Over the festive break I was again confronted by someone who told me that I will never be a good music reviewer whilst my outpourings remain too upbeat and positive. I understand that there should be balance in all things, positive against negative, light and dark, even good verses evil, but I prefer to think that my whole back catalogue of fairly congratulatory pieces is elsewhere more than balanced by people who view cynicism and negativity as something of a necessary evil. I was, at the time, too messed up on cheap lager and expensive rum to get my thoughts across properly but later found my ideas paraphrased in the most unlikely of places. It goes something like this.
Cynics want instant results to prove their own worth; note - their own worth, rarely has it anything to do with the validity of the subject they are actually writing about. Also cynics are not the world weary people that they cast themselves as, quite the opposite. They are unformed humans who have pre-judged situations before their actual experience takes place. They therefore don't experience it at all, just a facsimile of what they'd presupposed it would be like.
Cynicism is not over-experience - it blots out actual experience. Write about what you know! It is really close mindedness through the lack of genuine experience, for we can touch the mysticism of total experience in so many humdrum ways. Music easily, A view of an attractive unfamiliar member of the opposite sex. The smell of seasonal food out of season. It is always simple stuff like this which the cynic draws a veil over as being beyond what he considers worthy of his experience. Keep it real!
Like rock journalists who review their favourite albums but can no longer summon up any enthusiasm, the cynic gets angry at the world for not being the way he presupposed it was, which was based on too little information in the first place. Experience verses Empiricism...the age old battle.
Where there is music, there will be musical elitism. I've been known to suffer it myself from time to time...
ReplyDelete...however, I disagree with that adage: You can be a good reviewer even if all your reviews are good. I've explained what we in the radio business call "Positive Pimpage" - as long as the overall review is in some light, then some negative points should be encouraged to come forth, to better make the better stuff shine out.
I agree with that, I think what I am talking about here though is people who start off with the cynical approach, a pre-supposed idea of a band, product, place, person...without having emersed themselves openly in the idea in the first place. (for further references read any copy of NME from the last fifteen years)
ReplyDeletefuck em Dave- write exactly how you want and about what you want to write about- most cynics never achieve anything- too busy bitching about other people to do anything worthwhile
ReplyDeletestraight to the point as always Stu. I agree, but it's just interesting sometimes to put pen to paper as an exercise to see what falls out of your own head, hence the need to write the above piece. I also agree that especially on a local level most criticism comes from people who couldn't be bothered to put any more effort than it takes to deride someone elses efforts. Still more room for me to pick and chose what I write about.
ReplyDeleteWhat they said! Completely agree.
ReplyDeleteWith your vast wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm and big words, I'm quite sure that you could write some scathing reviews if you really wanted to. But what would be the point, you live, work and drink with most of your subjects so why create negativity?!
The way I see it, if you don't like something, you won't review it.
Keep up the good work. Nice to see somewhere on here for your personal thoughts as well.
spot on sir
ReplyDeleteI have always much preferred to work to the positive, look for the best, there is generally something good in all things, may not be to our taste at times but, the positive is there, It is all a matter of opinion, I would never intentionally release a photo of someone showing them in a bad light, but these things in all arts it is subjective to those who look upon it.
ReplyDeleteIt is true for me most certainly of late I have come to realise that I have to be the best I can be and enjoy being me, stop worrying about things people think, no one can be as good as the person I am/at being me, we must be proud of who we are and what we do and who and what we champion. Enjoy what you do stay proud and keep producing it!
Keep up the good work
Cynical reporting as a philosophy - punters perspective. (Slight ramble.).....
ReplyDeleteNegativity a necessity? Nah! Not when what you are reviewing is subjective and is part of something special that you have been helping to nurture, cultivate, encourage and grow for years and years anyway - and by that I mean the local music scene of Swine Town.
Swindon, whilst still culturally devoid, finally has a slight choice in terms of venues to catch local bands. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think I can recall us ever having it so good (gawd help us!) and so to accompany each gig with cheap shot, vitriolic outburst reviews helps no-one. Particularly the punter, consumer and end user of your words.
I do believe that your reviews are a tad multi purpose. Of course there is the observational element, but there is also an encouraging aspect too. Encouragement for the good guys and girls who put themselves out there for our entertainment, coupled with a little gentle persuasion for the wider audience to try something different. To help folk of Swindon acknowledge that there is more to music than being spoonfed shit Cowell covers year upon year. Raising awareness that there is an alternative. It is on their doorstep. More often than not it can sampled be less than a fiver. Bargain. Bad reviews on a local level help no one - in fact they're counter productive. It discourages folk from getting out and about locally to try something different, it demotivates fledging local talent and no doubt does the venue no favours too by discouraging people from paying a visit. That's not to say I disagree with bad reviews on a national / international scale - one of my favourite articles of 2010 is the seething review of a Ke$ha gig in the Autumn by Lisa Verrico. On a local scale though - it's just not needed.
I'd like to think that those with a brain cell wouldn't just use a Franklin review or mention as the sole basis on which to form an opinion anyway. If you mention something in a positive way about a band in a genre that doesn't float someones boat, I'm sure they just simply won't go along and see it. Job done. No bitching required. If you fail to mention that on the night someone wasn't technically perfect but you focus on the good stuff then what the hell? There's much more to a decent gig than perfection. If I wanted guaranteed technicality then I'd go to the philharmonic. Most of the best gigs are perfect because of their imperfections. If the cynics are so closed minded they can't see that ... well as Mr Lighterthief says Dave "fuck 'em"!
There's a fine line I guess. And to walk the line for something you are clearly so very passionate about whilst erring on the side of diplomacy and tact in order to preserve the integrity of your subject is something that should be respected, not condemned. You do a cracking job keeping everyone informed about what's going on, what's been happening and what to keep an eye on. For me personally, someone who is not in town much but still likes to keep an eye on local music, your work is an absolute lifeline and for that I salute you, Sir.
If you want to sate the cynics thirst for vicious vernacular, why don't you try posting a review of Jedward's last album? I suspect with your penchant for all things succinct you could probably do the review in one word beginning with 's' - or am I being cynical and presupposing you'll hate it? Maybe the 's' word will be 'splendid'!!!
two words - thanks and blimey!
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful continuation of the original article, thank you very much for being so supportive. I guess when I wrote the piece I knew the answers, which are echoed in the comments left here, but sometimes it's nice to form the ideas on paper (well Mac screen) and brilliant to engage with like minded people.
You're more than welcome, kind Sir.
ReplyDeleteFor a large town that is probably culturally on a par with somewhere like Craggy Island, to have any music scene at all is impressive. To have a pretty decent scene with some great bands emerging and reasonable amount of choice in terms of venue is doubly impressive. To still hear about people grumbling and focussing on the not-so-good stuff when things have come such a long way is just downright disheartening. Take a step back oh blinkered ones and consider the wider landscape before berating the obvious item in focus.
Still, I know that for every piece of adverse, skeptical feedback you get, Dave, there is also an abundance of support out there for your work too. I've thoroughly enjoyed all your efforts thus far and am looking forward to much more vicarious gigging via your columns in the absence of being "around town" to experience the "sounds" first hand as much as I'd like throughout 2011.
Keep on keeping on. Oh yeah, and 'appy new year guv' - may the man flu recovery be as speedy as a cynic writing off a song before the intro is complete. Chortle.