I’ve written over sixty contemporary music reviews since early 2012, and screened hundreds (if not thousands) of other new releases. If I heard something in the screening that I liked, I’d buy the album and usually write a review. I say “usually” because I refuse to write negative reviews of works by artists who are early in their careers and haven’t hit their stride (or the big time) just yet. This will help explain why all of my negative reviews are of established artists; it has nothing to do any deep-seeded resentment of the rich and famous.
Although it may not seem like it when you read some of my more scathing reviews, I really wanted to like every album I bought. Please let me emphasize the word bought. Even when I had access to pre-release downloads from an artist, I would always buy the album when it came out. Yes, I know that means I wound up with two copies of the same thing, but I believe we have a responsibility to financially support our artists. The fact that I paid for the music I reviewed also preserves my objectivity; I never want to owe any artist any favors. If an artist gets a positive review from me, they’ve earned it fair and square.
I have to say my screening skills could use some work. I figure I’ve thrown about $300 down the shithole on albums I can’t stand. That full-torso leather bustiere with silver spikes will have to wait.
Once I bought an album, I listened to it without distraction a minimum of three times before I put my fingers to the keyboard. I researched background, lyrics, previous works and odd connections that the music or lyrics triggered in my brain. While writing the review, I listened to the album again, often repeating certain passages to try to identify what was in the mix, what recording patches they were using or just to get clear on lyrics. Most of the time, I would figure out a song or two on my guitar or keyboard to see the chord structure, which in turn helped me visualize the score.
Sometimes fans have attacked my negative reviews quite vociferously, as is their right. The comments that really piss me off are the “maybe you didn’t understand” comments. Look. I’m a highly educated woman. I have a thorough knowledge of music theory and music history. I have a fairly decent command of literature, including poetry, dating back to Chaucer. I’m very familiar with world history and speak three languages. If I don’t like something, it isn’t because I don’t understand it . . . it’s simply because what the artist was doing didn’t work for me. Christ, people, even Shakespeare, Mozart, Rodin and Matisse turned out some turkeys! My reviews are only my opinions: please respect them and I will respect yours . . . but I have never refused to post a comment that disagreed with me, no matter how rude or insulting that comment might have been.
Harrumph! Back to the point . . . here are the contemporary reviews. Chick Recommendations are in bold type.
Acoustic Disturbance, Firstnighter
Acoustic Disturbance, Last Past the Post
Admiral Fallow, Tree Bursts in Snow
Amanda Palmer and The Grand Theft Orchestra, Theatre Is Evil
Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite, Get Up!
Bill Frisell, All We Are Saying
The Computers, Love Triangles, Hate Squares
The Connection, New England’s Newest Hit Makers
French Letters, Here There Be Serpents (EP)
Guided by Voices, Class Clown Spots a UFO
Guided by Voices, Let’s Go Eat the Factory
Grand Duchy, Let the People Speak
The House of Love, She Paints Words in Red
Little Green Cars, Absolute Zero
Low Level Flight, Through These Walls
Meeting of Important People, My Ears Are Having a Heart Attack
Modern Superstitions, Modern Superstitions
Pyyramids, Brightest Darkest Day
Sad Face, Cheer Yourself Up (EP)
School of Seven Bells, Ghostory
Silversun Pickups, Neck of the Woods
Sinead O’Connor, How About I Be Me (and You Be You)?
Sonny Landreth, Elemental Journey
$winging Utter$, Poorly Formed
These Curious Thoughts, Building Mountains from the Ground Up
Filed under: Contemporary Music Reviews Tagged: Acoustic Disturbance, Admiral Fallow, Amanda Palmer, Anders & Kendall, Anik Jean, Anya Marina, Beach Day, Beady Eye, Ben Harper, Bess McCrary, Bill Frisell, Boy, Camera Obscura, Charlie Musselwhite, David Bowie, Erin Passmore, French Letters, Fun, Guided By Voices, Jack White, Kate Lynne Logan, king charles, Little Green Cars, Low Level Flight, mind spiders, Modern Superstitions, MOIP, music review, Nick Cave, now now, Richard Thompson, Sad Face, Sammy Witness, Sasha Dobson, school of seven bells, Sigur Rós, silversun pickups, sinead o'connor, Social Studies, Sonny Landreth, Special Goodness, Stag, Sugar Stems, The Computers, The Connection, The Cranberries, The Dahlmanns, The Evens, The Grates, The Shins, The Vicar, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Yo La Tengo
