[who_would_fardels_bear]

No more AOR. I remember listening to albums where every song fit into an overriding theme, or they just flowed perfectly from one to the other.

Some bands that have final cut can still make this happen, but I'm sure that most acts have accountants and focus groups and data analysts deciding which songs go where based on maximizing profits on singles.

It was nice while it lasted though!

[a fool in paradise]

No more AOR. I remember listening to albums where every song fit into an overriding theme, or they just flowed perfectly from one to the other.

Maybe the bands/labels don't make releases like this anymore but consumers can make Mix CDs (or sequenced playlists) rather than forever listening to their music collection on random or spotify.

That perfect flow is attained by enlightened selection, not just random chance.

[Ransomed]

The funny thing is that it is possible to be exposed to really good new rock right now, with the internet. It just will never be popular like it was. That shared experience of becoming aware of and appreciating some great new act on a vast level is gone, and that was a big part of it for a lot of people. But you can sure find stuff that you would have never heard of back in the day if you look a little bit.

Freegards