Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?" - Idolator Comments

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

Roger Kaputnik — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:49:00 EDT

I saw Eisley live once at a free afternoon outdoor festival. They're a teen-ish family act: three sisters, a brother and a male cousin. [obligatory pervy comment] And you better believe that the various "Combinations" are all you'll think about!

No seriously, one sister was being kind of bitchy to another (onstage!), while the other sister (the one who plays guitar and doesn't sing) and the two guys just kept plugging away. Can't be eas(il)y, playin' in a family band. Even the most tricked-out tour bus can't have enough bathrooms. (Unless there was, like, a separate bathroom for every passenger, which would probably require bunk beds, and then you're back to Combinations.)

And any discussion of the trials and tribulations of teen-ish family bands just begs the question: Is it Jermaine?

Waiting for the solo careers and "Behind the Music" special,

Earnest Isley

Roger Kaputnik

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

tankboy — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:05:48 EDT

NEWYORKFLAK, that's exactly what I've been doing. And I won't listen to anything that involves me installing software on my computer that the label sends me.

In this case I completely blame labels for their idiocy and feel bad for the publicists, since it only makes their job harder.

tankboy

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

Chris N. — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 19:52:07 EDT

I'll call and raise -- I was recently sent a record as streaming WMA tracks (which I had to fire up my otherwise abandoned six-year-old PC to play) that expired after three plays.

Chris N.

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

joe bananas — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 19:05:49 EDT

To be fair to the publicist who sent me that record, she seemed genuinely embarrassed and frustrated about having to do business that way.

joe bananas

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

joe bananas — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 19:04:24 EDT

As a writer, I actually don't mind getting CDs that have my name burned into the tracks, but any CD that I am unable to put onto my iPod or even play on my computer is useless to me. I am never even going to listen to that, let alone review it.

Here's a worse one: a few months ago I wanted to review the soon-to-be-released second record from a band that had a modest profile but was far from a household name. I was sent said record as streaming WMA tracks that - wait for it! - expired after 10 plays. It should be noted that I was reviewing this album for a legit publication, not, like, my personal blog.

joe bananas

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

Chris N. — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:57:03 EDT

I tried to play my advance of the last John Mellencamp record on five different CD players, and it worked on none of them. It crashed my DVD player and the CD player in my car, which I didn't even think was possible.

Not to mention being repeatedly insulted by publicists' constant reminders that the CD is indeed watermarked and that my name, address and blood type are encoded in it and that if I make a copy or upload it to the internet I can be legally disemboweled under a little-noticed provision in the Patriot Act.

Chris N.

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

NewYorkFlack — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:42:19 EDT

Hiya. I'm a publicist. The indie kind -- I don't work for a record label. But I'm hired by them regularly, and I'm sick of fighting this particular fight, always stuck in the middle.

I don't like watermarked CDs at all. They're a pain in the ass. Pains in the ass are a BAD THING. They're also an INEFFECTIVE pain in the ass, which is worse.

Here's how it ends: writers, stop reviewing things on inconveniently watermarked CDs. Just throw 'em away. Let the interns play hockey with 'em, I don't care. It won't be till y'all, as a group, say "no fucking way" to the watermarks that labels will be forced to come to their senses.

I'm sick of labels thinking old-world, and I'm sick of journalists whining to me about it like I personally did this to them. So, just say no, hacks. The labels need you more than you need them.

NewYorkFlack

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

the rich girls are weeping — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:51:10 EDT

Won't this just sound like the last Eisley record? Just review that.

the rich girls are weeping

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

joshservo — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:47:00 EDT

I think it's high time for a revival of the "Cassette super-glued to the inside of a Walkman" plan that worked so well for "OK Computer." No muss, no fuss.

joshservo

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

loudersoft — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:46:56 EDT

The last thing labels need is more money on A&R.

In the movie Before The Music Dies, Branford Marsalis eloquently explained what an A&R person's job was initially meant to be and, at the same time, said of the modern A&R person, "It's just a useless middleman."

The job of A&R now frequently revolves around travelling to music conferences, reading music blogs and taking "what's hot" to the board room. Been like that for, oh, four or five years now?

loudersoft

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

Vitamin B12 — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:34:55 EDT

@hypnotyza: Develop a what now? I don't get it, is "artist" a new DRM thing?

Vitamin B12

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

hypnotyza — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:31:06 EDT

how 'bout they take some of the loot they're wasting on these watermarked aluminum coasters and put it back into the a&r budget and develop an artist?

naaaaaaaah....

hypnotyza

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

Virgil Tracy — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:23:19 EDT

I can understand some of the more... 'in demand' bands having cd's watermarked. But Eisley? What, their first album sold 500 copies or something. So you can see the kids are going to be all over the file sharing systems looking for the newie. ha ha. And don't those watermarked cd's cost 5 bucks a pop too. so reprise threw away a couple of grand too. Hilarious.

Virgil Tracy

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

sleazysean — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:23:18 EDT

I was given the Spiderman 3 soundtrack in this format and had similar issues. Though it didn't break me up too much.

sleazysean

Music Writer To Record Label: "Would You Like Me To Listen To This Disc Before I Review It?"

loudersoft — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:17:47 EDT

Actually, this is quite helpful. All labels have to do is take the bands that they don't care anything about and start sending out watermarked CD's to people for review. It's a great way to fulfill your contractual obligations to a band while screwing them beyond comprehension. GG, next map.

loudersoft