"New" Reviews
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In my opinion, positive reviews do help in creating that buzz for a new record. While Paul has a good base of fans and they will buy the record anyway, good and especially great reviews would certainly help push a much broader audience to eventually buy the album. A good review might push people to check out samples/track selections from the Internet. In summary, good reviews certainly will helps sales and marry up with the total Marketing effort. Conversely, bad reviews might keep the non Macca fan away totally. Besides Rollingstone for the US, the other publication that has a lot of clout as far as sheer numbers is USA Today. They always have an expansive music section in their Life Section. Tuesday's is particularly big. Their main Rock writer is Edna Gunderson (I may have that misspelled). When there is a big feature on any of the classic rock artists, she is normally the writer. She often does the review of their new album as well. I did notice recently that she did a nice piece on Elton John's speaking of his new album although the review itself was written by Brian Mansfield. Edna has always loved Elton over the years so maybe she handed the reviewing over to one of her colleagues because of her friendship. I'm sure that USA Today will do a Paul Feature around the time of the album. It will be interesting to see which of their music critics actually reviews "NEW". Anyway, a good to great review from USA Today would reach a big, diverse audience so this would be helpful. Someone else mention some of the big papers like NY Times and LA Times. Another one that would give "New" a good boost because they are "national" is the Wall Street Journal. They always have a very good and intelligent Music section in their Life type section. WSJ did a very nice article on Paul when Kisses was released and it surely helped sales. If you recall, the reviewer called it a great album and one that Jazz enthusiasts should have in their collection. While WSJ doesn't have as big of audience of as USA Today, their target audience are Paul type buyers. Obviously reviews are only a small part of the total Marketing efforts. Paul's appearances (i.e. I-Heart and Kimmel) are probably bigger.
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I agree that media reviews of albums matter less than what they used to. Long gone are the days when I got upset about a poor report on something I feel was better. A magazine will print on their cover headlines of 'Best Album Yet' or 'Their Masterpiece' etc. This I feel is to purchase the magazine. The magazines/articles I read are poorly written and uninformative anyway, sometimes I wonder if they have actually taken the time to actually listen to it. As for Paul McCartney, I feel the media are very favourable with him at the moment. I remember in the late 80's - late 90's his albums were kind of slated and he was comically the 'thumbs aloft' character. I forgot what the question was...
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B J Conlee:
In my opinion, positive reviews do help in creating that buzz for a new record... Besides Rollingstone for the US, the other publication that has a lot of clout as far as sheer numbers is USA Today. They always have an expansive music section in their Life Section...
Good point.
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B J Conlee:
In my opinion, positive reviews do help in creating that buzz for a new record. While Paul has a good base of fans and they will buy the record anyway, good and especially great reviews would certainly help push a much broader audience to eventually buy the album. A good review might push people to check out samples/track selections from the Internet. In summary, good reviews certainly will helps sales and marry up with the total Marketing effort. Conversely, bad reviews might keep the non Macca fan away totally. Besides Rollingstone for the US, the other publication that has a lot of clout as far as sheer numbers is USA Today. They always have an expansive music section in their Life Section. Tuesday's is particularly big. Their main Rock writer is Edna Gunderson (I may have that misspelled). When there is a big feature on any of the classic rock artists, she is normally the writer. She often does the review of their new album as well. I did notice recently that she did a nice piece on Elton John's speaking of his new album although the review itself was written by Brian Mansfield. Edna has always loved Elton over the years so maybe she handed the reviewing over to one of her colleagues because of her friendship. I'm sure that USA Today will do a Paul Feature around the time of the album. It will be interesting to see which of their music critics actually reviews "NEW". Anyway, a good to great review from USA Today would reach a big, diverse audience so this would be helpful. Someone else mention some of the big papers like NY Times and LA Times. Another one that would give "New" a good boost because they are "national" is the Wall Street Journal. They always have a very good and intelligent Music section in their Life type section. WSJ did a very nice article on Paul when Kisses was released and it surely helped sales. If you recall, the reviewer called it a great album and one that Jazz enthusiasts should have in their collection. While WSJ doesn't have as big of audience of as USA Today, their target audience are Paul type buyers. Obviously reviews are only a small part of the total Marketing efforts. Paul's appearances (i.e. I-Heart and Kimmel) are probably bigger.
