Billboard: the do's and don'ts for LG5

[djBuffoon 12,130]

I don't think anyone has ever not bought an album thinking "oh my god there's too many songs on here, aint nobody got time for that"

I mean, I understand the idea that too many tracks can water down the overall quality of an album, but so what? If Gaga thinks it fits, more power to her. Those "superfluous" tracks could end up being someone's favorite. And people who don't like them can just skip.

Personally I rarely ever listen to full albums anyway. If I like half of the tracks on an album, I'm happy.

EX-****ING-ACTLY. One fan's "filler" track is another person's favorite.

[StrawberryBlond 14,937]

A very great list, although I do have to disagree that she should make her albums shorter. TFM is a gem, but it's a total one-off. I don't think 8 track albums are really her style, it was just what she felt like at the time. TFM is an album with no filler due to its short running time and that's great. But who says she can't construct a 15 track masterpiece? I certainly wouldn't regard 15 tracks as a long album. I think 18 or more is considered long. If anything, the public might look at it and say: "Wow, I get a lot of tracks for my money and there's bound to be plenty here I like." Let's face it, I think part of the trend of 10-11 track albums nowadays is because artists are getting lazier. They just knock the ball out the park for half the release and then don't try on the other half and the shorter the album, the less they have to try. It's also kinda annoying that an album consisting of 10 tracks costs the same as one with 20 tracks. Much as her quality has decreased recently, I've always admired the way Xtina comes back with a new album packed with tracks, 15 or more. That's exactly what you expect after her 3-4 year breaks. I would feel pretty cheated if my faves took several years to make an album and then only came back with just 10 tracks (sometimes even short ones, at that). I know, quality vs. quantity, but fans need more to tide them over than that. Only do short albums if they immediately follow a long release or you're intending to release a longer follow-up in the near future.

[Born To Slay 10,996]

A very great list, although I do have to disagree that she should make her albums shorter. TFM is a gem, but it's a total one-off. I don't think 8 track albums are really her style, it was just what she felt like at the time. TFM is an album with no filler due to its short running time and that's great. But who says she can't construct a 15 track masterpiece? I certainly wouldn't regard 15 tracks as a long album. I think 18 or more is considered long. If anything, the public might look at it and say: "Wow, I get a lot of tracks for my money and there's bound to be plenty here I like." Let's face it, I think part of the trend of 10-11 track albums nowadays is because artists are getting lazier. They just knock the ball out the park for half the release and then don't try on the other half and the shorter the album, the less they have to try. It's also kinda annoying that an album consisting of 10 tracks costs the same as one with 20 tracks. Much as her quality has decreased recently, I've always admired the way Xtina comes back with a new album packed with tracks, 15 or more. That's exactly what you expect after her 3-4 year breaks. I would feel pretty cheated if my faves took several years to make an album and then only came back with just 10 tracks (sometimes even short ones, at that). I know, quality vs. quantity, but fans need more to tide them over than that. Only do short albums if they immediately follow a long release or you're intending to release a longer follow-up in the near future.

I agree with this 1000% except I don't think an album can be too long. If she does 18+ tracks and they're all great, that'd be cool.

[gagaohlala 815]

Not to say that Gaga wanted TFM to be a real 15 song album... But Interscope didn't. So they choose to make it an EP (and is why Gaga kept Bloody Mary for BTW, which was suppoed to be a TFM song).

[Yves 1,891]

Aren't you all glad that Gaga's getting some attention to her album after the underperformance of ARTPOP? I hope Gags does these.  

