Monday, December 16, 2013

Why Comparisons and Expectations Ruin Music, Part II

Earlier I wrote an article called, “Why Comparison and Expectations Ruin Music.” This is a part II to that article, because I realized that I had a few more things to say concerning that subject. In the previous article I stated how comparing a band to other similar bands can change your perspective on how you perceive what you’re listening to, and also how expecting that a band will sound like one thing will disappoint you when it sounds even slightly different. This article is a revisiting of that second point, as well as some new ones.
Often when a critic reviews an album, he will have a certain idea of what the feel and sound of the album will be, based on any previous work that group may have released. But sometimes if the new album that he is reviewing does not sound like anything that band has done before, the critic will give the album a negative review based on the lack of similarity, instead of the actual quality of the album. I have seen this done before many times. Often the change will not even be a good one, but this should be touched on as a fact instead of as a comparison to previous material. Sometimes bands will pull off slight changes in their sound that give it more variety while still maintaining their original sound, but other times the change will be so different as to almost sound like a totally different band. An example of this is the album “The Effects of 333” by the group Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC). Prior to this release, the band had been an indie/garage rock band, but “The Effects of 333,” was not even recognizable as a BRMC record. It was made up entirely of guitar effects and ambient noise, and was rejected by even some of the most hardcore fans of the group. Listening to the album, it is apparent that the band should have released the album as a side project, or under a different name. However, instead of comparing it to previous albums the group had released, it should be reviewed as it sounds. Granted, it is by no means a unique record when compared to other drone or post rock albums (a genre which “The Effects of 333” could possibly fit into), and is rather boring, but this is a better perspective to have on the album than as a BRMC release. Even if it itself is not a good album, it should be considered with a blank and accepting perspective to start with.

The opinions of the critics and reviewers themselves can also hurt one’s perspective of the music. If you read a review or description of the album, this will have an effect on you as a listener where you will expect certain things about the album, whether good or bad, that can often ruin what could have been an accepting reception of the music. But instead let the person did not form their own opinion. This is why I generally stay away from sites like Pitchfork and Sputnik Music, where every album I’ve ever loved is up for criticism from people who do not share my tastes, and have their own ideas about what the music should sound like. Too many times have I visited such a site and looked up a review for one of my favorite albums, only to find a reviewer criticizing faults I didn’t even realize the music had and thus forever scarring my perception of it.