I wonder when the reviews will come out. I would think we should see some by next Friday at the latest. Should be interesting and crossing my fingers.
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yankeefan7:
I wonder when the reviews will come out.
I'm guessing after the Listening Parties tonight. Surely they cannot embargo the music press when the fans have heard it and will head for their favourite fan-sites with their opinions. The music press have been hearing this for the last few weeks now at exclusive listening parties so should have their copy ready to roll as soon as their embargo is lifted. A full week of pre-launch press reviews ahead of the release date would seem about right ... Martin
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I read that People Magazine...upcoming issue...was giving the song, "New," four stars (the highest rating)!! Shouldn't they have done that weeks ago when it might have helped the single????
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Beatles4Ever&Ever:
I read that People Magazine...upcoming issue...was giving the song, "New," four stars (the highest rating)!! Shouldn't they have done that weeks ago when it might have helped the single????
Could that be a review of the album, not just the single?
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Q magazine gave the album 4 stars out of 5 and Uncut marked it as a 7 out of 10.
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favoritething:
Beatles4Ever&Ever:
I read that People Magazine...upcoming issue...was giving the song, "New," four stars (the highest rating)!! Shouldn't they have done that weeks ago when it might have helped the single????
Could that be a review of the album, not just the single?
The People Magazine review was definitely just for the single. The album review will probably come out in the week after 10/15. It is a good sign for a positive review. People is the biggest weekly out there so a good to very good review would certainly help sales.
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Jock Tamson:
Q magazine gave the album 4 stars out of 5 and Uncut marked it as a 7 out of 10.
Being from the US, I am not very familiar with these publications. My questions are: *are both reviews for the album? Assuming they are music publications, I'm thinking that they might be for the album. *for the Uncut review, is 7 out of 10 considered to be good to very good or is it more average. Not sure how tough Uncut's critics are. Hoping that they are tough and that 7 out of 10 is good. * I would think Q Magazine's 4 stars (out of 5) is a good, positive review. If anyone knows good answers to these questions, please give us you're imput.
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B J Conlee:
favoritething:
Beatles4Ever&Ever:
I read that People Magazine...upcoming issue...was giving the song, "New," four stars (the highest rating)!! Shouldn't they have done that weeks ago when it might have helped the single????
Could that be a review of the album, not just the single?
The People Magazine review was definitely just for the single. The album review will probably come out in the week after 10/15. It is a good sign for a positive review. People is the biggest weekly out there so a good to very good review would certainly help sales.
Which means that People didn't get to hear the single any sooner than any of us did. They've really done an amazing job of keeping this thing on lockdown till right before release.
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B J Conlee:
Jock Tamson:
Q magazine gave the album 4 stars out of 5 and Uncut marked it as a 7 out of 10.
Being from the US, I am not very familiar with these publications. My questions are: *are both reviews for the album? Assuming they are music publications, I'm thinking that they might be for the album. *for the Uncut review, is 7 out of 10 considered to be good to very good or is it more average. Not sure how tough Uncut's critics are. Hoping that they are tough and that 7 out of 10 is good. * I would think Q Magazine's 4 stars (out of 5) is a good, positive review. If anyone knows good answers to these questions, please give us you're imput.
Still, I would have hoped for the highest possible rating from whatever publication. Ten out of 10 stars and 5 out of 5. I mean, if this were Bob Dylan that's what would happen. It's just a given for him.
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Can we have a thread with a sticky on the top that compiles all of the reviews for the album? I haven't seen any yet, but it would be nice to have them all in one convenient spot.
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I will buy a "NEW" McCartney album no matter what any review says, so I can review it myself and see if I agree with any of them. Because he is Paul McCartney and his track record of 50 years of songwriting and recording speaks for itself. I will always be my own best judge of the music I like, not because of what some hack from a magazine who heard the album once and is expected to give an objective opinion tells me I should like. Critics are just people who think they know better than anyone what "good" music is, and have been given a forum to tell the rest of us. That's just B.S. The only reviews I like are reviews that I agree with, and I'm sure that goes for all of us. The one McCartney album which has gotten more favorable for me over the years is Flowers In The Dirt, which I think is brilliant now, but I was disappointed in when I first heard it. I definitely do not like Driving Rain much as I did at first, but I have a better opinion now of Memory Almost Full. Chaos is great, but isn't rockin'...I really can't wait to hear the whole "NEW" album. Eight days away (in the U.S.). And critics be damned!
