Writing folk music reviews

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 05:15 AM

"A crusty old traddie, folk-rock psychedelicist, new wave revisionist"

Is that you or me you're talking about? Sounds like me... I'd suggest Rob Young (who I mistakenly referred to as Rob Hughes above) kind of fits the bill. With a side order of Simon Reynolds.

I agree with much of what you say in your last post, by the way. But equally, there are albums that were 'critically acclaimed' at the time and sold bugger all copies, only to be rediscovered by later generations. I tend to think that most reviewers exist somewhere between ploughing their own furrow, following the zeitgeist and following the editorial policies of their employers. A few of them may think that they create the zeitgeist, but few actually do. The days of journalistic excess, where NME, Sounds and Melody Maker music writers created new fads and fashions every other week, are thankfully largely over. It still happens on a smaller level, though. Someone from the Wire (possibly Simon Reynolds) used the term 'hauntological' to describe the music of The Belbury Poly and The Advisory Circle. For a while the term was used in what seemed like every other review the Wire carried...

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 05:20 AM

Glueman ~ my work is all online theatre reviews for a Renaissance literature academic journal these days: google

http://extra.shu.ac.uk/emls/15-3/myerrev.htm

& good luck with your project. If you feel it worth printing it out for the purpose you rubricate, feel free!

~M~

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 05:25 AM

... but, if I might venture to criticise the project: you will find Andrex far more amenable & fit-for-purpose...

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: glueman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 05:34 AM

Wotever. Hope the guru racket keeps paying out.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: glueman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 06:00 AM

Spleen, it all comes back to 'dare to be bad' which should be branded on every musician's backside. If a band or individual aren't experimenting they're dealing in mass production. If a reviewer can accommodate the superficially bad and know when it's potentially brilliant, good luck to him. If not he's another cog in the wheels of commerce.

Regarding the thread about someone being an 'embarrassment' of a blues player - what does that mean? It's pejorative nonsense thrown by a reviewer to make himself feel better about his choices. Stephen Fry has an anecdote about reviewers at the pearly gates which begins, 'And why should you be allowed to stay?' 'I told everyone where they were going wrong.', Say that again..'

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: theleveller
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 06:07 AM

I don't read many reviews but what I do find helpful are the recommendations of people on Mudcat and the reviews posted on sites like Amazon. But I would seldom, if ever, buy a CD without sampling it first. After all, only I know what I like.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 07:13 AM

I only asked because I thought reviews might be a bit out of date with the ease of hearing a sample of music on the net. Could better use be made of the space in the mags?
eg list of new CDs + thier access info on web.
FloraG

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: glueman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 07:24 AM

I agree Flora G. As music becomes more targeted reviews are increasingly democratic, through blogs, Amazon, Facebook, etc. We take them or leave them but we're not paying for an individual's 'discernment' which is always informed by their taste and imagination, or lack of it.

The recording industry many of us grew up with was a top-down affair and future models will, IMO, be more attuned to folk and its processes. Fewer people will get stupidly rich from the proceeds but I won't mourn its excesses or self-indulence.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: theleveller
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 07:28 AM

I think you make a good point, Flora. I do like the reviews in Acoustic magazine which has maybe 20 new CDs per edition with a short critique/description of each. Personally, I think the role of the reviewer (better word than critic?) should be to alert me to things that I might like, rather than say whether I should like them or not.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 07:28 AM

Flora G ~~ Always been critics: always will; internet access will no more drive them out thatn the predicted demise of the theatre occured when film came along; nor was the film killed by tv or dvd or whatever ...

Note this first stanza-and-a-half from Kipling's The Conundrum of the Workshops:-

When the flush of a newborn sun fell first on Eden's green and gold,        
Our father Adam sat under the Tree and scratched with a stick in the mould;        
And the first rude sketch that the world had seen was joy to his mighty heart,        
Till the Devil whispered behind the leaves: "It's pretty, but is it Art?"        

