EP or Album?

[vitaminman]

Hey,

I'm not sure what to do, so I thought I'd present this to you guys to hear out what everyone thinks as you're more in touch with the hip hop scene than I am.

What do you guys think about EP's versus albums? I was always a fan of EP's and singles as a kid, all my favorite bands used to release tons of them, one after the other over periods of months, then release an album every few years which contained a lot of tracks from these intitial releases plus one or two other tracks to make it sort of worthwhile for the die hard fans who already had their first releases.

Nowadays I rarely see artists release these kinds of short formats, the goal is to always release a huge album once a year and THEN release the singles from it, usually to dj's.

Even my beloved techno artists are moving in the direction of album first-singles later, now that it has moved into the mainstream.

What I liked about releasing EP's and singles is that it sounded like each and every track had 100% effort put into it...even the b-sides of singles were pretty good, often better than the title track. As for the EP, a nice little concept could be developed for it, making it a great package of music and cover art. They are cheaper than albums to buy, they don't require that you put all your eggs into one basket, and they allow you the freedom to release the good stuff that you have already without having to bang out a few more filler tracks to justify a full album.

So here's my question: how does the hip-hop community view EP's and singles, and how do YOU view EP's and singles?

Thanks

Nick

 

[Fade]

Good question! I personally like EP's and singles (especially nowadays) because like you said, it sounds like 100% effort went into it. It gives everyone a good "sneak peek" and what's to come on the next full LP. But, the problem I have with EP's is that they were so good that I would always be wishing for the LP right after!

I agree with you though, it sucks hearing all these full LP's with so much crap on them, hearing an EP nowadays would be refreshing to my ears. Singles on the other hand are good, as long as it's on vinyl 12". I've never been one to buy a CD single, I find it's a waste, so I'd rather a 12". Releasing singles first well before the full album drops has always been my view, it just seems like today that's not the format that labels are doing.

Are you planning on releasing something?

 

[N.U.G.]

I agree totally.

I see too many artists, particularly new artists, release a whole album of average stuff. I think most artists would be better served to work on making one or two good songs first (i.e. a single) before making and releasing an album. I'd love to see more EPs come out from my favourite artists to give us something dope to listen to in between their full albums.

 

[Copenhagen]

I guess the community, like myself, likes EP's. I listened more to the EP's (and singles) than I did to my full albums before I went over to CD's a couple of years ago. Some of the single EP's too, like the ones Roots and Beastie Boys made with 6-7 remixes and a couple of unreleased tracks were great.
Also, singles should come before album, to announce the arrival of an album and create some hype. Who'd want to by the single after the album has come out unless you're a DJ seeking remixes.

On another note, a good thing, I hear Universal USA would be lowering the price on their CD's as an experiement to see if they would sell more. If the outcome is good, many other major labels will follow, in other countries too...

 

[dacalion]

I guess that it would depend who you are on how you would look at this...As a former DJ, I always wanted the SINGLE before the album because {1.} it could be dropped before the album was completed { in some cases } and {2.} the crowd that I DJ'ed for always wanted to hear the new ish as soon as it was released.

As a comsumer, my outlook is quit different. Let's just say that the same group has 5 HOT songs...{1.} I don't want to buy each of the SINGLES first because I'm gonna end up buying the same ish twice after purchasing the album and {2.} if the album drops first, I can be current on my music and not have to wait for the next SINGLE.

Ofcourse there are many of pros and cons on the subject but overall, I would rather have the album first.

--dacalion

 

[vitaminman]

Dac,

"I don't want to buy each of the SINGLES first because I'm gonna end up buying the same ish twice after purchasing the album"

Exactly why we would do an EP! If we had about 4 or 5 tracks that we really believed in, I'd like to release those in one go instead of making up 5 or so more, plus all the extra stuff like silly skits.

How do you feel about singles as a dj and a consumer?

