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velvety
= Cult of Ray =
Portugal
536 Posts |
 Posted - 05/28/2014 : 08:14:33
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So, do you guys think the EPs and then gathering them all in an album worked in the long run?
Did the strategy that the band went with, in terms of buzz created vs expectations vs having somewhat of a compilation of songs everybody knew released as the "new album" pay off?
Personally, I think it was the wrong strategy, even if I understand where the band/manager were coming from, due to absurd expectations that people had over a "new pixies album" and trying to create buzz over a longer period of time. And the money aspect of it, of course.
I'm still very fond of an album as a format, and my guess is that people that are interested in this type of music still enjoy the 30/40 minutes worth of songs stuffed in a sequenced order. Even the younger fans.
Also, releasing just 4 songs at a time gives the listener an easier chance to dislike one or two of them and simply state that everything on the EP is trash and that every preconception they had about the new stuff/band was right all along.
Pixies songs are demanding of the listeners attention (fact?), they are pop-rock songs at heart, but everything about them (lyrics, weird melodies, the dynamics the band uses, etc) have always seemed more suited for active listening rather than the opposite.
That's why I've never understood the Pixies nonchalant attitude about what to do with the songs they recorded in Ireland.
The band seems to like surprising their fans, as proved by the unannounced release of mostly everything they did in the past months. Do you guys think this means they'll continue with the Eps thing with future stuff?
Sorry about the rant. Would very much like to read your ideas on this, though. Are today's music business and music fans really that disinterested in albums? |
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picpic
* Dog in the Sand *
Belgium
1874 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2014 : 08:53:25
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It was kind of nice to have a surprise every 3 months or so, than having a whole album in one piece. Even if it is an obvious marketing plot, i'm still ok with that...
The only deception was that there was nothing new on the final product at all (besides women of war). Which was a big disappointment to say the least. In fact, I dontīt think an album was necessary at all since eveything had already been released.
I don't have any special expectation for the future regarding album formats. I just hope to hear good music. The latest tunes (Jaime Bravo, Women of war) are pretty encouraging. Women of war is fantastic.
___
"Service Unavailable" |
Edited by - picpic on 05/28/2014 08:54:42 |
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1037 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2014 : 10:37:58
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I like the Pixies surprising everyone with new music but I prefer the album format. Eps, for me, are good between album surprises.
Maybe their next one will be a double.
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yarbles
= Cult of Ray =
USA
635 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2014 : 11:22:46
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I loved getting new music, the first 2 EPs were exciting and that sense of unexpectedness was great. But Then the last EP came out with little attention to it and then the "album" just felt slapped together and released. I may be a little old school, but I like albums to be events. I love albums that are recorded and sequenced and assembled to the end of having a cohesive whole. I understand that the Wales sessions were a way for the band to get back in the game and become functioning again, and for that Indie Cindy is a success to me. But in other areas it is a bit unsatisfying to me, namely the production, uninteresting album art (yes, I'm old school and love great artwork and packaging, one thing that ever other Pixies release nailed in my opinion), and just an all around slapped together feel.
I like the album, and I am simply grateful that a new Pixies album exists at all, but I'm more hopeful for future releases. They're back, this album got them there, lets move on and see greater things come from them now that they've broken the ice of their second coming. I'm all for the traditional album of 12-15 songs released at once with a cohesive direction and feel to them. Oh, and let's go back to the production Gil did on the old records.... the compression/loudness really does take away from the songs in my opinion. |
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sdon
= Cult of Ray =
France
786 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2014 : 20:48:10
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Bagboy was great because it was a single, not an EP.
They should have released another single (probably Indie Cindy), and then the album without that 9-months span
I agree with velvety
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"Aristophanes! (gong sounds)" |
Edited by - sdon on 05/28/2014 20:48:42 |
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Joey Joe Jo Jr. Chabadoo
* Dog in the Sand *
1079 Posts |
Posted - 05/29/2014 : 00:31:35
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Well, 1 ep with a "single" and 3 b-sides, then 3 months later, the same and then maybe a third, and then, the album with the 3 singles on it and 9 new tracks.
It would have been so simple and logical.
When the last ep was released with only 3 new songs and the announcement of the album at the same time did'nt you feel like... well, amateurish rushed marketing strategy (or damned ripp-off)?
To those who bought the ep's, what do you plan to do with them?
My Velouria Ep and Planet of sound Ep were and are still useful.
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Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
Posted - 05/29/2014 : 03:43:56
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Something that I've been thinking for years: The music industry is going to take a path similar to the book industry. When music is available free on the internet (made available free by the band themselves through videos, in this case), then every label that presses records sort of becomes a "boutique" that puts out collectibles, premium-priced.
In the book world there are publishing houses who will reissue old or even recent books (say, a thirty year old Stephen King novel that's available free in almost every public library or for dirt cheap in used bookstores everywhere) in a fancy leatherbound $100 limited edition printing. And this stuff sells out because there are people who think it's a nice thing to own, even if they already have a more common version of the book.
Same thing here. The three EPs were small press chapbooks and the LP is the convenient, all-in-one-place collection of them afteward.
I don't think the Pixies are ripping anyone off because if you have all of the EPs, hell, SKIP the album. You have all the music already. If you want to hear the album, make the playlist out of the tracks you already have. It's easy.
On the other hand, if you missed out on the EPs and would like a hard copy of this music and don't want to pay big bucks on Ebay, then this album is a great thing.
And if you're collector, you enjoy having some new item to buy (and I guess I am Frank collector because I bought the EPs and the LP, willingly and gladly).
Meanwhile, it looks to have been a success for the band. All of those EPs sold out and the album looks to be doing well (it was the biggest seller of Record Store Day 2014). |
Edited by - Jason on 05/29/2014 05:06:39 |
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IBreed
= Cult of Ray =
310 Posts |
Posted - 05/29/2014 : 07:54:17
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i didn't love the concept of the EP releases, but in hindsight and because Indie Cindy doesn't gel well as an album for me, i much prefer it in the 4 song chunks.
i do think the lead up to Indie Cindy's release was botched, though i suppose it IS successful and all, so who am i to say that, but the unnecessary secrecy around the EP releases and the "album is dead" talk when the album was planned from the start all left a sour taste in my mouth.
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Discoking
* Dog in the Sand *
Belgium
1120 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2014 : 00:01:00
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i prefer an album release. it's hard for me to give 4-song eps proper attention. (that's just not how i listen to music.)
i'm not sure if it was worth it to release the songs as eps first. the reason behind that must have been to increase the attention (and length of attention) you get from press and audience, i think. but i'm not sure if that was achieved, or achieved enough. maybe it was.
 it's educational |
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Discoking
* Dog in the Sand *
Belgium
1120 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2014 : 00:01:40
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as a collector, the eps are a lot of fun, though.
it's educational |
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Eps vs albums vs whatever
