It depends upon WHY it's over 4 minutes. If the reason is because of an extended guitar solo, then yeah, I would agree (for the most part).
But some songs are just long songs because that's how long they need to be.
For instance, most of my songs are under 3:30, but I do have a couple that are over 4 and a couple more that are over 5!
Okay, I'll admit that one of those 5-plus minute songs might be a little self-indulgent. But there was a reason for that indulgence, at least in my mind. I wanted to break down the parts that I had built up in the beginning and deconstruct it before the fade. Yes, admittedly indulgent, but I also found that I was a bit entranced, myself.
So, I put it as the last song on the album, so it was easy enough to turn it off:
https://hoponpop.bandcamp.com/track/heyThis one, however, at 5:10, just needed that time to tell the story. And, IMO (and in the opinions of many others who have told me), it does not FEEL like it's as long as it is. That, to me, is a sign that it is not OVERlong, but just the right length.
You tell me, if you want:
https://hoponpop.bandcamp.com/track/we-made-it-to-the-middle-2So, enough of my sharing masturbation. But I did so to illustrate a point. You are only partially right.
I hate (most) extended jams. Masturbatory, yes.
But an extended jam like the one in the middle of "Marquee Moon," I would argue, is essential to the flow of the song, as that long solo brings the tune to an emotional height that it would not have achieved otherwise.
WARNING -- 10-minute song!
If you do listen to all these songs, I am curious as to what you think about my points on them. If not, I totally understand. I'm not so sure that I would. That's a lot of time to devote to a single post on a message board.
