Is anyone here playing in a band or doing something which has given them the chance to read reviews of themselves? It's a really odd thing... We did a show on a swedish festival this weekend and they burned me. Apparently I'm not convincing in my act because I do all this "fake angry" faces and "pretend to be pissed off" when I'm speaking so nicely and polite between the songs.

It's weird when people act as if they know you like that. I didn't have no idea that I was faking anything until just now.

Anyone with the similar experiences? Comments?

Well, it is pretty funny and cheesy when you've got a singer who is talking to the crowd like a little indie rocker, and then goes, "This next song is called [INDECIPHERABLE DEATH METAL ROAR!]." Hahaha.

Not saying you're like that, but I can see where someone may make the connection.

From what I see here:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=jWqDt_Zlptk[/youtube]

You look perfectly in place, I mean 100% metal. Also, audience looks pretty convinced. IMO no reason to be upset.

Besides, I've always thought that metal is all about trying to look pissed off. Maybe mr Reviewer isn't very into metal.

It's a strange thing reading reviews of your work. I can totally see people/bands getting confused and overanalyzing of their own work if they got hung up on other peoples opinions. IMO, take everything with huge grains of salt and don't stray from your own vision. Opinions are like assholes.

Learn from The Dev, apparently says he couldnt care less about what others think.

Most people (a.k.a. amateurs) review based on taste, which is wrong, because than you'll never get a decent review, but just a subjective opinion on your music, by someone who could have had a shitty day already.
Devin Townsend is a good example of someone who knows that reviewers, managers, labels, and other 'self-important' people are not the gods everyone says them to be. Ofcourse, bad reviews always sting and will leave you with a shitty taste, but at the end of the day, the audience is the number one important target, when making music. They will react positively if you enjoy your own music, the recordings and gigs.

Btw... what's that jerrycan for? Are you on a diet of gasoline?

Apparently I'm not convincing in my act because I do all this "fake angry" faces and "pretend to be pissed off" when I'm speaking so nicely and polite between the songs.

Well, that`s a matter of taste, isn`t it? Some people want their Metal Musicians always angry, pissed, evil, whatever, even off stage. I, personally, think these guys (look at Black Metal) are quite hilarious and love it when singers start with a nice and polite "Hi guys, we`re *REPLACEbandname* from *REPLACEcountryname*" and then go like "BLOOOOOD KIIIIILL DEATHMETAAAAAL" etc.pp., it`s kind of playing with stereotypes, isn`t it?
Besides, you should just do what`s feeling right to you and give a shit about other`s opinions, at least when it comes to "acting" or behaviour on stage. Most important is the Music, not the image!

Most people (a.k.a. amateurs) review based on taste, which is wrong, because than you'll never get a decent review, but just a subjective opinion on your music, by someone who could have had a shitty day already.

There's no such thing as a objective opinion. They're all subjective!
But reviewers should be informed, open (ie not fucking jaded), and review everything in context.

I'm not a fan of Chuck Klosterman, but he said something a while back that no reviewer has probably ever admitted before. A review will tell you more about the reviewer that it ever will about the subject.

My advice to anyone in a band, avoid reviews. You should keep an eye on your press, make sure that features and interviews don't get cut into hack jobs etc.. but at the end of the day a qualitative review of a gig or an album will come down to how good one dude's experience was. At every gig there's someone bouncing off the walls and other mopey fuckers clinging to it.

And hey, if a criticism is false, meh, it's wrong, ignore it, if it strikes a real nerve... well that's always interesting. aha!

I write reviews because I like articulating my opinions on things. I never really thought of them as anything beyond that :\. I'd imagine reading reviews of your music must be pretty funny and/or angryifying lol

Btw... what's that jerrycan for? Are you on a diet of gasoline?

Yes

...



Thanks everyone. I actually already made peace with it just before i checked out everything written here.

You know I'm just being myself and express my true feelings. When I sing one of the tunes I get full of adrenaline and I work through whatever subject the song is about. It's pretty much primal scream therapy. By the end of the song, when the crowd starts cheering, I feel great. It's like winning a Heavywieght boxing match every third minute.

Excuse me for being so self important. No one's forced to answer.

Cheers!

Btw... what's that jerrycan for? Are you on a diet of gasoline?

Yes

...

Hey maybe Jesus ran on water, us mortals still need gasoline

Gasoline and coffee

It was really strange reading this about my latest cd, it describes the music really good but still it is a very odd thing reading something about yourself



Lugcd008 - Granuloma Inguinale - Garbage Noise - CDR - £2.00
Revolting Dutch noise care of one Dennis Stolk. The title should leave nobody guessing, this is one filthy, trashy and scummy listen. This is not clever at all, rather a total fuck up of screaming feedback and crunchy, rasping walls of mic'd up dustbins. People who enjoy a healthy dose of scummy trash noise will find this a most worthy edition to their collections.

2 Bucks? Where do I get that?

you can get it from me and the label http://www.luggagerecords.co.uk
since you live in the Netherlands as well i think its easier to get it from me