[XoXoJoanneGaga 629]

A very great list, although I do have to disagree that she should make her albums shorter. TFM is a gem, but it's a total one-off. I don't think 8 track albums are really her style, it was just what she felt like at the time. TFM is an album with no filler due to its short running time and that's great. But who says she can't construct a 15 track masterpiece? I certainly wouldn't regard 15 tracks as a long album. I think 18 or more is considered long. If anything, the public might look at it and say: "Wow, I get a lot of tracks for my money and there's bound to be plenty here I like." Let's face it, I think part of the trend of 10-11 track albums nowadays is because artists are getting lazier. They just knock the ball out the park for half the release and then don't try on the other half and the shorter the album, the less they have to try. It's also kinda annoying that an album consisting of 10 tracks costs the same as one with 20 tracks. Much as her quality has decreased recently, I've always admired the way Xtina comes back with a new album packed with tracks, 15 or more. That's exactly what you expect after her 3-4 year breaks. I would feel pretty cheated if my faves took several years to make an album and then only came back with just 10 tracks (sometimes even short ones, at that). I know, quality vs. quantity, but fans need more to tide them over than that. Only do short albums if they immediately follow a long release or you're intending to release a longer follow-up in the near future.

Many of the greatest and most acclaimed albums are on the shorter side comparatively, as in 12 songs or less (in many cases 10 or less). 

Filler isn't really a subjective concept. If a song is redundant (repeats musical and/or thematic ideas that are already present on the album) or non-thematical (adds nothing of thematic or lyrical value to the record) then it's filler. That doesn't mean it can't be an enjoyable song on it's own, but if it adds nothing to the album then at most it should be a bonus track, or better yet it should be released as a standalone song or as part of a compilation, or not at all. 

This is especially true for mainstream pop albums which are often held together by incredibly thin thematic threads. The most revered mainstream pop albums of all time are all 13 songs or less, many of them are 9 or 10. Long tracklists will almost always water down the quality of an album (especially mainstream pop) and it does generally turn off listeners, who find it easier to dive into an album if it's not of an overbearing length.

[Guest]

Yes, a Gaga x Weeknd song would be interesting to hear!

Other than that I am glad they are talking about her in a respectable way.

[Katsuki Bakugo 9,788]

The thing is, I don't like going in with a certain amount tracks needing to be completed. If Gaga feels it's best with 12, then fine but with all the flawless in released songs Gaga has, it's unlikely that she'll have a shortage of great songs to use for next album, so I don't see why we should cut it short. Rebel Heart was 19 tracks long and that album was great, Gaga could easily pull that off.

Rebel heart is a mess. it is nowhere near what Madonna can pull out. There are a few good tracks but nothing more. Nothing extraordinary and nothing making you think hard about her concept and or entertaining. It was kind of lack luster for a Madonna album and I expect more from her. 

[petty 9,412]

Gaga has never been about abiding by what’s in vogue, and even when her ideas have not panned out, she’s at the very least tirelessly original. 

iconic

[Riot Poof 2,236]

Many of the greatest and most acclaimed albums are on the shorter side comparatively, as in 12 songs or less (in many cases 10 or less). 

Filler isn't really a subjective concept. If a song is redundant (repeats musical and/or thematic ideas that are already present on the album) or non-thematical (adds nothing of thematic or lyrical value to the record) then it's filler. That doesn't mean it can't be an enjoyable song on it's own, but if it adds nothing to the album then at most it should be a bonus track, or better yet it should be released as a standalone song or as part of a compilation, or not at all. 

This is especially true for mainstream pop albums which are often held together by incredibly thin thematic threads. The most revered mainstream pop albums of all time are all 13 songs or less, many of them are 9 or 10. Long tracklists will almost always water down the quality of an album (especially mainstream pop) and it does generally turn off listeners, who find it easier to dive into an album if it's not of an overbearing length.

Although if Gaga manages to make a long album where all songs are of high quality and contribute something unique to the overall experience, that would be awesome.

(But lemme just say that Born This Way and ARTPOP are my favorite Gaga albums. It's just that I understand that many people aren't gonna share my opinion that every track is essential. I mean, one of my favorite songs off of ARTPOP is also one of the most disliked.)

[malazam 15,710]

Omg what a 'LG5 time' can do....u can't tell Gaga what to do 'cause her would not do it anyway