Wherefore he called to his wife and fled to fashion his work anew—                 
The first of his race who cared a fig for the first, most dread review

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 07:35 AM

Opinion has always been interesting - it brings in a human element. It would be a shame to replace it with a list of links and neutral information. Isn't that just another example of dumbing down? And I reckon it's pretty hard to get excited about yet more lists - they are becoming the cornerstone of contemporary culture and are yet another example of replacing creativity and imagination with function. I also think the words 'critic' and 'reviewer' are interchangeable. Its a fallacy that all criticism is negative.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 07:54 AM

Spleen, nothing wrong with negative comments if they are qualified and explained[ eg vocal mannerisms], The SKILL of a good critic, is to let people know what is on the cd, instrumentation songs etc, and to give an opinion which is then explained., and to write in an interesting manner, this does not mean that the critic has to be insulting.
This album is crap, is not good enough.
For example the review of my gig at Readifolk was just bad reviewing, because it told us nothing about the gig, compare it to the other reviews on the same news letter, which mention the songs sang etc etc

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: theleveller
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 08:13 AM

I think it was dear old Oscar who said something to the effect that it is the job of the critic to educate the public and it is the job of the artist to educate the critic. I think this is especially relevant with folk music, which ranges from the very traditional to the outrageously avant garde. It takes a very broad mind to do justice to both extremes.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 08:23 AM

===reviews are increasingly democratic, through blogs, Amazon, Facebook, etc===

Nothing 'democratic' about proper criticism.

A proper review is written by a specialist critic, commissioned by a professional editor of a media outlet, print, visual, online, but properly established, who knows he can rely on the critic's knowledge of the field under consideration and ability to communicate his therefore valid opinions.

This is not the same as expressing unedited opinion on an open forum or chatroom or blog. The person who does that no more becomes a 'critic', in any meaningful sense, than ordering a scalpel online from Swann Morton would make him a surgeon.

~M~

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: johncharles
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 08:35 AM

The readifolk review was 200 words of esentially subjective comment. It clearly says something about the subjective view of the gig from the point of view of two audience members.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: glueman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 08:39 AM

"The person who does that no more becomes a 'critic', in any meaningful sense, than ordering a scalpel online from Swann Morton would make him a surgeon".

Let's hope your professional reviews contain more meaningful analogies and less self importance.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: theleveller
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 09:24 AM

Anyone who has any degree of critical faculty is a critic. In fact, every consumer is a critic. Just as we have professional and amateur musicians, sportspeople, actors or whatever, we have professional and amateur critics. At their best, professional critics should bring a different dimension of specific insight to bear and their reviews should be entertaining as well as informed. But to equate a critic with a brain surgeon is nonsense and to imply that unless one is paid to give an opinion it has no value is downright arrogance. Many of the reviews one finds at Amazon or specific review sites – whether they be for music, books or electric toasters – can be erudite, informed and useful. Both have a place and it is up to the reader to use his or her critical faculties to judge how much credence they give to the critic.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: GUEST,Vivienne
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 09:27 AM

Personally I always read reviews, in FRoots, Living Tradition, R2 etc, at least for the genres I'm interested in. It helps me to find out what's new that I might otherwise have missed. And it doesn't really matter whether the review is favourable or not, since my tastes don't necessarily match the reviewers.

Vivienne

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 09:40 AM

I'm not sure I know of anyone whose opinion I would value more than my own in folk music. Faversham folk club has a guest tonight so despite the review on the folk club site I went on his web and listened to the samples. He sounded very nice but he did not lift his fingers while playing the guitar enough so lots of squidgy bits and the songs all sounded the same. I dont think I would enjoy it that much, but he might be much better live.
I'm not sure how a review by someone else could add much, unless someone has seen him live.
FloraG.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Will Fly
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 09:53 AM

Hey, hey, Flora G - just had a listen to the said singer/guitarist on the said site, appearing at the said folk club this night... No names, no pack drill, eh?

I wouldn't call the guitar playing squidgy - I'd call it varied, with some gently strummed chords here and some incisive notes there, depending on the song. Very good voice, interesting songs.

There - I've just added a bit more to the sum of our knowledge. Hmmm... this criticism stuff's dead easy, isn't it?

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Mo the caller
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 10:35 AM

The Leveller said ".....folk music, ...ranges from the very traditional to the outrageously avant garde. It takes a very broad mind to do justice to both extremes."

