA
Audio files: 148

PostPosted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 11:40 am    Post subject: How long should an album be? Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I know there's no right answer. I'm just looking for some different ideas. I remember one of Stereolab's CDs being criticized for being too long. But I also remember some rock albums from my youth that were, disappointingly, barely 30 minutes total.

A web search resulted in mostly pop listeners (of course) who seemed to agree that 30-40 minutes was good. In this age of 80 minute CD capacities that seems short to me.

I'd like to know how electro-music people view this question.

Also, as in the case of the above mentioned Stereolab album, I have to ask, "why can't you just play half of it at a time?" Apparently that's too much work for some people. On the other hand, I have that album and, yeah, it seems to go on longer than the elevator music in hell.

_________________
AEJOTZ is pronounced "A-Jotz"
retro-futurism now
electronics = magic
free albums at http://aejotz.bandcamp.com
listen to genre-defying synthetic music at http://sat-5.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Uncle Krunkus
Moderator


Joined: Jul 11, 2005
Posts: 4761
Location: Sydney, Australia
Audio files: 52
G2 patch files: 1

PostPosted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 8:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

To me, it depends on what type of CD it is.
If it's a group of songs which are designed to be listened to together, in a certain order, all at one time, then I think around 45min is a good length, give or take 5-10 mins. Beyond that, and the connectivity becomes harder to endure. Your ability to listen actively does become fatigued over this kind of timespan. Trying to hold someone's undivided attention for more than an hour is a bit pretentious. Even the opera has an intermission.

But,.....
If it's a collection of tracks which are not related, and will more than likely be added to an enormous music library and accessed randomly, then, the more the merrier! Laughing Fill the medium,..... why not?

_________________
What makes a space ours, is what we put there, and what we do there.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
onewayness



Joined: Jun 16, 2011
Posts: 155
Location: Erie, PA, USA
Audio files: 19

PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I think there's no right answer, although I think for myself, I'm unlikely to release anything that's much over 45 minutes. Which I guess, for me, I guess is a function of old 70s LP's being my sort of Platonic ideal for how long an album should be.

adam / onewayness

_________________
handmade music for machines | onewayness.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Acoustic Interloper



Joined: Jul 07, 2007
Posts: 2071
Location: Berks County, PA
Audio files: 89

PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

53.27 minutes.
_________________
When the stream is deep
my wild little dog frolics,
when shallow, she drinks.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
darkvortex
Radio Master


Joined: Aug 19, 2011
Posts: 206
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Audio files: 52

PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

This is a tricky one which (in my experience) is widely and frequently debated.

My personal preference is for between 45-60 minutes. Most of my Crystal Dreams ambient albums end up being about 50 minutes and that's without any particular planning. I just go with what feels right.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
v-un-v
Janitor
Janitor


Joined: May 16, 2005
Posts: 8933
Location: Birmingham, England, UK
Audio files: 11
G2 patch files: 1

PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 2:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

A good yard stick is Revolver by the Beatles. The length is just right. The tracks all being 3 to 4 minutes, absolutely perfect.

Unless you're doing classical music of course.

The compact disk was made to hold the entire of Beethoven's 9th symphony- the most popular at the time in Japan.

I heard some TD influenced music the other day. It went of for about 30mins per track. It was so tediously boring and predictable after 5 mins or so. But then tracks by CAN especially on Tago Mago go on forever, but never become boring.

I suppose it also depends on how much grass you've just inhaled too?? Laughing

_________________
ACHTUNG!
ALLES TURISTEN UND NONTEKNISCHEN LOOKENPEEPERS!
DAS KOMPUTERMASCHINE IST NICHT FÜR DER GEFINGERPOKEN UND MITTENGRABEN! ODERWISE IST EASY TO SCHNAPPEN DER SPRINGENWERK, BLOWENFUSEN UND POPPENCORKEN MIT SPITZENSPARKSEN.
IST NICHT FÜR GEWERKEN BEI DUMMKOPFEN. DER RUBBERNECKEN SIGHTSEEREN KEEPEN DAS COTTONPICKEN HÄNDER IN DAS POCKETS MUSS.
ZO RELAXEN UND WATSCHEN DER BLINKENLICHTEN.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
ocp



Joined: Sep 14, 2004
Posts: 533
Location: Porto, Portugal
Audio files: 9

PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 4:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Here's an interesting Wikipedia page on the attention span.
_________________
https://opcabpol.bandcamp.com | https://www.mixcloud.com/Boiar | http://editoradoporto.blogspot.com |
https://www.facebook.com/nofp15/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Acoustic Interloper



Joined: Jul 07, 2007
Posts: 2071
Location: Berks County, PA
Audio files: 89

PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 6:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

v-un-v wrote:
It went of for about 30mins per track. It was so tediously boring and predictable after 5 mins or so. But then tracks by CAN especially on Tago Mago go on forever, but never become boring.

I suppose it also depends on how much grass you've just inhaled too?? Laughing

It depends on the piece, clearly. There is nothing like a good composition that develops and takes some unexpected turns -- maybe subtle, maybe abrupt -- over time, and a piece like that needs some time to develop. But, if it's a verse-chorus-verse-chorus pop tart meant to act as an aural doughnut, then, yeah, 5 minutes is probably too long.

