Quotes Meaning

"Even though the album is an endangered species, can we try and make a coherent and good one, even if it’s like making a horse and cart at a Nascar conference?"

- Chris Martin

Best known for being the lead singer of Coldplay, Chris Martin frequently considers how the music industry is evolving and how musicians are adjusting to new technologies. He makes a comment about how digital platforms have changed how people listen to music when he says that albums are an endangered species.

A traditional album can be compared to a horse and carriage, a traditional form of transportation that was useful for centuries before becoming less relevant with the invention of cars and airplanes. In a similar vein, albums were once the main medium for artists to distribute their work, providing listeners with a coherent story or journey spanning several tracks. Single tracks, however, are frequently more popular than full-length albums in the current streaming era.

Martin's metaphor implies that there is still value and beauty in concentrating on making an album as a whole, even though it may seem archaic or impractical. It suggests that rather than focusing only on creating individual songs, artists should take into account what makes an album unique—its capacity to elicit strong feelings, tell a story, and establish a profound connection with listeners.

By urging musicians to create "a coherent and good one," Martin acknowledges the difficulties presented by contemporary trends while urging them to uphold their artistic integrity. It's similar to attempting to produce something significant in a setting that may not initially value it but eventually comes to see its worth.

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