NESSAholics.com
Vanessa Carlton => General Vanessa Carlton Discussion => Topic started by: Harmonium on July 27, 2011, 01:18:36 pm
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Worst review yet. What a B*tch...
http://www.dailycal.org/2011/07/27/vanessa-carlton-rabbits-on-the-run/
There’s nothing extraordinary about Vanessa Carlton. She plays the piano alright. She sings just okay and she’s pretty enough not to scare off CD buyers with her face on an album cover. However, being just suitable isn’t enough. Since her 2002 hit and Zales commercial go-to song, “A Thousand Miles,” Carlton has yet to release material of a similar pop magnitude. Almost 10 years since and four records later , Carlton’s most recent release, Rabbits on the Run, joins the ranks of the nameless tracks and mediocre piano-driven ballads that have come to comprise her career.
Even in her heyday (if having a one-hit-wonder can be defined as heyday), Carlton only played second string to Michelle Branch and on this record, her bland persona and middling musical dynamism only sink Rabbits on the Run further into this second-rate rut. On “Carousel,” there’s light, airy piano. On “Fairweather Friend,” there’s light, airy piano. And to no one’s surprise, there’s light, airy piano ― complete with light, airy vocals ― on every track. There’s nary a note of variety to be found on this record, where songs run the the extreme range between trite guitar ballads and trite piano ballads with Carlton’s almost squeaky vocals found somewhere amidst the rudimentary rubble.
However, if you dig deep within the trite, there is some, potential treasure. The muted and intimate a capella vocals on “This Marching Line” recall the rawness of Cat Power’s “Lived in Bars.” But, to call those fleeting moments “treasure” would ignore how drab most of this album is. At times, when Carlton is crooning, it feels as if she’s as bored as anyone who listens to Rabbits on the Run will be.
Jessica Pena is the assistant arts editor.
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Jessica Pena is a stupid c*nt.
WHOOPS :D
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Is this a joke? Is it opposite day?? Please tell me it's opposite day for that "reviewer." And she ment the opposite of what she said...
EDIT: I left a comment under the name HT. I was trying very hard not to use foul language and succeeded by nearly biting a chunk of my tounge off.
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I'm not gonna get angry. I've found with friends and music lovers alike that if you dont "get" Vanessa, you just don't. It can't be taught or explained, most of the world will never hear what we hear. And that's okay (...as long as she continues lol).
What this reviewer doesn't realise is that V isn't striving for "similar pop magnitude". She's just making honest music, she doesn't need the bells and whistles or being what she's not. I don't think her music is samey or stagnant. Sure it's cohesive because V has a distinct aesthetic and sound, direct from her. I don't quite see how songs like "hear the bells" or "in the end" could be seen as light, and certainly not trite.
Also, Vanessa is infinitely more talented than Michelle Branch (whom I like) lol. Each to their own, bygones be bygones.
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I felt like posting a comment on her "review". It's not nice but it's not meant to be, she doesn't need that much attention. Period.
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Ummm..... if this hadn't come from a newspaper, I wouldn't have believed that it was serious... I mean.... This is cruelty to a piece of art... She could at least have conveyed her dislike for the album in a kinder way rather than attacking it... this is... umm..... I don't even know what to say :/
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I would barely even call that a review. Half of the article was her bashing Vanessa and her character.
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I would barely even call that a review. Half of the article was her bashing Vanessa and her character.
We need a like button on here! :)
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yeah... not every reviewer will connect with the record, but i'll admit she was a bit unneccesarily cutthroat.
