This thread discusses the Content article: Barcelona: Absolutes

I'd like to give kudos to Ms. Dunn. As barcelona's manager, I've never responded to a review. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I respect opinions even if they don't speak highly of a client's work.

However, I'm confused at what role exactly Ms. Dunn is attempting to portray - a journalist or perhaps someone that knows anything about music, or maybe some combination of the two?

If she's attempting to convince anyone that she's a journalist, then I would highly suggest one key thing for her to add to her "to do" list: fact check. Ms. Dunn, do yourself and your readers (granted, I'm guessing there aren't many) a favor and do a little research. I'm guessing that it's probably fairly imperative in music journalism to get the lead singer and primary songwriter's name right. Especially since his name is ALL over the band's bio. It's Brian. Not Justin. In fact, there's not even a Justin in the band. Moreover, there's no one in the band that has a name that starts with J. Actually, if you just called all the members "Brian" you'd only be wrong on half of them.

Also, if you're going to pretend to know something - anything - about music, you should at least get the easier facts right and just not venture into more complex issues. For instance, there are only 2 songs on the record that have effects on Brian's vox. "Stars" and "Numb".

"Throughout absolutes, special effects are added to Fennell's vocals that almost compare to other pop singers that distort their voices in recordings. It leaves the listener asking if the vocalist can really sing." Again, research. Maybe look up some live footage that's available all over youtube.

"The melodies are sad, and the words are that much more so."
"...by uplifting the spirit as opposed to wallowing in existential angst."

Ms. Dunn, did you read any of the lyrics at all?? Maybe you only listened to "First Floor People" which is about losing loved ones or "Please Don't Go". But I think everyone can relate to those emotions... unless you're a robot, or you just don't know the feeling of loss.

If you just spent a few moments reading the lyrics, you would find hope all over the album. "Get Up, Get Up, Get Up" and "You Will Pull Through", although haunting and slow, are written from a very uplifting point of view. Even the title alone of "You Will Pull Through" should tell you that maybe there's something more to it in the "uplifting" arena. In fact, let me help you out here. Here's an excerpt from "You Will Pull Through":

I’ve separated my life from truth
This cold air taste real
I’ve stumbled back
I’m back
My lamp is almost burned
Reminds me of your eyes
When you calmly said

We’ve no more space
For all your tired and dirty past
And I believe it all to be true
Beyond this time, you’ll pull through

Is this your definition of "sad" and "depressing"... for a song to suggest that, regardless of what your past is, there's hope that you can overcome it? Perhaps your life comes without the regret of bad decisions?

Or if that isn't enough, listen to the light-hearted, catchy "Colors" or "It's About Time".

"The melodies are similar in each of the cuts, which is disturbing." Not only have you shown me and whoever else might read this review that you can't research or fact-check, you can add to the list the fact that you don't even know what a melody is.

Again, I don't care if you don't like the record. We have enough positive press from legit sources, so having a negative review on this site doesn't exactly stack up to much. In fact, I told our publicist to ignore sites like this in the future mailings we do. But again, regardless of whether or not you liked the record, do everyone a favor and spend some time fact checking and knowing about the subject so you at least come across as a competent critic.

bj

For someone who "respects opinions" and "doesn't care if we like the record," you certainly had a lot of angry things to say about Mary's review.

The facts that were wrong in the review, we'll all cop to. It was an egg-on-our-faces mistake, and a bad one. But it happens. Even the most widely-circulated publications in the world make their share of mistakes. It's the nature of the medium that things move so fast that some things get missed along the way.

But I take strong issue with the tone of your post, which I'd have to categorize as nothing less than angry and cruel. That's simply uncalled for, and certainly doesn't fall in line with the kind of professionalism that you expect from us, and thereby lay claim to on your own behalf.

I gotta side with Olin on this one. We covered this same disc at Stereo Subversion and the review was just not good and not representative of the disc at all, even opinions aside.

I think there's a right to be upset when someone speaks openly about something in such an off-centered way. It misrepresents and there's a responsibility for the critic (of any type) to respect the artist enough to do it justice. Missed facts, completely wrong judgments (not just opinion based), a failure to read lyrics...

The whole thing simply boils down to "I didn't pay attention to this disc, but I'm telling you all about it anyway." I think if it were a person, he/she would be justified in crying foul and would call it slander. Should be just the same in this world - the responsibilities are on both sides of the fence for the artist and the critic.

Matt, don't confuse "crying foul" with being insulting and vindictive.

I have no problem with that first part.