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beatlesfanrandy:
I will buy a "NEW" McCartney album no matter what any review says, so I can review it myself and see if I agree with any of them. Because he is Paul McCartney and his track record of 50 years of songwriting and recording speaks for itself. I will always be my own best judge of the music I like, not some hack from a magazine who heard the album once and is expected to give an objective opinion tells me I should like. Critics are just people who think they know better than anyone what "good" music is, and have been given a forum to tell the rest of us. That's just B.S. The one McCartney album which has gotten more favorable for me over the years is Flowers In The Dirt, which I think is brilliant now, but I was disappointed in when I first heard it. I definitely do not like Driving Rain much as I did at first, but I have a better opinion now of Memory Almost Full. Chaos is great, but isn't rockin'...I really can't wait to hear the whole "NEW" album. Eight days away (in the U.S.). And critics be damned!
I don't think you need to worry too much about what the critics say. I was at the New York event yesterday and heard the entire album......WOW!
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paulmccartneyfan1:
beatlesfanrandy:
I will buy a "NEW" McCartney album no matter what any review says, so I can review it myself and see if I agree with any of them. Because he is Paul McCartney and his track record of 50 years of songwriting and recording speaks for itself. I will always be my own best judge of the music I like, not some hack from a magazine who heard the album once and is expected to give an objective opinion tells me I should like. Critics are just people who think they know better than anyone what "good" music is, and have been given a forum to tell the rest of us. That's just B.S. The one McCartney album which has gotten more favorable for me over the years is Flowers In The Dirt, which I think is brilliant now, but I was disappointed in when I first heard it. I definitely do not like Driving Rain much as I did at first, but I have a better opinion now of Memory Almost Full. Chaos is great, but isn't rockin'...I really can't wait to hear the whole "NEW" album. Eight days away (in the U.S.). And critics be damned!
I don't think you need to worry too much about what the critics say. I was at the New York event yesterday and heard the entire album......WOW!
That was my whole point. I'm not worried about the critics. But the buzz over this one is exciting!
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beatlesfanrandy:
paulmccartneyfan1:
beatlesfanrandy:
I will buy a "NEW" McCartney album no matter what any review says, so I can review it myself and see if I agree with any of them. Because he is Paul McCartney and his track record of 50 years of songwriting and recording speaks for itself. I will always be my own best judge of the music I like, not some hack from a magazine who heard the album once and is expected to give an objective opinion tells me I should like. Critics are just people who think they know better than anyone what "good" music is, and have been given a forum to tell the rest of us. That's just B.S. The one McCartney album which has gotten more favorable for me over the years is Flowers In The Dirt, which I think is brilliant now, but I was disappointed in when I first heard it. I definitely do not like Driving Rain much as I did at first, but I have a better opinion now of Memory Almost Full. Chaos is great, but isn't rockin'...I really can't wait to hear the whole "NEW" album. Eight days away (in the U.S.). And critics be damned!
I don't think you need to worry too much about what the critics say. I was at the New York event yesterday and heard the entire album......WOW!
That was my whole point. I'm not worried about the critics. But the buzz over this one is exciting!
It is very exciting!
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Both of you are right. True Macca fans are going to buy a new Paul fan no matter what the critics say. If USA Today, Rollingstone and others pan "New" I will be first in line in my area to buy it. My interest in the reviews only pertains to the overall success of the Album. As a Macca fan, I want him to have big success. Good positive reviews will help in terms of getting the real casual fan to buy it. Many baby boomers hesitate to buy an artist's new stuff (even boomers that were Beatle fans) just because they only live musically in the past. Good reviews could persuade that market. People born let's say in the 80's, 90's etc. who don't know much about Paul McCartney (except that he was a Beatle) might buy it after seeing good reviews. That is the benefit of favorable to very good reviews. It might persuade these younger people to go on the Internet and find samples from the album. If they like what they hear, then they might buy the album. These younger people can be far more objective about an artist like Paul. They didn't live through the period where most of the critics were so negative about Paul. They listen with an open mind.