The sort of review I would find helpful would tell me where the recording was in that spectrum. It might also say whether the reviewer liked 'that kind of thing' and considered it good or bad of it's kind. To say that a style is 'not my taste' is not being negative. If they play out of tune then negative is good.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 10:36 AM

I don't play the guitar - learnt a bit when I had some kids going through GCSE music - but I like the notes to sound clean. To me that means taking your fingers off one note before you put them down on another. I don't like the squidge sound that occurs if you dont.
( different from when its done on purpose as a slide).

You are right Will - a nice voice and some interesting songs. I just think the songs did not vary much - apart from the odd twiddley bit on the gutar. Thats fine for a 2 song slot but I'm not sure its so good when you are doing 30 mins. Its much easier if you play more than one instrument or have someone else with you - you can vary the sound more. I think one of the reasons I like the club is that they usually have a nice variety of floor spots before the main guest so you never really know what to expect.

Still back to the same point. Could a review be better than listening to the web? I'm not sure about this.
FloraG.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 10:37 AM

Pete Morton? Top live performer. Lovely guitarist. Writes some beautiful songs. If you like that sort of thing, you're in for a good night, Florag...

That's not a review, by the way. It's just a recommendation.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Will Fly
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 10:41 AM

Exactly Esteemed Spleen (or should that be Espleened Steem...?) I was being a little ironic in the "No names, no pack drill" sentence, i.e., why not just say who he is!

No obfuscations in reviews, please.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: johncharles
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 11:20 AM

http://www.petemorton.com/reviews.swarthmoor.html
Vic Smith and Dave Kidman have good things to say about Pete Morton

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 11:21 AM

here is an example of a well written review.
On my little concertina. Brewhouse music
The songs range from traditional classics like Tam Lin to comic ditties like the title song. In addition there are a number of tunes,predominantly from the standard Irish and Northumbrian repertoire:tunes played for listening rather than for dancing toand good examples of Dicks' fluency and phrasing.
A Hayden duet was used to accompany the song Sitting on Top of The World,the first time the system has been used on a commercial recording.
Probably of most interest from a purely concertina point of view are his varied song accompniments, a model for all those who ask for workshops on this subject at festivals.He supports the tune never dominates, and varies style and dynamics to suit the lyrics- it sounds obvious enough but seems to be rare in practice the timbre of concertina can swamp the voice.It doesn't here; the balance is good, the accompaniment never intrusive but contributing to the whole, not just added in to vary the sound .Anyone who wants to accompany themselves would find this record inspiring and useful as well as enjoyable.Pippa Sandford

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 11:40 AM

==="The person who does that no more becomes a 'critic', in any meaningful sense, than ordering a scalpel online from Swann Morton would make him a surgeon".

Let's hope your professional reviews contain more meaningful analogies and less self importance.===

Just the sort of thing I mean, glueman. Mere abuse & assertiveness; no sort of intellectual support & backing. Thoroughly amateurish.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 11:48 AM

Here is a well written review from folk roots .Home Routes Brewhouse BHL9008.Richard Grainger and Dick Miles.
The sleevenotes "strong earthy and vigorous" might be overstating the case just abit but this is none the less quite a decent set with a bit of energy and conviction in there somewhere.The guitar and concertina are used to good complimentary effect on a variety of songs and tunes imparting a tense undertow to Pete Coe's Alimony run and giving their own slant to the rhythm.Whaling and mining still retain their grip on theEnglish folksingers psyche [the latter accorded a three song medley] but Celebrated working man is perhaps unusual in its gentle mockery of a superminer[on the same lines as Martyn Wyndham Read's Shearing in a Bar but more coal fewer sheep.Graingers own composition Farewell to Angus is also noteworthy as a well written and nicely sung lament for a friend over sympathetic concertina backing.Ive not been that enamoured of some previous review material involving these musicians or indeed this label: in the former case a bad dose of folkie mannerisms in the latter a tendency towards the twee.here they give a capable , unpretentious and relatively unmannered performance.My trepidations/pre-judgements were largely unfounded and I enjoyed the record more than I expected to.Nick Beale
However there is one obvious fault with the review, the reviewer digresses to other matters apart from the recording.,previous recordings from these musicians and this label[NOT RELEVANT], rule number one should be stick to what you are reviewing, WHICH IS the recording.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 11:52 AM

I didn't say it should be paid to have professional validity, leveller; I said it should be commissioned, by an editor who has been appointed because he has the experience and qualifications to know how to edit, as from one he regards as a worthwhile commentator. Anyone can blog or post on a forum ~~ some well, others less well. But to make any sort of career of such activity, one requires to be regularly invited/commissioned to contribute properly considered reviews to a properly authenticated and respected outlet; which The Times, The Guardian, Plays & Players, Folk Review, Early Modern Literary Studies*, Radio 4 - all regularly within my CV - are/were; but Facebook or [with all due respect] Mudcat just are not.

