28 August 2001
Cynical and Jaded Music Journalism
I've attached a review from the Austin American-Statesman of the recent Counting Crows show in Austin. The show took place before the San Marcos and Huntsville shows that Callie and I saw, although from the setlists I've seen, the shows were very similar -- as one would expect from this offbeat tour that the band is using to try out new material prior to recording it for their new album.
I've reproduced the article because it's yet another variant of the "cynical and jaded" journalism that Andrew has noted frequently in his blog, and it seems cynical and jaded just for the sake of being that way!
Let me just preface my mini-critique by noting that I have enjoyed the shows the Crows have done on this tour (in Texas, and also Reno/Tahoe), and I think they are doing some interesting new things while maintaining the traditional "Crows sound." I realize my taste is not everyone's taste, and some people probably don't like the shows. So I'm trying not to be a typical admiring fan here reacting to a negative review of a band I like.
But I am reacting to a BAD review, not simply a negative review. A review of a live show ought first of all to give the reader some perspective of the show -- what did the band do that was new (lyrically and musically), did they change up the songs from the album versions, WHAT songs did they choose to do, was there a good rapport between the band and audience -- and THEN offer a critique. The best reviews attempt to understand the band as the band understands itself, and then offer analysis.
Unfortunately, all too many reviews are typical of this one: negative, jaded cynicism creeps into every sentence and it's all too clear that the reviewer simply doesn't like the band. Unfortunately, it's a review written almost exclusively for the small minority of people who were: 1) AT the show -- since the reviewer provides no real supporting detail for his negative assertions and 2) Already AGREE with the reviewer that the performance was a dud. The theme seems to be that the show was a real sleeper, but there are no real specifics to back up that complaint (other than negative comments about Mr. Jones, which the band has played acoustic on this tour -- different sounding, but nothing new, and interesting given the instruments used). And in focusing on the the negative, the reviewer neglects even to mention some of the really interesting aspects of the show: Immy playing the mandolin on some of the songs, and Dan picking up a banjo, and Immy doing some pedal steel, and the unique guitar riffs of "Richard Manuel is dead" to name just a few.
I'm not going to go through this horrible review line-by-line, because it's not worth it. But two quick comments: First, I would note that the new song Mr. Corcoran found to be such a snoozer is actually kind of neat -- it's partially about Adam's growing up in El Paso, and yet another illustration of Adam's fascination with Texas. Purely in terms of taste, I LIKE the song. But here's another example of the reviewer's cynicism coming through loud and clear. The Crows have been known to debut songs that become very popular bootlegs, but that never make it onto a commercial cd (or even into future shows) for various reasons. Every new Crows song one hears at a show is potentially one of those songs. To hear Adam sit down at the piano and do a song only a week old that the band hasn't even worked on yet ought to be regarded as a real treat for ANY music fan, and any reviewer, let alone the Crows fans who LOVED the song at the Huntsville and San Marcos shows. To dismiss it like the reviewer did says everything about the reviewer. Second, it's telling that the reviewer actually LIKES Hangin' Around, which is the least substantive (musically and lyrically) song the band has ever released, and which was quite obviously put out so the record label could have at least one pop hit to promote off of This Desert Life.
Here's his crap in its entirety:
"Counting Crows' drowsy set felt like catching zzz"
By Michael Corcoran
American-Statesman Staff
Friday, August 24, 2001
The name on the ticket said Counting Crows, but with singer Adam Duritz wearing pajamas and leading his six-piece band in a musical sleepwalk Wednesday night at the Backyard, they could have been called Counting Sheep. Even the hits from when the band mattered (1994-1994) were delivered in a disoriented state, with "Mr. Jones" stumbling where it once swirled and "Round Here" sounding desperately in need of caffeine. "I wanna be the last thing you hear when you're falling asleep," the dreadlocked one sang on "Catapult," midway through the two-hour set. He almost was.
There were two concerts going on simultaneously: one for the Crow-mags up front, who sang along and waved books Duritz had mentioned in interviews. Then there was the show for those in the back, who yapped as if the band was a radio playing in the background. They seemed to take notice only to cheer the singer's random use of naughty words (which made his lyrics sound so much more, you know, real) or to applaud a familiar intro.
"This is a new song about insomnia," Duritz announced at one point, as if this band needs another song that sounds like it was written in a journal at 5 a.m. Six other new numbers on this between-album woodshedding tour included the uncharacteristically bouncy "American Girls," an unremarkable "Miami" and a song so new that Duritz played it solo on the piano because the band hadn't learned it yet. "A gentleman caller in blue suede shoes," he started, and as he wound his way through the trite "Good Time," you wondered if maybe the band didn't want to learn it.
A semblance of energy came at last during a six-song encore. Then Duritz brought out opening act Stew to trade verses on a spirited "Hangin' Around." It was a delightful way to end the tour's second show, which, although packed wall-to-wall, offered plenty of room for improvement.
Let's hope the Crows will take up where they left off tonight at the Southwest Texas State University Auditorium in San Marcos.
You may contact Michael Corcoran at [email protected] or 445-3652.
[Posted @ 11:11 AM CST]