Thanks

Nick

 

[dacalion]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding "EP"....my understanding of an "EP" is Extended Play. Thats all that I used to buy was Extended Play 12 inch Singles on vinyl that usually had an accapella, instrumental, a remix and the original on it. If I misunderstood...my bad.

If we are on the same level about this topic, then as a comsumer and considering that most CD's come with atleast 10+ tracks { not including the sniblets }, I would want to hear more than a 5 track effort if I'm really into the group.

--dac

 

[Equality 7-2521]

I think 4 or 5 track cds are good for beginning artists to make, so as to give a breif introduction of their best work.

I think full albums are better once an artist is established as it gives them an opportunity make concept albums and stuff. Just cos someone releases a full album doesnt mean that it will be a lower quality....for eg Radioinactive worked on his "Pyramidi" album for something like 6 years.

 

[vitaminman]

Dac,

I think we're both sort of right on our definitions of an EP (that they have 4 or 5 tracks), but on the EP's I used to get there would be 4 or 5 COMPLETELY different tracks, not a song plus variations of it...that would be, in my opinion, what we called a 'maxi-single' as it focused on one song.

That's true that a lot of people would want to have about 10+ tracks on a release, but an EP would in theory cost less to buy than an album, making it seem like a decent value. And often half of those songs are not very good, I would have preferred to get the good ones in an EP and left the other ones for something else.

Nick

 

[Fade]

Just thought I'd throw this in here since you mentioned the maxi-single. Who remembers the cassette singles? LOL. With the cardboard cover and you just slide the cassette out?

Maxi singles were dope too because you would have all these different mixes of the same song, and back in the days this was a good thing. I don't think today I would want to hear 5 different versions of "Move... get out the way, get out the way...".

 

[dacalion]

vitiminman--I feel you on what you're saying about it costing less because it only would have 5 tracks on it but I don't think that you're considering the cons of only recording 5 songs. A CD will cost you {as the artist } the same amount as if you were recording a full CD because the distributors wouldn't care how many tracks were on it, 5 or 15, they still are going to charge you by the amount of CD's produced, not by the amount of songs on it. Then, by the time you paid all the other people that it would take to be involved in the project their cuts, you would lose more money. It would be even harder to get it promoted with 5 songs on it. I just don't think it would be a financually sound investment and thats probally a part of the reason that you don't see them anymore. Just my opinion, I'm definately not into marketing.

Oh and one more thing (Fade), as far as a single having several different versions on it...The good thing was a DJ could take those different versions and mix them together creating their own flavor. A DJ without a accapella or instrumental would kinda be like a producer without a MPC or Edit capabilities....hmmm? that might not be a bad idea!...j/p

peace,--dacalion

 

[Copenhagen]

Recording, engineering, mastering etc 5 tracks instead of 15 will cost you less, the CD manufacturer can use CDs with the space of a single, if they have CDs with different amount of space on them, an EP can be in a single jewelcase with a small booklet, meaning less paper and artwork etc, so depending on how you do it, it could cost you less, but I think you're right Dac, the percentage earned will be less on an EP than on an LP.

 

[vitaminman]

Hey,

CD's?!?!? I'm talking vinyl here!!!!!

Nick

 

[dacalion]

Vinyl?!?!? I thought the idea behind releasing tracks was to make money?!?!? Doing Vinyl would all but limit you to DJ's and a very few Home Users (in the States anyway).

Pssst Cope, You are right, I didn't think of that but either way I think that vitaminman knows all this and is well aware of the pro's and con's. Now I think he's just fugging with us...lol

--dacalion

 

[Fade]

Originally posted by dacalion
Oh and one more thing (Fade), as far as a single having several different versions on it...The good thing was a DJ could take those different versions and mix them together creating their own flavor. A DJ without a accapella or instrumental would kinda be like a producer without a MPC or Edit capabilities....hmmm? that might not be a bad idea!...j/p

I know what you mean - you obviously never heard my Mixed Nuts Vol.2 mixtape! Nothing but instrumental/acapella blends.