Your latest press?

[Brian Krashpad]

 

Originally posted by DonaldDemon Those guys are pretty brutal on that site. They will rip apart any flaws that they can find or create. That could be good and it could just be annoying. Check out some of the reviews we have gotten at that site here: garageband.com/cheapsedatedhams Here is also a recent review in a weekly music publication of the tri-state area, mostly NJ called The Aquarian. A cool magazine but not the best reviewer. Most of the facts in the add are totally inaccurate: Shore World- Cheap Sedated Hams

 

 

I wrote a response song to one of the garageband.com "reviews" we got; the song was called "Ditch the Singer."

 

Dunno how it is for your genre, but for a punk rock and roll band some of the reviews can be ludicrous. Clearly written by 16-year-olds whose idea of "punk" is Good Charlotte, Saves The Day, and Blink 182. I gurarantee if someone posted a lesser-known song by the Dead Kennedies under some other name, after the scared kiddies finished peeing themselves, the song would get unanimous pans by almost anyone under 20.

 

BK

[brassic]

Zookie, I can't seem to log on to your site to read the review

 

Originally posted by Brian Krashpad I wrote a response song to one of the garageband.com "reviews" we got; the song was called "Ditch the Singer." Dunno how it is for your genre, but for a punk rock and roll band some of the reviews can be ludicrous. Clearly written by 16-year-olds whose idea of "punk" is Good Charlotte, Saves The Day, and Blink 182. I gurarantee if someone posted a lesser-known song by the Dead Kennedies under some other name, after the scared kiddies finished peeing themselves, the song would get unanimous pans by almost anyone under 20. BK

 

I think there's a lot of truth in the saying "There's no such thing as bad press." My "day job" is PR (auctually internet promo and marketing, but PR is a big part of what I do). From my standpoint, I'd rather have a bad review for one of the bands I represent than indifference. A bad review is guaranteed to spark lots of protest from fans who disagree.

 

However, what I really object to is the current trend of music journalism of slamming stuff just to appear "irreverant". There's a lot of Lester Bangs wannabes out there who think the only way to write intelligently about music is to do it with a sneer. They're more interested in finding ways to work clever insults into their reviews rather than actually say something about the music. Many writers fancy themselves as "personality" writers, and think that insults=clever journalism.

 

I think a lot of neophyte music journalists make the mistake of thinking that music journalism is more about themselves than the music they're writing about. I'm not saying it's an easy distinction to make, because the response to music is largely personal, but I think a lot of writers lack the abilty to differentiate between honest critique and self-promotion.

[DonaldDemon]

Originally posted by brassic Zookie, I can't seem to log on to your site to read the review I think a lot of neophyte music journalists make the mistake of thinking that music journalism is more about themselves than the music they're writing about. I'm not saying it's an easy distinction to make, because the response to music is largely personal, but I think a lot of writers lack the abilty to differentiate between honest critique and self-promotion.

 

I completely agree. There is no such thing as bad press as well as long as you are able to take it with a grain of salt.

Here is the text to that review:

 

 

NOT SLAMMING THIS HAM

[Brian Krashpad]

 

Originally posted by brassic I think there's a lot of truth in the saying "There's no such thing as bad press." My "day job" is PR (auctually internet promo and marketing, but PR is a big part of what I do). From my standpoint, I'd rather have a bad review for one of the bands I represent than indifference. A bad review is guaranteed to spark lots of protest from fans who disagree.

 

 

Oh, I have no prob with a bad review. Oddly, the only place my main band has gotten bad reviews is on garagebands.com, and no doubt from kids who apparently fancy themself punk rock fans.

 

However, they are just kids who clearly don't understand the genre (complaining about a punk rock band whose singer has an annoying voice is about like complaining that a country band was playing with Telecasters and pedal steels or about a metal band playing really really fast solos-- it just doesn't make sense to anyone with more than a passing knowledge of that style of music), so I can cut them some slack. In the meantime, the thought that I annoyed the {censored} out of some upper middle class suburban kid whose knowledge of "punk" does not include any album not recorded with ProTools brings a smile to my face on almost a daily basis.

 

 

Originally posted by brassic However, what I really object to is the current trend of music journalism of slamming stuff just to appear "irreverant". There's a lot of Lester Bangs wannabes out there who think the only way to write intelligently about music is to do it with a sneer. They're more interested in finding ways to work clever insults into their reviews rather than actually say something about the music. Many writers fancy themselves as "personality" writers, and think that insults=clever journalism. I think a lot of neophyte music journalists make the mistake of thinking that music journalism is more about themselves than the music they're writing about. I'm not saying it's an easy distinction to make, because the response to music is largely personal, but I think a lot of writers lack the abilty to differentiate between honest critique and self-promotion.

