Pimp Your Reviews!

[murlough23]

$16.50 = 4 stars?

Yeah, that was bugging me too. Why am I not giving this an A?

The song quality is pretty consistent, which is why I went higher than the average $1 for each song. But there are only a few that I'm excited enough about to give them the full $2. In terms of listening through the entire album front to back, there are moments where my interest lags even though none of those lags last for a full song. So it depends on what level of detail I'm considering when I look at the whole album. I respect them as if they were an A-grade band, but when I listen to the album, I feel like it's more of a B.

In other words, you've exposed a flaw in my money-rating system.

[ewok20t3]

I never heard 'em. What kind of music did they make, and were they as cheeky as fun.?

I've only heard one song by fun., but for the most part yeah, they had a clever silliness to them. They had a serious song here and there ("On Your Porch" is a tear-jerker of a song), but they excelled at catchy, fun (no pun intended), indie-pop with a slight punk edge.

[murlough23]

John Mayer - Battle Studies

Blandsville!

http://www.epinions.com/content_506817711748

[murlough23]

Lifehouse - Smoke & Mirrors

http://www.epinions.com/content_508031504004

[murlough23]

Metric - Fantasies

http://www.epinions.com/content_509185527428

[ewok20t3]

Metric - Fantasies

http://www.epinions.com/content_509185527428

I've only heard "Gimme Sympathy", and I like it quite a bit. For some reason I enjoy them playing up the Beatles vs. Stones thing. I'm pretty sure even the title is a nod to the Stones "Gimme Shelter" (which I thought was cool). Maybe I would enjoy the rest of their stuff even more.

[murlough23]

I've only heard "Gimme Sympathy", and I like it quite a bit. For some reason I enjoy them playing up the Beatles vs. Stones thing. I'm pretty sure even the title is a nod to the Stones "Gimme Shelter" (which I thought was cool). Maybe I would enjoy the rest of their stuff even more.

It's not a bad starting point, but the band does better on pretty much every other song.

"Gimme Sympathy" is definitely a nod to "Gimme Shelter", and also "Sympathy for the Devil". The song also mentions "Here Comes the Sun", as you of course already know.

Still, I think if you're gonna name-drop a musician, you should do something worthy of that musician. Otherwise anyone could write a song about John Lennon or whoever and it would get attention just for the novelty of it (and this often does happen).

NP: "Three Tigers", The River Empires

[ewok20t3]

Still, I think if you're gonna name-drop a musician, you should do something worthy of that musician. Otherwise anyone could write a song about John Lennon or whoever and it would get attention just for the novelty of it (and this often does happen).

Understandable. I'm guessing you don't care much for KJ-52's "47 Pop Stars", "47 Emcee's", or his continuous cries for attention by calling out Eminem on every album? 

[murlough23]

Understandable. I'm guessing you don't care much for KJ-52

Good guess.

[Wildcatblue7]

KJ seems like a nice dude, sure, but his whole "I'm white but not really and HEY EMINEM LISTEN TO MEEEEEEE" thing is terrible.  Can't handle it.

As I say that, I'm listening to "The Call" by The Backstreet Boys.  So...my opinion may not be entirely valid. 

[murlough23]

The Eminem thing was fine the first time. Not a bad idea for a song - writing to an artist and just honestly expressing what you feel your differences are with him. The sequel and subsequent references are where he ran it into the ground.

Plus, KJ's not that good to begin with. Making comparisons between yourself and a big name celebrity only invites comparisons of talent.

[bloop]

I remember recommending Metric to you, and I remember them not taking immediately.  I feel, in some small way, vindicated.   

[murlough23]

I remember recommending Metric to you, and I remember them not taking immediately.  I feel, in some small way, vindicated.   

I didn't hate them right off, just thought they were average. My reaction to them has grown from a C+ to about a B. I still think they could be a bit more distinctive in places, but then I like some groups that are straight-up pop/rock, so this isn't the kiss of death. I probably just came in with the wrong expectations given who recommended them to me (and ironically, you may have recommended them to me because of the immediate hook value that you figured I'd enjoy).

NP: "I Think I Can", Animal Collective

[murlough23]

The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema

http://www.epinions.com/content_509924511364

Wanted to get this classic out of the way before tackling their new one. Don't read this if you don't like bad puns related to the band's name. You've been warned.

[murlough23]

Back in the addle after getting distracted with the Vegas trip and the apartment move.

Barenaked Ladies - All in Good Time

http://www.epinions.com/content_511590829700

[murlough23]

Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind EP

http://www.epinions.com/content_512760909444

[murlough23]

Steven Curtis Chapman - Beauty Will Rise

http://www.epinions.com/content_513483705988

[murlough23]

Owl City - Ocean Eyes

http://www.epinions.com/content_515907751556

[murlough23]

The New Pornographers - Together

http://www.epinions.com/content_516936404612

[murlough23]

Paper Route - Absence

http://www.epinions.com/content_518027054724

[murlough23]

Future of Forestry - Travel III EP

http://www.epinions.com/content_518764793476

[murlough23]

Josh Ritter - So Runs the World Away

http://www.epinions.com/content_519393218180

[bloop]

Congrats on the milestone!

