[PKfanSteph]

Whenever I read reviews in magazines like CCM or Christian Musician, all I read are glowing words of praise without even the slightest hint of criticism. Has anyone else noticed this?

I guess what I'm wondering is, if saying nothing about a mediocre release, or whitewashing it's flaws is really good for the artist or the readers? I've grown up, like many people, hearing "if you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything", but isn't there a flaw here? Constructive criticism is how we as musicians, website designers--and people in all walks of life, realize there is something we need to improve. How else do we grow but to learn from our mistakes?

I'm not talking Simon Cowl type rude here, but every review I read leaves me with the impression that "this is the best CD you'll ever hear", but when I go out and buy it, I find that it isn't. I know reviews are subjective, but reviewers can't possibly love every single CD they get. That makes me wonder about their integrity as a critic. Reviews are designed to help people decide what CD/DVD/whatever to spend their hard-earned money on, but in the CCM world, it seems to me the truth is being whitewashed, either by not publishing a critical review, or omitting details that might keep someone from buying it. I know as Christians we are charged with always building people up, but isn't it possible to be honest and still do that? I mean I've had people criticize me, in love, for something I've done wrong, but still leave me feeling positive about future progress. (It's a art form in itself, but it can be done!)

There's a reason I'm exploring this, and here it is: A while back I reviewed a project by Phil Keaggy. I've often been accused of being too biased or glowing in my reviews because of the obvious connection. I have always tried to be honest, and this time was no exception. There was one aspect of the recording that wasn't quite up to his usual high standards--it was still very well done, but not as well as usual. I made this clear in my review. I also made it clear that despite the flaw, I absolutely loved the project (which is true!) and think it should be an essential part of any PK collection, but I still took a lot of heat from fans for being "too critical". I never published it on my fan website and since then, it has been bugging me. Phil is a friend, and I don't want to give him any "bad press", but do I also have a responsibility to his fans to honest?

One more thought...should releases be judged on the quality of the artist's previos work, or according to the entire spectrum of music, or both?

What do you think? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[Insane Drummer]

I think a critic who isn't critcal should try to find a new job, if anything I think you need to point out the flaws in a project, but not dwell so much on them it overshadows anything good about the project.

I think an album should be judged as a single project, and also in context of the other works by the same artist.

[Andrew]

I think you should be totally honest about reviewing albums. For example, if I am reviewing a Point of Grace, or Avalon CD, I will say, this music is decent for what these artists have set out to do, but I do not personally like this style of music.

And as far as judging by context, I think you should do both. For example, FFH was totally great up until Have I Ever Told You came out. But then, in context of their previous CDs, that album was the final straw. It was their eighth album, and it sounded exactly like every single previous album. There was no musical maturity being exhibited.

[mtlmouth]

I think that reviewers should be honest. Albums should be compared to the predecessors, because then people know what to expect. If you're reviewing, say, Newsboys "Adoration", it would be worth a mention that the CD isn't filled with creative and fun lyrics like "Cap'n Crunch is waving farewell", because otherwise people will expect that.
But I personally think that they always pick a reviewer that likes the type of music being reviewed. Check the by-lines, I bet it's not always the same person.

[thelitguy]

http://www.christianitytoday.com/mus...esongbook.html

There is a link to just one of the many negative Christian reviews I've read.

It is usually only found when actually talking about good artists. I think it goes along with that "Everything in CCM is nice" and "Everything rock is not nice".

[Jonular]

Originally Posted by thelitguy

http://www.christianitytoday.com/mus...esongbook.html

There is a link to just one of the many negative Christian reviews I've read.

I think Christianity Today is the most "negative" Christian reviews websites I have found to date.

Of course, there's CMCentral.com and jesusfreakhideout.com, on the other spectrum. Michael Janke, the guy running CMCentral right now, aside from rare exceptions, gives pop CCM CDs 80%+ ratings. He'll mention things like "Sure, they might be generic, but..." sometimes, but it doesn't seem to sway his opinion at all.

John from jesusfreakhideout.com tends to give all the albums a higher rating than they should ever deserve. Probably not quite as much as Janke, but he rarely mentions anything that's actually bad about the album. Unless, of course, one of the artists is known to swear or something.

There's another website that never gives people under a four star because the artists are Christians. I'm not even giving you the adress to that joke of a website.

~Jon

[Jonodude]

Originally Posted by thelitguy

http://www.christianitytoday.com/mus...esongbook.html

There is a link to just one of the many negative Christian reviews I've read.

How odd. I was going to post that review.

Anyway, I find reviews to be almost totally useless, at least for me. I either a) have a band I like and know that I'll like what they put out, or b) check out a new band by listening to some clips online. I only depend on my own tastes to decide what I like and don't like, and that's why I usually do a lot of "research" before I spend my money on bands I'm not familiar with.

However, I remember a letter sent in to CCM magazine that was featured in a certain issue once, where someone told of how album reviews really are important to him because of living in a foreign country where getting CD's from the US is a hassle. I don't remember the letter in full, but the main point was that reviews really were a guide to what music he bought, because when obtaining music is hard to do, you only want to end up with what you're sure you'll like, and that's why it is important for a review to be objective and not avoid mentioning the "cons" of the album. It'd be no fun at all to go through the process of importing an album to find that you didn't like it.

So yes, I believe that "constructively criticizing" or "saying the truth in love" as you said it is very important, for the musician and for the buyer. After all, isn't that what a review is for? To aid the consumer in his purchase, and not for making fans of the band feel good?

[Jeffrey]

Of course criticism of the art of fellow believers should be honest. Never harsh or mocking (of course, we shouldn't be that way about non-believers either), but in love. However, if we do not write critically honest reviews, we risk giving the world the perception of nepotism and blind devotion that strips us of artistic merit and forces us to attach the name of Christ to meager offerings again and again.

[lizwrenne]

yes, and i think that while they should promote christian artists, they should also be honest. so if there is an album out there that really stinks, they should say it, just not in those terms. it's kinda like the teacher who gives everyone a's because he doesn't want to offend anyone, or ruin their self-esteem.

[Skeeter]

The Bible calls us to honesty. Constructive and honest criticism should be the goal of any Christian music critic.

[Role Modlin]

Hey....if I write something that sucks, I hope someone will be honest enough to tell me that it sucks.

[Insane Drummer]

Originally Posted by Lee Modlin

Hey....if I write something that sucks, I hope someone will be honest enough to tell me that it sucks.

All your posts suck.



Sorry, couldn't resist.

[iAMspartacus]

I know i have been personally disappointed with many christian artist CDs but have read "great" reviews on them.

Let's not forget that lots of reviews can also be something like this:

"Like (secular artist), (secular artist), and (secular artist)? Then you should go check out (CCM artist). They offer the same great music but with a better message. Check out these songs (song by CCM artist) and (song by CCM artist). They are really encouraging...etc."

In other words. Sometimes some CD reviews aren't really reviews at all.

please don't hate me...

[Role Modlin]

Originally Posted by Insane Drummer

All your posts suck.



Sorry, couldn't resist.

So do cowbells.....

[DreamChaser]

Heya,

Of course CCM music reviews should be honest, just like practically everything else. Why should CCM be an exception?