Monday, November 04, 2024

My Back Pages (An Occasional Series): Special "Print is Dead!" Edition

And speaking as we were last week of Warren Zevon's Exciteable Boy, here's what I had to say about it in the January 1978 issue of Stereo Review. (If you have trouble reading the below, just click on it to embiggen.)

I think that's a pisser of a review, actually, and -- unusually for me -- in retrospect I'd hardly change a word.

I should also add that I'm particularly amused by the "irony of the beholder" joke. 😎

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11 comments:

  1. ChrisE11/04/2024 10:23 AM

    I remember reading this review - hell, I probably still have the magazine - and, as many of your reviews did, it inspired me to buy a copy of the album. So, a belated thank you for that :-)

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  2. steve simels11/04/2024 10:30 AM

    I had completely forgotten that review until last week -- it's nice to discover that it doesn't embarrass me after all these years, unlike some others of mine I could mention. 😎

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  3. Anonymous11/04/2024 10:58 AM

    album eight track and cassette are all available and are the same list prices. now those were the good old days! i got the lp.
    rs

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  4. ChrisE11/04/2024 11:03 AM

    It's up to you, of course, but I think it would be, as the saying goes, fun and educational if you posted your pieces on Elvis Costello's MY AIM IS TRUE and Marshall Crenshaw's self-titled release, a couple of sensational debut albums and a couple of my favorite reviews that you wrote.

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  5. steve simels11/04/2024 11:05 AM

    I've totally forgotten both of those. Wow -- I'll go look for them.

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  6. ChrisE11/04/2024 3:02 PM

    I believe the Costello appeared in the March 1978 issue and the Crenshaw was in June 1982.

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    Replies
    1. steve simels11/04/2024 3:19 PM

      Found 'em both. Not completely thrilled with the Costello, but I lurve the Crenshaw. Gonna put that one up fer sure.

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  7. Dave Leonatti11/04/2024 4:22 PM

    Nicely done, Sleeve Nimels. Holds up well.

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  8. Rob B Mullen11/04/2024 6:39 PM

    "The further these songs get from Ronstadtland the more I like them"
    robert christgau / 1987
    rob. ;-)


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  9. neal t11/04/2024 9:31 PM

    so by that time the magazine f........ dropped the patented Recording & Sound ratings for albums?

    was a typical 1 2 first release era for many new talents

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  10. getawaygoober11/05/2024 1:50 AM

    Steve, was Rex Reed still writing reviews for HFSR when you were there? I remember my brother and I arguing with my father about his review of the Stones' Between the Buttons in July 67. Note: my father played viola in the orchestra and had his opinions about R&R.

    https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-HiFI-Stereo/60s/HiFi-Stereo-Review-1967-07.pdf

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