~M~

*I am not paid by that one, for example; but it is a highly prestigious worldwide academic journal of Shakespeare studies, respected thruout the academic community - google

http://extra.shu.ac.uk/emls/15-3/myerrev.htm

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 11:54 AM

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: GUEST,FloraG - PM
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 09:40 AM

I'm not sure I know of anyone whose opinion I would value more than my own in folk music. Faversham folk club has a guest tonight so despite the review on the folk club site I went on his web and listened to the samples. He sounded very nice but he did not lift his fingers while playing the guitar enough so lots of squidgy bits and the songs all sounded the same. I dont think I would enjoy it that much, but he might be much better live.
I'm not sure how a review by someone else could add much, unless someone has seen him live.
Spot on Flora , Your own judgement is best for you, if someone has seen him live, that could be useful if they described what happened at the gig, it is of no use if they waffle on about poetry downstairs, as in the Readifolk review, what is really striking is that all the other artists [kieran halpin bram taylor etc] were all reviewed properly, GIVING DETAILS OF SONGS ETC

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: johncharles
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 12:22 PM

It will be a sad day when reviewers are told how and what to write about performers.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 12:28 PM

I think reviews might help on a technical level. I find it annoying when the volume changes a lot between tracks as it does on some Cds. ( not just the dynamics). I think commenting on this might encourage the sound engineers to take a bit more care with a fairly basic thing. Do sound engineers read reviews? I doubt it.

As for the rest, its mostly taste, and I think the web is taking over the knowledge thing and doing it more effectively. I am thinking that if you have a web site its important that the whole style range of what you play is demonstrated, so people like me can't say - it all sounds a bit the same.

Question. Whose opinion do you valuue enough to spend time reading the reviews and then spending £20 on a concert without hearing the artist first? I'm not sure I can think of anyone.

FloraG

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Vic Smith
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 12:33 PM

Could all those who have contributed to this thread thank Dick Miles for the two examples that he has provided of reviews of folk albums in this thread? I'm sure that we are all glad that we know what we are talking about now having seen these.

However, could we make two requests of him?

The first would be to provide something that is a little more recent than the two that he has provided. The two that were provided were both over 20 years old. It would be good to have something a bit more up-to-date so that we could be given an idea of the current state of the art of reviewing folk albums.

The second would be to provide something that does not smack quite so strongly of self-promotion.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Banjiman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 12:47 PM

I'll help with that Vic! Recent and I'd say accurate! LoL

“Review of Life, Love & Chocolate (Wendy Arrowsmith) Impressive 3rd CD from North Yorks based Scot brings a new luxuriousness in texture, though it's intelligently considered backdrop is never allowed to obscure Wendy's own commanding singing voice and her consistently strong writing. â€쳌
- Thumbs Up. fRoots

"Life Love & Chocolate Wendy Arrowsmith) is a superbly produced, exquisitely sung album, without doubt one of the most listenable albums I have heard for many a long month. Wendy has excelled herself with this fine collection of songs which not only shows off of her considerable vocal talents and natural musicality, but places her right at the top where she belongs."
â€" Stan Graham , BBC Radio York.

“There’s a quintessential beauty about ‘Life, Love & Chocolate’, the latest album from Wendy Arrowsmith with its mix of traditional and self-penned songs. And should an album touch your soul this year then this is the one. The package combines piercingly pertinent lyrics, beautiful melodies and Wendy’s outstanding voice to produce an album of folk brilliance.â€쳌
â€" Tim Carroll, Folkwords

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Vic Smith
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 12:58 PM

Thanks for that Banjiman.... thinking about it, though, I really don't know the actual identity of Banjiman. I just hope that it is not Paul Arrowsmith, otherwise I might have to add "uxorious nepotism" to "self-promotion"!

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Banjiman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 12:59 PM

Whistles and looks the other way innocently..........

