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May 16, 2007

This stupid album project

For the past few weeks, I’ve been leaning dangerously close to scrapping my album project.

I don’t want to scrap the songs. I’m pretty excited about them and there’s no way I’m going to throw away all that hard work. But I’m starting to think that my decision to hole up and work on a “traditional” album release was an unwise move, for a number of reasons:

I’m constantly stressing over the track order
I’m constantly stressing over things like artwork, packaging, etc.
I’m constantly stressing over song quality (trying to avoid anything that could be perceived as dreaded “filler”) and obsessing over details I never paid much attention to before
I’m constantly stressing over conflicting schedules and studio time (no offense to Jim, who has been awesome to work with and infinitely patient with me)
I’m constantly stressing over how to pay for it all

Notice a theme here?

On top of it all, I feel like I can’t really release anything fresh or spontaneous because I’m supposed to be working on my album. Songs like Valentines and Rusty just kind of happened — they weren’t even part of the album plan, and it feels weird telling people “the new record is on the way! Just a little bit longer! Hang in there! — oh, by the way, here are some brand new songs that won’t be on it.”

It was that spontenaeity that worked so well for me when I first started posting music to this blog. Now I feel my creative momentum has been derailed, partly because I allowed the idea that an album release is the “professional” way of doing things into my head.

I’m still going to release a physical CD, because due to the style of music I write, a good chunk of my audience still uses CDs. But I’m torn over how much more time and energy to sink into an album. Everything else in the music world is moving online. Not just the act of listening, but also radio, distribution, marketing, commentary and criticism, licensing, etc. and being reduced to smaller and smaller chunklets.

It seems to me that one day soon the only reason to do an album format release is to impress the Old Guard of big broadcast radio, print media, labels, etc. And really, since when do I give a crap about all that?

So here’s what I’m thinking: throw the “album” concept in the trash, finish recording the songs with Jim, release them as singles on the website. Maybe use a ratings system so listeners can mark songs as favorites. Eventually the popular ones will bubble to the top and those get released on a CD later this year.

Can you think of any reasons why I should stick with an album release?

23 Comments

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And Kerry did speak thusly:

Cripes!
My answer is NO!
As long as you can still make the money you deserve to be making from your music, then to hell with the idea of albums!
We want your songs, no matter what format they arrive in.
That much stress MUST be detrimental to you and your music, and that sucks for everyone!
(so there).
And Harry did speak thusly:

YES you should release an album. Call me old-fashioned, but an album to me still says “you’ve made it!” And besides, everywhere I look I read, “release it and I WILL BUY!” We love the music, we’re gonna buy singlets anyway, give us the album option. And don’t wait for us to decide what to put on it — you’re the creative genius, we’re relying on you to craft that genius for us. ALBUM!!!
And dave did speak thusly:

Go for it…the album that is. Even though all my cd’s are now uploaded and digitized, i still have the physical cd’s - just in case. Remember… you’re stressing and we’re all waiting for you to stop stressing - something’s got to give and it won’t be us! :)
And Jeff Schmidt did speak thusly:

I’ve been thinking the EXACT same thing Scott.

I agree with all the options you mention for making music available - including artists releasing steady streams of singles via the net rather than waiting a year or more for “albums”.

But - the main reason I want to finish my “album” - the main reason I decided I needed to have one in the first place - is for sale at shows.

There are many people, who after seeing you perform will want to take a piece of the experience home with them. CD is the easiest way right now. Maybe USB sticks in the future - but right now it’s the CD.
And Jeff did speak thusly:

I’m in the same situation with my next record. I really want to release it as an album. If you have a group of songs that flow together, album makes a lot of sense, because it is a different experience for the listener than just a shuffling of songs. I’ve been listening to old CDs (albums) in my car lately and I’m having a blast. Last week it was The Eagles Long Run and my two favorite songs were not the singles, they were King of Hollywood and Those Shoes. Those songs would never float to the top as singles but they are the ones that still sound fresh after 25 years. If you’re not happy with an album length of songs, cut an EP! I’ll probably just do a short-run of CDs and then release it online as an album. Looking forward to hearing the next collection of songs, jeff
And Erik did speak thusly:

Tin Cat had some slightly related conversations tonight. We were talking about having the tracks on the album flow into each other… but that makes for weird beginnings and endings when your iPod’s on shuffle play.

