Collection of "Handwritten" Reviews

"The irony is that there's few personal touches in the songs here — no well-etched detail that indicates an individual's lived experience, no unforeseen shift in rhythm or melody, nothing anyone Fallon's age hasn't heard already and learned by heart."

Did this guy even listen to Keepsake? I legit feel like I'm violating Brian's privacy whenever I listen to that song. Ugh, anyways, I'll stop... (but probably not )

saltandburn1967 wrote:

rubberducky wrote:

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16856-handwritten/

5.7/10

I can't take reviews seriously that leave out Sink Or Swim. "2 albums and one side project later". Hey asshat, they had another album that many people love. Besides, this really isn't a bad review but know their discography before you write a review.

That's just lazy/irresponsible journalism.

This is something I would have said regardless of how positive or negative their review of Handwritten was, but Spin is a pathetic excuse for a music publication and has been for quite some time.

To be fair, none of us will EVER be able to review anything Brian ever does objectively.

A_Regular wrote:

To be fair, none of us will EVER be able to review anything Brian ever does objectively.

Very true. I can't really think of one bad thing about them. I am bias.

I disagree with reviewer cause I think Brian is an amazing lyricist, but have to admit the PeeWee Herman reference in the Spin review did make me laugh. 'Hes a loner, Dottie, a rebel.'

Pitchfork's review is pretty good though, I agree with most of it.

I'm a little late to the game on the pitchfork review but this line made me laugh...
"it's endearing how he mistakes smog for "the mists of Mulholland""

That review made some fair points but I still don't understand this "Brian Fallon is a bad guy/has a big ego" thing?

I know this "every word handwritten" thing seems beaten to death but it's essentially a tagline, that's it's purpose. And he's not saying "i'm better than you because I write by hand" he's saying "there's value in revisiting things that we've left in the past, like records, or writing by hand".

one other part that bugged me a bit...

"often painting himself as a messianic romeo. Midway through Handwritten, he sings, "Who came to wipe all your tears away? Who came to give you back your dignity, babe?""

-Maybe it's just me but I didn't take with that level of egotism. It didn't seem to me like he was like "come on, you know life would suck without me because I'm awesome and you're nothing without me"

I'd love to see that guy review Elsie.

Fallon fills the album with nonsensical bragging about his fashion choices ("I've been known to wear a fine black suit and a murder of tie"), egomania bordering on stalkerism ("Nobody knows you like I do!"), and in "Blood Loss", misogynistic anger bordering on violent threat ("I'll tell you when it's over, I'll tell you when you can leave"), finishing the chorus with an image of a past lover hanging in his hallway while he drinks her blood. Real "nice-guy" we're dealing with.

eagles1139 wrote:

I'd love to see that guy review Elsie.

Fallon fills the album with nonsensical bragging about his fashion choices ("I've been known to wear a fine black suit and a murder of tie"), egomania bordering on stalkerism ("Nobody knows you like I do!"), and in "Blood Loss", misogynistic anger bordering on violent threat ("I'll tell you when it's over, I'll tell you when you can leave"), finishing the chorus with an image of a past lover hanging in his hallway while he drinks her blood. Real "nice-guy" we're dealing with.

haha, true, so true

saltandburn1967 wrote:

rubberducky wrote:

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16856-handwritten/

5.7/10

I can't take reviews seriously that leave out Sink Or Swim. "2 albums and one side project later". Hey asshat, they had another album that many people love. Besides, this really isn't a bad review but know their discography before you write a review.

He was talking about The 59 Sound. Hence the "Later" part. 2 albums and one side project later from the The 59 Sound is this album. He never said they only have three albums. He was just taking about the time between T59S and Handwritten.

Seriously, the bad reviews are somewhat annoying, but no where near as bad as all the whining about them here after they get posted. If you're going to make complaints, at least make reasonable ones.

CluckyB wrote:

saltandburn1967 wrote:

rubberducky wrote:

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16856-handwritten/

5.7/10

I can't take reviews seriously that leave out Sink Or Swim. "2 albums and one side project later". Hey asshat, they had another album that many people love. Besides, this really isn't a bad review but know their discography before you write a review.

