My CD got reviewed

Subject: My CD got reviewed.....
From: Maryrrf
Date: 21 Mar 04 - 01:50 PM

My CD got reviewed on www.rambles.net. Here's a link to the review. It wasn't a bad review but not a completely positive one either. Still not quite sure what to make of it. I didn't think I was "belting" The Golden Vanity! Anyway if anybody's interested here's the review, and you can hear snippets of the songs (and the entire version of "Matty Groves" on my website HERE

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: Peace
Date: 21 Mar 04 - 02:10 PM

Mary,

I think it was a positive review. Never knew a reviewer who didn't have something snide to say. Almost like if they don't find a 'fault', they haven't earned their money. Hell, maybe she gets paid by the word.

Throw out the junk in the middle and you have a rave.

Bruce Murdoch

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 21 Mar 04 - 02:29 PM

Congratulations Mary, It is always nice to get reviews on our work. As artists, we lay so much of our inner self out for all to see when we put a recording out for distribution. Its always nice to read a complimentary review or hear a DJ say something nice about it after it plays on air.

I had one of my CD's reviewed by Rambles. Like yours they had a few minor criticisms, but were very complimentary of my original songs and vocals.

My most recent review of the same CD came from Soundbytes in Toronto, Ontario. I'm not sure how they got my "Sad Eyes" CD, but they certainly wrote a glowing review.

Keep sending your CD out for reviews, Mary, the more people who hear about it, the higher will be the demand for your work.

Best wishes,
Mike

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: greg stephens
Date: 21 Mar 04 - 05:53 PM

I should be pretty happy about that mary. I've had some pretty shitty comments in my time, and some lovely ones. That is how it is. I cant asy more, because I havent heard your record....but see my PM

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 22 Mar 04 - 04:02 AM

Better to get an honest opinion that something written by a sycophant.

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: GUEST,maryrrf (at work)
Date: 22 Mar 04 - 09:02 AM

I'm not upset - I count it as positive. It's just that I was surprised at that comment about "Broadway belter"! This may come from two things

1) I worked for many years as a strolling guitarist with no mike, singing in crowded Latin American/Mexican restaurants. Maybe I do project too much.

2) Lots of my work over the years has been in Latin music - during the Eighties especially. In Latin music emotion is prized - there's no such thing as going overboard - it's SUPPOSED to be melodramatic.

It will give me something to think about though! Thanks for the encouragement, guys.

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: musicmick
Date: 22 Mar 04 - 01:15 PM

I could not disagree more with noddy. There is nothing more self indulgent than a less than enthusiastic review for an independantly produced CD. Who, pray tell, is the critic writing for? If the artist is unknown to the readership, the critic can scarcely be warning folks about a product that they were never going to buy, anyway. Hell, they would never have even known of its existance. Integrety is a fine thing but it is, so easily, mistaken for self rightiousness.
I am not suggesting that a critic should reccomend a recording that he doesn't like. I am just wondering who he thinks he is serving with so qualified a report.
I know something about this little conundrum. I write the CD reviews for TUNE UP, a publication of the Philadelphia Folksong Society and the Philadelphia Folk Festival. I recieve many more submissions than I can include in the column so I have the luxury of reviewing, only, the best CDs I hear. I NEVER write an unfavorable review. Why should I? My purpose is to offer promotion, publicity and potential market to those wonderful independants who, so often, are ignored by the media. My policy is, if I like it, I say so and, if I don't, my lips are sealed like my juvenile record.
So, good luck to you, Mary. If you'd like to submit the CD for TUNE UP, you can send it to the office.

TUNE UP
Phila. Folksong Society
7113 Emlen St.
Phila PA   19119

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: Maryrrf
Date: 22 Mar 04 - 06:32 PM

Thank you, Mike, I will send you a copy - hope you like it.

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: musicmick
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:51 AM

Good idea. There will be only two more issues of TUNE UP before the summer break, when the office is a beehive of festival activity. Publication will resume in the fall but I'll be accepting CDs all summer. Good luck.

                   Mike

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 03:22 AM

Congratulations, Mary. I think the reviewer gave a pretty honest summation of the type of stuff she likes, and she likes your CD.
In my opinion, that's one helluva good review.
You certainly weren't damned with faint praise, and there was no fawning sycophancy in it.
Congrats again, and keep up the good music.

Seamus

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: musicmick
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 01:13 PM

Seamus, old pal. I hope you are not suggesting "fawning sycophacy" in my rave reviews of your CDs. As you well know, my praise was well deserved and not hurt one bit by your offer of free beer.

                   Mike

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: GUEST,maryrrf (at work)
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 01:30 PM

After digesting the review, I think it was good and positive in that it made me consider aspects of the CD that I hadn't thought of before. I'm very, very happy with the CD especially since I had very little studio time to produce it ($$$$...you understand) and not much opportunity to get anybody else's objective feedback when I was putting it together. I think it came out with a lot of spontaneous energy and a "live" feel, and I like that.

