I give Disco the benefit of the doubt for 10+ min songs because it was meant to be for people dancing and celebrating as a community. You listen to Sylvester and there’s a heavy gospel influence that has multiple key changes and instrumental breaks that I think you have to let linger to allow folks to really catch that Disco Holy Spirit (and give the band time to use the jazz influence & improvise/show off) . There’s literally parts of songs stripped down and quieter that allows for people to catch their breath before a big crescendo into the loudest most communal part of the song. I’m sure it doesn’t translate as well to an album but it was critical for its purpose in the club during that era. There’s also the songs that are essentially two songs/stories in one but sounds great as a full concept.
Current songs I agree with though. Jenny Hval, Weyes Blood, and Father John Misty are able to take us on a full adventure in 8 minutes.
For the "no song needs to be 15 minutes" take... Are we ignoring massive prog rock epics in general? Yes "Close to the Edge" is 18, and Dream Theater has "Nightmare to Remember" at 16....
If your hot take meant "radio friendly pop" they forgot to say so!
I think Dream Theater's Ministry of Lost Souls is the perfect intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-outro 15 minute song. The bridge starts out coming out of nowhere as far as my ear can tell, but it feels right, thematically adjacent to the rest of the song. Then it comes back in a big way, emotional way, TOTALLY satisfying. The biggest reason I need long Prog Songs is how often I hear a three or four minute pop song with a killer melody that I want to hear more of without just putting the song on repeat.
I could not agree more... there's no doubt that AI will ultimately create something absolutely amazing, but without a human element it will never be "the greatest" and to piggy back of a previous hot take about the greatest band has not existed... music is to subjective. My favorite bands probably aren't wildly talented, but i connect with their music, story or even region and i will defend the greatness they have to me over other, more accomplished acts.
I give Disco the benefit of the doubt for 10+ min songs because it was meant to be for people dancing and celebrating as a community. You listen to Sylvester and there’s a heavy gospel influence that has multiple key changes and instrumental breaks that I think you have to let linger to allow folks to really catch that Disco Holy Spirit (and give the band time to use the jazz influence & improvise/show off) . There’s literally parts of songs stripped down and quieter that allows for people to catch their breath before a big crescendo into the loudest most communal part of the song. I’m sure it doesn’t translate as well to an album but it was critical for its purpose in the club during that era. There’s also the songs that are essentially two songs/stories in one but sounds great as a full concept.
Current songs I agree with though. Jenny Hval, Weyes Blood, and Father John Misty are able to take us on a full adventure in 8 minutes.
Yay, The Wife returns! Really enjoyed this one, Patrick.
For the "no song needs to be 15 minutes" take... Are we ignoring massive prog rock epics in general? Yes "Close to the Edge" is 18, and Dream Theater has "Nightmare to Remember" at 16....
If your hot take meant "radio friendly pop" they forgot to say so!
I think Dream Theater's Ministry of Lost Souls is the perfect intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-outro 15 minute song. The bridge starts out coming out of nowhere as far as my ear can tell, but it feels right, thematically adjacent to the rest of the song. Then it comes back in a big way, emotional way, TOTALLY satisfying. The biggest reason I need long Prog Songs is how often I hear a three or four minute pop song with a killer melody that I want to hear more of without just putting the song on repeat.
I could not agree more... there's no doubt that AI will ultimately create something absolutely amazing, but without a human element it will never be "the greatest" and to piggy back of a previous hot take about the greatest band has not existed... music is to subjective. My favorite bands probably aren't wildly talented, but i connect with their music, story or even region and i will defend the greatness they have to me over other, more accomplished acts.