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B J Conlee:
Both of you are right. True Macca fans are going to buy a new Paul fan no matter what the critics say. If USA Today, Rollingstone and others pan "New" I will be first in line in my area to buy it. My interest in the reviews only pertains to the overall success of the Album. As a Macca fan, I want him to have big success. Good positive reviews will help in terms of getting the real casual fan to buy it. Many baby boomers hesitate to buy an artist's new stuff (even boomers that were Beatle fans) just because they only live musically in the past. Good reviews could persuade that market. People born let's say in the 80's, 90's etc. who don't know much about Paul McCartney (except that he was a Beatle) might buy it after seeing good reviews. That is the benefit of favorable to very good reviews. It might persuade these younger people to go on the Internet and find samples from the album. If they like what they hear, then they might buy the album. These younger people can be far more objective about an artist like Paul. They didn't live through the period where most of the critics were so negative about Paul. They listen with an open mind.
It's funny that you mention that. I was born in 1991 and love of all of Paul's solo stuff. I love his 80's and 90's work, but sadly, not many my age know about it much. His music is great no matter what decade he made it in. I just love it so much.. I understand what you mean when you say that "baby boomers are hesitant to buy his new stuff." And this is a strong reason why Paul won't play solo (80's & 90's) work in his shows. I just hope and pray that someday I could see Paul perform any solo work of his life such as "Put it There," "C'mon People," "Little Willow," "This One," "Wanderlust," "I Owe It All to You, "Beautiful Night." Damn, I would die if he played any!
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paulmccartneyfan1:
B J Conlee:
Both of you are right. True Macca fans are going to buy a new Paul fan no matter what the critics say. If USA Today, Rollingstone and others pan "New" I will be first in line in my area to buy it. My interest in the reviews only pertains to the overall success of the Album. As a Macca fan, I want him to have big success. Good positive reviews will help in terms of getting the real casual fan to buy it. Many baby boomers hesitate to buy an artist's new stuff (even boomers that were Beatle fans) just because they only live musically in the past. Good reviews could persuade that market. People born let's say in the 80's, 90's etc. who don't know much about Paul McCartney (except that he was a Beatle) might buy it after seeing good reviews. That is the benefit of favorable to very good reviews. It might persuade these younger people to go on the Internet and find samples from the album. If they like what they hear, then they might buy the album. These younger people can be far more objective about an artist like Paul. They didn't live through the period where most of the critics were so negative about Paul. They listen with an open mind.
It's funny that you mention that. I was born in 1991 and love of all of Paul's solo stuff. I love his 80's and 90's work, but sadly, not many my age know about it much. His music is great no matter what decade he made it in. I just love it so much.. I understand what you mean when you say that "baby boomers are hesitant to buy his new stuff." And this is a strong reason why Paul won't play solo (80's & 90's) work in his shows. I just hope and pray that someday I could see Paul perform any solo work of his life such as "Put it There," "C'mon People," "Little Willow," "This One," "Wanderlust," "I Owe It All to You, "Beautiful Night." Damn, I would die if he played any!
PaulMcCartneyfan1, So nice to see a young person like yourself appreciating Paul's music (all of it including Solo) so much. I think that Paul's Marketing team going after the young generation for "NEW" is so smart. If young people give a fair listen to Paul's music, many will fall in love with it like yourself. I agree and would love to see Paul do a concert with almost all Solo stuff. By the way, I love your list of songs...everyone of them. I had suggested in a Post several months ago that Paul does a Unplugged 2 with his Solo Songs being the significant majority of the Setlist. Still would love to see this happen. I know it would probably have to be in a smaller setting/venue and it would be very difficult to get to see it personally but I would love to have just the video of such a concert. By the way, I noticed that you went to the NY Listening Event yesterday. You probably already gave your review in the other post, but please let us know on this post you're initial feeling on "NEW" after hearing the whole album. Did you really like most of the tracks?