What Constitutes Filler

At least when talking about prog rock it seems like most people call songs "filler" when they're experimental and/or very different.

So in that case I'd say that "filler is experimental songs/segments that the band really digs and decided to include on the album, even though they realize it's different and might not appeal to most listeners". I like that kind of "filler" though, since they show more of the song-writer's personal preferences. :)
 
You know its filler because its pretty blatant. Filler is a song that does not add (and usually takes away) from the experience of the overall album.

It's not a bridging track between one song to the next, it doesn't conclude nor introduce a track or its redundant to the theme of the album.
 
If Faaip De Oiad and Viginti Trees aren't filler I don't know what is. Tool are pretty notorious about trying to fill out albums with worthless songs; they structured Lateralus to fill up the CD completely.
 
Filler is songs that do not contribute to the message or mood the album is trying to convey in any sort of constructive way whatsoever. With this in mind, albums that lack a message or mood are all filler and no killer
 
I deleted it - because I realized quickly that I was wrong. Heh.

The "I make stupid topics" Comment was just about this thread. . .not about how he posts like I thought. I'm an ass.
 
who knows?

maybe all of our favorite songs are filler, and all the ones we hate are supposed to be the focus.

but probably not.
 
I'm pretty much with Roygbiv. When I describe a filler, I mean a mediocre song that may be safely skipped when you listen to an album. Most likely, it adRAB nothing new. It's not bad (then I'd call it that), but it would be better if there was a really good song in it's place, so overall they are usually not good on an album unless most of the other songs are even worse.
 
Well I hear people call tracks filler sometimes that really could be considered useful tracks. I think it's more of an opinionated case, unless the song is just as bland as can be. I'd think the album would probably follow suit though really.
 
Nah, if I remeraber correctly even the band themselves disowned that one. It's filler because it's so bland and just takes up space without contributing to the album.
 
I would define filler as tracks which feel contrived for the purpose of filling an album. Note that this doesn't mean that all bad tracks are filler tracks.

Of course this is a very subjective matter. Some people feel that skits and other irregularly short tracks (think Tool) are always filler - I don't.
 
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