Does track order matter in the streaming era?

[Mr Hate Coffee]

The thought hit me when I was on Spotify looking at the greatest hits album for a classic soul group and all the tracks were in alphabetical order.


Anyway, there used to be a science to this track order shyt. In the 90s you could be certain that track #7 or #13 were bangers. Albums typically loaded the best single as one of the first few tracks too.

But nowadays does it even matter?

 

[Eastside Get The Money]

Very good question. I don't think so in this era. It's either one the side of how many bangers does it have (migos, 2 chainz ec.) or how complete or themed is the project (krit, cyhi)

 

[T.he I.nformant]

Absolutely. There’s still plenty of brehs like me who care about stuff like that and play albums front to back.

 

[UWasntThere]

Sequencing is always going to be important

 

[Renegade47]

Absolutely. There’s still plenty of brehs like me who care about stuff like that and play albums front to back.

i cant even listen to an album if its not front to back. shuffle is awful

 

[NotaPAWG]

yes, sequencing still matters and bad sequencing can fukk up the flow of the album
l

 

[Playaz Eyez]

To me? Yes. But you think that matters to these post-2010 music fans??? Hell no lol. Hip hop is just arbitrary background music for them

 

[AB Ziggy]

It matters to me since the order explains the artist's vision and journey of what he/she wanted his/her project to be expressed as when listening to it.

Of course, in this streaming era, albums as they are today aren't as relevant as they used to be since you can skip boring intro track 1 and click straight on track 9 where the pop songs are.

 

[Hersh]

any new shyt I listen front to back.. at least once

 

[T.he I.nformant]

It matters to me since the order explains the artist's vision and journey of what he/she wanted his/her project to be expressed as when listening to it.

Of course, in this streaming era, albums as they are today aren't as relevant as they used to be since you can skip boring intro track 1 and click straight on track 9 where the pop songs are.

Kendrick Lamar’s last three projects are prime examples that sequencing still matters. Imagine listening to TPAB and starting off with Mortal Man.

 

[Versa]

Of course it matters. The album is an art presentation. How its sequenced plays a big part in that.

 

[DapMeUp!]

I doubt any of these new age kids listen or even care about the order of an album.

I think a lot of these artists know this too, hence why Chris brown/Migos are releasing ridiculous amounts of tracks on their albums, knowing people will just pick a couple tracks they like and throw them in a playlist.

But I do still prefer a traditional sequenced tracklist. I think it's important you listen to an album how the artist intended it to be listened to, as some tracks only make sense in the context of the album.

 

[UWasntThere]

i cant even listen to an album if its not front to back. shuffle is awful

Same

I have music ADHD. Every time I do make a
playlist I end up hating all of the songs in a week. It's better just to switch off listening to a bunch of different albums so you don't hear anything too often.

 

[brownsugah]

It really depends on the listener. There are people who enjoy a full album experience, and people who enjoy just listening to songs here and there. For me personally track order matters a lot in terms of album experience. And I’m one who falls into the former category of music listening.

 

[Tribal Outkast]

It matters for people who like to throw on am album while they're doing housework or going on a long drive or some shyt. This shouldn't even be a question in the Kendrick Lamar era lol. Imagine listening to any of his last couple albums on shuffle for the first time, shyt won't make sense at all.