(image credit)

I should, retrospectively, have known better than to even bring it up in the first place really. Remember a few weeks back we all had a good laugh at the poor publicity chap who sent the Laura Critchley album to me, of all people, to try? Well I tried to keep it anonymous because, as amusing as the mismatch was, I have a policy on Song, by Toad of not slagging off small artists.

The way I see it, and I’m open to correction on this, if you’re big enough to be in the NME then you’re fair game because honestly why would you care what one lone internet gobshite thinks once you’ve progressed to that level. It’s a different story for small artists of course – they care much more about their own publicity, because there is so much less of it, and the whole thing is altogether more personal. I know it’s a bit false to say that successful groups don’t care about being insulted either, but ultimately they are big enough and ugly enough to look after themselves.

So when I had a laugh at the expense of Laura I was a bit unsure because I didn’t want to explicitly have a dig at someone starting out, but the whole package activated so many of my instant prejudices to such an extent I thought it really was quite funny. Inevitably who I was talking about ended up coming out, unfortunately, and then the poor lass was enthusiastically ripped into by all and sundry. Anyhow, Andrew from Big Print Music found the post and left the following comment, putting me very, very much in my place:

Hey – its always interesting to see things form a different perspective – even if its not what you want to hear… being the bloke thats behind Laura… in a business way that is..!!

Anyhow – quite obviously the PR team didnt send the disc to the right person for reviewing.. so thanks for evening listening to it – I know that people cant be all things to all people…

That said – I thought you might be interested to hear that all the photos you are talking about were done off the cuff – no stylist – no makeup/hair person – photographer was a mate… total budget £0. It was just what we captured on that day – and the reaction was positive which is why we ran with it.

Ho hum… I realise the music is very MOR/Mainstream – but at least she has cowritten all the tracks – and her voice is more than passable… she has worked bloody hard, and is vocally good live as she is on the record.

Anyhow – why am I warbling when the battle here is already lost…!!

Mainly cos I just wanted to put some kind of perspective to this thread… She does deserve some kind of chance in the industry – theres ALOT of other less talented people who have had success… Shes not manufactured… she’s made alot of decisions herself.

Anyhow – time will tell…

(oh – and actually I wanted to sign at least one of her tracks, and had put things into place – before Id even met her, so – no full verticle movement on a meet and greet…!!)

Andrew

So if I didn’t feel badly enough about it before, I certainly do now. So kudos to Andrew for not just calling me a cunt, which he would have been well within his rights to do, and a sheepish apology to Laura for being such a twat. It’s not my kind of music at all, of course it isn’t, but having a dig at someone just starting out, especially coming from a man with absolutely zero musical skills himself, is a bit out of order. When you make Top of the Pops all bets are off, but for now, I am sorry.

You can investigate Laura’s stuff here, if you feel so inclined, and here is a song that seems to be appropriate:

Billy Bragg – This Guitar Says Sorry
Gene – Sick, Sober and Sorry