_________________
When the stream is deep
my wild little dog frolics,
when shallow, she drinks.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
audiodef



Joined: Sep 05, 2011
Posts: 726
Location: LFO1
Audio files: 53

PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 6:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Whatever feels right to you. You're the artist. You're creating a little world and inviting people to participate. If they don't like it for any reason - oh, well. Since "if it's not one thing, it's another", applies, never use any given criteria as an excuse to worry about audience reaction - and that includes length.
_________________
There's an invisible radio gnome playing a gong from a flying teapot - don't miss out!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Winstontaneous



Joined: Oct 31, 2008
Posts: 43
Location: Berkeley, CA

PostPosted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 4:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

ocp wrote:
Here's an interesting Wikipedia page on the attention span.

I started reading it but then I... Laughing

If there's a good flow from one piece to the next the length shouldn't matter. Some people have a lot to say...there were a fair number of double albums in the pre-CD days, but the physicality of vinyl requires a commitment from the listener to hear the whole thing.

This thread inspired me to put on Gavin Bryars' "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet" which is more or less the same thing over and over for 75 minutes.

_________________
Music: Whirled | Survival Kit
Videos: The Beat | Crossing to Safety
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
paggos



Joined: May 25, 2011
Posts: 10
Location: United States

PostPosted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Whatever paints the whole picture for you. Music is an art, and an art is very subjective...so yeah, if you can get that whole urge out of you in 10 songs, then it's fine...or 2 songs..whatever it may be, as long as you're satisfied with the outcome...thats my opinion.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
jespis



Joined: Aug 27, 2013
Posts: 4
Location: Croatia

PostPosted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 7:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Side A: 20 min
Side B: 20 min
(+- 5 min each side)
30-50 min

And sometimes double album: 60-100 min Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
DES



Joined: Feb 28, 2003
Posts: 795
Location: New Jersey
Audio files: 8

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Acoustic Interloper wrote:

It depends on the piece, clearly. There is nothing like a good composition that develops and takes some unexpected turns -- maybe subtle, maybe abrupt -- over time, and a piece like that needs some time to develop. But, if it's a verse-chorus-verse-chorus pop tart meant to act as an aural doughnut, then, yeah, 5 minutes is probably too long.


I would tend to agree, if producing my own CDs. However, if I'm purchasing the album I would hope that it had as much music as possible... Of course if that means an extra 10 minutes of the same solitary note being held just to supply filler, I would not be as thrilled unless that note and treatment was really speaking to me Laughing

_________________
Dave
www.davesneed.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
brainvoyager



Joined: Oct 23, 2013
Posts: 29
Location: The Netherlands, Heerhugowaard
Audio files: 3

PostPosted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 5:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Uncle Krunkus wrote:
To me, it depends on what type of CD it is.
If it's a group of songs which are designed to be listened to together, in a certain order, all at one time, then I think around 45min is a good length, give or take 5-10 mins. Beyond that, and the connectivity becomes harder to endure. Your ability to listen actively does become fatigued over this kind of timespan. Trying to hold someone's undivided attention for more than an hour is a bit pretentious. Even the opera has an intermission.

But,.....
If it's a collection of tracks which are not related, and will more than likely be added to an enormous music library and accessed randomly, then, the more the merrier! Laughing Fill the medium,..... why not?
I totally agree with this!!! My next album Drifting Memories will have 'only' 4 tracks. But the total playing time will be just over 74 minutes. The longest track is 24 minutes, there is one that lasts 20 minutes. The third track lasts almost 16 minutes and the last one lasts 15 minutes. Very Happy
_________________
I don't care about genres, I just make music.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Skrog Productions



Joined: Jan 07, 2009
Posts: 1200
Location: Scottish Borders
Audio files: 156

PostPosted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 10:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Very Happy

in my experience.....
Hardcore punk / Grindcore/ noise , no more than 21mins.
Electronic ambient or melodic music , 45mins to 1 hour is good.


Dave Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
audiodef



Joined: Sep 05, 2011
Posts: 726
Location: LFO1
Audio files: 53

PostPosted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 3:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

"The Private Music of Tangerine Dream" only has four tracks and is wonderful stuff.

It only matters whether you like it or not.

_________________
There's an invisible radio gnome playing a gong from a flying teapot - don't miss out!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
RF



Joined: Mar 23, 2007
Posts: 1502
Location: Northern Minnesota, USA
Audio files: 28

PostPosted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 7:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

47 minutes.
_________________
www.sdiy.org/rfeng

"I want to make these sounds that go wooo-wooo-ah-woo-woo.”
(Herb Deutsch to Bob Moog ~1963)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
robsol
Stream Operator


Joined: Apr 24, 2009
Posts: 2494
Location: Bristol UK
Audio files: 495

PostPosted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 9:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

You are all so, so wrong.

A great album should last a lifetime. Wink

_________________
Muied Lumens Sub Forum
Bandcamp
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Acoustic Interloper



Joined: Jul 07, 2007
Posts: 2071
Location: Berks County, PA
Audio files: 89

PostPosted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 4:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

As soon as I ask, it is over.
_________________
When the stream is deep
my wild little dog frolics,
when shallow, she drinks.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic Moderators: elektro80
Page 1 of 1 [19 Posts]
View unread posts
View new posts in the last week
Mark the topic unread :: View previous topic :: View next topic
 Forum index » Discussion » Composition
Jump to:  

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum


Forum with support of Syndicator RSS
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
Copyright © 2003 through 2009 by electro-music.com - Conditions Of Use