I just heard the 400th rave review given by NPR to a band that sounds…well, HORRIBLE. Do they ever say one single realistic (read: negative) about a band?
And what is the absolute devotion to bands that cram 14 genres together?
I’m Noah Adams and I love this band because it combines sengalese nasal singing with hip hop, country and clam mating sonngs into a coutnry/R&B/punk rock."
Arrrrrgh! Can’t they say “I love the beat, but it gets a little repetetive”?
Ditto for NPR book reviews.
Fuckin’ whacked out liberals. Gotta love everything equally. Can’t have it any other way. It just wouldn’t be fair.
You started two Pit topic today Mr. Z. Havin’ a rough one?
I know, I can’t remember ever starting a pit topic.
Don’t know why but I am feeling mighty ornery today. Maybe not enough beer, uncle. That or I am getting BORED TO DEATH sitting at this desk!
if something sucks, why review it? some things are better left unsaid…
if you can’t say something nice about an album…
I dunno, maybe so that people will know it sucks and don’t waste their money on it?
I would’ve gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for those meddling kids!
Would you trust the opinion of a movie reviewer who LOVES everything he reviews?
i guess i come from the school that if you don’t buy something unless you know what it is. i’m not going to go to the store and buy something that i haven’t heard good things about, unless i know what i’m getting (an established band or a compilation of songs i like).
there are so many crap bands out there, that they could review albums 24/7 and still not make it through the ‘decent’ ones until the end of the year, before having to start next years batch.
plus, it lends to more in depth reviews to actually talk about something you like than to say hey, this sucks. besides, there’s always going to be people that are pissed that you gave something a bad review. rarely will there be someone who complains because you gave something a good review.
if an album is by an established artist, i can see where a reviewer might say, well, this album wasn’t as good as the previous one, so unless you are a huge fan, don’t buy it. but if the album is by a new artist, and the album is good/groundbreaking, the reviewer is more likely to bring them to the public’s attention and say, well, this album is really groundbreaking…so if you like punk/country (which there’s a lot of bands that fall under that title, according to press releases), check this album out. it’s a waste of time to say that an album sucks, when only a few hundred people are going to see it anyway.
The NPR movie reviewer hates all the movies he reviews. Maybe they like all the bands to balance it out.
Ok, I can see that. But what about their affinity for the fusion of dissimilar styles?
I can’t remember a review that didn’t start out with a smarmy introduction of the disparate styles being combined. Echo Va was the band reviewed yesterday.
Noah was THRILLED that the members came from wildly different cultures. What gives?
I agree that the movie reviewer hates everything. To top it off, he delivers it with a whine – the opposite of Alec Trebec, except with the same condescension.
BTW, have y’all heard Terry’s interview with the “throat” singer? It intrigued me…for about 22 seconds. Then it sounded annoying.
I kind of like the idea of a ‘no comment’ review. Instead of tearing a movie, band, book, etc. to shreds, just post the title and stuff, then the statement “After reviewing this (insert noun) we have decided not to comment.”
Gets the point across without wasting anyone’s time. Of course, then the critics wouldn’t get to show off how smart and kewl they are by tearing something apart shred by shred.
Sacred cows make the best hamburgers. - Mark Twain
Personally, I love negative reviews. It give the reviewer a real chance to shine and it is always more entertaining than a good review.
Like this from Roger Ebert “Were I a betteer person, instead of sitting here writing this review, I would be running around town and carrying people out of movie theaters, thus saving them the pain of having to view this movie.”
Yeah!
It seems that NPR rarely reviews new albums.(at least the station in my area rarely broadcasts them) When they do then it invariably is one that breaks some sort of ground, or is some sort of innovation. (perhaps thats the only way they can excuse it?-I mean, normal albums are just boring right?(hah)) Of course, I really don’t understand why they always praise it. For once I’d like to hear "This blending of hip-hop, country, techno, and ragtime was a big freakin mistake. " Maybe if they let the movie reviewer review the albums as well…