I’m in the process of reviewing Yossi and Yerachmiel, Yehuda – Generations of Song, and Sruli Ginsberg. Hopefully I’ll have the first review posted sometime this week.
June 13, 2006
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Jewish Music Blog 
any yacov young review?
Comment by Anonymous — June 14, 2006 @ 7:51 am
Word is, Sameach music asked Aryeh not to write a review of Yaacov Young as he informed them that it would not be the most positive review.
Sameach then asked if he could wait to write his review after the main selling period has ended.
Gotta love Sameach.
Comment by Itzick — June 14, 2006 @ 12:49 pm
I love this – “word is” – where do you get your information?
The truth is that Yacov asked me not to write a review, not Sameach. In fact, Sameach sent a copy of the album to JewishBlogmeister to review, and he wrote a pretty scathing review.
Comment by keyboardguy — June 14, 2006 @ 1:20 pm
It is a pretty negative review. I happen to think the album is very nice. Aryeh I was wondering if musicians have a harder time enjoying an album because they can pinpoint things that the average listener cannot. Just curious to hear your opinion.
Comment by Anonymous — June 14, 2006 @ 1:30 pm
You bring up a very interesting point.
Sometimes I wish I could just listen to an album as an average listener without automatically thinking about it from a musicians’s perspective. But, I still wouldn’t trade the knowledge I have for anything in the world. I don’t mean to wax philosophical, but it’s like that with everything – the more knowledge you obtain in any given field, the less “innocent” you become regarding that.
A food connoisseur is more discriminating of the food he eats, but if you want to know what food is good, the connoisseur’s the one to ask.
Comment by keyboardguy — June 14, 2006 @ 2:29 pm
Following up on that question,
Why is it that a musician can point out critical issues such as mixing mess ups and even singers going off key, when the artists themselves dont hear these same things when they are making the album. Is it merely an opinion type of things (meaning you may think they are off key and the artist thinks they are on key) or are they just too engrosed in the making of the album to be as critical of their own work.
Comment by Anonymous — June 14, 2006 @ 3:00 pm
Some things are clearly not opinions and are objective such as singing off key.
Why mistakes happen on albums is probably due to the fact that after the 50th take, the artist calls it a night, and the mixer/enginneer has to work with what they’ve got, even if it’s not the best.
Also, most front-end artists, especially in Jewish music, don’t have technical music knowledge or experience. The most they have is voice lessons, but they couldn’t tell an F# from a Bb.
Another factor to consider is that after spending many hours in a studio, like you say, it is very difficult to be objective.
Comment by keyboardguy — June 14, 2006 @ 4:09 pm
KBD Guy
If Yaakov Young has asked you not to review his album,and you are willing to abide by his wishes; than dont you think Dovid Gabay would have wanted the same?
Comment by Let people make a living — June 14, 2006 @ 4:09 pm
Hey lets be nice now! My review wasn’t “scathing” however it certainly wasn’t “glowing” either. I wrote what I felt was a pretty even handed review and personally I backed off somethings I would have like to have writen. I wrote about the good and the bad, nothing more and trying to be musically honest at the same time.
Comment by Jewish Blogmeister — June 15, 2006 @ 6:03 pm
let-
If Dovid Gabay would have asked me, I would have abided by his wishes. Shtikah K’Hoda’ah.
Blogmeister-
I didn’t mean anything negative when I said scathing – I’ve written many scathing things too.
Comment by keyboardguy — June 15, 2006 @ 6:13 pm
I get that, I just thought the word was a bit harsh. The truth is no matter what I or you write neginah is going to push these guys to the hilt to ensure that on some level they are sucessfull and when you have a big machine is behind you your chances are increased. The truth be told they both have good voices so they have what to work with.
Comment by Jewish Blogmeister — June 15, 2006 @ 6:44 pm
Ooooh shticka k’hoda! very nice! I like that one!
So as long as my friend doesn’t tell me not to say loshon horah about him, I can say whatever I want about him to my other friends, because “shtickah k’hodah”! Thanks for the heter Rabbi Steiner!
Comment by Yoni Prero — June 15, 2006 @ 9:22 pm
yoni,
I would almost laugh, but you’re serious. The discussion about loshon hora already took place, sorry you missed out.
Comment by keyboardguy — June 16, 2006 @ 3:28 pm
So is that how it goes? If someone brings up loshon horah once, then you’re good to go? Unbelievable.
Perhaps you haven’t had much exposure to the whole “learning” thing but “shtikah k’hodah” does not mean that I can say whatever I want about somebody’s work, as long as they haven’t told me I can’t. Un-freakin-believable!
And you are supposed to be represeting a frum perspective.
Comment by yoni p. — June 19, 2006 @ 10:13 am
Bravo Yoni P. – (are you sure you’re not Doug from 5 blogs back?) – You know how to “learn” – shkoiach! – You know what “shtikah ke’hodah” realy means – nice!
I’ll have you know that I asked a very prominant Rav (on Aryeh’s behalf) whether we could post critical comments regarding Jewish Music… and the Rav gave the Green Light!
So long as the comments are unbiased and not disparaging of the artist himself – comments as to the album are for the “tzorchei tzibur” there is nothing impermissable. Jewish Music is too important an issue to simply gloss over with self-serving propaganda – this blog is simply a reality check – where people like myself and itzick can come to get the raw unadulterated scoop. Whereas your comments Yoni are disparaging… so sush!
Finally, please don’t pasken for the rest of the oilam – if you are new here you may not be aware – but I, Reb Yankel am the ranking mashgiach in this blog.
Comment by Reb Yankel — June 27, 2006 @ 1:32 pm
Reb Yankel,
Read my post. Read it again. Hopefully you will understand it this time.
I’m not discussing whether it is mutter to write comments on this blog or not.
I’m focusing on the rationalization of “shtikah k’hodah” to explain why writing a review is permissable.
If Steiner asked Gabay if he could write a review and Gabay remained silent, then yes, “shticka k’hodah” would apply.
If Steiner never spoke with Gabay about writing the review, then it would not apply.
Perhaps its time for some chazara. Wouldn’t want to have your mashgichus revoked.–>
Comment by yoni prero — June 29, 2006 @ 1:46 pm