He was talking about The 59 Sound. Hence the "Later" part. 2 albums and one side project later from the The 59 Sound is this album. He never said they only have three albums. He was just taking about the time between T59S and Handwritten.

Seriously, the bad reviews are somewhat annoying, but no where near as bad as all the whining about them here after they get posted. If you're going to make complaints, at least make reasonable ones.

Why do you attack me every time I write shit dude? It is starting to get annoying. Are you stalking me? I think I have a secret admirer.

saltandburn1967 wrote:

CluckyB wrote:

saltandburn1967 wrote:

rubberducky wrote:

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16856-handwritten/

5.7/10

I can't take reviews seriously that leave out Sink Or Swim. "2 albums and one side project later". Hey asshat, they had another album that many people love. Besides, this really isn't a bad review but know their discography before you write a review.

He was talking about The 59 Sound. Hence the "Later" part. 2 albums and one side project later from the The 59 Sound is this album. He never said they only have three albums. He was just taking about the time between T59S and Handwritten.

Seriously, the bad reviews are somewhat annoying, but no where near as bad as all the whining about them here after they get posted. If you're going to make complaints, at least make reasonable ones.

Why do you attack me every time I write shit dude? It is starting to get annoying. Are you stalking me? I think I have a secret admirer.

CLucky is just making a point...no need to mock him Salt.

oldgospelchoir wrote:

saltandburn1967 wrote:

CluckyB wrote:

saltandburn1967 wrote:

rubberducky wrote:

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16856-handwritten/

5.7/10

I can't take reviews seriously that leave out Sink Or Swim. "2 albums and one side project later". Hey asshat, they had another album that many people love. Besides, this really isn't a bad review but know their discography before you write a review.

He was talking about The 59 Sound. Hence the "Later" part. 2 albums and one side project later from the The 59 Sound is this album. He never said they only have three albums. He was just taking about the time between T59S and Handwritten.

Seriously, the bad reviews are somewhat annoying, but no where near as bad as all the whining about them here after they get posted. If you're going to make complaints, at least make reasonable ones.

Why do you attack me every time I write shit dude? It is starting to get annoying. Are you stalking me? I think I have a secret admirer.

CLucky is just making a point...no need to mock him Salt.

Yeah, but I recall 3 or 4 times of him picking me out. Its fucking obnoxious but ok, I am done. I'll just ignore it.

I have no problem with negative reviews. My complaints are, just like with any form of writing, with the writing itself and the thought that went into it.


Like, saying that the line "All of our heroes are failures or ghosts" (misquoting "our" for "my) is the brag of someone trying too hard to be a rebel? That's what I call agenda writing, for whatever reason he thinks Brian is egocentric and thus stretches a ton of examples in the album to prove his point.

eagles1139 wrote:

I'd love to see that guy review Elsie.

Fallon fills the album with nonsensical bragging about his fashion choices ("I've been known to wear a fine black suit and a murder of tie"), egomania bordering on stalkerism ("Nobody knows you like I do!"), and in "Blood Loss", misogynistic anger bordering on violent threat ("I'll tell you when it's over, I'll tell you when you can leave"), finishing the chorus with an image of a past lover hanging in his hallway while he drinks her blood. Real "nice-guy" we're dealing with.

StitchesOnTheRadio wrote:

eagles1139 wrote:

I'd love to see that guy review Elsie.

Fallon fills the album with nonsensical bragging about his fashion choices ("I've been known to wear a fine black suit and a murder of tie"), egomania bordering on stalkerism ("Nobody knows you like I do!"), and in "Blood Loss", misogynistic anger bordering on violent threat ("I'll tell you when it's over, I'll tell you when you can leave"), finishing the chorus with an image of a past lover hanging in his hallway while he drinks her blood. Real "nice-guy" we're dealing with.

