Date: Friday, March 16, 2001 @ 23:25:58 EST
Topic: Opinion
Writer Mitch Phillips gets defensive about his sometimes brutally honest reviewing style.
A Disclaimer....
by Mitch Phillips
Recently I’ve been accused of taking pleasure in thrashing local bands in my reviews when I should be, by all means, promoting them. After all, this website exists for this very reason. So shouldn’t I do everything I can to make them look good?
My response to this criticism was an emphatic NO.
'It does no good to be another yes-man in the local music scene,' I recently responded to a slighted bandmember by e-mail. 'Too often reviews are written by close friends and/or hangers-on who have nothing constructive or objective to say about a band's music or their performance which is of no use to anybody.’ Or they only go see the great bands who are already getting good press and leave the struggling, shitty bands to their own devices without any feedback. I don't think that's fair, so therein lies the method for my madness.
The purpose for my sometimes brutally honest slant is twofold: one, to “raise the bar” so to speak and treat local music and musicians like I would treat any national release or artist (This is especially important in the digital age, a boon to cheap recording that has spawned more bedroom producers than the porn industry); and two, to remove the mystery of why your favorite band hasn’t “Made It” yet.
If it seems perfectly obvious to me, a mere listener and ex-bandhead, why a particular band isn't a household word, what do you think the A&R person will think if you ever manage to get your CD across their desk? While I pour over every track, often more than once, (even writing the lyrics out if necessary) and give the music every opportunity to sink in and capture me, the A&R person has already tossed your disc in the “not a fucking chance” pile.
But what the A&R person misses becuase he or she doesn’t have the patience, budget or fortitude to find is a serendipitous discovery for me. I love great songs and it’s important to me (as I hope it is to you) to find the sparkling needles in the monotonous haystack. The odds of finding them are about the same, but when I do It’s almost worth doing this for free.
So if I’m a bit negative, harsh or downright nasty sometimes, to you or someone you love, don’t take it personally. Think of it as “tough-love” from somebody who sincerely wants to see you succeed, but knows you won’t unless confronted with sometimes ugly truths. I know good music is as important to you as it is to me, and I know your own creations are your little treasures, your babies born of your musical soul. But sometimes unruly children need a whack on the ass to get ‘em back in line. Just think of me as the “Bing Crosby” of local music reviewers.
Though I refuse to pull punches for the sake of a musician's ego, I'll ALWAYS make note of a bands strong points for balance.
With that said, bring 'em on.
Review by Mitch Phillips
©2001 Mitch Phillips All Rights Reserved
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