SeaAnemone: Please | Sputnikmusic

SeaAnemone 02.04.13	also in sputnik current events: make way for a new batch of horrible promotions in better news: had an awesome time sorta-rioting last night in the wake of the Ravens win, I stole a cowbell and climbed on taxis and gave lots of high-fives
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	also got into Boston U Law the other day so woohoo for me
Relinquished 02.04.13	fuckin 11 yards per second and the 3rd didn't even begin I got so drunk
someguest 02.04.13	"also in sputnik current events: make way for a new batch of horrible promotions" SeaAnemone Eric User
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	yea was seated nicely at a bar with an all-you-can-drink + crab dip deal at Fells Pt in Balmore needless to say I got my money's worth
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	"SeaAnemone Eric User" lol, < 3 someguest
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	but yea my point still stands
redskyformiles 02.04.13	fuck yeah! that VYST record jams.
someguest 02.04.13	I mean I don't think that's a fair statement since this web site has more good writers than it has ever had, but whatever.
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	"fuck yeah! that VYST record jams." oh my god yes, I think you may have told me to listen to it before but it's seriously soooo good "I mean I don't think that's a fair statement since this web site has more good writers than it has ever had, but whatever." someguest: the double threat, bringin the intentional laughs in one comment then the unintentional ones in the next
someguest 02.04.13	Have you looked at some of the reviews from around 2005/2006 or before? Most of them are laughable. The progress here with time is substantial, even if it isn't on THE LEVEL OF THE ALMIGHTY ERIC.
TheFonz123 02.04.13	the albums on this list kick ass
Romulus 02.04.13	eric what do you think of mbv?
Inveigh 02.04.13	no MJ = no more good writers on sputnik
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	stop it I'm not tooting my own horn at all I'm just saying that the level of reviews (especially from staff/contributor) from like '09-'11 are far far better than they are today (and likewise, much better than the older years you mentioned too) just because those really old reviews are really bad doesn't have anything to do with your point that today's writing is the best
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	rom: saw your comment on it : ( I have mixed feelings but I've been listening to it a ton (am right now) and I think I'm going to like it a lot (this coming from someone who thinks Loveless is sooo blown outta proportion) ... that being said the second half is severely lacking compared to the first
TheFonz123 02.04.13	I wish MJ would start writing again, his reviews were amazing. Also, the new generation of writers might be apt at describing music, but they are not really very talented at writing. That might seem like a contradiction but it's true
Iluvatar 02.04.13	it was a Sputnik suicide
Romulus 02.04.13	"the level of reviews (especially from staff/contributor) from like '09-'11 are far far better than they are today (and likewise, much better than the older years you mentioned too) " truth re: mbv i'm genuinely frustrated by it
TheFonz123 02.04.13	let me re word that because it sounded distasteful: the older generation of writers made writing reviews seem like an art form. THe new generation are good at describing music but it's dissapointing to me
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	"I wish MJ would start writing again, his reviews were amazing. Also, the new generation of writers might be apt at describing music, but they are not really very talented at writing. That might seem like a contradiction but it's true" I get whatcha mean plus there's also the fact that they bring 0 good new music to light and they inflate everything to where a 4.5 = okay and 5 = great speaking in huge generalities obviously but who cares
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	"let me re word that because it sounded distasteful: the older generation of writers made writing reviews seem like an art form. THe new generation are good at describing music but it's dissapointing to me" the phrase "generic and uninteresting as fuck" would work well here too
someguest 02.04.13	I don't critique contributors and staff as much because they've obviously done something (kissed ass? bought Dave the new Madonna?) to warrant a promotion. But as far as the users are concerned (which was really all I was discussing above) there hasn't been a moment where I thought reviews were taking a step backward instead of a step forward.
Inveigh 02.04.13	^agreed with all of that I used to come here and find so much amazing stuff I'd never heard before. Don't remember the last time that's happened though.
Inveigh 02.04.13	I was agreeing with Sea's comment above someguest's, to clarify
TheFonz123 02.04.13	People like Robin Smith and MJ and considerphlebas genuinely had intelligent things to say. The new reviews have no personality, and nothing to say. They describe average albums and nothing more. I mean no offence by this, I'm just speaking my mind(am i aloud to do this?)
Romulus 02.04.13	i'm not tryna hate but there are some contributors out there where i genuinely wonder if they know how to write. no one in particular (i don't think; don't pay enough attention) but man there are some stinkers of reviews out there
someguest 02.04.13	"People like Robin Smith and MJ and considerphlebas genuinely had intelligent things to say. The new reviews have no personality, and nothing to say. They describe average albums and nothing more. I mean no offence by this, I'm just speaking my mind(am i aloud to do this?)" This is what happens when you just describe an album. It needs a human touch. An emotional connection is the reason we all listen to music. Everyone should stop being so flat when they review an album.