 

 

I know exactly what you mean. The new writer for our local paper recently went waaay overboard in that direction:

 

http://tinyurl.com/bymnt

 

I mean, his OWN NAME is in the TITLE of the piece! He then wastes FOUR PARAGRAPHS on self-indulgent crap setting up the stupid "premise" of the piece (author has bad cold, thus author is "cranky" and even though he really loves the local music scene, he will say just the opposite because he is in such a bad mood).

 

I guarantee you it had well more than half the readership of the newspaper scratching it's collective head. Had I been his editor I would've ripped him a new one and given him something to be cranky about.

 

BK

[DonaldDemon]

 

Originally posted by Brian Krashpad I wrote a response song to one of the garageband.com "reviews" we got; the song was called "Ditch the Singer." Dunno how it is for your genre, but for a punk rock and roll band some of the reviews can be ludicrous. Clearly written by 16-year-olds whose idea of "punk" is Good Charlotte, Saves The Day, and Blink 182. I gurarantee if someone posted a lesser-known song by the Dead Kennedies under some other name, after the scared kiddies finished peeing themselves, the song would get unanimous pans by almost anyone under 20. BK

 

 

Our problem is that we don't really have a genre but the last sond we posted was very punkabilly/ska sounding and some the comparisons were hilarious. If you look at the top 10 songs on that site it is all makes sense. The most contrived unoriginal songs with the most $$ spent on production seem to dominate. They have forgotten the fact that is about garagebands and not who sounds the most like so-and-so.

[brassic]

Krashpad -

 

Agree with you 100% - I think just about every music fan thinks they can write a review but music journalism isn't just really about whether or not you like something. Part of writing an intelligent review involves placing the music into some sort of context and I don't think a 16-year-old Good Charlotte fan is capable of doing such a thing with a punk band. If you're going to talk about punk, there's a historical contex there whetehr you like it or not. And I don't give two {censored}s whether that sounds elitist. (A personal pet peeve of mine is when I go into a record shop and the only records in the punk section are NOFX onwards.)

 

DonaldDemon -

 

Not having a genre is not a "problem", but if you're not easily pigeonholed, you are probably going to be met with confusion and hostility more often than not. The average music fan (and I'm taliking about your average radio listener here, not a genuine music fan who is constantly searching out new music to educate and challenge themselves) wants to be told what to like. They don't want to discover new music and make their own minds up. Generally they either want something to dance to or something that's going to make them look cool in the eyes of the other kids. I'm not saying that people who don't like your music are automatically wankers, but if you're doing something a bit different, expect some hostility.

[DonaldDemon]

 

Originally posted by brassic DonaldDemon - Not having a genre is not a "problem", but if you're not easily pigeonholed, you are probably going to be met with confusion and hostility more often than not. The average music fan (and I'm taliking about your average radio listener here, not a genuine music fan who is constantly searching out new music to educate and challenge themselves) wants to be told what to like. They don't want to discover new music and make their own minds up. Generally they either want something to dance to or something that's going to make them look cool in the eyes of the other kids. I'm not saying that people who don't like your music are automatically wankers, but if you're doing something a bit different, expect some hostility.

 

 

Totally. The average music fan was never trained to listen, only to relate. That's what is deemed as "accessible" and litters the airwaves today. Not that I am elitist by any means but I have been lucky enough to have been exposed to different styles and more importantly the culture that coincides with it. Because of that I have been able to expose alot of my friends to so much more than they thought was "accessible" and they have thanked me continuously for that.

As for my own band, I realized pretty quickly that we are in a specialized class where probably only the musicians and true music fans will appreciate it initially but we are not so far out that your average listener can get into it if it was presented in the correct silver-platter mass-pop package served with a full serving of promotional propaganda. I stick by the creedo to do what comes from the heart and make it as natural as possible because the synthetic, homogenized substitutes never taste the same.

[Brian Krashpad]

Originally posted by brassic Krashpad - ... (A personal pet peeve of mine is when I go into a record shop and the only records in the punk section are NOFX onwards.)

 

If I wasn't happily married right now I'd be declaring my undying love for you.

 

In a purely platonic way of course.

 

 

BK

 

To get back on track after that embarrassing if well-intentioned aside, here's the latest press on my side roots-rock band:

 

Hoyt and the Hotheads

[brassic]

 

Originally posted by Brian Krashpad I guarantee you it had well more than half the readership of the newspaper scratching it's collective head. Had I been his editor I would've ripped him a new one and given him something to be cranky about.

 

 

See, that's what I would call a big piece of "Who-the-{censored}-cares" journalism. In my PR capacity, I wouldn't have had a go at the editor for it, because the guy stitches HIMSELF up by writing a load of nonsense. I guarantee that the majority of people who read that preview would have been thinking "Who the hell is this joker, and why do I care?"

 

The sort of stuff I really object to is where the writer has already made up his/her mind that they hate the band. Here's a recent review of one of my band's videos where I *did* have a word with the editor:

 

 

Christ! Does the singer know that someone has put all of hair on his bonce? Can

[brassic]

Originally posted by Brian Krashpad If I wasn't happily married right now I'd be declaring my undying love for you. In a purely platonic way of course.

