The art form of an album has been seemingly overlooked in this contemporary age of streaming and playlist curation, but 2018 has somewhat seen the long-play format make its long-awaited comeback. Arctic Monkeys led the way by refusing to release a single, ensuring the album would be listened to as a whole, a decision that was ultimately proved correct. This was a move that showed the album format, a little like test cricket, will never ever die. No matter how fancy a streaming site may become, how fun the shuffle button or surprise element of a playlist may be, how much Generation Z desire instant gratification rather than sticking it out for the long haul, albums are here forever and thank goodness.
Whilst writing this piece, Goat Girl’s self-titled debut crackles in the background, the lilac vinyl spinning away, a record that exemplifies inextricably that the album art form isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Instrumental cuts link songs effortlessly, tracks smoothly transitioning into each other, a meticulously planned effort and one that is worthy of the critical acclaim it inevitably received. A mixture of country sleaze, grungy rock and a methodical plodding narration that holds a mirror up to society, its a superb start to their career. A young band taking this much care to curate an album that will undoubtedly stand the test of time, an album that was made to be played as one, with no shuffling and no track skipping allowed, demonstrating its revival.
Albums, as Goat Girl’s does, as Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino does, tells a story. And that’s the beauty of an album. They tell a story. Sometimes rather abstractly, it can take a while to decode the tales being relaid but a good album always has a piece of thread running throughout it, no matter how thin the thread may be, that connects it all together. Whether it be a lyrical theme, an overriding concept or the general sonic layout and instrumentation, albums are a cohesive piece of work and the reason why music is the most popular art form.
National Album Day isn’t just a chance for people to share their favourite records and why they mean so much to them, but is a chance for us to appreciate the art form and ensure that even in this day and age of instant desires, the long-play format stays safe.
