| 23 October 2007
by Craig
Of all places to source new ideas, a recent post on an online 4x4
forum has convinced me to release some free material in MP3 format.
We have a huge backlog of recorded material that either is no longer
available or was never allowed to become available! (You may well
see why if you listen to it!!!)
As from 23 October Rare Recordings Part 1
will be available online. This is a sample of some of my material
over the last 15 years. Soon Rare recordings Part 2 will be available
and will be a sample of some of Simone's rare archival material.Some
of this is pretty crook - bit there are a few gems amongst the rough.
In addition I have decided to release the entire "Jenny's
Flowers" EP online as a free download. This CD was recorded
at the Merry Muse in
August 2000 by Peter Richens. It has not been comercially available
for many years.
To access the free downloads either click on the links above or
click here. If you do download something
please let me know by email craigdaws @yahoo.com.au (no gap).
REVIEW OF SO NEAR YET SO FAR
21 May 2007 by Craig
Following a submission through Sonic Bids, a new online music magazine
called Unsigned Music Magazine, agreed to review our CD "So
Near Yet So Far." After over 12 months here is what they wrote
in full:
"Craig Dawson/Simone Olding
– So Near, Yet So Far
Very reminiscent of 1970’s folk
music…long hair, beards and
women with unshaven pitts!"
On first reading, this is laughable for obvious reasons.
On early refection it is still laughable but inaccurate:
1. It does not sound like 1970's folk.
2.They got it around the wrong way. Simone has long hair, I have
unshaven pits but neither of us has a beard.
3. It is grammatically incorrect and uses cliche humour in a way
which comes across as unprofessional.
On yet further reflection signs of D grade comedy begin to fade
only to be replaced with sadness and pity:
1. The magazine is new. It claims to promote unsigned artists. Ours
is not the only review that demonstrates writing and musicology
incompetence. Here is what they wrote about another artist on the
same page as ours:
"Nathan Asher and the Infantry
– Sex w/o Love – 3.4
If you like Tom Waits, you’ll like
Nathan Asher. If you don’t like Tom
Waits, like me, then you’ll want to
avoid this CD."
Here is another:
"The Endless band – Self Titled
– 3.0
I don’t know what this is and that
would be okay if it appealed to me,
but it doesn’t, so it’s not ok. Oh
yeah, next time PUT YOUR NAME
ON THE CD."
Just in case you don't get my point:
"Raymond Allan Kuran – Let It
Shine – 2.3
How drunk do you have to be to pick
up your guitar and write this music?
Evidently very."
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2. It is sad in the same way that
a young musician might counsel unrealistic expectations of stardom
only to have their dreams shattered when they find they make most
of their money playing covers in a seedy pub. The equivalent in
this online magazine concept comes across as even worse.
But those are really only first thoughts and impressions based on
the review. After some time the realisation of being conned leads
to an overwhelming feeling of being pissed off.
Here’s why:
Sonic Bids is a service that allows musicians to electronically
submit their material to various promotional and performance opportunities
worldwide. Most of these opportunities are above board and also
very convenient. That said, it is perhaps fair to say that from
personal experience, the odd dodgy opportunity must occasionally
sneak through.
The first time I got burnt was in entering a song writing competition
that offered excellent exposure and prizes. It was called 2005 Lyric
& Songwriting Contest. (The URL - http://www.sweedaysmusic.com.)
The competition cost 20 dollars US to enter. The first thing the
supposed organisers did was to extend the competition, possibly
in an attempt to attract more songwriters. The next thing I knew
was that they had simply vanished, website and all. With exactly
how much money they took with them I do not know.
Among other attractions Unsigned Music magazine offers “full-length
feature interviews, reviews, commentaries and critical business
information for and about the independent artist.” It costs
5 dollars US to submit your details electronically for them to consider
putting your act in a future edition of their magazine. Upon being
selected, which I assume everyone is, you are told;“Thanks
for your submission. You have been selected to appear in a future
issue of UNSIGNED's review section "New Style". If you
have a commercial quality CD available, please send a copy to the
following address…”
They then ask you to be patient as they say that they get “hundreds
of submissions.”
Not a bad idea is it! Not only do they get your 5 dollars, they
also get your CD! And literally hundreds of others as well each
edition!!! And you don’t need literacy or music skills.
So, to be fair, here is the best I can do to review "Unsigned
Music Magazine" in return for their insightful review of "So
Near Yet So Far."
"How unethical and immoral do you have to be to rip off and
mislead independent musicians struggling to pay back what it cost
them to produce a CD? Evidently very!"
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