99% of their album reviews are either 7/8 out of 10. The other 1% are 6/9. What's the fucking deal? How is this useful to anyone? Or is it some statement about the subjectivity of music criticism, giving everything the same middling to high mark to highlight that everything is good in it's own way? I call bullshit.
Is this a trend? Are reviewers so scared to speak up when they think something is truly terrible? More likely is that people won't criticise a vaguely positive review whereas a negative review is a fine balancing act with public image for these sites. For example, the first online review for Radiohead's "The King Of Limbs" by a major publication was a one listen stream of thought blurt by Tim Jonze of the Guardian, proclaiming it a bland affair from a band going through the motions. This was met with nothing but hostility leading the way for a legion of middling to high reviews from other journalists. Spare me.
The one review I did find below 6 on spin (but only stretching to a 5) was for the new Cold War Kids album. Yes, apparently they're still around. I went to see them in Glasgow on monday and was truly shocked that a band I previously thought was a hobbling one hit wonder outfit still had such a large and loyal fan base. All around me was a mob of giddy fans, singing along and praising these four weedy looking men. Pretty soon I started to feel like an Atheist in a catholic church... As they reeled off song after song from the new album, I couldn't help notice a glaring similarity appear. Those bland melodies... That inoffensive verse bridge chorus repeat... ah ha! Kings of Leon! Sure enough, the producer of their new turd of an album is the same man responsible for Kings of Leon's last two turds of albums. Lovely. Jacquire King, you're ruining bands. Stop it.
Despite the audience's blind lapping up of everything that the Kids sent their way, it was quite telling that the biggest cheers and, frankly, far superior performances came from the older songs in the back catalogue such as Hang Me Up To Dry, We Used To Vacation and Hospital Beds. Amidst the bland newer material these songs hinted at the one thing that had made Cold War Kids an interesting outfit back in '06, the raw production. Unfortunately for them, that doesn't translate so well to the Garage in Glasgow... I did feel a well and truly obnoxious sense of superiority on leaving the venue, overhearing many uninformed Glaswegians proclaiming it the best concert they've ever been to. Yeah, I'm a dick... but I'm also right. Suck it, bitches.
This reminded me how much I hate audiences... yet I keep going to concerts? Hmm. Maybe the audiences at Primavera will be more bearable? Unlikely.
Last thing. Lighting at gigs is really shit. Almost always. If I had my way, all lighting at concerts would be solely white.
At least we won't understand half the audience at Primavera, they'll be talking shite about music in Spanish.
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