Sometimes bad is bad

[redbaron]

...that´s the title of an old Huey Lewis & The News song, and it's also a rather unspectacular truth of life. However, I'm observing that in the RW community we rather try to avoid it. I've been around for something like a year now, maybe a bit more, and I can't remember a single time that any song or musician on RW was ever criticized in a negative way.

Of course, this is part of why the atmosphere among riffjunkies is so nice and fun. Besides, in a community that's based on creativity it's definitely a most dangerous subject to criticise someone else's work. However I believe that I'm only speaking out an open secret when I say that some of the works published on Riffcaster are indeed, well, quite bad. And I'm not talking about differing tastes here, but about musical craftsmanship. Some are completely out of timing, others messed up sound-wise, some even out of tune.

Still, my feeling is that in the comments even blatant shortcomings will not be pointed out for the sake of maintaining a nice atmosphere. And maybe that's the way it should be for the sake of peace and understanding.

However, speaking of myself, how can I ever become a better musician like this? The list of things I'd like to do better as a guitarist is long: Sometimes I feel my playing is characterised by an awful sloppiness that's born out of overall laziness and unwillingness to work on being more precise. In my opinion, I´m quite obviously unable to hear properly what a good mix is. I should learn to work with more sounds and styles instead of doing the same thing over and over again. Believe me, I could go on like this for quite a while...

However, as we all know, for a musician it's hard to judge oneself. The most important thing is actually how your listeners, your audience sees and hears you. Especially if your audience consists of fellow musicians! I for once would love to hear more open advice from you guys out there. For me, feedback like "The song is ok, but the mix is crap!" or "Why don´t you try to play the solo again, this time actually staying in tune?" would be invaluable. Or even statements like "Oh no, not again one of your 80s style stompers - can't you try something else??"

I'm aware that for some people it's really hard to take criticism, and it shouldn't be forced. But...

[Wedgebill]

I'm wondering if you're married Red, if not, take it from me if you were you don't need RiffWorks (or a guitar come to think of it ) and you can get all the abuse and criticism you need for free. Sometimes good is bad as well

Regard yourself as lucky, Mickey lives too far away to come and steal all your beer

[redbaron]

Yeah I know, I guess you have to be a proper masochist to invite more criticism than you´ve already got at home

[atalwar]

Ever wondered why don't I riffcast much

[pooterpatty]

Like redbaron, I too was amazed at the complete lack of negative comments on Riffcasts. I think it's because everyone commenting here is a musician as well. And every musician knows that a negative comment towards music you've created is really a negative comment towards you, since the music comes from your soul.

Are there songs on Riffcaster that I could comment negatively on? Sure! But momma always told me, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

If you're looking for criticism, try Bill's suggestion. You'll get all you can handle, and probably some bonus nagging thrown in for free.

Seriously though, if you're looking for criticism on a particular song, mention it in the song's description. Something like "what do y'all think of the mix?" or "should I redo the solo?" You'll get honest answers, but they'll all be constructive in nature. I don't put forth any kind of constructive criticism unless people ask for it, and even then I'll never say something like, "You suck. Sell your guitar and take up the kazoo."

Just remember that your 'blatant shortcomings' are only blatant to you. Personally, I enjoy listening to your songs and Rifflinking with you.

Oh wait, I forgot you wanted criticism. Here goes: "You suck! Play some Skynyrd!"

[rease101]

I think any constructive criticism should be tailored to the general ability of the caster. Myself, I know that I am more 'bad' than most, but that's ok. I can only play a small amt each day and I know that most of my casts are average at best. Since my ability will never reach that of most of you guys, I find comments like ' the mix is too hot', 'turn down the reverb', 'how about doing a chorus or a bridge', or 'the drums don't match' very helpful. little or no shouts on a tune does a better job than 'you suck'. Now, to someone like you (redbaron) or Mickey for instance, more specific and critical comments, from a peer, are ok. Regardless of your ability, have fun, and don't take yourself too seriously (general comment, not directed at you RB). Even if a comment is harsh, does it really matter what some guy on the internet says???