LOLOL. I actually remember reading a review for Elsie where the guy was convinced that Brian was a crazy misogynist because of some of the lines on the record. If I can dig it up again I'll post it. It was hilarious.

eagles1139 wrote:

I'd love to see that guy review Elsie.

Fallon fills the album with nonsensical bragging about his fashion choices ("I've been known to wear a fine black suit and a murder of tie"), egomania bordering on stalkerism ("Nobody knows you like I do!"), and in "Blood Loss", misogynistic anger bordering on violent threat ("I'll tell you when it's over, I'll tell you when you can leave"), finishing the chorus with an image of a past lover hanging in his hallway while he drinks her blood. Real "nice-guy" we're dealing with.

snakester wrote:

StitchesOnTheRadio wrote:

eagles1139 wrote:

I'd love to see that guy review Elsie.

Fallon fills the album with nonsensical bragging about his fashion choices ("I've been known to wear a fine black suit and a murder of tie"), egomania bordering on stalkerism ("Nobody knows you like I do!"), and in "Blood Loss", misogynistic anger bordering on violent threat ("I'll tell you when it's over, I'll tell you when you can leave"), finishing the chorus with an image of a past lover hanging in his hallway while he drinks her blood. Real "nice-guy" we're dealing with.

LOLOL. I actually remember reading a review for Elsie where the guy was convinced that Brian was a crazy misogynist because of some of the lines on the record. If I can dig it up again I'll post it. It was hilarious.

I remember reading that. It was pretty ridiculous.

I never get why reviewers say stuff like "Oh, this songwriter needs to lighten up/get a sense of humor." Are we honestly expected to believe that the Pitchfork reviewer fellow would really like Handwritten more if Brian started cracking jokes in the middle of his songs?

Jlblue wrote:

I never get why reviewers say stuff like "Oh, this songwriter needs to lighten up/get a sense of humor." Are we honestly expected to believe that the Pitchfork reviewer fellow would really like Handwritten more if Brian started cracking jokes in the middle of his songs?

I don't know, I listen to a song like Too Much Blood in which he's worried about revealing to much of himself and all I can think to myself is relax Brian. Not every song has to be so personal...

rubberducky wrote:

Jlblue wrote:

I never get why reviewers say stuff like "Oh, this songwriter needs to lighten up/get a sense of humor." Are we honestly expected to believe that the Pitchfork reviewer fellow would really like Handwritten more if Brian started cracking jokes in the middle of his songs?

I don't know, I listen to a song like Too Much Blood in which he's worried about revealing to much of himself and all I can think to myself is relax Brian. Not every song has to be so personal...

I'll respond to this with a fantastic movie quote:

"All right, let's bring it home. If you was hit by a truck and you was lying out there in that gutter dying, and you had time to sing one song. One song that people would remember before you're dirt. One song that would let God know how you felt about your time here on Earth. One song that would sum you up. You tellin' me that's the song you'd sing? That same Jimmy Davis tune we hear on the radio all day, about your peace within, and how it's real, and how you're gonna shout it? Or would you sing somethin' different. Somethin' real. Somethin' you felt. Cause I'm telling you right now, that's the kind of song people want to hear. That's the kind of song that truly saves people. It ain't got nothin to do with believin' in God, Mr. Cash. It has to do with believin' in yourself." - Sam Phillips, Walk The Line

Jlblue wrote:

I never get why reviewers say stuff like "Oh, this songwriter needs to lighten up/get a sense of humor." Are we honestly expected to believe that the Pitchfork reviewer fellow would really like Handwritten more if Brian started cracking jokes in the middle of his songs?

I never get why people take Pitchfork reviews so seriously.

Yeah, sometimes people act as if Pitchfork has to validate their taste. Pitchfork might cover good music once in a while but as far as I can tell they mostly just like stirring up controversy because that's what gets hits. That said their review wasn't that bad for Handwritten. At least it wasn't a video of a monkey peeing.

To be fair, some of the lyrics on Elsie are really harsh on women. Depending on the severity of the break-up I think every guy has those thoughts, but expressing them in such blunt terms is pretty ballsy. Not exactly politically correct.