Cheesy Cripsy
6-27-00
In response to criticism of David Sickmen's new Beau Prie release.
Printed in C-VILLE Vol. 12, No.27
Dear Cripsy
Wow, what a review you gave David Sickmen's CD release ("Media Darlings, June 27"), but considering the CD has not even been released yet, I feel there are a few things you need to be clued in on.
It was obvious from the first paragraph of your article, (to me, anyway) your ability to give an unbiased opinion was clearly evident...like a jury member with past knowledge of a defendant, it seems like you, "Cripsy" should have been removed from the jurors box. If the media wanted to "get into their pants," it was because they did play (Peter and David) twice a week at the Outback Lodge and Tokyo Rose and, you're right, they are charismatic and ...cute!! You said you almost couldn't stand it, duh, that was obvious from your critique. The first sign of jury tampering. Why would you enlist two drunken colleagues to critique a sober effort in the form of a CD. Speaking of helping you weed through the hype, you need to quit hitting the pipe.
I will address your critique in order. One, "She" is an insatiable, unknowable, a girlish gypsy of our collective fantasy, a vision of love and selfishness. Do you know her too? "Give up already." -Give up what? Do you need him to hold your hand and walk you through every song, or don't you enjoy thinking for yourself, leaving it up to your own imagination. Two, Have you ever heard "trust your first instinct?" In Roll 11 you thought the lyric "She's asleep in the room where her make-up lives...caught between the space of Adam's ribs," was heavy and clever wordsmithy, but left undeveloped, is it the artist responsibility to finish the story, to your liking? How about she wears makeup because she feels bad about herself, is that better, is that developed enough for you?
Because I am interested in the local music scene, I have read your articles in the past, I gotta tell you, the only "inspired poetic sendups, ending with bummer museless vacuums and the whole mess repeated" are your lame critiques. Apparently from your comparisons to XTC, Elvis Costello and the Beatles, there has to be something special going on with David's songwriting and music, very unlike a trainwreck. I see David's (my brother) lyrics and music as a stream of consciousness, a small piece of a greater story. I agree with you that there are some touchingly tender moments and very eloquent musical maneuvers, that I hope everyone else will hear and be able draw their own conclusions on its worth or merit. I have a lot of faith in fellow Charlottesvillians and know that they will in fact "adore it".
In closing Mr. Cripsy, aren't these some of your lyrics, "I want whatever you want, whatever you want, whatever you want/ I want to buy you a hundred pound block of cheese?" Why don't you put those on your CD release so Charlottesville can see how great your lyrical content is. Stop hiding in the Cow Palace, and don't be so jealous darling.
Carri Rawls
Charlottesville
CRRoxstar@aol.com
It's... "a million ton block of cheese/ a store full of groceries."-- Cripsy
And my response:
(not printed in the paper)
Carri,
It took awhile but I finally found a program that would decode your letter.
(you might just want to write that stuff in the e-mail next time-- rather than attaching it)
What if I thought Beau Prie sucked?
I didn't, but-- isn't that possible?
You want me to lie and kiss David's already lipstick encrusted butt?
Charlottesville's adorably smug downtown community has been congratulating itself for this kind of garbage for so long now.
I'm glad he has his defenders-- even if it is his sister.
But I'm still gonna rant any old way I choose.
I feel bad for David, but it was a choice between cool and honest, and frankly, I've never been that cool. If I had, my name would have been annoyingly overused in the paper all those years, and I would be down at the C-Ville offices, thrusting my disc on the editor and requesting review space. I'm not.
I would recommend that you rewrite your letter, this time as a defense of David, rather than an attack on me, and see if the paper will print it. I doubt they're gonna print that one. (I was wrong)
And thanks for listening to my crappy music.
At least I know why I suck.
--Cripsy Duck
+
Pluck Cripsy
1-18-00
In response to criticism of Supertanker.
Printed in C-VILLE Vol. 12, No.3
Is it too much to expect my community newspaper to show signs of professionalism in its presentation of articles and hiring of its representatives?
I was completely put off by the trite, juvenile, very personal, and admittedly inebriated attitude reflected by "Cripsy" this past week (Cripsy's Crawl, January 4).
Who is this individual who has forgotten the idea of good journalism? Not only does he show strong signs of being limited when it comes to music critiques, but he has chosen to border on defamation of character in his non-comprehension of probably the best rhythm section in town... I refer, of course, to Ben Jacobs, Rod Coles, and Raphael Wintersburger of Supertanker. If you doubt this, just ask Dave Matthews or anyone who knows music about town. Cripsy has insulted Peter Griesar, as this talented individual knows what he is doing-- that it is a team effort to make a tight sound, and these musicians work off one another and as one. They know what they are doing... I can hardly say that of Cripsy! (By the way, the name does not suit... it should be "Crispy" because his style is brittle, self-serving and mean-spirited.)
