The Deep Cuts Are The Firstest
Posted on | August 5, 2008 at 6:05 pm | 3 Comments
Forgive me if I’m treading on already-covered ground here, but this is something I’ve only just heard about, and it really intrigues me.
Paul Westerberg, a notoriously Internet/computer-shy musician, has released a new album that is only available as a single file MP3 download. It’s bizarrely called 49:00, even though it’s 44 minutes long. It apparently has multiple songs, some cross-fading into others, but there’s no way to purchase or listen to the songs separately. There aren’t even any song titles. But since the whole album costs 49 cents at Amazon (or it would if it were actually for sale – they seem to be having problems right now), I can see a lot of people taking the plunge anyway. Even those of us who haven’t really been into Westerberg for a long time may check it out. The fact that some critics are praising it as the ye old “return to form” is an additional inducement.
At first, the concept seemed crazy to me. But then the more I let it sit in my mind, the more I began to think “What a brilliant idea”. It seems to me like Westerberg is making a statement about the loss of the album format, about our short attention span culture, and about how the iPod Age has shifted the decision-making focus of the listening experience from creator to listener. There’s probably a whole bunch of other lessons he’s trying to impart as well. He’s actually forcing you to listen to all the songs together as a whole, as a single cohesive project – what a concept! And to release it that way digitally instead of on vinyl is subversive as hell. And for only 49 cents!
I’m one of those people who still stubbornly listens to music albums rather than songs, aside from my random song listening when jogging. I don’t even skip over the lesser songs. It drives me crazy when people play/rip only the hits off a disc. I know this is out of fashion, but I prefer the deeper listening experience it affords. But music is more than just background to me. I feel more connected with the artist that way, and I usually appreciate all the songs (even the hits) better when heard in context. (Although, truth to tell, some songs do sound better out of context and untethered from companion pieces. Which is why I look those random jogging playlists.) I have a feeling Westerberg is a kindred spirit there.
Of course, enterprising souls will edit the file into individual songs and just listen to the tunes they want to hear. But that in itself is a lesson – he’s forcing you to jump through hoops to listen to the album the way you want to listen to it, even if that only involves downloading the edits others have made. You must work to listen to the music! It is not a passive experience!
So it all really does make me want to listen to it, the way that Westerberg intended. Now if I could only actually download the damn thing!
Latre.
Jogged Today: Yes (@ 64°F)
Songs That Came Up On The iPod While Jogging:
- “It’s Okay, Maybe” (Anton Barbeau)
- “Everybody Come Down” (The Delgados)
- “Love Is Coming Through The Door” (Stew)
- “Haunted Town” (Chris Mars)
- “Centipede” (Veruca Salt)
- “You Held The World In Your Arms” (Idlewild)
- “Stop Your Crying” (Sleeper)
Poignant Search Term Of The Day That Led To This Blog: “my eyesight got alot worse within 1 year after wearing bifocals”.
Comments
3 Responses to “The Deep Cuts Are The Firstest”
August 5th, 2008 @ 10:22 pm
Prince released an album early in the CD age (”Lovesexy”) that was one long track so you’d be forced to listen to the whole thing all the way through.
August 5th, 2008 @ 10:49 pm
True, and the RMN article I link to does mention that. Prince was always ahead of his time!
August 6th, 2008 @ 12:37 pm
I speak from personal experience when I say to heed PW’s advice on his new album: “DO NOT LISTEN WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE”