Siobhan Long has made her name as a journalist and Irish music critic writing for The Irish Times. I am inquiring about the general feeling musicians and readers have on Long's reviews? Do people wonder if Long really knows about Irish Traditional music on anything more than a superficial level? Some of her articles which featured at the summer's end were agravating. She focused in on Irish dance music and quoted singers who in my opinion know very little about dance music, or song for that matter. As a critic, I'm sure Long will take in stride whatever is delivered here as opinion on her reviews. Let's review the reviewer!!!!!
she's a sit on the fence writer who has her favourites (martin hayes, caoimhin o'r, and altan most notably). in my opinion she is a terrible writer, her style is that of a failed novelist, she flutters around what she wants to say using techniques not required for the job and ends up with no real opinion. she's a sycophant, in my opinion she knows little about irish music, she cannot even play the music. the fact she spoke to singers on those articles, i know the ones yer on about, goes to show how much she knows.
Last summers article about Arts Council funding of the trad arts had one sentence at the end from the Arts Council not really giving them a chance to explain to the public what is going on with regards funding, policy, tax payers money etc - too much time givin to the usual ranters and ravers with no real insight of the work being done at the chalk face by groups and individual key players. Siobhan has went for the easy angle of engaging with the usual suspects - she should take the bull by the horns and stir the artistic s**t bucket.
With regard the general feeling about Long's reviews, the nick-name she has received among respected musicians and academics in the music industry is "Siobhan Wrong". I think that says it all.
I have to admit that her historical knowledge is good but her opinion of music being entirely about one aesthetic; "space" is obviously flawed since there is no rule-book on how the music should be performed. Also, as it is the music of the people, they are free to interpret it in any such way as they wish and shouldn't be condemned from wider judgement by one person. After all, that is how innovation happens.
Morally, I have issues with Siobhan in that she is down right rude sometimes. I remember an instance when she was being paid to say nice things about myself for the Gradam Ceoil and she took the opportunity to put in a childish and rude dig on a friend who I play with. Also, whatever is said about myself; I don't care but in a review of my album, she made an illusion to a composer whoes music I used and alcoholism. It was written in a way that one would need to know the full story but it was rudeness on a different level. In that sense, she reduces credibility for The Irish Times and herself. However, having said that, I have been interviewed by her via phone and she was really nice but I cannot help to think that it was superficial.
Another point is her language. While personally, I am fine with people writing in whatever style they please, many people see her as being a thesaurus freak who is simply trying to impress the editor and whatever her motive is for adopting such a style, it is ironic as she is forever advocating music devoid of anything technically demanding.
It appears to me that in her writings, she is on an egotistical rant. She praises the big names and slights many of the people starting out. (Perhaps they just couldn't affort big producers or production.) I strongly feel that the genre would be much healthier with out her writings but unfortunately when you release a CD, you need reviews for it to sell. It's a catch 22 in that sense.
My own principal is that people should always make up their own minds on what they like or dislike and not be dictated to by anyone. I feel that the role of the reviewer should be to highlight the content of an album and not inflict their own judgement in a way that will negatively affect the music which we all should love and respect.
She is inept, ignorant, vague and seems to be 'going steady' with a thesaurus. Her reviews are so far off the mark, I would actually go out and buy a cd that she slagged, because it would probably be good!
Imagine my disappointment when I bought Martin T's cd :(
Hey Worzel, what do you know. Martin Tourish is amazing, he makes the piano accordion so musical. I bet you couldn't play triplets that fast in irish music!
"filigree fiddle style". Kind of sums her up really.
But I'm intrigued about who "When Sick is it Tea You Want?" is. Who has registered and logged on here with seemingly the sole purpose of creating this discussion.
Maybe its siobhan long trying to invoke some favourable reviews for herself - in that case maybe a better username for her would have been: When Thick Is It Twee You Want?
Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
Siobhan Long has made her name as a journalist and Irish music critic writing for The Irish Times. I am inquiring about the general feeling musicians and readers have on Long's reviews? Do people wonder if Long really knows about Irish Traditional music on anything more than a superficial level? Some of her articles which featured at the summer's end were agravating. She focused in on Irish dance music and quoted singers who in my opinion know very little about dance music, or song for that matter. As a critic, I'm sure Long will take in stride whatever is delivered here as opinion on her reviews. Let's review the reviewer!!!!!
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by When Sick is it Tea You Want?