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 01:00 PM

I read reviews. And I judge their worth largely by what I think of the reviewer.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Shantyfreak
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 01:03 PM

The only reason I read reviews from strangers is for the facts they contain and not the opinions they offer. I expect a review to praise the subject - that's almost universal - but unless I know the person writing the review I have no knowledge of their truthfulness, taste or tolerance and so their opinions alone rarely move me.
What one person may regard as the best thing since sliced bread may be pure poison to another anyway.
Perhaps the main purpose of reviews is to fill space in various periodicals. If that is so then readability is the key consideration and a reasonable style of writing is better than flowery phrased praises.
Having submitted my first ever CD review today I do hope readers of the periodical concerned will enjoy it and find it useful. Just as I hope you, kind reader, have enjoyed and found this useful.
Jim

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 01:14 PM

Vic ,no problem.
here is a more recent review.
which is an example of good reviewing
SARA GREY Sandy Boys.fellside fecd225.
This is her best cd yet. Here we have 15 tracks of songs and tunes from the USA sung and played by Sara joined by her son Kieron Means on guitar and Ben Paley on fiddle and the mouth harp of Mike Whellans.The CD starts with an up beat song Sandy Boys which uses a traditional fiddle tune from Virginia and has a set of words put to it by Sara.
The Goodnight loving trail written by Utah Philips is a gentle and poignant song about growing old.I have always thought that family members' voices blend in a particularly harmonious way and this certainly applies to Sara and Kieron.
Just listen to the unaccompanied East Virginia Blues from Cas Wallins or Resurrection Day where two voices are joined by a lone fiddle accompaniment.My favourite song is Old Paint, a song collected by AlanLomax, Sara sings it solo accompanied only by banjo, it has a complex rhythm that seems to vary with each verse.I could listen to it all day it is mesmerising.
I could end up listing every song on the cd each has something wonderful to offer,but why not go out and buy the CD , There are Child ballads, broadsides fiddle and banjo tunes and songs written by SiKahn.There is something for all here.
This cd comes with Saras wonderfully erudite and informative sleeve notes which give many an anecdote about the sources and collectors of the songs .Highly recommended.Mary Humphreys FEB 2010 Mardles

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 01:27 PM

Why is the Sara Grey review a good review? because it gives detailed info about the recording, it does not digress and talk about other recordings, it informs us as to who the other musicians are and what they play.
It gives the reader details about sleeve notes, It mentions sources of songs.
It also informs us about the choice of material.
Mary,clearly like Sara as a performer, and this comes across in the review.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: glueman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 01:32 PM

"Just the sort of thing I mean, glueman. Mere abuse & assertiveness; no sort of intellectual support & backing. Thoroughly amateurish."

MGM, without wishing to add to mutual insults by elderly men with nothing better to do with their time that constitutes the business of Mudcart, I offered a personal response to another poster that was in no way contentious to which you replied: "Flora didn't ask about you, Glueman: she asked about "anybody". Bit egocentric response of yours?"

When I followed this up with an explanation you replied: "Glueman ~~ Your second answer is even stupider than your first; in your pertincious insistence on equating yourself with "anybody", and hence, by implication, with "everybody". Who the hell do you think cares what Glueman's egotistical take on the question is? Conceited pillock!"

You then gave some cock and bull opinion about "a proper review is written by a specialist critic, commissioned by a professional editor of a media outlet, print, visual, online, but properly established, who knows he can rely on the critic's knowledge of the field under consideration and ability to communicate his therefore valid opinions" which presumably is meant to underline your own valuation of your worth to the task rather than make you look ridiculously pompous.

You're not the only person who could start an argument in an empty room that inhabits Mudcart, nor the only one to offer meaningless credentials to do so, just the one who takes the shortest route to calling someone you've never met a conceited pillock for offering a reply to another poster that was sweet FA to do with you in the first place.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: johncharles
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 01:51 PM

The reviewers amongst you might help me here. I imagine writing reviews about outstanding CDs is probably somewhat easier than writing about CDs from the other end of the spectrum, where the possibility of upsetting the performer is a possibility.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Vic Smith
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 03:13 PM

Dick Miles wrote:-
"Vic ,no problem.
here is a more recent review"

Ah! Good, Dick, that is much nearer the mark. Yes, it is a very fair account of Sara's performances on that recording, though I would that her best album is probably Sara on Harbourtown though in comparing her albums, we would really only talking about degrees of excellence.