But it's kind of scary having your "baby" critiqued, isn't it??!!

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: Big Mick
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:20 PM

yes, Mary, it is a scary process. I read the review and found myself thinking that I would be very happy to receive that one. Good on you!!

Keep making music,

Mick

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: musicmick
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 04:17 PM

Well, constructive criticism is great in theory but a trifle counterproductive in public. Once the recording process is done, critical reaction can not alter the product. It can, only, affect the sales. Perhaps, if the critic is really interested in helping the artist, a privately communicated critique would be appropriate and useful. But expressing negativity about the recording in print can only be injurious to the success of the project. I just finished my first solo CD and, while I was receptive to criticism during the recording phase (In fact, I dropped one song because of negative reaction from respected friends), now that it is time to sell the CD, my watchword is, "If you don't like me, lie!". I suspect that, if they were honest, all recording artists would say the same.
That said, I think that the review that Mary received was relatively kind and pocked with just enough barbs to make the critic feel useful.

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: Backstage Manager(inactive)
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 04:28 PM

Musicmic,

I gather you think the responsibility of the reviewer is to the artist. In fact, the responsibility of the reviewer is to the reader.
A favorable review from a reviewer whose work is always one-sided isn't ultimately helpful because the readers have no point of reference as to the artistic standards, or taste, of the reviewer.

A dishonest review, whether favorable or unfavorable, is ultimately a diservice.

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 05:44 PM

As long as they don't say something like, "This stinks on ice!" you're cool. It was, over all, a positive review. it even has bits you can quote in your PR material.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 05:46 PM

Musicmic, I would never accuse you of fawning sycophancy in your reviews.
Bribery, corruption....now that's a different kettle of fish!!
You can get your steak dinner and bottle of wine next time I'm in Brittingham's.*G*
Truthfully, it is nerve-racking for a musician to have a CD - or a performance - reviewed.
If the reviewer got out of the wrong side of the bed that morning.....you're screwed.
Only once in my life have I seen a reviewer go back and re-review something.
It was back in the early '70's when Kevin Kelly was the theater critic for the Boston Globe.
He slammed "Godspell" when it first came out in the Schubert Theater in Boston.
But his daughter (or niece) saw it, loved it, and persuaded him to go to one of the shows with her.
He went, and gave it a rave the next day.
Would that they all could do that.

Seamus

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: Maryrrf
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 07:10 PM

Yes, my review was positive and for that I'm grateful. The cricicisms did make me think about some things - I wasn't as much surprised to be criticized as much as WHAT she criticized ("broadway belter???"). But I have to agree that, while I would hate to get a bad review, reviews are really for the consumers and not the artists. What annoys me are when reviewers get spiteful and personal - as if they pride themselves on how withering their comments can be. Most of the reviews on Rambles seem to be pretty fair although there have been a few less than enthusiastic ones.

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: musicmick
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 01:03 AM

What I said was that an unfavorable or, even, lukewarm review of an unfamiliar artist is of no service to the artist or the reader. Does anyone think that a new artist's work is going to be bought by someone on the offchance that it might be good? The reality is that without the review, the CD would be unsold in markets where the artist is unknown. That said, to whom is the reviewer speaking? To a market that wasn't about to purchase the product anyway? Of course, a critic should not publish untruths. But why, with all the CDs being made, why does the critic feel the need to review unsatisfactory work?
Column inches are too scarce, too precious to waste on those CDs I find inappropriate or substandard. I get more than enough CDs each month to provide my readers with recomendations. My reviews are as sincere and insightful as anyone's and I am able do write without putting down the efforts of any artist, even those whose work doesn't happen to fit my tastes. Obviously, if I were reviewing nationalally known artists, my reviews would be more general and more critical. In that case, I might well be warning a potential customer about an inferior product. But panning an independant production is exactly what I said it is, an ego trip for the critic.
I have, when asked, given "constructive" criticism to artists about their CDs but I do it privately, out of the sight of their audience. It's the least I can do for those heroic folks who pour their hearts and dollars into these projects. They are worthy of my respect and my support and, if, for some reason, I find their efforts wanting, I can bloody well keep it to myself.

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: michaelr
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 07:01 PM

Mary, how long did it take Rambles between receiving your CD and posting the review?

I sent them my new one in January and am waiting on the edge of my seat!

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: Maryrrf
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 07:24 PM

Don't hold your breath. It took eight or nine months! (I sent a CD out to Green Man Review at the same time and it still hasn't been reviewed.) They must get a lot of submissions. Rambles will e-mail you when they post the review.

Subject: RE: My CD got reviewed.....
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 08:58 AM