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
she's a sit on the fence writer who has her favourites (martin hayes, caoimhin o'r, and altan most notably). in my opinion she is a terrible writer, her style is that of a failed novelist, she flutters around what she wants to say using techniques not required for the job and ends up with no real opinion. she's a sycophant, in my opinion she knows little about irish music, she cannot even play the music. the fact she spoke to singers on those articles, i know the ones yer on about, goes to show how much she knows.
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by tradmoosic
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
Last summers article about Arts Council funding of the trad arts had one sentence at the end from the Arts Council not really giving them a chance to explain to the public what is going on with regards funding, policy, tax payers money etc - too much time givin to the usual ranters and ravers with no real insight of the work being done at the chalk face by groups and individual key players. Siobhan has went for the easy angle of engaging with the usual suspects - she should take the bull by the horns and stir the artistic s**t bucket.
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by iwerzon
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
With regard the general feeling about Long's reviews, the nick-name she has received among respected musicians and academics in the music industry is "Siobhan Wrong". I think that says it all.
I have to admit that her historical knowledge is good but her opinion of music being entirely about one aesthetic; "space" is obviously flawed since there is no rule-book on how the music should be performed. Also, as it is the music of the people, they are free to interpret it in any such way as they wish and shouldn't be condemned from wider judgement by one person. After all, that is how innovation happens.
Morally, I have issues with Siobhan in that she is down right rude sometimes. I remember an instance when she was being paid to say nice things about myself for the Gradam Ceoil and she took the opportunity to put in a childish and rude dig on a friend who I play with. Also, whatever is said about myself; I don't care but in a review of my album, she made an illusion to a composer whoes music I used and alcoholism. It was written in a way that one would need to know the full story but it was rudeness on a different level. In that sense, she reduces credibility for The Irish Times and herself. However, having said that, I have been interviewed by her via phone and she was really nice but I cannot help to think that it was superficial.
Another point is her language. While personally, I am fine with people writing in whatever style they please, many people see her as being a thesaurus freak who is simply trying to impress the editor and whatever her motive is for adopting such a style, it is ironic as she is forever advocating music devoid of anything technically demanding.
It appears to me that in her writings, she is on an egotistical rant. She praises the big names and slights many of the people starting out. (Perhaps they just couldn't affort big producers or production.) I strongly feel that the genre would be much healthier with out her writings but unfortunately when you release a CD, you need reviews for it to sell. It's a catch 22 in that sense.
My own principal is that people should always make up their own minds on what they like or dislike and not be dictated to by anyone. I feel that the role of the reviewer should be to highlight the content of an album and not inflict their own judgement in a way that will negatively affect the music which we all should love and respect.
Martin.
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by martin t
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
My little crystal ball tells me she's gonna have issue with your next production too Martin T when she gets wind of this. whoopdeedoo
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by When Sick is it Tea You Want?
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
Ha!!!! If what others think is going to colour ones music, then it aint worth playing it at all.
Martin T - sticking to his word!
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by martin t
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
for once i agree with you martin! lol. i think she is far too 'tactless' and she misses the one thing a reviewer needs: objectiveness.
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by tradmoosic
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
The odd link to pieces of her work might not have gone amiss here, so those of us ignorant of her work might be able to judge.
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
Ah, the 'infamous' siobhan long!
That has to be my favourite story about her.
She is inept, ignorant, vague and seems to be 'going steady' with a thesaurus. Her reviews are so far off the mark, I would actually go out and buy a cd that she slagged, because it would probably be good!
Imagine my disappointment when I bought Martin T's cd :(
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by WorzelGummidge
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
only kidding, I'd never buy that!
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by WorzelGummidge
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
Oooohhh you're such a bitch WorzelGummidge!
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by Gerry1972
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
Seriously though Liobhan Song has a magic 8 ball of superlatives that makes up the bulk of her reviews!
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by Gerry1972
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
Hey Worzel, what do you know. Martin Tourish is amazing, he makes the piano accordion so musical. I bet you couldn't play triplets that fast in irish music!
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by The Giant Snowman
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
Ah at least WorzelGummidge has good taste! Now back to the question at hand!
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by martin t
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
"filigree fiddle style". Kind of sums her up really.
But I'm intrigued about who "When Sick is it Tea You Want?" is. Who has registered and logged on here with seemingly the sole purpose of creating this discussion.
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
Maybe it's The Times' editor?
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
Maybe its siobhan long trying to invoke some favourable reviews for herself - in that case maybe a better username for her would have been: When Thick Is It Twee You Want?
# Posted on November 11th 2008 by Gerry1972
Re: Siobhan Long's Reviews!!!!!!!!!
ha ha, how about, "the maid behing the blah"?
# Posted on November 11th 2008 by llig leahcim