Now as people are giving themselves the right to a bit of indulgence on this thread, Mr. Miles of himself and Mr. Arrowsmith of his dearly beloved, perhaps I might join in for a while…..

SARA GREY
•        Sara's ever first folk club booking in England was in our folk club in Lewes in 1968.
•        Some 43 years after this we held Sara's 70th birthday party at our folk club last year.
•        The title of her 1981 album A Breath Of Fresh Air was provided by me, taken from a comment I made about one of her performances.
BEN PALEY (The fiddle player on this one of Sara's album)
•        Ben and I have played and continue to play literally hundreds of gigs together over the years as members of The Sussex Pistols.
•        Ben's newest combination a very exciting quartet called The Long Hill Ramblers played their first gig at our folk club in Lewes and will be headlining an appearance at Lewes Folk Festival 6-9 October – Tickets for their performance now available from that website.
•        There is an article on Ben and the Long Hill Ramblers by me in the current issue of….. Wait a minute – this is Mudcat, so I'd better whisper this and run for cover…. in the current issue of fRoots



Actually M'lud, I also need to ask to be taken into consideration that I have written three articles on Sara in Folk Roots/fRoots as well as a number of album reviews though in mitigation, I would like to point out that I have also written articles and reviews on her in The Living Tradition and other magazines.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: johncharles
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 03:21 PM

The Sussex Pistols do a fine version of midnight on the water. (In my subjective opinion).

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 03:51 PM

Glueman ~~ Your account of the dialogue is skewed, evasive & deliberately misleading. Flora asked if anybody read reviews. You replied, positively, that, no, they didn't, & then went on to relate that you yourself didn't, in a manner to indicate that you regarded yourself as the personification of Everyman and so entitled to answer her question on behalf of All Mankind. When I pointed out that this was perhaps a bit egocentric, your reply was to repeat, that, no they didn't, because the Great Lord Glueman didn't so that settled the matter.

And then you were surprised at being called a conceited pillock. A most moderate response in the circumstances, it still appears to me.

Traditional valedictions. Do not trouble yourself to respond: I shall not waste any more of my valuable, even if a trifle elderly, time, reading any more of your posts.

~M~

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: glueman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 04:06 PM

Not skewed, evasive or misleading. Flora G asked, "Does anybody actually read reviews?"
I said, "No, but then I don't watch TV or take a newspaper and my radio listening is limited to a few choice items each month. It's an informational Galapagos but it suits me."

Anyone with a modicum of sense would understand it was a personal response to an open question. In the time I took to reply it was likely another two or three posters might have answered yes, no and maybe. Your gripe is derived from the fact I believe most reviews are so much hot air and you apparently, write them. You can challenge me on my belief but you chose to launch into an ad hominem instead. Poor show, plus you used the word 'valedictions' in an informal discussion which suggests our dialogue is indeed a complete waste of my time.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Banjiman
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 04:38 PM

"Now as people are giving themselves the right to a bit of indulgence on this thread, Mr. Miles of himself and Mr. Arrowsmith of his dearly beloved, perhaps I might join in for a while…"

Mr Smith, I'm truly shocked I tell you!

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: GUEST,Mr Punch
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 08:37 PM

Good Soldier, here is a salutary lesson. Some years ago I had a wonderful review of my album in a Scottish folk magazine. It was written by a well respected performer known for his quiet style and integrity. (Sadly he is no longer with us). It followed your guidelines and was informative even about things that were not in the sleeve notes. It made him look learned and the album sound well worth anybody's money. So it should as I was sitting next to him while he wrote it. "That's the way to do it".

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 21 Jul 11 - 03:06 AM

dunno.

English Literature is doing great. Eng Lit had Leavis, Wilson Knight and tilyard. We had Karl Dallas and Colin Irwin and that bloke Simon something who writes for the Sundays and wrote The electric Muse.

No wonder we're up shit creek. i think its their fault.

Subject: RE: Writing folk music reviews
From: Continuity Jones
Date: 21 Jul 11 - 03:12 AM

Colin.Irwin is pretty good though. there are far less capable reviewers.