Deluxe edition? No thanks, musicians. I’ll stick with the “best of” album.
Music consumers in recent years have no doubt noticed the growing trend of “deluxe edition” albums. They often feature 1.5-2 times the number of tracks, cost more, and feature an alternate album cover.
Here’s what they really are, though: A smart business and marketing proposition. A way to profit off throw away b-side songs, selling them to the most rabid of fans.
Thing is, I don’t even by the deluxe edition of my favorite bands. In my eyes, if a track isn’t good enough to make the original 10-12 song album, it’s not worth my time, no matter who wrote it. In fact, of the few deluxe albums I own, I can’t think of a single memorable, must-have, 4-5 star track.
So keep the deluxe edition, bands. I’m good.
2 Comments
The problem is when an album (like the one you have displayed: the new Killers album) is filled with 15 songs that aren’t good enough to make the album.
Yeah, no way am I paying $4 for 3 extra songs, 1 of which is a remix. Yawn. I would rather buy a b-sides compilation later on separately, to be honest. It degrades the quality and concept of an album as more than just a collection of songs.