Blog
March 17th 2009 | 2
Blah, Blah, Blah, Blogs…
During my interview with the Crosstown Rivals, the band spoke about how the EP (that’s like, a CD with only 5 or-so songs on it for any non-music dorks out there) has become the new LP (Long Player, come on. Try to keep up) or album. This is the second Winnipeg band I have interviewed who is doing the release-a-bunch-of-EPs-instead-of-one-long-record thing since pop-rock titans Quinzy paved the way last summer. Now I’m not knocking any of these bands at all, nor am I criticizing their tactics when it comes to marketing their music. In fact, I think that the EP is a wonderfully digestible, consumable format - they’re cheap and short - and releasing a bunch of them over a year does keep your band on the radar. Pretty smart actually.
But, what bothers me is this: I LIKE ALBUMS. I like buying actual releases that I can hold in my hand and pour over the artwork and liner notes. I like absorbing a band’s artistic vision as they see it - in one sitting. I think that the rising popularity of the EP indicates the plummeting attention span of society today. We are constantly bombarded with stimulus, be it TV, radio, music, billboards, ads, Facebook, Twitter, the Internet. It is getting harder, becoming tiring to sift through all of the messages our little antennae receive daily, let alone by the hour. It takes work, attention. And at a certain point, I think, albeit cynically, people either give up, give in or turn off. You can only handle so many commercials for “American Idol” before you throw the remote through the screen or grab another bag of Doritos and tune in. By the way, who do you think’s going to win this year? Isn’t Simon soooo mean?
Louis Levesque-Cote, of Crosstown Rivals, made a comment that for bands nowadays, “It’s all about getting huge on the Blogosphere.” He said it ironically and we all laughed about it, but he’s right. Bands are becoming popular through different avenues than when I was a kid. Forget million-dollar videos. All you need is an net-savy band member (or girlfriend) and you’ll be all over Pitchfork in no time! At least, that’s what I understand. I still can’t find the Blogosphere. Can I Google that shit?
Discussion
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Right On Curran,
I like albums too, I really like them. Good ones that is. You’ve articulated the advantages of the LP very well:
“...actual releases that I can hold in my hand and pour over the artwork and liner notes. I like absorbing a band’s artistic vision as they see it - in one sitting.”
I don’t think an EP gives an artist enough space to really create a universe for their music. Five tracks is not enough time for a band to tell their full story with a beginning, middle and end. A great album brings you close with the band, surrounds you with their vibe, their attitude, their heart and soul.
An EP might have a few great songs on it, but it won’t be able to reach the listener the same way a great full length can. Imagine any great album, cut off the last 5-7 tracks and you have an EP. Imagine Weezer’s Blue album without “Only In Dreams” and “In The Garage”, The Beatles’ Rubber Soul without “In My Life” and “I’m looking through you”.
Luke
ps - I think the blogosphere is in outer-space, isn’t it?
– Luke Kennerd in Winnipeg | March 21st 2009 at 1:40pm | Link
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EPs are a great way for emerging bands to stay relevant, but yeah, there comes a point (of maturity?) when a band should step up, release an LP and see if they have a legit fan base.
It should be something like a coming-of-age story.
– Samuel Swanson in Winnipeg | March 30th 2009 at 1:21am | Link
