music reviewers are allowed to have opinions. full stop.

ok, so a big part of what I do in my spare time is review music. the keys to being a good reviewer are:

1) having an opinion in the first place. meaning being a wishy-washy waffler does not do you any good.

2) being passionate about music. it's pointless not to feel strongly one way or another in this business, b/c the whole point of music reviewing is to offer your opinion to other people who want to know about a release. seriously, what would the music world be like, if we all liked the same kind of music? I think we all agree it would be v. boring indeed.

there are plenty of reviewers I respect that I've disagreed with one time or another. it's called personal preference. do I hate Stuart Maconie for loving Florence and the Machine, even though I can barely tolerate her? or him steadfastly insisting that he's played Friendly Fires on Radcliffe/Maconie? (I highly doubt they have, because I am a regular listener.) no. disagreements happen. if it wasn't for criticism, bands wouldn't get better, would they?

I follow actor/DJ/music lover Mathew Horne (@mfhorne) on Twitter. he's a funny guy. also pretty nice, judging by the fact that he'll actually respond to fans' queries. we have similar music tastes (we both like We Were Promised Jetpacks, the Joy Formidable, Friendly Fires, and the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, just for example), and we're about the same age as well, so it's nice to "talk" to someone like that.

as I stated on Twitter this evening, I am not a fan of the new Foals single, 'Spanish Sahara' - it was one of 7 items reviewed on Roundtable last night. not only is the title an anachronism (the Sahara Desert is NOT in Spain, or even the Continent, so poor UK geography teachers have an uphill battle), I just don't like it, the melody reminds me of 'Jetstream' by Doves, a far superior track. that's my opinion and I offered it, just like the people on Lammo's Roundtable do each week. Mat Horne likes it:

mfhorne
Fuckadoodledo the new Foals single is compelling. Welcome back boys @foals

I decided to post my own opinion, not even in response directly to him OR insulting him or Foals. it was just an opinion.

theprintedword

unlike @mfhorne, I'm thoroughly unimpressed by Foals' newest single. sounds like Doves. I think they'll have to find new playmates soon

however, I was not expecting this exchange:

mfhorne

@theprintedword it does not sound like fucking Doves!

(calm down man, no need to swear. or throw a temper tantrum.)

theprintedword
@mfhorne can we agree to disagree, please? if it makes you feel any better, I didn't like the new Doves song either.

after a bit of reflection, I decided to post this, to prevent any Twitter flaming from the Foals-loving faction of Mat's fanbase:

theprintedword
oh dear, I didn't mean to start a war about this new Foals single. forget I mentioned it...

to which Mr. Horne replied:

mfhorne

@theprintedword thank the lord for that

I still have no cotton pickin' idea what that last Tweet means. frankly, I'm annoyed by the whole thing. interestingly, a friend of a friend had a similar incident with Mat last week, in which Mat dogged him as well. seriously, WTF? yes, I get you're an actor and you're famous, unlike the rest of us. but geez, I don't care who you are, temper tantrums are for 2 year olds.

I really doubt my opinion about a single matters to that many people. it's not like I'm Steve Lamacq. anything he says practically makes or breaks a band in the UK. unless Mat knows something I don't...! Foals have been around for a long while and have mates in high places so to speak (that was my intention mentioning 'playmates' of theirs I'm aware of that might be confused about the direction they've decided to go, away from 'Cassius' for one), so it's highly unlikely my one slag-off on them is going to do anything to their reputation.

in any event, it was a low blow. and as I stated yesterday on Twitter, I doubt Sean Adams of Drowned in Sound ever gets challenged and slagged off in public like I did.

this week's Roundtable (04/03)

On Round Table this Thursday, Steve will be disecting the week's releases with guests Scroobius Pip, James Endeacott and Jim Bob

1. the Futureheads - 'Heartbeat Song' - I really like this! 'I still want to sing with you!' AWWWW!.

2. Doves - 'Andalucia' - despite the exotic title, there is nothing terribly exotic about this. not feeling it like 'Kingdom of Rust'. and they're doing a 'best of' album. ::groan::

3. Primary 1 feat. Nina Persson (Cardigans / A-Camp) - 'The Blues' - with the synth action, I imagine this will grow on me, but in the meantime, the synth plinks are rather annoying and jarring against the nice vocals.

4. Foals - 'Spanish Sahara' - uhhh...what happened to Foals? zzz...funny, this actually sounds like Doves! come on now, the tune is awfully similar to 'Jetstream', isn't it?

and that's my opinion. I'm allowed to have one, y'know. ::stares down a certain actor who threw a temper tantrum at me yesterday::

5. Plan B - 'She Said' - I like this. throwback, yes, but nice! cool vid too. (and no, my glowing remarks have nothing to do with Paul Epworth...hahaha)

6. Smashing Pumpkins - 'A Stitch in Time' - I think it's time for Billy Corgan to retire. really. like Foals earlier...snoozefest.

7. Gorillaz's latest 'Plastic Trees' including 'Melancholy Hill' - I'm not going to go into detail on why I'm not wowed by this effort, as everyone and their grandmother in the blogosphere has already reviewed this album. Damon Albarn, forget Murdoch. Blur reunion, please!

last week's Roundtable (25/02)

Thursday is Roundtable day. Join Lammo as he welcomes Felix White from the Maccabees, Radio 1's Bethan Elfyn and Bella Union Records boss and former Cocteau Twin Simon Raymonde into the studio to talk about the latest musical releases.

1. We Are Scientists - 'Rules Don't Stop' - loving it. so glad they are back. FYI they are back to their 3-piece, guitar/bass/drums configuration per their 'official' debut 'With Love and Squalor'. can't wait for 'Barbara' to be released.

2. Eliza Doolittle - 'Skinny Genes' - it starts up somewhat Nancy Sinatra 'Boots are Made for Walking'. totally unoriginal moniker BTW, it's almost as bad as Holly Golightly. man, this whistling is going to get *really* annoying this summer.

3. Titus Andronicus - 'Four Score and Seven (Part 2)' - funny, there's a song by the Delta Spirit that reminds me of this vibe. not wowed by this as I expected per their previous songs.

4. Stornoway - 'I Saw You Blink' - this has a v. Drums vibe, which is funny b/c the Drums were also reviewed on this edition of Roundtable. I'd even argue this actually sounds better than 'I Feel Stupid'.

5. Cypress Hill feat. Tom ? - 'Rise Up' - not my type of music. movin' on...

6. the Drums - 'Best Friend' - eh, it's ok. I can see why people are annoyed with them, haha!

7. Groove Armada's new album 'Black Light' including 'I Won't Kneel' and 'Paper Romance' - I feel terrible saying it but I think 'Paper Romance' is the best track on this album.