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What makes great albums flow with such variance yet consistency? One could say the flow of these albums is attributed to production technique, parallel song structure, and lyrical consistency. I would argue that album cohesiveness is the product of musical motifs and recurring patterns.
Motifs link together songs to push a central message. In TPAB, the motif is a poem that evolves as the album progresses, "I remember you was conflicted...misusing your influence...sometimes I did the same" The poem links the meaning of King Kuta's message of racial oppression in wealthy America to the raw honesty of Institutionalized. Confliction is illustrated with Kendrick's King Kuta allusion contrasting with his wealth and fame. This confliction is furthered by Kendrick admitting that if he were the president, he would still adhere to the same hood principles.
In Primus and the Chocolate Factory, the main theme echos from track to track. The slow delivery of the theme in Hello Wonkites sets the eerie mood of the album, and it becomes more and more identifiable and prominent until the album closes with Farewell Wonkites. This gives the album a common tie throughout that helps connect and identify it musically.
In D'Angelo and the Vanguard's Black Messiah, parallel construction is seen in between Back to the Future (part I) in the first half of the album and Back to the Future (part II) in the second half. Part I communicates how D'angelo wishes to return to a normal life before fame, wealth, and success while the second half expresses his fear that it may all go away, "and all you'll have is a memory" The musical similarity between the two songs accentuates the lyrical contrast.
Motifs occur musically, lyrically, and within the titles of the album's we love. They pull together songs and further an overarching theme or concept. Without recurring patterns, albums become forgettable and lose their value.
What are your opinions on this? What do you think pulls an album together?
Motifs link together songs to push a central message. In TPAB, the motif is a poem that evolves as the album progresses, "I remember you was conflicted...misusing your influence...sometimes I did the same" The poem links the meaning of King Kuta's message of racial oppression in wealthy America to the raw honesty of Institutionalized. Confliction is illustrated with Kendrick's King Kuta allusion contrasting with his wealth and fame. This confliction is furthered by Kendrick admitting that if he were the president, he would still adhere to the same hood principles.
In Primus and the Chocolate Factory, the main theme echos from track to track. The slow delivery of the theme in Hello Wonkites sets the eerie mood of the album, and it becomes more and more identifiable and prominent until the album closes with Farewell Wonkites. This gives the album a common tie throughout that helps connect and identify it musically.
In D'Angelo and the Vanguard's Black Messiah, parallel construction is seen in between Back to the Future (part I) in the first half of the album and Back to the Future (part II) in the second half. Part I communicates how D'angelo wishes to return to a normal life before fame, wealth, and success while the second half expresses his fear that it may all go away, "and all you'll have is a memory" The musical similarity between the two songs accentuates the lyrical contrast.
Motifs occur musically, lyrically, and within the titles of the album's we love. They pull together songs and further an overarching theme or concept. Without recurring patterns, albums become forgettable and lose their value.
What are your opinions on this? What do you think pulls an album together?
