Mark Turner wrote:
quoted 2 lines Andrew Bennett:
>
> Andrew Bennett:quoted 15 lines *yawn* Now I remember why I don't like Option's reviews. Thesaraus use
> > *yawn* Now I remember why I don't like Option's reviews. Thesaraus use
> > seems to be HIGH.
> >
>
> I agree that this review leaves something to be desired. But my problem
> is not with Option as a whole, but with Sandy Masuo, who wrote this
> review. If you look at the bylines in the latest issue, you will most
> likely agree with me that Masuo is the worst of Option's critics. All
> of his reviews are TOTALLY subjective, and lack any sort of reference
> points for people familiar with the genre of music he's talking about.
> It's almost like he slaps on a record, jots down some impressions while
> he's listening to it, and then he's DONE, and on the next record...
> I think this does a grave disservice to those of us who have to PAY
> for our music, and want a more objective perspective. Just MHO.
>
Yet even the worst of Option's reviewers, in all their pretentiousness, can
beat out the best of Alternative Press. Almost all of the time I see an AP
IDM review, they make some vague references to how <artist's name here>
makes such wonderful use of 70's Germanic electronics, and oh, isn't this
just a wonderful adaptation of Klaus Schulze... ad nauseum. They have no
conception of the individuality of IDM artists, and thus seem to be of
little help in picking records. I'd much rather hear some
stream-of-consciousness rambling about how a piece of music makes the
reviewer feel - at least this brings things to a personal level with respect
to the artist. Oh well... I stopped reading AP about 8 months ago - now I
just go to the record store, and look at their nifty "upcoming releases"
charts, which are now becoming less and less complete and more confused...
and peruse Option for the reviews. Perhaps they (AP) have improved? (I'm an
optimist today...)
------------------------------------------------|------------------------------
"categories strain, crack, and sometimes break | Harvey D. Thornburg
step out of the space provided" -NWW | hthornbu@osiris.ac.hmc.edu
------------------------------------------------|----------------------------