Some important questions regarding my next album:

When my new CD comes out in August, it'll have the 12 FuMP tracks I did over the past year (the 12th being posted at the FuMP that weekend). My questions to you are as follows:

(1.) In your opinion, how many new never before heard album-exclusive songs should the CD have in order for you to feel it was worth your money to have bought it? (Yes, there will be some interstitial material like before, but I'm talking SONGS, like "Just Mister Londo".)

(2.) Also, what are your feelings on SONGS vs. SKETCHES. By sketches, I mean full stand-alone pieces like "Keanu Barada Nikto". Do you consider them equal, or do you value songs more?

(3.) Also, I was considering putting another spoken-word story on there. This one was recorded at KeyCon 2009, and it clocks in at 7 1/2 minutes long. It's a higher quality recording, and a great anecdote, but isn't heavy on the audible ha-has until the end of the story. My question is, based on what you heard on "Target: Audience", do you think this kind of stuff belongs on one of my main music albums, or do you think it's all a bunch of filler better suited for the next volume of the "What A Ripoff" CDs? (Or it being it's own separate album?)

I once went to see an internationally touring beloved comedy music group perform, and after the show I bought their new CD for $15. After listening to it, I discovered the album was only 35 minutes long. I felt ripped off, that the CD should have only cost $10, considering how short it was. For this and other reasons, I have always felt it was my responsibility to make my CDs 80 minutes long so that a fan could feel their $15 was well spent. I had a talk with Sara, discussing quality vs. quantity, less is more, etc.. In a nutshell, she was trying to make the point to me that me freaking out about hitting the 80 minute mark by hastily producing a lot of material that might be considered sub-standard might overall be a detriment to the album rather than help it. I see her point, and it inspired this post to get your guys' feelings on it.

Despite what some may think, I genuinely don't want to rip you off. I am hoping when the CD comes out, you'll buy it, and enjoy it, and feel it was worth the $15 you spent. So if you have the time, please let me know what you think. Thanks. - Luke