Written by:
Thursday, August 30, 2007 

There are, of course, a multitude of various publications and online sources all vying for your attention when it comes to reviewing the latest album releases. Obviously, CLUAS is your first port of call, not least for the exceptional standards of critiquing on display. If, however, you happen to seek a second opinion, you can expect some of the following. Oh, and all while all the names below are figments of Key Note’s imagination, it unreservedly apologises for any offence caused if you happen to share that persons/bands name.

Singer Songwriter Positive Review

‘While Paddy Casey’….I mean ‘While Padraic Kirwin eschews the spirit of Nick Drake and others of his ilk, one can’t help but get the impression, especially on album opener Mojo Pinball, that the ghost of Jeff Buckley rests heavily on his shoulders.’ If the singer songwriter happens to be Irish, you can expect something along the lines of ‘Kirwin’s falsetto vocals and sparse guitar, particularly on the rarely covered Leonard Cohen classic, Hallelujah, reminds the reviewer of the passionate subtleties of a pre 9 Damien Rice.’

Singer Songwriter Negative Review

‘Another in the long line of singer songwriters to emerge with a guitar and a broken heart is Brian Merlehan. A pale impression of Jeff Buckley, Merlehan has the singer songwriters full repertoire of teen-angst, lost love and woe is me three chord tricks.’ If the troubadour is Irish, the reviewer will tend to throw in: ‘Damien Rice and the gazillion selling O have a lot to answer for.’

Band

If a reviewer likes a band, and that band happens to have a keyboard, then an absolute must in music critiquing is to compare them to Joy Division/New Order. If you don’t like the band, and they happen to have a keyboard, then it is equally acceptable to compare them to New Order/Joy Division.

Likewise, if your band has a piano you’re the new Coldplay/Chris Martin, this again can be both a positive and negative comparison. Irish bands tend to be compared with Whipping Boy (for successfully being accepted by both the indie crowd and the music press), Snow Patrol (for making dull, pretentious stadium rock) and U2 (for having a really short front man).

Finally, if you’re from Liverpool then you were obviously influenced by The Beatles, even if you are a 76 piece A Capella Punk collective.

So, that is Key Notes observations on the Irish music journalists take on The Album Review. Have you noticed any recurring themes the reviews you have read? 

Trackback Print

Tags:

Categories:

Location: Blogs Key Notes