[Is there a point to making an album?]

On 1/20/2017 at 1:14 PM, Richard Tracey said:

 

There are still many old and new artists making the typical album - I was just meaning the 'pop' artists that are ten a penny at the moment. I love finding an album where every song on it has been crafted to perfection and there isn't a dull song on the track list.

 

I realize I'm late to this conversation and likely inserting some serious thread drift by quoting from several pages back, but I wanted to respond to this comment. I recently picked up Miranda Lambert's new 2 disc release, and there are maybe 4 to 5 songs out of 23-26 (can't remember which, but it was a lot) that I wasn't immediately happy to hear. That handful of songs has also grown on me after a few plays, so I'd say this whole collection is a home run. In all honesty, I've never owned a single CD with so many good songs on it. 

 

Now onto the first topic, I almost never purchase physical music anymore. This is my first purchase in a very long time. Some of those reasons are because I don't have the equipment at home to enjoy playing them. I am slowly moving up in the world that way and now have a vehicle with a CD player, but at the same time have a smart phone that connects with the stereo system. Here's the real problem. I do have a Google Play subscription, so can download and play anything I want from their catalog. But, on my hour commutes to school, the car drops the connection to the phone, or the phone drops connection to Google, and then I find myself mid-song and mid-commute not being able to get back to it while driving. It frustrated me enough times that I said, "forget this nonsense," and went for the physical copy of something I'd heard enough times digitally that I knew was worth paying for the hard copy. On top of that, it's a far better quality sound. Double bonus. Just wanted to add in a perspective that hasn't yet been  noted. Also, radio doesn't really take care of the commuter market that well. I'm in the Chicago area, and while we have some great radio stations, there is music here you never hear on the radio that gets played to death elsewhere in the country. I can think of a few rock bands that qualify. For one, I almost never hear anything from Yes. They stick to mostly top 40 rock or pop or country, and that's all you get. It's very limiting for everyone with musical tastes that span the many genres available today. This is why owning the CD is still most attractive for anyone who does drive long distance to work or school. A niche market to keep in mind, and potential way of targeting those customers.

[Getting To Know You]

On 10/20/2015 at 9:23 PM, Mihan said:

1. Do you sing, play an instrument or instruments?

I sing, and would like lessons to improve on what's already there. 

I play guitar at the border of beginner/intermediate level currently.

 

2. Are you in a band or bands?

No.

 

3. Do you write songs?

I'm just beginning in the craft.

 

4. Do you record your music?

Not yet. My guitar teacher thinks I have a nice voice, would be good at writing lyrics, and wants to try and make something with one of the songs I wrote. He would like to see me start performing.

 

5. What other roles do you perform in the music business?

None

 

6. Are you a tech head?

No.

 

7. What country do you live in?

US

 

8. What are your ambitions?

To write some good music that people can connect to and maybe perform it live in front of an audience. 

 

9. Do you draw/paint/write stories/computer art/dance or other creative pursuit?

No.

 

10. What would you like to get out of Songstuff?

A community to share my original work and get some honest, constructive feedback and to gain exposure to other original works. <-Not my answer, but exactly what I'm after as well.