Dear Jayne,

I keep mixing up album classifications. I call something a sampler, when it is actually a comp. What's the difference?

EP problemz

Dear EP Problemz,

There are a few basic rules to remember. Anything that is released in full-length, call an album. Calling a release a CD excludes the vinyl pressing of that same release. Besides, album is more of an industry term. An EP is a release under full-length. EP's can be on CD or vinyl as well. Most EP's are between five and seven songs long, and can be reletively successful without label backing.

Now, this is where most misconceptions occur, comps and samplers. Both are full-length and generally feature a buffet of bands. The difference is this; you pay for a comp, samplers are free. Samplers give you a taste of whatever the distributers want you to buy. Comps are awesome because they are chalk full of songs, pretty cheap, and most of them benefit some sort of charity. On that note, buy the In Honor: A Compilation to Beat Cancer. The proceeds go to cancer patients, and it has a lot of rare and acoustic material. Also, the XROXX Rocks comps feature a lot of unsigned bands. Now, go to the local record store and show off your new knowledge.

Cheers,

Jayne*Star

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