R.I.P. Albums

Taylor Swift just won a Grammy for Album of the Year and it reminded me of an idea I had about a year ago maybe more. I have no way of getting in touch with Kanye West but I really think he needs to sample Video Killed the Radio Star and write a song about digital downloading killing the album. Album of the Year is the last Grammy given out of the night. It is the most prestigious of all music awards, but how many people actually buy albums anymore? Rhapsody, Napster, and let’s not leave out the almighty iTunes, have made it easier than ever to pick apart an album. It’s a sad story, but these things happen and someone needs to record it.

I think that person should be Kanye West. All four of his albums are strong as a whole. I obviously have favorite songs, but I do not think there is a weak track on any of them. These albums are meant to be heard as a whole, and you’re seriously missing out on something if you just focus on the singles. I’m not the only one who believes this. Rolling Stone put all four in the following order, College Dropout, Late Registration, Graduation, and 808s and Heartbreak on their list for top 100 albums of the decade. If there is one man who should lament the death of album it is Mr. West. He also has the talent and genius to re-work Video Killed the Radio Star into something fresh and new. If Flo Rida tried my ears might start to cry.

Along these same lines, digital music downloads has killed the record store. The Virgin Megastore on Michigan Avenue in Chicago is now a Forever 21. (P.S. well done Richard Branson on selling Virgin Music, I don’t think you foresaw this, but it was very smart). If I want a hard copy of an album I now have to go to Best Buy and hope they have it. This particularly depresses me given that Empire Records is one of my favorite movies. Lucas may have been able to “Damn the Man! Save the Empire!” from Mitch, but he won’t save it from iTunes.