We also talked about two approaches to making a CD available: The one we’ve all done before, where you just start showing up at your gigs with a CD to sell, and the “professional” one, where you make a fuss about “releasing” the CD. I think for us it’s worth making a fuss–mostly because we want attention, and most of the local press goes to bands that have a new CD out.

Also, “Those Shoes” is a great song.
And Mike did speak thusly:

Yes, create an album. I love your idea of using fan ratings to decide what goes on it.

That in and of itself is press worthy, and might get you some addition buzz.

I definitely hear ya about the stress, though. Maybe an EP is a better way to go…it’s the way I think I”m going to go, personally…I’m just no prolific enough to create 10-song albums less than 4 years apart…! :)
And spinhead did speak thusly:

Album. Absolutely.

But, dump the stress. Remind yourself that, when you’re all done, the rest of us will *never know* that the songs could have been in a different order (honest, anyone ever sat down to figure out the ‘best’ song order for Sticky Fingers or Meet the Beatles? I hope not.)

If you’re having trouble choosing between A, B, and C in virtually any scenario, it’s rarely because they all suck equally; it’s usually because they’re all good. So, choose one of the good options available, and be done.

Cover? Really, have you ever published a bad photo/work of art here? We’ll all be happy, whatever you end up choosing. Look at how groovy your existing albums look.

The stress isn’t coming from the outside, it’s coming from you. Simply choose to stop stressing, make choices, struggle with schedules (grr . . . single biggest delay in my *own* album) and start selling!

And record a cover of ‘Those Shoes’ - even as a huge Eagles fan, that one still stands out.
And Sam did speak thusly:

Scott, as big big fam of your music I say you have to finish the album and put it out because a) it’s still a marketing tool and a way to get press write-ups and reviews and b) it’s a work of art still daying here is a COLLECTION of songs that represenets. Fans will know that one album isn’t going to be all-inclusive or give a complete representation of your material but that’s why fans look for b-sides or live tracks in anticipation of what will make the next album. At this point you know what your songs are closest to you from playing them so many years and an album should be “An Introduction to Scott Andrew…” where people would listen from front to back and say “where did all these great songs come from?” I also think in terms of marketing you CANNOT afford to cut physical CD’s out of the picture; sure, sales for CD’s are at an all-time low, but doesn’t something like 60% of the buying audience still buy CD’s? I think you owe it to yourself to to complete the project so you have an actual album, in digital or physical format, to be proud of and hope that it can help you raisemoney to start the next, while people like me keep checking your website as you post demos for new songs, you can have your cake and eat it too….good luck.
And scottandrew did speak thusly:

Thanks for the thoughts everyone.

What makes me most unhappy is that I feel light-years away from where I began, which was writing songs, recording them and posting them here and not thinking about it too much.

Now I feel like I’m caught up in all the same garbage that plagued me a decade ago, fretting over what song should be the lead track, whether the cover art matches the feel of the album, whether the songs are too pop, or not pop enough, or too folksy, or not folksy enough, etc.

Add to that the endless, endless vying for attention of the press…

I guess if I’m gonna release a physical CD (which I plan to) then I’ll eventually have to create an “album” by default. So I’m okay with that.
And Dean did speak thusly:

Hey, Scott. You’ve come this far. Finish the cd. We are too old to not have cds. I covet my favorite bands’ cds. mp3s sound horrible. Sorry, folks, open your ears. I can help eliminate the stress of how you will pay for it by pre-paying for the cd. I invite others to do the same. Give me an address and I’ll send you $10 now.
And dave did speak thusly:

Oh…and what are your fans going to have you sign after shows? CD’s!
And Nate did speak thusly:

Scott,

Just so you know, I will closely study every aspect of your album. If any part of it is less than perfect, I will hold it on high and scream to the gods:

“Behold! The misery and chaos that is life! Bring me the gift of fire that I might wash this abomination from existence! Cthulhu fhtagn!!”

