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Naturally, when you get exposure, it's rather obvious you may expect some
negative feedback from people or critics. I feel music in general has a very weak position in this particular way where other art is being accepted and appreciated on
a different level. Imagine an awful painting getting raving reviews just
because of its intellectual concept while music, because
of its 'entertaining' definition, is quite often the subject of discussion
and criticism.
I don't mind really when one of my albums gets a negative review but I
don't appreciate criticism from some individual whose
own taste or dislike of the genre influences her/his opinion completely.
At least a decent and constructive explanation would be welcome, yet it
still remains so subjective, you hardly can avoid this
or worry about it too much.
- Vidna Obmana: ambient artist
"Why can't you make more albums like... (fill in the blank)?"
- Robert Rich: Soundscape Productions / Amoeba Music
As I said last month, I'm not that concerned with what is said about my
music. I tend to focus on what I get out of creating it, and what comes
after that is so out of my control I don't want to worry about it too
much. Having said that I am annoyed by people who claim to be open
minded, but are not able to lay aside their opinions long enough to try
listening to something new. As for reviews, I've been lucky and haven't
had any real pans yet (I'm sure this comment will bring them on...!),
but I am rather fond of this quote, which refers to Descent and
Djinn..."For me, all this priestliness in the shadows draws a cloying
caul over the sparks of possibility in the music." Nice and
alliterative...by the way, which detergent works best on a cloying caul?
- M. Bentley: the foundry
When I think back on all the things people have said, meaning to criticize
my music -- like "not melodic enough" or "too repetitive" or "where's the
musical content?" or "moves too slowly" or "too much bass" -- I find that I
agree with them.
Not that I agree that these "qualities" are really flaws. I mean, OF
COURSE it's non-musical... moves slowly... doesn't have hummable
melodies... lacks funky beats! So my worst criticisms, the nits that have
been picked by a few reviewers about my music, are in fact intended
components of any minimal ambient music, not just my own.
- M. Griffin: Hypnos Recordings
A reviewer once referred to a song I put on the Voyager compilation as being perfect for a "Stars On Ice" special :-) I laughed out load, it was _so_ funny!
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and that track _does_ sound all
uplifting and new-agey and stuff, so I guess his comment was right on. I just
imagined myself MCing the next Miss America pageant, wearing one of those
glitzy jackets... made me laugh even more!
- John Michael Zorko: AdAstra Records
I tend to hear a lot of sarcastic remarks about "curry house" music, and
such. I know that many people are just turned off immediately by the
Indian/Asian aspects of the music, but I can understand that -- you
either get that sound or you don't. And too bad for you if you don't ;-)
A lot of musicians I know who aren't into the electronic music scene
will often complain that the music's too "tight" or controlled -- that's
a criticism I can understand, and though I don't fully agree with it, it
is something I'm keeping in mind more these days. Trying to let things
flow a bit more, get a better balance between the "locked" and the
"unlocked", as Eno would say.
The most depressing thing is when you get a negative review from some
smartass, and it's obvious that he didn't give more than a cursory
listen to the album. To spend a full year or more working on the music,
and to have somebody take the piss out of it without even giving it a
proper listen, is rather insulting. As someone who also writes reviews
(my dayjob is as a film critic), I feel somewhat justified in making
this complaint.
- Gio: of Makyo
"Lyrics detailing the thoughts of emotionally impotent characters" - LA WEEKLY.
I converted it to a song lyric "emotionally impotent, your words turn shard
and fall" in "The hypocrite is me" on A chaos of desire.
- Sam Rosenthal: Black tape for a blue girl/Projekt Records
I remember a review in the NME said that our first record was "anal
outpourings" and we'd set out to make an unlistenable record. I think
if we'd set out to do that, it would have been a lot easier record to
make. And Nocturnal Emissions usually means penile outpourings; this
suggested to me that the reviewer must have been accustomed to anal
sex. Fair enough.
"Negative feedback" that's bothered me has been when personal remarks
have been made about other members of my group. It bothered me
because they were upset. The chief villains on that score were a
couple of writers at the NME. I know it's the way of a few "music"
papers; they tend to write about "personalities" and they get it
badly wrong.
But what I really dislike is when my music is misrepresented. For
example if it's described in the same terms, or in the same magazines
as the nasty, racist, misanthropic, strain in "industrial" music.
That I don't like.
- Nigel Ayers: of Nocturnal Emissions
A very positive article did manage to rub me wrong when the writer
misquoted me as saying "we use technology to make statements." We don't
have any kind of extra-musical agenda so the suggestion that Lilith has a
"statement" to make is completely misleading. There is a lot of unheard
activity behind the arrangements and sound sources, sure. But nothing
resembling a statement... unless perhaps that statement is: (insert the
sound of an eggshell cracking open from the inside here). Ironically, the
piece that this was in reference to was Imagined Compositions for Water,
which uses source recordings of water exclusively as the sole sound source.
Not incredibly technology-based, eh? But the article was otherwise very
smart and positive, so here I am nitpicking.
- Scott Gibbons: of Lilith
WHERE ARE THE BAND THE GUITARS THE DRUMS ETC[ LAST TIME IN GERMANY
TOURING AGAIN WITH THE PCM DJS ].LIKE I GIVE A SHIT WHAT THEY SAY I DO
IT ALL FOR ME.
PEACE.OUT
- Mick Harris: of Lull, Scorn, etc.
My wife said "I don't like your music"
My parents said "We don't understand your music"
I know.....
- Katsuya Hironaka: Electronician
I don't even think about bad reviews - I forget them!
- lk: (audiochrom)
Not many of these. I honestly can't say that there has been alot of
negative things said about the music I compose. Most of the listeners
are trully devoted to what they choose to listen to.
- Gregory Kyryluk: Alpha Wave Movement/Open Canvas
I think that the worst "negative feedback" I ever received was intended, I
believe, to be destructive, not constructive. The comment was this:
"There's no emotion in your music". These words came from somone who's
opinion I personally respected. This person DIDN'T say "I feel like
there's no emotion in your music"- a "blanket" statement was made under the
guise of "feedback".
My feelings regarding this are mixed. Negative feedback is valuable, no
question. We learn a lot about our music and our feelings about our music
with it. However, I don't have the time/energy in my life to deal with
negativity for the sole sake of being negative, so, with people like that,
I tend NOT to seek their feedback. And when it IS offered unsolicited, I
"consider the source", as they say.
- Jeff Pearce: ambient guitarist
Strangely enough all of the worst, that is, most annoying comments on my
music have come from ignorant critics. Despite being ambivalent about most
reviews a really ignorant comment can be extremely irritating. We have to go
on with our work despite what anyone may say about it, the music is the
important thing.
- Martin Franklin: of Tuu
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