tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9991864.post2721979066553319151..comments2023-08-10T05:24:20.775-04:00Comments on Razing the Bar: MediocrityAndy Whitmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04010130934552315074noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9991864.post-76242269304169036662009-05-19T18:44:05.267-04:002009-05-19T18:44:05.267-04:00THanks, Mr. Whitman. I find Mr. Kearney's music a...THanks, Mr. Whitman. I find Mr. Kearney's music a tad yawn-provoking, but not in the same league as, say, Jack Johnson.Natsthenamehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03027430649885763618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9991864.post-76836623525822308412009-05-19T16:29:00.000-04:002009-05-19T16:29:00.000-04:00It sounds like it would be very hard to be an effe...It sounds like it would be very hard to be an effective critic without first being extremely secure in knowing that you are deeply loved outside of work. <br /> <br />Perhaps the quality of music would increase if more musicians were exposed to that many press releases of other artists a week. A good dose of the "drop in the bucket" mentality might help weed out some of the less noble motives behind commercializing your own music. <br />Thanks for your response.Chris Slatenhttp://www.myspace.com/chrisslatennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9991864.post-79156665265106277662009-05-19T11:09:00.000-04:002009-05-19T11:09:00.000-04:00Chris, I think it's a combination of factors. I th...Chris, I think it's a combination of factors. I think part of it is critics reading the over-the-top press releases. I don't blame the publicists. They have a job to do, and they're trying to help their clients stand out from the masses. So they hype new albums as much as they can. And believe me, these are massive masses. I probably receive two hundred fifty to three hundred music press releases per week. In the four hours since I climbed out of bed this morning I've probably received thirty. <br /><br />I suspect that another, probably small, part of it is that most music critics honestly take no pleasure in slamming an album. Even an album that has no redeeming qualities was produced by musicians who, presumably, worked hard to produce the best album they could. There's heart and soul in this business, although it's not necessarily found in the business side of the house. Nobody, at least outside of Pitchfork, takes any real satisfaction in telling someone how much they suck.<br /><br />And a huge part of it: peer pressure. No, I'm not kidding. When everybody else artificially inflates their reviews, there is significant pressure to do the same. An example: I reviewed the new Southeast Engine album for Paste, and awarded it a score of 74 (out of 100). It turns out that that's the lowest score the album received in any review. I want to protest: wait a minute. I like the album. Really. I think it's good, almost a four-star album. But in the music press world, I look like a grump. <br /><br />So all those factors play into it, I think. I'd like to see reviewers come back to reality and simply admit that much of what they hear and review simply isn't that special. I'm not holding my breath.Andy Whitmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04010130934552315074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9991864.post-56290668189482376542009-05-19T10:29:00.000-04:002009-05-19T10:29:00.000-04:00Nat, the particular album that pushed me over the ...Nat, the particular album that pushed me over the edge this time was by one Mat Kearney, who sings perfectly pleasant, utterly innocuous ditties that could be about God, could be about the girlfriend, or could be about pretty much anything or nothing, they're so vague and forgettable. But I don't mean to pick on Mat. He's in good company. Or at least okay company.Andy Whitmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04010130934552315074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9991864.post-51423742775217630242009-05-19T10:26:00.000-04:002009-05-19T10:26:00.000-04:00Amen. Though I don't review albums or listen to n...Amen. Though I don't review albums or listen to nearly as many new artists as you do, I do read a lot of reviews and listen to new music every day. I am really tired of salesmen critics that want me to think that every new independent artist is going to be the next vital piece in the American music puzzle. <br />Though, sometimes I have to wonder if I am just jealous. <br /><br />Do you think that maybe people are doing this out of guilt as a way of hyper-supporting independent artists?Chris Slatenhttp://www.myspace.com/chrisslatennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9991864.post-20769192743617219732009-05-19T10:21:00.000-04:002009-05-19T10:21:00.000-04:00Amen, brother!
What set it over the top?Amen, brother!<br /><br />What set it over the top?Natsthenamehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03027430649885763618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9991864.post-87227752469972161092009-05-18T14:26:00.000-04:002009-05-18T14:26:00.000-04:00I'm a fan of the Sound Opinions buy it/burn it/tra...I'm a fan of the Sound Opinions buy it/burn it/trash it rating system.Iannoreply@blogger.com