As far as I am concerned, his credentials are lacking, and this brittle style gets tiresome. Who am I? I am a professional educator in the fine arts, a great fan of Supertanker and the Hogwaller Ramblers (who Cripsy also mentioned and ignored), and I am a musician still waiting to hear a musical critique, not a very personal opinion.
I love this community and support C-VILLE. It hurts me when I see something of this nature that is beneath your paper. "Cripsy" needs to self-reflect, understand that the greatest thing we can do for one another is to show kindness and objectivity, especially if statements are made as truths. If he can't, perhaps "Cripsy" needs to go!
One last thought... he should not drink and write.
Annie Jacobs
Charlottesville
atjacobs@earthlink.net
Editor's Note: Jacobs is the mother of Supertanker band member Ben Jacobs.
And my response:
(not printed in the paper)
Lady, you do your son a horrible disservice.
If you read my critique of Supertanker carefully (instead of as a jealous mother) you will see that it is not a personal attack, but a (at least somewhat) thoughtful discussion of changes within the band and how that has affected its overall tenor. Griesar himself did not seem so offended by my remarks-- maybe even agreed with me since he has since disbanded the group.
Take a lude and let your son fight his own battles. He's a great musician and perfectly capable.
--Cripsy Duck
+
Crispy Disses Ignorantly
11-9-99
In response to criticism of Alexandra Scott.
Printed in C-VILLE Vol. 11, No.45
I have been a fan of local music in Charlottesville for a number of years
and have noticed a disturbing pattern in the local music reviews and other
articles on local musicians published in C-VILLE. There appears to be a
tendency of generously promoting local musicians until they gain national
attention, at which point once supportive, positive commentary degenerates
into cynicism and in some cases mean-spiritedness.
It is as though recognizing the merits of a local musician becomes
unfashionable or uninteresting as soon as anyone beyond Charlottesville
does it. "Cripsy Duck's" comments on Alexandra Scott's music ("Goo-goey and
smoothie," November 2) exemplify this.
Here is a music critic who drags him/herself to a show at Rapture
and proffers various abstract insults without even bothering to really
listen to the music. The thrust of his/her commentary boils down to a clear
resentment of Scott's opening for the Goo Goo Dolls rather than anything
about the music itself.
Songs from Alexandra Scott's CD Styrofoam have been in and out of
the top ten on MP3.com's alternative charts for a number of months now
(which is, most likely, how she got the opening spot for the Goo Goo Dolls,
given that the tour was organized and sponsored by MP3) and by all accounts
things seem to be going well for her.
Why would such success be so offensive (or threatening) to a local
music critic?
Of course "Cripsy Duck" is entitled to his/her opinion, and that is
not my gripe with the review. My gripe is that he/she finds it easier to
slam a rising local musician (because she is rising) than to say anything
specific (positive or negative) about her music. The lack of specificity is
not disturbing given that he/she, by his/her own admission, hasn't listened
to her CD, but the arbitrary condemnation of her good fortune is disturbing.
I would love to see any of Charlottesville's local musicians gain
national acclaim, as many of them deserve it. When they do, perhaps your
local music critic may not feel the need to respond with such cynicism and
resentment. If history is anything to go by, such a reaction is,
unfortunately, the surest sign that a local musician is on the right path.
Lucas Mia
Charlottesville
lucasmia@hotmail.com
And my response:
(not printed in the paper)
Lucas,
You've raised an interesting point about my resentment of what appears to me unworthy success. It may not make such interesting reading. But you're wrong to assume I wasn't listening. With that in mind...
The masses may rightly disagree but.... consider Pandora's Box now officially open.
A) The girl can't sing. Daysi commented halfway through the first song we heard that it made her think SHE could be lead quack for a band.
B) Her songs all sound like trainwrecks. The choruses and the verses don't seem to match at all - they just happen with no real musical sense whatsoever.
C) She's given these songs the tritest cliche names I've ever heard. "Roman Candle"? "April Fool"? I've heard more innovative stuff on the Home Shopping Network.
D) She plays guitar with a disturbing little flick of the wrist that is just plain creepy.
E) Her band sounded half asleep and bored.
I wish this wasn't the case. I wish I had been blown away by her depth and imagination. But I wasn't. Not impressed, not excited, just disturbed.
Granted, her record may kick ass. Granted, I may be a loser who just can't appreciate the subtle nuances of her genius. Granted, umpteen million 15 year olds may have downloaded her tunes off the net. I just don't see it. I'd like to think I might, someday -- maybe even have a good time at one of her shows.
Frankly, MORE POWER TO HER. I hope she sells a billion records and laughs at all this trivial crap until the day she goes to Indy-pop heaven.
Now go out and buy a copy of Brady Earnhart's record and ask yourself why he should have to keep a day job.
--Cripsy Duck
....................................................................................................................................................
up