[cwight]

What, no spam, no abuse, no criticism, and no chance of winning the Euros either, it's a hard life Red..... But which of my casts are you referring to anyway....?

[Sandman]

I 2nd the notion if you want subjective feedback on some or all aspects of a song, you can ask for it. If you do, get ready, cause my guess is most musicians can be brutally, cut to the bone honest.

I fully support anybody that's experimenting in music. Every tune has its merits and shortfalls. I'd bet most people on here already know the glitches, the out of sinc playing, the out of tune notes, and otherwise lacking aspects of their particular song.

This is a very positive and encouraging community. This drives people to push their limits. If I posted a brain fart, and I got a whole bunch of crap about it, I'd probably not post nearly as much. This would most certainly detract from the wide range of stuff you get on here. People feel free to post their most whacked out ideas, I think it's why there's so much diversity.

Maybe separate riffcaster that invites critical reviews for the bolder casters on here?

[fooks]

i always felt like this place is "safe" to post something you have thought about and made, good or bad, by anyone's standards. there are other places to get in-depth reviews, unsolicited.

also if someone wanted to ask for a critique, they would get one.
how do i know that someone wanted to have it like that?
i suck for comments, i know. i wish i could do better at them but i listen to most more than a few times each.
we all know our shortcomings. i believe this is a place to learn to record with rw and have fun.
for me it's cheaper than a red sports car and a 21yo girlfriend.

[pooterpatty]

for me it's cheaper than a red sports car and a 21yo girlfriend.

It's not as bad as it used to be fooks. With gas prices getting higher every day, most manufacturers of gas-guzzling sports cars are offering incentives - now when you buy the sports car, the girlfriend comes with it.

[Wedgebill]

If I let my sarcasm / sense of humour loose in other peoples comment boxes, I dread to think what comments I'd get on my load of old bollocks stuff :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[gatorjj]

One of the things you can do (and several of the Junkies have done this in the past) is get your tunes up on a place like GarageBand.com for review.

It's nice in the fact that the reviewer gets zero info about you or your song up front, so you get true first impressions. Bad side is like anywhere there will be the occasional idiot who doesn't listen and just puts a bunch of crapola* in there, but collectively over the dozen+ reviews you'll get a good picture of what' working and what's not.

* "Crapola" is a trademarked term by Timothy P. Hutton....I think

[atalwar]

I think Technical criticism is Ok as one needs to polish their technique.
One needs to know technique wise where they are not so good and requesting criticism on that aspect is good as It takes time to develop ear to pinpoint problems in your own work). For beginners (count me in) it helps if they are told rightaway what things they need to work on.)

The Problem is the very open nature on the Web makes every one a critic and that ain't that nice. You tell a mom her child got a bad habit and she will accept em and work on em. You tell her child is evil, and before you know it , she is in Haiti casting some voodoo spell on ya'

However Compositional Criticism is a Dark Area. Your Not liking a composition does not make you a critic to go postal on someones creation . Composition is to each their ears and for anything acceptable a lot many ears.

as Fooks rightly said "how do i know that someone wanted to have it like that?"

Perhaps we get much less negitive comments here, maybe because here folks have better understanding of human Nature (read musicians agony)

BTW. The above are just personal thoughts on the topic (Read : No Criticism Requested) .

[pooterpatty]

You tell a mom her child got a bad habit and she will accept em and work on em.

You tell a mother she has a butt-ugly baby with a face like a walnut and she gets all insulted (even if it's the truth). C'est la vie!

[mickeymix]

What the guys said............and there are websites like Garageband and Guitar War found here..........

http://garageband.com/

http://guitarwar.com/


where you can go head to head in music and guitar playing competitions and get the critiques you long for Chistoph ............but if ya want them here going to have to ask ........I mos def agree with The Sandman & Poots when he said momma taught him if you can't say anything nice......don't say anything at all.......silence speaks volumes.......
and how the positivity nurtures creativity (Sandman).........

And yes there have been several negative comments back in the day ....but hey what can you do.