Alex@MetalReviews.com wrote:
I am going through a tough personal stretch, but thought I need to find the time to say something, especially since the debate seemed to pick up.
I write lots of reviews for this site, some ppl definitely think I write more than I should, and they may be right. It absolute truth that you do not have to like/dislike this or that album based on any review, mine, someone else's, or Music God's review himself. Form your own opinion. I once worked with the dude who would not go see a movie if it didn't get good reviews. Man, did he see a lot of crap, but, man, did he miss a lot of good movies. In my personal opinion, of course.
At the same time, it seems that with the mass of the reviews that I wrote, I have seemed to have matched an opinion with one forumite, but nto the other. And that is exactly what this is all about. I remember someone joining me on The Crest, some on Madder Mortem, some on Sapthuran, some on Wolverine, some on Day Without Dawn, I can go on - all absolutely different styles, approaches to making music and, most importantly, expressing themselves as people.
EXACTLY. If the review is good, then it gives you a good view on the style that this band is playing on the album. The description lets the readers form an opinion on whether they would like it or not. Your own opinion is just your personal taste on how YOU like that style, expressed in a quote, and is therefore not as open to discussion as the review is. The review was good, it gave me a good idea of how this record sounded, now it's up to me if I'm therefore going to bash it or hail it, and that has nothing to do with the quality of the review. Only if someone knows he has exactly your taste, he can look at the score, but that's very rare. Otherwise, people should look at the review to decide if this is something for them, not at the score.
Alex@MetalReviews.com wrote:
Madonna comment - she is on tour of Europe, being banned country after country, because in one song she is showcasing herself sort of being nailed to the cross. All Catholic and other Christian people freak out. Yet, the song is, per Madonna, about children with HIV. What is the connection b/t the meaning and the visual? Nothing, except she needs some shock rock antics and publicity to reviive the stalled career.
Isn't aids largely being caused by not wearing condoms? And isn't not wearing condoms in Africa largely being caused by Vatican judgements on the use of anticonception? She uses a very strong argumentation with the cross thingy here you know. It's not just that shock value, it's an argument, or more like a judgement of christianity.