You are not logged in. Please register or login.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
Re: The Black Crowes
Black Crowes Say Maxim Review a Fraud
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Black Crowes are lashing out at Maxim magazine for reviewing the band's new album '” apparently without actually hearing it first.
The review, published in Maxim's March issue, gives the Crowes' "Warpaint" a rating of two-and-a-half stars out of five.
"The writer '” who has not heard the album since advance CDs were not made available '” wrote what appears to be a disparaging assessment anyway, citing, `it hasn't left Chris Robinson and the gang much room for growth,'" said a statement on the band's official Web site.
The band's manager, Pete Angelus, said the magazine explained that its review was an "educated guess."
"It speaks directly to the lack of the publication's credibility," Angelus said in a statement. "In my opinion, it's a disgrace to the arts, journalism, critics, the publication itself and the public. What's next '” Maxim's concert reviews of shows they never attended, book reviews of books never read and film reviews of films never seen?"
A representative for the magazine would not confirm or deny to The Associated Press whether the writer actually listened to the album. Instead, Maxim released this statement in response: "Maxim will continue to provide our readers with information that is important to them, whether it is about fashion, lifestyle, technology, music, movies and more."
"Warpaint," the band's first album in seven years, is set for release March 4. The blues-rock group, fronted by Chris Robinson, has released only one song from the disc, "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution."
The band's hits include "Hard to Handle" and "She Talks to Angels."
Re: The Black Crowes
Maxim Apologizes to Black Crowes
NEW YORK (AP) -- Facing more criticism over rating albums without listening to them, Maxim magazine maintains it was previewing CDs in its March issue, not reviewing them, and the mistake was to include star ratings.
Maxim editorial director James Kaminsky told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the magazine had erred in presenting unreleased albums by The Black Crowes and Nas as reviews and judging them with stars.
"I will be the last person to mince words here: This is a mistake," Kaminsky said. "It's a mistake that won't happen again, but it's not a mistake that appears in other parts of (the magazine's entertainment section). ... There should be no blurry line between what's a preview and what's a review."
The fiasco started last week when the Crowes posted a statement on their Web site lashing out at Maxim for publishing a negative review of their new album "Warpaint" by a writer who hadn't listened to the full disc. The assessment said: "They sound pretty much like they always have: boozy, competent, and in slavish debt to the Stones, the Allmans, and the Faces."
The band said such a verdict '” two-and-a-half stars out of five '” was impossible since advance copies of the CD, out next Tuesday, weren't made available.
Kaminsky issued a statement apologizing to readers for the write-up and wavering from the magazine's policy of only rating albums that have been heard in their entirety.
Tuesday's mea culpa wasn't enough for the Crowes' manager, Pete Angelus, who later responded that Maxim was doing "self-serving damage control."
"It comes as no surprise that Maxim has elected to apologize to their readers now that the world has been informed of their deception; however, that is not full accountability," Angelus said Tuesday.
In his interview with the AP, Kaminsky officially apologized to the Crowes '” and again, to the readers. He said that to his knowledge, this was the first time Maxim had rated an album in a preview, under the heading "Playlist."
"We have often run previews, which are based on the fact that an album is coming out ... but (those in the March issue) should not have had star ratings attached to (them)," he said. "There was a bit of a breakdown that led to that happening and I'm looking into it and, as I've said, we've already put measures in place to ensure that that will not happen again."
Rapper Nas told Wednesday's New York Post that he was surprised that Maxim had given his unfinished album 2 1/2 stars. His representative said it has not been played for anyone, but the "preview" in Maxim described some of the music as "downright radio friendly."
Jason Fine, executive editor of Rolling Stone magazine, said its magazine reviewed the Crowes' "Warpaint" only after listening to it: "We never review a record without hearing the whole thing."
Fine said magazines are hitting roadblocks nowadays since full albums are being held from reviewers because of piracy concerns.
"It's becoming more and more difficult for publications ... to review records because the big records are the most difficult ones to get," he said. "The record labels are increasingly worries about leaks."
Sean Fennessy, associate music editor for Vibe magazine, agreed. Fennessy said Vibe reviewers often attend label-run listening sessions to hear an unreleased album.
The Associated Press does not plan to review the Crowes' disc because it is not being provided prior to the release date.
"Warpaint" is the Black Crowes' first album in seven years. The blues-rock group, fronted by Chris Robinson, has released only one song from the disc, "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution."
The band's hits include "Hard to Handle" and "She Talks to Angels."
As far as the Crowes' reaction to the controversy, Angelus told the AP on Wednesday: "They don't really read musical reviews. But of course they are very aware of this situation, and you know, they think it's highly unethical."
- BurningHills
- Rep: 15
Re: The Black Crowes
What a show!
The Black Crowes
02 March 2008 - Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ [ USA ]
S E T L I S T »
Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution (1st time played)
Walk Believer Walk (1st time played)
Oh, Josephine (1st time played)
Evergreen (1st time played)
Wee Who See The Deep (1st time played)
Locust Street (1st time played)
Movin' On Down The Line (1st time played)
Wounded Bird (1st time played)
God's Got It (1st time played)
There's Gold In Them Hills (1st time played)
Whoa Mule (1st time played)
- break -
Poor Elijah - Tribute To Johnson (Medley) (1st time played)
Jealous Again
Wiser Time
Rockin' Chair
- encore -
Hey Grandma (1st time played)
# Chris played electric guitar on "Wee Who See The Deep"
# Luther played mandolin on "Locust Street"
# Steve came out front and played a marching bass drum on "God's Got It"
# Rich played 12 string acoustic guitar and Steve came out front and played a djembe on "Whoa Mule"
# Chris played acoustic guitar on "Poor Elijah - Tribute To Johnson (Medley)"
# Rich played acoustic guitar and Luther played mandolin on "Rockin' Chair"
# Chris played electric guitar on "Hey Grandma"
# This is a No Taping performance
S H O W L E N G T H:
115 minutes
Re: The Black Crowes
Just listened to the album and I hate to say that I'm very underwhelmed by it. Nothing on the album seems fresh, or grabs you're attention on my first go round with it. I guess I thought this Luther Dickinson would be more of a Marc Ford type than another rhythm player. Thumbs down so far.