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	here's where I'm gonna list a bunch of users that were awesome writers that were far better than any user writers today to try and prove my point a lil: yeti romulus porch kitsch spare sniper plus many of the site's best writers don't write anymore but did then... lewis, cam, silveri, ponton, keelan, kiran, rasputin I mean I could go on but I won't because redundancy
TheFonz123 02.04.13	" This is what happens when you just describe an album. It needs a human touch. An emotional connection is the reason we all listen to music. Everyone should stop being so flat when they review an album." EXACTLY, spot on.
someguest 02.04.13	Also please make more lists Sea this is about the only time we get semi-intelligent discussion on the review site anymore.
TheFonz123 02.04.13	HEY, my posts in debate threads are fucking eye-opening
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	haha thought that was sarcasm at first because most of my lists for a while have just been a bunch of digs and then either circlejerking or bitching but uh, thanks? I don't think about music much anymore but if I feel like I have something worthwhile to share that could be made into list form I'll do that
toxin. 02.04.13	.
someguest 02.04.13	So you guys want personality? HERE I AM! Ha.
toxin. 02.04.13	"plus there's also the fact that they bring 0 good new music to light and they inflate everything to where a 4.5 = okay and 5 = great" There are more writers who are good enough (read: grammatically/structurally sound, even if you don't think they're "good writers") to get featured now. Writers tend to focus on what they like more than things they don't like. This means that there is a glut of a 4s/4.5s, because anything good on any level (even if it doesn't meet your standards of goodness) will have some huge fan. And this huge fan is more likely to write a decent review. It's all about exposure I think. But I agree with your premise. I remember 2010-2011 well, and guys like Chan, Downer, Hanson, Robin weren't just good at tying in personal narratives (the first two specifically) with beautiful prose---they had personalities that shone through their writing. Today's writing is really flat, and the staff writers perpetuate it, so it's become the norm.
FromDaHood 02.04.13	I agree with Toxin. I try to emulate Sowing and Knott in my writing and it's admittedly pretty bland. I'm trying to change it up(and generally failing), and what's generally accepted as a "good review" here has changed in my opinion. People just want to know what to listen to for their year-end lists and aren't really interested in hearing anything that isn't directly related to it.
someguest 02.04.13	"I try to emulate Sowing and Knott in my writing and it's admittedly pretty bland." Okay, time for a stupid question. WHY? Writing is supposed to be YOUR personality, what YOU want to say, and HOW you want to say it.
mx 02.04.13	Talk about groupthink folks.
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	your point, mx?
mx 02.04.13	No point really. But it sounded like a bunch of old fogies bemoaning the good ole' days =) Found it amusing.
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	Note: I have nothing against the site changes they're nothing great or horrible but I'd much rather see the site make changes rather than the huge period of stagnation that's been the past few years or so (and I totally understand that you're very busy, that wasn't a shot at you)
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	and haha that's fairly accurate : p
someguest 02.04.13	I know I've said this before, but I only write for me. It's usually very individualistic as far as structure and I like to throw in some of my own philosophical wandering. So what? People generally like it. Some people don't. If they gain something positive from it, then that's great. If they don't, they can just continue on to the next review.
HSThomas 02.04.13	Well you can now call yourself God of Sputnik now Sea because you managed to get Mx to post on yout list (that is until Deviant bans you for saying so because he says he doesn't like competition).
EaglesBecomeVultures 02.04.13	where do the people that leave this site go to?
wabbit 02.04.13	VYST!!!
toxin. 02.04.13	@someguest imo the problem is a lot of people seem to review for the sake of getting promoted, which is okay if you want to increase grammatical/syntactical standards of reviews, but is awful if you want individuality in your reviews. Isn't it easier to just churn out manufactured review after manufactured review?
mx 02.04.13	Eagles, a lot of the staff writers are of college age and when they graduate they usually have less time for writing.
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	vyst so good omg
someguest 02.04.13	Exactly, xtoxin. I think that's what we were saying up there. Anybody can follow a formula, but it takes work to put a twist on every review you write.
Ponton 02.04.13	appreciate the shoutout sea, miss your reviews too. i remember you and i were neck and neck for getting a contrib title 1st half of 2010, good days. we slaughtered left and right
FromDaHood 02.04.13	The answer is that when I was a young reviewer, started when I was a little older than 16, I had no idea what I was doing and I looked for a basic structure to follow when I wrote. The shit I wrote initially was downright horrible, so I figured if I tried writing like some of the better writers on the site (I chose Knott and Sowing somewhat randomly, I think it's because they were both highly-regarded users with tastes pretty similar to mine) then I would be able to improve. I also, as Toxin asserted, did write specifically for a promotion around the summer of 2011 when me and ifghtffyrdmns had a bromance and friendly competition to see who would get promoted first, which I lost handily. The way I look at reviewing now has changed, but I can't shake the chains of the style I'm used to because it feels unnatural and I crave consistency.
theacademy 02.04.13	lol law school lololol0ll
someguest 02.04.13	I'm sorry dude. You need to find your own style. You'll get there.
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	would be actually very interested to hear your thoughts on lawl school acad
klap 02.04.13	i love it when all these "old" users are bitching about the writing quality going south on this site and doing jack shit about it except engaging in a folk-punk circle jerk. silveri ain't walking through that door boys
EaglesBecomeVultures 02.04.13	rudy comin in hot
SeaAnemone 02.04.13	hey I heard that