Step One: is the band any good? Say so.
Step Two: does the band have an interesting back story? Ignore it.
Step Three: is the band male? Probably not worth listening to.
Step Four: does the band sound like 1,000 other bands? Really? Are you sure? Don't believe you.
Step Five: what sort of music does the band play? Worked it out yet? Good, ignore it.
Step Six: is the band in favour with any of the sites/mags currently in vogue? Yes? Time to get out the scissors.
Step Seven: does the band claim that "It's all about the music and if anyone else likes it, it's a bonus?" Bin them.
Step Eight: does the band sound like Radiohead? Bin them.
Step Nine: does the band look like Radiohead? Bin them.
Step Ten: is the band Radiohead? Bin them.
Steps 11-50,000: is the band any good? Say so.
IMO It's just as lame to like a band for BEING female as it is to like a band for NOT BEING female. Though it's nice when people are willing to give a female (or other disenfranchised) voice a listen.
ReplyDeleteThis is key.
ReplyDeleteJoseph
Erika, I wasn't saying that you should praise a band for being female. Just that you should be very wary if they're male.
ReplyDeleteSo a male band is a kind of a red flag for a music critic? I admit, I tend find the all male lineups less interesting, especially if they are also all young, clean, and pretty.
ReplyDeleteI like to think of writing about bands as thinking of them as potential dates and asking 'would I ask this woman out?' and listing the reasons why or why not.
ReplyDelete(from Facebook)
ReplyDeleteRichard Dutton
hahaha any chance of a review of our new tracks ? www.myspace.com/richardduttonmusic
11 February at 11:31 ·
Everett True
1. You don't sound like Radiohead. 2. You're not female. 3. You sound like plenty of other bands. 4. The music is just fine. Melodic, discernibly Mancunian and with a soupcon of attitude. 5. 6.67
11 February at 11:58 ·
Everett True
Sorry, 6.1
11 February at 11:59 ·
Everett True
I mean 6.2, of course. (Damn, this attaching a numerical value to music thing is trickier than I thought.)
11 February at 11:59 ·
Emma Pollard
Damn it, you just reminded me I have a deadline.
11 February at 12:07 ·
Everett True
can I suggest thinking up the mark in advance?
11 February at 12:08 ·
Richard Dutton
Im from Grimsby haha - Great stuff 6.2 will do for me!
11 February at 12:18 ·
Richard Dutton
It was produced by Boz Boorer ( Guitarist for Morrissey/Polecats).. We off to record some more bits with him again in april, keep an ear out for us mate.. Will aim for a 5.6.67 ! haha
11 February at 12:23 ·
Tim Footman
Oasis sound(ed?) like 1,000 bands, 950 of which started off sounding like Oasis.
11 February at 12:33 ·
Richard Dutton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXld7yKdkBs
11 February at 12:37 ·