 

Comment taken entirely in the spirit in which it was meant.

 

But...you don't want to be around when I start my dissertation on Why Punk Actually Started in America In The Late 60's, Actually (available only after consuming 2 bottles of wine and in the presence of Brits)

[brassic]

Originally posted by cherri "Lead vocalist Cheryl Bendig delivers the songs in a voice that has the raw power of Janis Joplin but the finesse of Ann Wilson."

 

I'd put that on a t-shirt if I were you. If someone said that about me you wouldn't be able to fit in the same room as me but for the size of my head.

[Brian Krashpad]

Originally posted by brassic Comment taken entirely in the spirit in which it was meant. But...you don't want to be around when I start my dissertation on Why Punk Actually Started in America In The Late 60's, Actually (available only after consuming 2 bottles of wine and in the presence of Brits)

 

Of course I do! So long as I can have several pints of porter before and during. And am allowed to chip in "damn straight!" from time to time.

 

That second sentence sentence seems vaguely inappropriate.

 

Story of my life.

 

BK

[brassic]

 

Originally posted by Brian Krashpad That second sentence sentence seems vaguely inappropriate.

 

 

Clarification: I am an American who's been living in the UK for about a decade, so I take great joy in winding up my adopted countrymen, since I'm usually the butt of so many jokes. I'm outnumbered here but I can really argue the toss (as only a self-righteous drunk can) when it comes to music.

[Brian Krashpad]

 

Originally posted by brassic Clarification: I am an American who's been living in the UK for about a decade, so I take great joy in winding up my adopted countrymen, since I'm usually the butt of so many jokes. I'm outnumbered here but I can really argue the toss (as only a self-righteous drunk can) when it comes to music.

 

 

Haha, no my second sentence!

 

Alas, my sole experience in Blighty was a mere week back in 1987 and I did not get a chance to check out the music scene as I was on my honeymoon with the above-referenced Mrs. Krashpad.

 

BK

[brassic]

Hark? What's that?

 

Oh, it's simply the sound of The Point as it goes flying over my head and smacks into the wall.

 

I get it now.

[Brian Krashpad]

Originally posted by brassic Hark? What's that? Oh, it's simply the sound of The Point as it goes flying over my head and smacks into the wall. I get it now.

 

Clearly, you need a couple glasses of wine!

 

BK

 

(who himself has several crappy beers in the company fridge down the hall and is just biding his time until the start of an after-hours board meeting...)

[Body Bomb]

 

Originally posted by Brian Krashpad Small world. Dan Halligan is an online bud of mine, known him for years though we've never met in real life. Last I heard Tablet was tits up though. And the second review is right next to a Grabass Charlestons review. They're from Gainesville (my town) and their guitarist PJ used to play bass in my band. BK

 

 

Dan Halligan is a cool guy. Tablet just put out their last issue this month. Hopefully he'll keep writing or publishing or maybe get 10 Things rolling again. We really need a 'zine like that in Seattle right now.

[Body Bomb]

 

Originally posted by Brian Krashpad I wrote a response song to one of the garageband.com "reviews" we got; the song was called "Ditch the Singer." Dunno how it is for your genre, but for a punk rock and roll band some of the reviews can be ludicrous. Clearly written by 16-year-olds whose idea of "punk" is Good Charlotte, Saves The Day, and Blink 182. I gurarantee if someone posted a lesser-known song by the Dead Kennedies under some other name, after the scared kiddies finished peeing themselves, the song would get unanimous pans by almost anyone under 20. BK

 

 

We've gotten some pretty funny reviews on that site. 80% of the reviews say "You should turn up the vocals and turn down the drums." My vocals often get compared to Rage Against The Machine (I sound nothing like that guy! If anything, I'm shamelessy aping Guy Picciotto.). Or they'll comment on the production and not realize that they're really reviewing their RealPlayer stream.

 

It's been my experience that garageband.com is a great place to get reviews by people who know {censored} all about the kind of music we play. I think MySpace has pretty much replaced Garageband. Not much action there these days.

 

We did almost get a UK record deal with a reasonable well-known UK indie. Then they went tits up.

[DonaldDemon]

 

Originally posted by Body Bomb If anything, I'm shamelessy aping Guy Picciotto.). Or they'll comment on the production and not realize that they're really reviewing their RealPlayer stream. It's been my experience that garageband.com is a great place to get reviews by people who know {censored} all about the kind of music we play. I think MySpace has pretty much replaced Garageband. Not much action there these days.

 

 

Good point there. No one realizes how {censored}ty the realplayer stream is so its ridiculous to comment on production. One person siad we sounded like Metallica and we don't even play metal and I hate Metallica except for a few old songs.

I listened to your myspace stuff and I like it.You definitely sound like Guy from Fugazi but they're one of my favorite bands so its a good thing. I haven't even checked my garageband site in about 6 months since I signed up on myspace.