By Bob
Ignizio
Recently, fellow music writer Jason Bracelin of
Scene took quite a thrashing in that
magazine’s letters pages. I’ve sent my own letter to the editor in his
defense, but whether or not it gets printed I wanted to write about the
topic at greater length. For those who don’t have any idea what I’m talking
about, here’s a brief summary. Jason wrote a concert preview piece on two
competing metal shows taking place on the same night. One show featured Dio,
Kings X, and Hammerfall. The other was Blind Guardian and Symphony X. In
his article, Jason made a number of comments, intended to be humorous, that
nonetheless were pretty harsh not only with regards to the bands in question
but their fans as well. While it’s not how I would have written the piece,
it’s his right and his job to state his opinion. Some people, however, seem
to think that Bracelin deserves to be fired for his comments. Not only
that, in their letters they resorted to personal attacks. That I take
exception with.
First of all, how can you start a letter by making fun
of someone’s last name, and then in the same paragraph accuse this person of
“immatureness” (sic)? Another letter writer seems to think that because
Jason isn’t in a band himself, he has no right to criticize anyone else.
The only qualifications for being a music critic are having a pair of ears
and possessing some way of communicating your opinions. Hell, I’ve played
in bands of varying degrees of obscurity since 1987 up until just a couple
years ago. I can’t say that having done so makes my opinions any more or
less valid. The average person who listens to music doesn’t play in a band
or care how difficult a particular song is to play. All they care about is
does it sound good to them. Opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one,
and most of them (including mine, if you like) are full of shit.
Besides, if you read the article in question it isn’t
altogether negative. Bracelin had good as well as bad things to say about
all the bands in question with the exception of Symphony X. Most of his
criticisms utilized exaggeration for humorous effect, although one can argue
with how successfully he pulled it off. But if you can’t take a little
ribbing about your musical tastes once in a while you’re just taking
yourself too damn seriously. I mean, I love Manowar (also recipients of a
barb from Bracelin’s poison pen), but that doesn’t mean I can’t admit the
idea of 40 year old guys dressing like Conan has at least some element of
absurdity to it. I suspect the band themselves are smarter than their
detractors give them credit for and take somewhat of a tongue and cheek
approach to their music. After all, their original guitar player was in The
Dictators, a band known for its sense of humor.
The other thing I don’t understand is why so many
people in the underground seem to expect Scene (and other corporate owned
media outlets like commercial radio and MTV) to cater to them. At least
since Bracelin started writing for Scene, the amount of coverage for local
and underground bands has gone up a little bit. But ultimately, mainstream
media has never cared about the underground. We just don’t have the
demographics they want. As the old saying goes, if you want a job done
right, do it yourself. That used to be the whole foundation of the
underground. Back when Scene was actually focused on music, there were
several fan published papers and zines filling the gaps in their coverage.
Now that Scene has switched formats, the only print alternative I’m aware of
is Music’s Bottom Line. Does that
make sense to you?
And while I’m off on a rant, I might as well mention my
feelings on Cleveland radio. I can understand the frustration of
underground music fans who don’t live in an area that can pick up college
radio. But when I hear people living in range of WJCU, WRUW, and WCSB
complaining that there’s nothing good on the airwaves I’m just baffled.
Even in the Akron area there are better alternatives to corporate radio in
the form of WSTB and WAPS. But when you tell some people about these
options, they still keep tuning in to The Buzzard or “Extreme” Radio. Do
they think their radios will explode if they tune them too far to the left?
Or maybe they’re worried about missing all those great commercials. I just
don’t understand it.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t complain about something
you disagree with. This is still America, after all. But calling for
someone to be fired just for disagreeing with you is ridiculous. Especially
when, taken as a whole, that writer’s work has done more good than harm. If
Bracelin were to be let go I shudder to think what his replacement would be
like. In all likelihood, Scene being part of a huge chain of papers, they’d
just fill his space with someone from out of town. It would be cheaper and
easier than finding someone locally who actually knows his stuff, especially
if they think their job might be in jeopardy for having too strong an
opinion.
For the record, I don’t have that much use for Scene
myself. Since most of their news stories don’t interest me, I can usually
get through all that I care to read in one decent trip to the crapper where
if I run out of toilet paper it might come in handy. I’m sure there’s
people who feel the same way about my website, although using your computer
screen for personal hygiene purposes probably isn’t a good idea. The point
is, if you want change go out and make it happen. Feel free to send any
love/hate mail in response to this article to
trashmag@uttertrash.net. I’ll post any
responses I get, good or bad.
