are albums getting shorter?

[genocide roach]

it seems like 30 minutes is the standard now. what happened to cds that were 45-60+ minutes? people trying to cash in on minimal work? labels rushing bands to put out new material?
~gR~

 

[Satanstoenail]

Haven't noticed this phenomenon myself, but I'd prefer a shorter album with no filler to a long album that gets boring.

 

[General Zaroff]

Haven't noticed this phenomenon myself, but I'd prefer a shorter album with no filler to a long album that gets boring.

x2

Five really good songs are better than 10 averages.

 

[Jreg]

Are you talking about metal overall or specific styles? I could see it happening in death metal maybe, or maybe thrash, but not so much in doom or progressive, for instance. Most albums I own are somewhere around 40 minutes, and that seems to be the case across genres. With the older albums I have, it doesn't seem to be terribly different (discounting the bonus tracks frequently tacked onto the end of reissues, of course).

 

[Satanstoenail]

discounting the bonus tracks frequently tacked onto the end of reissues, of course).

I hate that shit. The 'bonus tracks' are usually crappy demo versions or crappy live recordings of songs that are on the album anyway, why the fuck do record companies think anyone wants to hear that shit at the end of an album? Put it on a separate cd or don't bother.

 

[Jreg]

It can be good or bad. If it's a couple of live tracks or rough demos of songs from that same album (those King Diamond remasters come to mind), then I'll probably discard them. If it's b-sides, covers or previously unreleased songs, that really depends on the quality. A number of death metal bands like to add old demos or entire EPs though, and it's pretty decent material a lot of times. That's really the only case where I care at all.

 

[Satanstoenail]

The main part that bothers me is that these tracks are generally on the same disc as the album and when I put an album on to listen to it will keep playing past the end and I have to stop it quickly because I don't generally want to hear the bonus tracks, I want to hear the album and the album only.

 

[AchrisK]

Haven't noticed this phenomenon myself, but I'd prefer a shorter album with no filler to a long album that gets boring.

...

I hate that shit. The 'bonus tracks' are usually crappy demo versions or crappy live recordings of songs that are on the album anyway, why the fuck do record companies think anyone wants to hear that shit at the end of an album? Put it on a separate cd or don't bother.

I am not sure there is a specific trend. Plenty of albums come out that are 60 min +. But I like a 30-45 minute album myself. If a whole album isn't awesome, then I get annoyed if it goes on too long.

 

[Belligerent]

I hate that shit. The 'bonus tracks' are usually crappy demo versions or crappy live recordings of songs that are on the album anyway, why the fuck do record companies think anyone wants to hear that shit at the end of an album? Put it on a separate cd or don't bother.

Perfect example is Roadrunner. The Ghost Reveries re-release was 6 months later w/ a shitty Deep Purple cover. Out of Opeth's hands im sure because Roadrunner is notorious for that shit.

 

[Vossyrus]

I think it just depends on the band and the style of music. Obviously death metal albums are usually 30-40mins, black metal albums vary more, and doom metal albums are usually over an hour etc.

I don't think albums should be any particular length - just whatever is best for the music. Why would I want to listen to an 80min death metal album? In that case shorter is good.

 

[Vossyrus]

The main part that bothers me is that these tracks are generally on the same disc as the album and when I put an album on to listen to it will keep playing past the end and I have to stop it quickly because I don't generally want to hear the bonus tracks, I want to hear the album and the album only.

I don't mind having bonus tracks on the same disc, I don't see why its such a hassle to stop the cd from playing...but I see what you mean, worse is when cover songs are placed amongst the album songs because more often than not they can ruin the mood of the album. Graveworm does it all the time with their pop covers.

 

[Dazed and Brutal]

I've noticed the excact opposite myself. The modern bands I do listen to seem to have long drawn out songs that leave an epic feeling to the listener.

 

[Koude Haat]

only thing i hate is how bands put ambient tracks throughout the whole album *cough mithras*

 

[Vitor]

it seems like 30 minutes is the standard now.

it's not a ''new'' standard, cuz we have many old metal stuff that don't cross the 30 minutes line.

 

[Skepticism]

only thing i hate is how bands put ambient tracks throughout the whole album *cough mithras*

I love those, but it's just a matter of taste.

 

[Alter]

I have noticed that albums dont feel has full as they used to.
Sgt.Peppers... and De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas both sound complete. New albums just dont sound that way anymore. They sound more like eps or compulations.

 

[Blue_Jay]

only thing i hate is how bands put ambient tracks throughout the whole album *cough mithras*

Hey! I like filler instrumental tracks as long as their done right they make the entire album sound much better.

 

[Koude Haat]

if they're done right then yeah i agree. Necros christos is an excellent example of filler instrumental tracks done right. But most bands just do it to take up space. (or thats how i see it)

 

[cookiecutter]

I think death metal albums are getting shorter, as the standard now is about 30 minutes, but black metal is getting longer. I have numerous recent released pushing 1 hour.

 

[ohiogrinder]

I hate that shit. The 'bonus tracks' are usually crappy demo versions or crappy live recordings of songs that are on the album anyway, why the fuck do record companies think anyone wants to hear that shit at the end of an album? Put it on a separate cd or don't bother.

how are the bonus tracks on The Rack and Last One On Earth reissues?