Sympathy Reviews

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Feeder seem to be getting decent reviews for their new album, whereas before they were real hate-figures in the music press. I don't want to sound cold-hearted, but is this just because their drummer committed suicide? I accept that this WAS tragic (it's sad when any human being dies) but should they not just be judged on their music? Have they actually improved? Is it that their circumstances lend their work more gravitas? Or is it just pity, the reviewer not wanting to kick a band when they are down? Most of the reviews go into the details of the band's current situation, and Hot Press' review finished by saying "Good luck to them!", so it's hard not to feel that the drummer's death was a major factor in the writers' minds. Or am I over-analysing?

Other examples of sympathy reviews? Charlatans? Manic Street Preachers?

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Monday, 28 October 2002 23:49 (twenty-three years ago)

The assumption that has to be made here is that the record in question isn't good. This was certainly not the case with the Manics' "Everything Must Go", which was the last decent record they made.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 29 October 2002 01:06 (twenty-three years ago)

i think that's the only reason Joy Division is so popular

haha

― JasonD, Tuesday, 29 October 2002 02:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Actually, Jason-- I'm pretty sure you're right.

― Manny Parsons (Rahul Kamath), Tuesday, 29 October 2002 03:46 (twenty-three years ago)

what about Christian Death then? i've only heard bits, and it sounded pretty good to me (from what i remember), but they're as not popular in the least.

― JasonD, Tuesday, 29 October 2002 06:40 (twenty-three years ago)

'Double Fantasy'

― dave q, Tuesday, 29 October 2002 07:58 (twenty-three years ago)

A similar flavour of sympathy to the original post occurs when great bands break up and thus "die". Witness the tons of (column) inches given to - and the subsequent (indulgent/lazy) miles taken by - former Beatles, Stones, Suedes, Polices, New Orders, Smiths, Blurs, Queens, Pulps, Bunnymen, Cures, Sisters Of Mercies, Siouxsies, Boo Radleys...it's often hard to let go, y'know?

That said, I find it fucking hard to believe that Feeder have sauddenly turned into a unique force in progressive and wonderful tuneage, sadly deceased drummer or no. D'you think Echo might release some posthumous drum outtakes a la "Free As A Bird"? < /bad taste>

― Charlie (Charlie), Tuesday, 29 October 2002 08:16 (twenty-three years ago)

nah, Double Fantasy was a good album. Stone Temple Pilots, though--the minute Weiland wound up in rehab it was as if people actually thought they were good or something

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 29 October 2002 09:14 (twenty-three years ago)

Nirvana have had a sympathy career...

― Callum (Callum), Tuesday, 29 October 2002 09:47 (twenty-three years ago)

"This was certainly not the case with the Manics' "Everything Must Go", which was the last decent record they made"

I agree, actually. In that case, they actually HAD progressed as a band, and delivered the album of 12 killer pop-rock tunes they'd always threatened to make, at the time when they probably would have gotten sympathy reviews anyway. I haven't heard the Feeder record, so I was wondering if they HAD actually done what the Manics did, or if the reviewers were just playing nice. To be honest, the first single of "Comfort in Sound" doesn't sound like a drastic step forward from previous Feeder fare, so I have my suspicions. I couldn't picture a Feeder record getting good reviews if the tragedy hadn't occurred.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 29 October 2002 10:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Do we start the "Grant killed Jon" rumours here then?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 29 October 2002 10:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Nirvana have had a sympathy career...

Which is no doubt why Nevermind and In Utero made number one 2 years before Cobain killed himself.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 19:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Which is no doubt why Nevermind and In Utero made number one 2 years before Cobain killed himself.

Dude, music journos are THAT GOOD

― Yancey (ystrickler), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 20:00 (twenty-three years ago)

They only got legendary status when that overrated junkie hick killed homself. If he hadn't, they'd just have been successful.

Am I REALLY the only person who sees how shit Nirvana were?

― Callum (Callum), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 20:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Yup. Seriously speaking, Callum -- they were big and noteworthy well before the death. And the more you shout otherwise, the more you might be wrong. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 20:19 (twenty-three years ago)

No you're just the only one who thinks saying it is even slightly interesting.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 20:20 (twenty-three years ago)

Focus your anger on a more deserving band (like the Gin Blossoms, who made a career out of a dead guy's songs).

― paul cox (paul cox), Thursday, 31 October 2002 04:52 (twenty-three years ago)

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