It's unfortunate that Robin is getting anger confused with pointing out some basic facts, albeit with some vigor. And I think it's humorous that he spins getting blatant things wrong (like band member names and basic musical knowledge) on being the "nature of the beast" type of argument. Isn't there some sort of screening process when hiring a critic? I was merely pointing out that if anyone (Mary Dunn in this case) was striving to be a journalist, than she should start with some core fundamentals (ie, fact checking, researching, gaining some basic and truthful knowledge on the subject she's covering). Not doing so simply portrays her as incompetent.

Matt's right. There was NOTHING, and I mean nothing in that review that led me to believe that she spent any length of time on the album. That should be a basic courtesy given to any artist you're reviewing.

Apparently pointing out that someone is obviously unqualified to do their job is insulting. As Matt pointed out, stereo subversion wrote a not-so-favorable review of the album as well. But they, unlike this site, got the facts right, which at least gives me the impression that they spent the needed time on it which at the very least means they extended respect our way.

bj

Since this was my article, perhaps I should respond. Let me articulate that I don't feel I have to justify my writing in any way. However, since I no longer am a part of Infuze, simply because I don't fit in, I feel I can now respond without hurting the publication further, because I am no longer a part of it.

We are entitled to freedom of speech in America, at least that is what I thought. Not everyone is going to like everything or agree with everyone's thoughts. I am a writer and an artist. I have writen for a major newspaper, and several online publications. My husband is a musician. Believe me, it took everything for me to write this article. I struggled for several weeks, and I had several people, including my musician husband listen to this album. I wanted to be sure what I was hearing was indeed correct. I did research it and even contacted your PR person to find out more about the lyrics and the audience the album was geared toward. I did receive the lyrics, but never a response on the audience.

I don't care for the record, but my review was not to offend. When my husband's band gets a bad review, they look to see why it happened within themselves only to make it better. A musician should indeed strive toward becoming better. Unless they are Barcelona because they are already great!

My comment about the distortion to the voices...it is true...whether one song or the entire album, it is distorted, and to me that absolutely sucks in a musicians efforts. That means anyone can sing a song, even myself, and I do not have a musical voice.

Secondly, if you are appealing to a younger audience, as I am assuming you are, they do like this music...my daughter was very upset with my review because she did like the album, but quite frankly, I was depressed after I listened to this album. Is that what younger folks want these days? Depression lyrics and music..then you will throw them over the edge...for that you have kudos. Isn't our world filled with enough depressed thoughts and deeds? Do we need it in our music as well? I don't think music should be a downer. It should fill the soul with an uplifting sound.

As you pointed out BJ, one song, "Colors" is uplifting...wow!

If the lyrics are to inspire then why can't one understand them? I sure couldn't even after reading them.

It is only one review, one that eliminated me from Infuze, and consequently should put a smile on your face. Constructive criticism should be taken positively, not destructively. I said in the article that many fans would be upset.

And, Matt, just because you liked it doesn't mean everyone else has to enjoy the music. Maybe people are just to afraid to voice the opinion that was similar to mine...For heavens sake the manager will nail you to the cross if you do! And to say such a negative comment, coming from you, I am surprised. I have more experience than all of you put together. I may not be a "writer" in your eyes or judgement, but I have written for many, and believe me, I have been through it all without this type of nonsense. I would never comment on your so called writings in such a negative manner. It is commonplace to stick up for one's own. I sure don't belong in this genre. I must dust the shoes from where I walked.

A writer should be allowed to express themselves, and I am sorry you don't see it that way.

A musician...Barcelona and the management has expressed themselves quite clearly that they are, and so have I quite the opposite thought. Believe me, if you want to grow, you will need to grow up and not be so offended by one article. You have a lifetime of these kinds of things happening.

You expressed yourself in the album, why did my expression take on such rage?
Perhaps I am not the only person you have rage for. In my research I found that another band by the name of Barcelona is offended by the fact that you are using their name. I didn't feel that necessary to put in the article because I was reviewing the music and not the legalities of Barcelona and a trademark or copyright infringement issue.

A few final points, after the edit, the name Justin got into the article somehow. I never used the name Justin in my original article.

You say I do not have knowledge of writing. MMMM. I say you aren't a very good manager either. A manager would not take such an approach as you have done. If you were a true manager/leader, you would take it in stride.

You don't know me to make such an evaluation just as I don't know you. So, I would take some advice and don't dish it out if you can't take it.

Post edited by: mary_d, at: 2007/11/09 16:30