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There’s nothing extraordinary about Vanessa Carlton. (WHAT?)She plays the piano alrightAND IS SHE A CONCERT PIANIST WHO HAS MERRITT TO JUDGE?. She sings just okay and she’s pretty enough TRY BEAUTIFUL not to scare off CD buyers with her face on an album cover. However, being just suitable isn’t enough. Since her 2002 hit and Zales commercial go-to song, “A Thousand Miles,” Carlton has yet to release material of a similar pop magnitude. Almost 10 years since and four records later , Carlton’s most recent release, Rabbits on the Run, joins the ranks of the nameless tracks and mediocre piano-driven ballads that have come to comprise her career.DUH, SHE PLAYS THE PIANO, OF COURSE THEY WILL BE "PIANO DRIVEN"
Even in her heyday (if having a one-hit-wonder can be defined as heyday)"HIT" MAYBE, BUT SHE HAD PLENTY OF SONGS ON THE RADIO, Carlton only played second string to Michelle Branch UMM, NO. THEY WORK WITH DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS AND HAVE VERY DIFFERENT WAYS OF WRITINGand on this record, her bland persona and middling musical dynamism only sink Rabbits on the Run further into this second-rate rut. On “Carousel,” there’s light, airy piano. On “Fairweather Friend,” there’s light, airy piano.IS THIS GIRL DEAF? HOW CAN YOU THINK THIS SONG IS "LIGHT AND AIRY?" And to no one’s surprise, there’s light, airy piano ― complete with light, airy vocals ― on every track. There’s nary a note of variety to be found on this record, SHIT. PURE BULL SHIT. DID SHE EVEN LISTEN TO IT? where songs run the the extreme range DIDN'T SHE JUST SAY THERE WAS NO VARIETY? IF THERE IS NO VARIETY THEN HOW CAN THERE BE AN "EXTREME RANGE?" between trite guitar ballads and trite piano ballads with Carlton’s almost squeaky REALLY? AND WHO DO YOU LISTEN TO? ARTISTS WHO USE AUTO TUNE ONLY???found somewhere amidst the rudimentary rubble.
However, if you dig deep within the trite, there is some, potential treasure. The muted and intimate a capella OKAY, IT'S BEEN AWHILE, BUT DOESN A CAPELLA MEAN WITH NO MUSIC? THERE IS PIANO AND PERCUSSION IN THIS SONG SO.. YEAH, NOT A CAPELLA.vocals on “This Marching Line” recall the rawness of Cat Power’s “Lived in Bars.” But, to call those fleeting moments “treasure” would ignore how drab most of this album is. At times, when Carlton is crooning, it feels as if she’s as bored as anyone who listens to Rabbits on the Run will be.
Jessica Pena is the assistant arts editor.
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I guess I just don't understand how anyone can get so worked up over something they never have to listen to again after they review it, haha.
That was a frustrating read...
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I've noticed a bit of a trend though in the reviews.
There are those reviews where the critic has done his/her homework (where they refer to her influences... Watership Down and ABHOT) which are a bit more understanding (though they also have a few negative points as well). They even mention about the album being analog and all that.
It's clear that the above spazz has no idea that the "light, airy" piano is INTENDED and we wish the piano could've been a HELL LOT MORE LIGHTER and AIRIER so that he/she would've probably PASSED OUT listening to it and still not figure out that it WAS INTENDED.
Sigh.
Funny, how we take these things personally.
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I'm rarely one to take negative reviews personally - but this reviewer actually made it personal. She insulted her looks, for one thing, and called her untalented. I don't condone that at all. This is the comment I wrote. I kind of also want to write to the publisher, because honestly I think she went way overboard with this:
"I am yet another of many people who are solely on this site to inform you of the extent to which you are completely wrong about your assessment of Vanessa Carlton's latest album.
Not only do I think you are totally out of line with your attitude (contrary to popular belief, people don't like reading this kind of snarky trash), but you're also just inaccurate. Rabbits on the Run is real art. Not everyone is going to come out with dance tracks or glitzy electronic pop - I like that stuff, by the way, but it's nice to see something different. This is an expertly-crafted album created by people with far more talent than you or I, and this fact is made very clear when you really sit down and listen to the beautiful melodies, haunting production, and brilliant lyrics. If you could perhaps open your mind long enough to take in something of substance, you would see how wrong you are with this review.
I take great solace in the fact that the Daily Californian is so under-read that most people will never see this review, or anything else you have written."
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This just honestly pisses me off still haha
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Yeah I just sent her an email, since her contact info is easily accessible. I kept it very civil and professional - I certainly don't believe in bashing someone else for revenge, but I did want to make it clear what I thought about her review. I would strongly encourage anyone else who is able to articulate politely that they thought she was out of line, to do so as well.
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you know what? two words to this person: fuck you.
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I'm rarely one to take negative reviews personally - but this reviewer actually made it personal. She insulted her looks, for one thing, and called her untalented. I don't condone that at all. This is the comment I wrote. I kind of also want to write to the publisher, because honestly I think she went way overboard with this:
exactly. It was not much of a musical review. I think you should write to the publisher. I'm not sure I could be civil at this point to respond to her. I too think it's funny how we all react. I do it too, especially on her facebook page. People have gone there just to insult her and that's not cool. I get very defensive of her. No one fucks with V!
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terrible piece, but you should remember that it is a STUDENT newspaper.
not the work career music journalists.
