Can you believe this guy?

[RavenOfRhiannon]

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/...eviews/n_8639/

I emailed him, and the magazine. I think eveyone else should too. The article was NOT an album review, but a platform for Mr. Brown to espouse his political views. If he didn't like the album based on it's musical merits, that's fine, but he never addressed them.

Randy

[Miranda]

What a joke! I sent him this little review of his review:

I enjoyed your interesting review of the new Fleeltwood Mac album. Too bad you never mentioned anything specific about the quality of the music. Should we buy this or not? Isn't that the reason to review music? Are you supposed to be an editorial writer or a reviewer? It's funny, but the political thrashing you gave this cd would have been appropriate, if not for the fact none of the topics you discussed are correct interpretations of the songs!

For instance, "Peacekeeper" is not a political statement about the war in Iraq. It was written several years ago and is about the typical FM fare: the band's awkward relationships with one another. What's the World Coming To? is about control and the lack of artistic integrity in the music business, not Hussein or Kim Il Jong. Murrow is a bit of commentary about the state of modern journalism but it leans neither left nor right. If you'd actually given this cd more than a quick spin and done a little homework before writing your review you wouldn't have completely missed the boat. I guess with the current political climate people will hear what they want to hear in music and read what they want to read in reviews and editorials. It's certainly easier to do a quick liberal bashing as par for the course, instead of telling us whether the music is any good or not.

You're giving Fleetwood Mac too much credit for their so-called political courage. At the same time, you're not giving them any credit for putting out an album of great music that is far from the political statement you perceive it to be. Too bad, because a lot of people count on reviewers like you for advice on buying music. It would be nice if you had taken this into consideration before going on a personal crusade for getting a promotion to the editorial pages. It might have worked if you knew what you were talking about. Nice try though. It was a clever angle, just all wrong in this case. Better luck next time. Thanks anyway.

--a dismayed music fan

[Barbara]

Good letter, Miranda.

I sent him a short email telling him basically that it was irresponsible to mislead the public by writing a review that was totally off base. Here's his address in case anybody else wants to write:

[email protected]

Barbara

[dissention]

Here's what I sent him:

"I just have to wonder if you even check to see if what you write is even a bit factual before you submit it for printing.
Your so-called "review" of the new Fleetwood Mac album, "Say You Will," was so off-the-mark and ignorant that it isn't even fit to print. How could an album that was worked on for almost two years come out now as an album that was against military action in Iraq? "Peacekeeper" is about band relationships, "What's the World Coming To?" is about the music industry, and "Murrow" is about the media and what's wrong with it.
It's reviews like yours that give critics in general a bad name.
And you critics wonder why no one has respect for your jobs??? Well, I guess critics can't be expected to be good at research, only at half-baked inferments and misplaced interpretations. "Say You Will" take your job more seriously.

-- A music fan

[strandinthewind]

I so e-mailed him and told him the same things as above and demanded a written retaction. I also told him it was irresponsible of him to assume facts he had not taken five minutes to check. What a lazy a**hole.

[RavenOfRhiannon]

Here is what I wrote to Mr. Brown. I also sent a copy to the magazine...

Mr. Brown,

I have to take issue with your rant over Fleetwood Mac's ideology. 'Say You Will' is a very good album of mainly un-political statements. In fact, if you were to research the band a little more, you would find that Lindsey Buckingham wrote 'Peacekeeper' a few years ago, and it is more a love song than a political statement. You also fail to mention Stevie Nicks' haunting 'Illume' a tribute to the fallen heroes of 9-11. You can also access a letter Nicks wrote to the armed forces serving overseas at www.nicksfix.com she has publicly stated her support for anyone serving in any military capacity. In fact, a flag was flown over the US Capitol last year, at the urging of Sen. Hutchinson, to show the nation's gratitude for the patriotism Nicks has shown.
There are enough artists and citizens (including myself) who are opposed to this military action, without having to resort to inferring others. Fleetwood Mac has not taken a stand for or against the war, the current administration or anything else remotely political. Your article just lends credibility to 'Murrow Turning Over In His Grave' by using the media as a platform for your own political views, instead of reporting fairly from both sides.

Randall K. Ham

[RavenOfRhiannon]

Here is the email address for the magazine:

[email protected]

Randy

[secondhandchain]

PLEASE EVERYBODY E-mail those A-holes!

[blodge]

My e-mail to him:

Please tell me that you didn't allow your own politics to color your perception of Fleetwood Mac's new album, Say You Will. Please tell me that you know that this album was several years in the making and not a knee-jerk reaction produced in the wake of the current world situation. Please tell me you know that none of the songs you mentioned has anything to do with that world situation. Please tell me you know that Peacekeeper is not about war. Please tell me you know that Illume was dedicated to those most affected by 9-11. Please tell me you know that Lindsey Buckingham describes himself as apolitical. Please tell me that this was either a spoof or that you have the humility for a mea culpa after a "review" (was that supposed to be a review or a political rant?) that was so ignorant of the relevant background facts as to be unworthy of publication.

I supported the war effort. I share your frustration with self-important celebrities who pontificate, even in the face of facts. But this Fleetwood Mac album was far removed that debate, though the title and timing of Peacekeeper's release made it an easy mistake to make. Still, I would have thought a professional journalist wouldn't have been the one to make that mistake.

Please tell me you value your credibility more than that.