[murlough23]

Congrats on the milestone!

Thanks. 60 per year on average for 10 years... I must be slowing down.

[murlough23]

Jonsi - Go

http://www.epinions.com/content_521282621060

Stupid Epinions, not having a cover image for this one. Totally ruins the joke in my review title.

[murlough23]

The Reign of Kindo - This Is What Happens

http://www.epinions.com/content_523050520196

[murlough23]

House of Heroes - Suburba

http://www.epinions.com/content_523499703940

[murlough23]

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

http://www.epinions.com/content_524535893636

[Brenden]

I'm pretty sure the, "Businessmen drink from my blood," line is supposed to be overstating the case there. The whole song sounds like it's telling off the sort of fans who love a band until they get big and call then call the band sellouts.

[murlough23]

I'm pretty sure the, "Businessmen drink from my blood," line is supposed to be overstating the case there. The whole song sounds like it's telling off the sort of fans who love a band until they get big and call then call the band sellouts.

If so, that's more than one song intended to tell off the fans, which presents its own issues.

[murlough23]

As Tall as Lions - You Can't Take it with You

http://www.epinions.com/content_525262753412

[murlough23]

Pulled a late night to finish my review of The River Empires. A ridiculously long album begets a ridiculously long review here, but I didn't want to lose my train of thought. I think some of the more patient/exploratory listeners here might gets a lot out of this one.

http://www.epinions.com/content_525806505604

[Brenden]

The UK declares my review a national offense in the most controversial thing I've ever written.

http://soul-audio.com/album-reviews/09-24-2010/rend-collective-experiment/

In which I don't really like the studio album of Rend Collective Experiment and conclude that these songs are probably much better live and were probably meant to be heard that way anyway.

[murlough23]

The UK declares my review a national offense in the most controversial thing I've ever written.

http://soul-audio.com/album-reviews/09-24-2010/rend-collective-experiment/

In which I don't really like the studio album of Rend Collective Experiment and conclude that these songs are probably much better live and were probably meant to be heard that way anyway.

Wow, looks like you got your ass handed to you with that one.

Never mind that most of the comments you get back seem to be from people with very limited exposure to music who think what they're hearing is creative. Or else it's just the "X thousand fans can't be wrong" mindset. Sucks that you have to get all the backlash from folks like that, who can't stand you disliking something that apparently "blessed" them.

Personally, I've never heard of the band, but your review makes me want to steer clear. Maybe I'll get in on the comment fray, just for fun.

[ewok20t3]

Brendan Kirsch shouldn’t give up his day job waiting tables.

What an idiot, this guy should be sacked for writing such rubbish.
If not, then I guess the rest of the world who have listened to and loved this album must be wrong…..

This one made me giggle a bit.


I've never heard the band, but I enjoyed reading the review.

[Brenden]

Wow, looks like you got your ass handed to you with that one.

Nah, that would be if they had any real argument beyond, "You're a stupid stinky-head for not liking this album!" As is, they tried to hand me my ass but instead handed me entertainment.

Sucks that you have to get all the backlash from folks like that, who can't stand you disliking something that apparently "blessed" them.

I actually love it. Lets me know that people are reading what I have to say. A lot of them in this case.

This one made me giggle a bit.

Best part of that is until the flood I was making 16 bucks an hour on average waiting tables. Sometimes as much as 20-25 bucks an hour if we were real busy.

I've never heard the band, but I enjoyed reading the review.
[/quote]

[bloop]

I couldn't review for a Christian publication for this reason. Too many people expecting that if it ministered to anyone, it deserves a sterling 5-star review.

[murlough23]

Nah, that would be if they had any real argument beyond, "You're a stupid stinky-head for not liking this album!" As is, they tried to hand me my ass but instead handed me entertainment.

You're right. Getting your ass handed to implies not only an ambush, but a successful one.

(LOL at the use of "stinky" and "my ass" in the same sentence.)

Best part of that is until the flood I was making 16 bucks an hour on average waiting tables. Sometimes as much as 20-25 bucks an hour if we were real busy.

That's what's known as a Funny Aneurysm Moment.

[Brenden]

I couldn't review for a Christian publication for this reason. Too many people expecting that if it ministered to anyone, it deserves a sterling 5-star review.

I keep writing for this one because the editor is a good guy who would rather people be honest than just praise everything. He disagrees with me about the review, but he still defended my writing and in an email to me expressed how funny he found the situation.

I told him, "You're welcome for all the website traffic."

[murlough23]

I told him, "You're welcome for all the website traffic."

Heh. There's no such thing as bad publicity.