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The reviewer reviewed it like they were expecting teeny bopper radio friendly pop girl music. Like they expected for her to be the exact same music wise from back in Be Not Nobody. The review was too rushed. They didn't take their time. It was nothing but opinion. You can't say think that you found bad. The point of reviews are to provide constructive criticism based on the music. If it was good say why, if it was bad say why, etc. Don't just say it was amazing or it was horrible. It was just nothing but opinion. Sadly, reviews are like this a lot no a days. I hate that.
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terrible piece, but you should remember that it is a STUDENT newspaper.
not the work career music journalists.
that may be, however, it's a college and people who write in college papers are usually serious about journalism (I'm not sure that people go into journalism wanting to write for tabloids) plus, she's the assistant editor of the arts dept. She should have more class than to try to tear someone apart and like itsthefiveofus said, you can't just say it's bad and not provide constructive criticisms and nothing to back up your claims. Maybe her aim IS to write for Star or be a field agent for Perez Hilton.
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omgggggggggg thats such a fucken shame!!!!!!!!! and that's the school that i go to!!!! angry email coming up!!!!!!... this bitch thinks she's the shit... pfft.... this review made me sooooo mad!!!!! >:(
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^ throw paint on her. kidding.
it's not a big deal to me. yeah, it's a shitty review but for every one shitty review there's always a thousand fantastic ones where vanessa is concerned.
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My comment to her: Golly Jessica, what did Vanessa Carlton ever do to you to make you hate her so? Maybe your first boyfriend called out her name in his sleep, or perhaps something worse!
She's B.I.T.C.H!
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terrible piece, but you should remember that it is a STUDENT newspaper.
not the work career music journalists.
that may be, however, it's a college and people who write in college papers are usually serious about journalism (I'm not sure that people go into journalism wanting to write for tabloids) plus, she's the assistant editor of the arts dept. She should have more class than to try to tear someone apart and like itsthefiveofus said, you can't just say it's bad and not provide constructive criticisms and nothing to back up your claims. Maybe her aim IS to write for Star or be a field agent for Perez Hilton.
I'm writing for my college newspaper and I'm not even interested in journalism...Haha. just sayin'. But yea this girl just wants attention or something.
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Commented it under the pseudonym "Hazel" in ode to Watership Down. I doubt she'll get that cause she obviously has no idea what inspired the album or anything about V on that matter....
Ugh this pisses me off
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I'm not even sure what to say to this... But, wow. It's like they went into listening with an opinion already formed. I know it's just a college paper, but still: very unprofessional.
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terrible piece, but you should remember that it is a STUDENT newspaper.
not the work career music journalists.
I resent that - students aren't excused from journalistic standards just because they're students. I've been a student journalist since 2005 and I would never write this drivel (or let it be published when I was an editor, for that matter).
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i am not being condescending towards student journalism. i've also written and edited for student publications, and i know that, like in mainstream publications, some student pieces are stellar and valid and some are not. and yes, this piece is not.
just wanted to temper the discussion, especially when people are bringing up the writer's credentials. it would be lovely if all publications adhered to journalistic standards, but in my experience, school newspapers are often training grounds... places to learn and acquire experience.
[edit] i also think personal attacks against the writer, even in here in the nessaholics forum, is unmerited, especially if we're calling her out for personal attacks against vanessa carlton. we can criticize her piece, deem it biased, ill-informed, and poorly-written... but as she shouldn't have made it personal, we shouldn't make it personal.
i apologize, though, because it did seem like i was demeaning student journalism. i think i meant that it merits a different response; i personally expect different things from a student than from a professional. i would be harder on professional mistakes.
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i am not being condescending towards student journalism. i've also written and edited for student publications, and i know that, like in mainstream publications, some student pieces are stellar and valid and some are not. and yes, this piece is not.
just wanted to temper the discussion, especially when people are bringing up the writer's credentials. it would be lovely if all publications adhered to journalistic standards, but in my experience, school newspapers are often training grounds... places to learn and acquire experience.
[edit] i also think personal attacks against the writer, even in here in the nessaholics forum, is unmerited, especially if we're calling her out for personal attacks against vanessa carlton. we can criticize her piece, deem it biased, ill-informed, and poorly-written... but as she shouldn't have made it personal, we shouldn't make it personal.
i apologize, though, because it did seem like i was demeaning student journalism. i think i meant that it merits a different response; i personally expect different things from a student than from a professional. i would be harder on professional mistakes.
I agree. Name calling isn't the best, but I understand why people reacted that way. I just called her incompetent :)
However, we bring up her credentials because she's an EDITOR. If I'm not mistaken, editors hold some clout of sorts and should be held to a higher standard than a staff writer.