Skimp Your Reviews!

[murlough23]

I don't like Christianity Today's skimpy, one-paragraph review approach that they've been using an nearly every album review this year (save for one or two of the most important ones per week). It feels like they're putting a lot less effort into pointing out the highlights and/or lowlights that may be of significance to readers looking to the review for assistance. (That is why reviews are written, are they not?) Now it reads like more of a brief PR summary, albeit still with a star rating and an overall opinion briefly stated. They don't even bother with the tracklisting in the side bar now.

Your thoughts? Is this bite-size approach more palatable to the average consumer, or are they skimping on content here?

NP: "Something About You", Corrinne May

[Josh]

Without saying too much...

The entire CT Music page is being somewhat retooled, partially due to new financial realities (Russ was laid off, as most of you know) and partially because the two guys who are running it now have a slightly different vision for it than Russ did. I am not sure when the new version of the site will be unveiled, or if these shorter reviews will altogether cease, but I do know that many of the reviews will be full-length ones. I know this because I'm going to be writing some of them.

All that to say: The current incarnation of the CT music page is something of a transition.

[murlough23]

I kind of wondered if it was an issue of being able to pay the writers for longer reviews. Good to know it's hopefully temporary. I just don't think the short format does the artist or the consumer justice.

NP: "Tiny Voices", Joe Henry

[Aaron]

I did not know about Russ.  Bummer for him.

[ajyouthguy]

i HATE the 'capsule summary' reviews of the past few weeks.  CT used to be my primary source for reviews the week they came out, and now i don't enjoy it at all.  i hated that Russ was let go too.  i hope the changes Josh referred to do justice to the site and its usefulness because the skimpy reviews have frustrated me so badly lately.

[murlough23]

LOL. Apparently this country-infused worship compilation is so bad, that the highlights are all found on a completely different album by a completely different band.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/reviews/2009/gloryrevealed2-mini.html

[spacebrat311]

LOL

[bloop]

I'm missing Russ myself.  It'd be cool if allmusic or someone picked him up.

[murlough23]

This isn't really the fault of CT's new skimpy review approach, But  didn't know where else to post it. In one of their skimpy indie reviews I noticed the following image, which tripped my "album cover ripoff" radar:



The review notes John Mayer as an influence. Gee, you think?

[spacebrat311]

LOL

[bloop]

[murlough23]

I thought of starting an "Album cover ripoffs" thread, since this one came to mind as well. Maybe we should do that, if we can come up with others.

Thought to be fair, Third Day's album cover was actually inspired by this:



Which has been around since at least the early 90's, if not longer.

[bloop]

The resemblance is undeniable, though.

It's not coming out better w/ that, though.  So, they took inspiration from something that's even more tacky.

[murlough23]

The resemblance is undeniable, though.

It's not coming out better w/ that, though.  So, they took inspiration from something that's even more tacky.

I'm not arguing that it's a good album cover - just that it didn't rip off Radiohead's.

NP: "Last Exit", Pearl Jam

[bloop]

I'm not arguing that it's a good album cover - just that it didn't rip off Radiohead's.

I don't think showing the stated source for inspiration proves or disproves an unstated one.

[murlough23]

I don't think showing the stated source for inspiration proves or disproves an unstated one.

Oh, for crying out loud. Does everybody in the fucking world rip off Radiohead in your mind?

[bloop]

Oh, for crying out loud. Does everybody in the fucking world rip off Radiohead in your mind?

No.

[murlough23]

Sorry, that was a bit harsh. It's just that sometimes I feel you bring up these CCM bands just so you can lob the same insults at them that we've all already heard (and/or point out how Radiohead did something first). I'm not even really a fan of Third Day any more, so it's not like I have any personal investment here. It's that not everything which looks, sounds, or smells vaguely like Radiohead is necessarily ripping them off. They have their influences, too (and in this case, the tacky "Christian art" existed before their album cover for HTTT, but we wouldn't accuse Radiohead of ripping that off, so let's be fair here).

[bloop]

It's that not everything which looks, sounds, or smells vaguely like Radiohead is necessarily ripping them off.

I'm not saying it's necessarily drawing inspiration from them (to put it in a nicer way than "ripping them off), but I am saying that pointing to a particular source of inspiration doesn't mean another is not a source.  

If they stated unequivocally, "Salvation Mountain was our one and only source, not that Radiohead album", I would tend to believe them - I have no reason not to.  Musically, the bands are obviously quite different.

I would actually doubt Yorke or Donwood would know anything about Salvation Mountain, but it's not impossible (they claim these as inspiration).

[murlough23]

I'm not saying it's necessarily drawing inspiration from them (to put it in a nicer way than "ripping them off), but I am saying that pointing to a particular source of inspiration doesn't mean another is not a source.

It's not hardcore proof of it, but with the main source of inspiration stated by the band, and with Radiohead's stated source of inspiration being entirely unrelated, the simplest explanation is likely the best here. Anyone who's familiar with RH is going to notice the resemblance when they see the 3D cover, but beyond the stacks of words forming what looks like a hill (which is actually a network of streets alongside an ocean in RH's version), there's really no cause to say that 3D took an idea from Radiohead and they just aren't owning up to it. Since they've stated an inspiration, I see no reason to believe there's another unstated one. It could happen, I guess, but it's unlikely and it's a bit of an unfair assumption.

If they stated unequivocally, "Salvation Mountain was our one and only source, not that Radiohead album", I would tend to believe them - I have no reason not to.

That's like insisting that Wilco's album cover for YHF was inspired by the Twin Towers just 'cause they haven't explicitly said it wasn't (even though it's obviously a different set of buildings). I think the latter part of that statement is implicit.

Musically, the bands are obviously quite different.

