Is the art of the album gone? (1 Viewer)

[TomahawkTchoup]

I'm just curious. Has pop popped? Is art not just for sale, but sold? Are there no longer stories but merely headlines?

Is this the same old question as tastes and genres change demand, or has society and technology definitively changed supply? Both?

These are simply launching pads, I hope, for talk about the idea.

I'm personally afraid so, but I am more interested in understanding how others see it before I set my thoughts in concrete. I hope this illicits response.

 

[tenordas]

The answer is yes. Pop music is no longer about any degree of musical talent, but completely about how the "artist" looks on the record cover and ads (just like local news is all about ratings and promoting the channel's programming rather than actually about news). Bands with ugly lead singers like Aerosmith (and too many "old" bands to count) wouldn't have a prayer these days (much the same as unattractive anchormen or women have no shot of getting on TV newscasts). This might change, of course, as the same could be said of pop music back in the 50's. Sure, Buddy Holly made it, but generally producers only wanted to promote heartthrobs like Elvis. The pendulum could swing again, but it will take awhile. This also requires some young people with talent , of course. IMHO, truly talented pop/rock bands aren't exactly numerous anyway.

 

[Ken-Bob]

Yes. Concept albums are apparently a thing of the past.

 

[Ted]

we talked a bit about this here - http://saintsreport.com/forums/showthread.php?p=53420&highlight=idiot#post53420

gotta scroll down a bit. but yeah, the crap they're playing on the radio is all pre-packaged lowest common denominator pablum. but the rapid development of alternative means of getting music out there (myspace, Yahoo, pandora, last.fm...) is giving distribution and exposure o more artists than ever. Great music is still being made, you just have to find it.

 

[Severum]

Online services have definitely made it easier to find good music. I don't relish the days of having one or two distant semi decent radio stations. At least MTV still played some decent stuff when they lifted the ban here in the 90s. I'd never buy music if local radio was my main source, can't remember hearing any broadcasts from the albums I purchased last year. University station has decent playlists sometimes, but corporate terrestrial radio is a wasteland.

Hopefully online distribution and promotion will continue to build up smaller labels that focus on quality music.

 

[Ted]

severum, how's KLPI these days? I cut my college radio teeth there and all of the friends from Tech that I'm still friends with were folks I knew from there. Good times.

/threadjack

 

[Severum]

Only decent new music station here, range is a bit limited outside the metro area. Quality varies from show to show, but it's the only place I'm likely to hear two good songs consecutively. The high DJs tend to have good selections.

 

[Ted]

high?!?! while on the air?!?!? I'm shocked - SHOCKED!