And verily the gates will open, and stuff will come forth, and . . ., you know, things will happen.

Just so you know.
And spinhead did speak thusly:

And now we know that the liner notes should be written by Nate.
And Sam did speak thusly:

according to Nathan Wade, there’s no such thing as filler, only “deep cuts”…
And Jake did speak thusly:

Well, I would like to see an album, but not at the expense of the decline in interest in music altogether. Here’s the thing about an album, I can give it to my friends and such and say, look at this. A burned CD loses some of that clout when you distribute, and telling people to download music “X” is usually a tougher proposition. In addition, as somebody who knows pretty much nothing of the music biz, there is something to be said for being able to actually buy the album with the song you like at the concert. Telling somebody to download it or what have you isn’t the same. You’re at the concert, you’re in the music frame of mind, everything is fresh and ripe, and you think “Man, I really want a copy of ‘More Good Days than Bad Days’ and you walk over to the table and plunk down the spondulics. If I have to walk home, log on, search the web…I generally have lost my “music moment”. I’m never more ready to buy somebody’s work than right after I’ve heard them perform.

As far as paying for it goes, have you considered taking preorders? I know I would preorder it.

Track order? It really shouldn’t be that stressful, most of us use the shuffle option, anyway.

That said, do what makes you happy…we’ll still be around at your concerts, asking for Freebird when the opportunity arises.
And Niav did speak thusly:

hey Scott,
I arrived here to visit your site
from the bandwidth circular.
I find this thread very interesting as I am in exactly the same boat with 2 1/2 songs to go to finish an album 2 years in the making and sick to death of being tied to what are now to me, “old” songs.
I want it finished and to move on to new material, get back to writing and not just recording and producing all the time.
It’s a real struggle to get in and finish it from a motivational point of view and I have been asking myself the exact same questions.
So in that, I’d say it’s probably an experience all indie artists hit at some stage or other.
And with the business so dynamic, there really isn’t a cut and dry way to market that’s going to hang around for 10 years
so I think staying with the flux and going with your intuition is the way to go on a year to year basis.
But as said earlier, you have to finish what you started ( as do I ),and if you’re performing and submitting an album is really essential.Then you’ve got it and can do what you like after that.
Personally, once I FINALLY ( if ever it seems ! ) finish this album,
I’ll be going to singles and e.p.s after that,time moves too quickly these days and the e.p. is becoming the new album.
makes it easier too to split them into “genre’s ” if you have a creative swing every now and then.
All the best with it, you’ll get there,
I’ll get there , and then it won’t be a worry any longer .
:)
Niav
And Guitar Widow did speak thusly:

Why release a CD? So you can have CD release party and Megan can make cupcakes - duh!

I am old fashioned too. I like CDs. We just purchased one from Alex Skolnick at his gig in Austin.
And Jim Santanella did speak thusly:

Dude…get your ass over here and finish this freakin’ album. If you don’t, I will kill you and release it posthumously. : )
And Lewis did speak thusly:

Scott,
We’ve been trying to figure out how to do it all too. Take time to write, record, master, oh wait don’t forget to gig and update our site or people will stop paying attention.

Here’s a suggestion.

Release your “singles”. You won’t have to worry about anything but writing good songs, be it pop, funk, folk, or rock. When the spirits move you relase a full length CD or EP with what you see fit. Then you can take the time to add artwork, pics from shows and videos. A snapshot in the life of Scott.

BTW, When you gigged with us in Albino Violet, you played a show or two as our bassist also. I’ve got pics from our Peabody’s Cafe gig in Cleveland from 1993 or so.

Lewis
And Scott Andrew - lo-fi acoustic pop superhero! > wordpress > archives > 2007 > 07 > new album stuff did speak thusly:

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