Which is why I see no reason why that RH album would even be on Third Day's radar, other than RH being a popular band in general. Your typical "indie rock" artist will probably be aware of RH and notice the resemblance, but it honestly wouldn't surprise me if the members of 3D knew squat about RH.

If we're gonna talk about bands that 3D has borrowed from musically without necessarily acknowledging the source, we can start with Pearl Jam and Hootie - but that's a whole other topic.

[bloop]

Wilco indeed ripped off real buildings, but not the twin towers, as they look nothing like them (and Wilco aren't terrorists or psychics as far as I know).  

If faced with a serious accusation, though, it's best to leave little wiggle room in your words.  I don't think the question was ever brought up to the band directly, though.

[murlough23]

Wilco indeed ripped off real buildings, but not the twin towers, as they look nothing like them (and Wilco aren't terrorists or psychics as far as I know).

Ripping off isn't an issue there since it's just a photo of buildings and it's not like those buildings (or the Twin Towers, for that matter) are copyrighted... as least, not as far as I know. It's more an issue of what the artist says is the inspiration vs. what people perpetuate as the inspiration, and being that YHF came out in 2002, people were finding abstract ways to relate just about any art they related to on an emotional level back to 9/11. It was never an accusation that dogged the band, I think, but I've heard the idea discussed more than once, and it would sure be a pain in the butt for someone to say, "Well, Wilco never refuted the Twin Towers connection" as a way to keep that rumor alive when the band had explained what buildings those were.

If faced with a serious accusation, though, it's best to leave little wiggle room in your words.  I don't think the question was ever brought up to the band directly, though.

I doubt the members of 3D have ever had the question about HTTT brought up to their faces, probably because the vast majority of their fans have ever never heard of Radiohead, or on the outside chance that some fans are familiar with the HTTT album cover and think Third Day copied it, they think this is a good think b/c Christian bands are supposed to make Christian copies of mainstream art and therefore "sanctify" it or some crap like that.

[bloop]

Ripping off isn't an issue there since it's just a photo of buildings and it's not like those buildings (or the Twin Towers, for that matter) are copyrighted

The architectural designs are original works, so I'm not so sure about that, legally-speaking.  Still, there is a difference between homage or drawing inspiration, which would openly acknowledge source, and ripping off as we know it. 

So, yeah, we should probably stay away from the words "ripping off" unless it really applies.

[murlough23]

So, yeah, we should probably stay away from the words "ripping off" unless it really applies.

Agreed. I think it's reasonable to note the resemblance and leave it at that.

But there's no mistaking that the John Mayer album was ripped off.

NP: "All We Ask", Grizzly Bear

[Aaron]

Well that was Mayer's worst album so go ahead and rip it off.   

[murlough23]

Well that was Mayer's worst album so go ahead and rip it off.   

That honor should go to Heavier Things, which took the focus off of Mayer's guitar and put it on the glossy production. Not a good choice.

I thought Squares was pretty solid, actually, though genre-wise it's worlds apart from what Mayer's known for now.

(What's Mayer up to these days, anyway? Hosting a variety show or some shit? Come on, dude, new album please.)

NP: "To Wild Homes", The New Pornographers

[NewDimension]

Which has been around since at least the early 90's, if not longer.

Funny thing; it was only a few days ago that I was watching some show about California and the host interviewed the guy who painted that hill.  On a side note: I wouldn't recommend his singing.

[Aaron]

That honor should go to Heavier Things, which took the focus off of Mayer's guitar and put it on the glossy production. Not a good choice.

I thought Squares was pretty solid, actually, though genre-wise it's worlds apart from what Mayer's known for now.

(What's Mayer up to these days, anyway? Hosting a variety show or some shit? Come on, dude, new album please.)

NP: "To Wild Homes", The New Pornographers

oh you're right.


Mayer released a live album this year that he recorded in Los Angeles.  Really good stuff.  2 discs.  1 set of acoustic, 1 set with the John Mayer Trio, and 1 set with his regular album band.

Mayer is hilarious and he can take his time with albums.  Did you ever see that show he did for VH1 a few years ago?  He dressed up in some mascot costume and walked around the parking lot before his show talking to fans and talking crap about himself.  He was also funny and good in the episode of Chappelle's Show.

Honestly,  I'd rather have him record solely with the John Mayer Trio.  That's where is guitar skills are used best.

[murlough23]

That's all fine and well, but new album of new material, please.

[spacebrat311]

The trio is the only worthwhile thing that comes from Mayer, musically.

[murlough23]

I couldn't get into the Trio.

[spacebrat311]

It's pretty classic bluesmanship in my opinion. I really can't stand the syrupy nature of his other releases. It's like listening to a Hallmark card put to music.

[murlough23]

It's pretty classic bluesmanship in my opinion. I really can't stand the syrupy nature of his other releases. It's like listening to a Hallmark card put to music.

Depends on the song. He's written some like "Stop This Train" that I think are rather profound.

[spacebrat311]

I found the lyrics rather clumsy in that song, particularly the first verse, and the message is a bit ham-handed.

[murlough23]

I found the lyrics rather clumsy in that song, particularly the first verse, and the message is a bit ham-handed.

One man's trash.

[ajyouthguy]

As you may have read in last week's newsletter, Crosswalk.com will officially be taking over ChristianMusicToday.com and this newsletter starting in November. We're sorry to go, but we'll still be delivering plenty of music news and articles from Christianity Today here. And we encourage you to stay updated by signing up for our new CT Entertainment newsletter, featuring the latest in music, movies, and TV. Click here to sign up!

i guess that shouldn't be surprising

[murlough23]

That's a bummer - despite the brevity of most reviews, CT's music section was one of the few Christian music sites I actually still found useful. I guess it'll still exist, but Crosswalk is definitely "slumming it" for these guys.

NP: "Spare an Angel", Chris Rice