Maxim reviews disc without hearing it...

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Go Crowes!

NEW YORK - The Black Crowes are lashing out at Maxim magazine for reviewing the band's new album, apparently without actually hearing it first.

The review, published in Maxim's March issue, gives the Crowes' "Warpaint" a rating of two-and-a-half stars out of five.

"The writer, who has not heard the album since advance CDs were not made available, wrote what appears to be a disparaging assessment anyway, citing, 'it hasn't left Chris Robinson and the gang much room for growth,"' said a statement on the band's official Web site.

The band's manager, Pete Angelus, said the magazine explained that its review an "educated guess."

"It speaks directly to the lack of the publication's credibility," Angelus said in a statement. "In my opinion, it's a disgrace to the arts, journalism, critics, the publication itself and the public.

"What's next - Maxim's concert reviews of shows they never attended, book reviews of books never read and film reviews of films never seen?"

A representative for the magazine would neither confirm nor deny to The Associated Press whether the writer actually listened to the album.

Instead, Maxim released this statement in response: "Maxim will continue to provide our readers with information that is important to them, whether it is about fashion, lifestyle, technology, music, movies and more."

"Warpaint," the band's first album in seven years, is set for release March 4.

The blues-rock group, fronted Chris Robinson, has released only one song from the disc, "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution."

The band's hits include "Hard to Handle" and "She Talks to Angels."

[Jaimoe]

Disgraceful, but I doubt Maxim is setting a precident. I'm sort of looking forward to the new Crowes album, although I've heard the lead-off single and I was underwhelmed.

[NewRider]

That's ridiculous! What a crock!

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the album leaked last week, it's floating around in the ether somewhere if you look hard enough....

[dimafleck: the living legend.]

oh boo hoo.

the black crowes are a bunch of whiners. maxim isn't SPIN or anything....nobody cares.

[bokonon]

But Maxim is stating that it was an educated guess, no? So wouldn't that be like saying we haven't heard it yet, but we already know it's crap because we ride our high horses that way.

It would have given them more credibility if they had admitted to hearing a leaked version, at least they would just look ilke petty criminals instead of morons.

[dimafleck: the living legend.]

the review was a joke you idiots.

maxim is implying that the black crowes are predictable and generic. duh.

its like a phish review being like

"here's an educated guess... the lyrics are quirkey and the noodling is throughout.... most will not understand, but the hippy kids will do enough drugs until they do"

[Jaimoe]

I never read the faux Maxim review. Sorta ironic ain't it?

[briguy]

I'm looking forward to hearing this

[Big Wooly Mammoth]

I never read the faux Maxim review. Sorta ironic ain't it?

Did Alanis Morissette teach you English?

(Sorry, I just had to say it.)

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Of course, we always prefer to [sic] hearing music, but sometimes there are big albums that we don't want to ignore that aren't available to hear, which is what happened with the Crowes. It's either an educated guess preview or no coverage at all, so in this case we chose the former.

[bokonon]

I still think they are being asshats.

[Northern Wish]

Maxim apologizes for reviewing Black Crowes album without listening to it (MUSIC-Black-Crowes-Ma)

Source: The Associated Press

Feb 26, 2008 13:54

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NEW YORK _ Maxim magazine has apologized for publishing a negative review of the Black Crowes' new album by a writer who hadn't listened to the whole CD.

The review in Maxim's March issue gives the Crowes' ``Warpaint'' a rating of 2 1/2 stars out of five. The band posted an exasperated statement on its website last week, saying the Maxim writer hadn't heard the entire album because advance copies were not available. The Crowes' manager, Pete Angelus, said the magazine explained that its review was an ``educated guess.''

Maxim editorial director James Kaminsky responded Tuesday with this statement: ``It is Maxim's editorial policy to assign star ratings only to those albums that have been heard in their entirety. Unfortunately, that policy was not followed in the March 2008 issue of our magazine and we apologize to our readers.''

A spokeswoman for the magazine contacted by The Associated Press declined to say whether the writer would face disciplinary action.

``Warpaint,'' the Black Crowes' first album in seven years, is set for release March 4. The blues-rock group, fronted by Chris Robinson, has released only one song from the disc, ``Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution.''

The band's hits include ``Hard to Handle'' and ``She Talks to Angels.''

[phishtaper]

[color:purple]i really dont see what the big deal is. i often express opinions without having the slightest clue what im talking about ...

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it happens again

Looks like rapper Nas and the Black Crowes have something in common ... besides their connection to all-star classic rock. The New York-based rapper was jarred, much like Chris Robinson and Co., when the lad mag -- known for its revealing pics of female actresses and models -- gave his upcoming album a 2 1/2-star review.

The rap star, who's been making hits since the mid '90s, wasn't dismayed by the thought of receiving a less than stellar critique, but was instead surprised that Maxim could even have an opinion on the incomplete project. A music reviewer at Maxim panned the Crowes' new album, 'Warpaint,' in the same fashion, and later admitted that he never even heard the LP.

The Crowes were bothered, to say the least, by the faux review. Nas, on the other hand, isn't as perturbed by the magazine's insubstantial opinion of his new project ... especially since the rapper hasn't even finished it.

"I'm finishing the album now, and it will be out April 22," Nas told the New York Post's Page Six. "I'd prefer [a review from] Playboy," Nas said. "That kind of stuff doesn't reach my radar or effect anybody around me. I don't know what a music rating from Maxim is ... I don't know what it even means really."

The Black Crowes themselves are not letting Maxim wriggle off the hook quite as easily as Nas seems to have. The wronged rockers have rejected the magazine's explanation for its non-review review and are demanding a public apology, calling the conciliatory words it has offered "self-serving damage control."