Something that seems to be about one thing, but is really about the "big picture"

I have realized that it has been a long time since I actually wrote something and all that has been on here are pictures. While I am OK with that, it seems like this is more of a photo journal than a “blog,” and words every now and then are required to keep on the “blog” status.

I hate that word so so so so soooooo much.

I didn't edit this, because it is 4:15 in the morning.

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Up until this past February, I found all music reviews to be completely irrelevant and utterly pointless; now that I am trying to someday secure a job by writing record reviews, my position has kind of shifted. When I first sarted interning at PRICK, I was obsessed with the new Lemuria record, so it seemed only fitting that when they asked me if I had anything I wanted to review to write a short, overly positive review, of their new record for a publication that has over 10,000 copies in circulation. Lemuria is one of my favorite bands right now, and some of the best people I have ever met in this scene, so why not try to help them sell some more records and help get out to a new audience? This is when I realized that record reviews should not be about bashing bands or flexing your brain with overt and inane adjectives, but to help people find the music that you love. From then I took the position that I would only write reviews for records that I found to be extraordinary, with the one exception being Abel Baker Fox’s new record (at the time, there were no records that I wanted to review, and that was the only record that had been released in the past month that I could find something positive to say about).

In the April 2008 issue, my editor asked me if I could do two record reviews, and since Tin Armor’s new 7” had just been released, I gladly obliged. I absolutely love this record, and Matt O’Conkee and company are some of my favorite people; I literally get EXCITED about seeing them play. I wrote a short review about their four song 7” from an objective point of view (meaning I didn’t say the previous couple sentences) but still tried to convey how awesome I think this record is. Within the review, I tried to assert the honest nature of the band, which I think is one of their main selling points, and in doing that, I wrote the following sentences: “Tin Armor don’t care if anyone likes them or not, and don’t care to break new ground with their music. They are simply going to play exactly what they want, and sing about what is important to them, regardless of whether the final product is any good.”

I sent the guys a link to the review, because, I mean, they are my friends (as good as friends bands can be) and I thought they would be stoked to have a good review in a pretty widly read publication. And while they seemed to be pretty appreciatve, Matt Umland (the singer and one of the guitar players) wrote me back saying that he appreciated the review and was glad I liked the record, but found some of the review disturbing, and, more specifically, the aforementioned line. He asked me not to make presumptions about his band and that they DO want to break new ground and DO care whether anyone likes them or not.”

Now, obviously, I wasn’t literally saying that they don’t care if anyone likes them or that they just want to play tried and true boring music. No band is interested in that. I thought what my point was that they are honest musicians who strive to make the best of the music they want to make. I sent Matt back a message apologizing that my review irked him the wrong way and tried to explain my rhetoric. I mean, why would I write a postive review about a record I didn’t like?

I suppose what troubles me the most about all of this is that Tin Armor didn’t send me a copy of the 7” to review; I bought a copy on my own accord and wrote the review without any initiation from the band because I LOVE Tin Armor. In the little over a year since I have known them, they have been incredible people to me (especially Matt O’Conke…the drummer) and I am just really bummed out that, while trying to do something nice, I sort of got chewed out. Whats more is that I feel like the next time I see Matt Umland, he will look at me differently, and that I don’t “get” his band or something.

I suppose that is sort of the dichotomy or writing…no matter how honest you are to yourself and everyone around you, to at least one person, you are going to be completely wrong.

Here is a link to the review for you to read and to decide for yourself if it is presumptuous, or overtly negative: http://www.prickmag.net/review_tinarmor.html