Turn left for Conundrum by Walter Baxter, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
All right, okay, I know when I’m licked. I worked in marketing long enough to know that the numbers don’t lie.
After a record number of visitors dropped by in February, my stats have plummeted: down 36% in March and another 22% so far in April. This came as a surprise because it was a big shift from the norm: I usually get more visitors in the fall, winter, and early spring, and fewer in summer, when everyone goes on vacation in the Northern Hemisphere. If you think my slump has anything to do with the American Boycott, guess again. Here are my top ten visitor numbers by country since the start of the boycott:
- United States: 112, 590
- United Kingdom: 37, 866
- Canada: 14,060
- Australia: 9824
- Germany: 8545
- Netherlands: 6384
- Italy: 3776
- France: 3480
- Brazil: 3447
- Sweden: 2887
“Where are the Irish?” you may wonder. Despite several reviews of Irish artists, I get twice as many visitors from China, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Singapore as I do from my home country.
My main concern isn’t Irish indifference, but the fact that hardly anyone is reading or commenting on my new reviews. A new review usually hits 500 views by the end of the first month, but none of my 2026 reviews have come close to that modest mark. On average, this year’s reviews have been viewed by 230 visitors. One of those reviews even garnered less attention than my old review of Bobby Sherman’s Christmas Album—and all those views came after Christmas! As for comments, they’re down 73% in April.
Here’s the thing: I decided to review classic albums outside the borders of the USA this year, something I would have done even if Voldemort had gone to meet his maker—and I do not regret that decision. I knew there was a lot of great music from countries I had yet to explore in depth, and I wanted to expand my horizons. I knew going in that it would take a lot of work because I needed to increase my knowledge of the history, cultural norms, and music trends of the countries I chose to cover, but I was willing to do that. My usual M.O. is to read one book every week, and this year, all the books I’ve read and all the documentaries I’ve watched were either about the musicians I chose to review or histories of their countries. I also subscribed to news outlets in those nations so I could keep up with current events.
It takes about 20-30 hours a week to write a review to my satisfaction, not counting the background research. So, when I see numbers like this, I wonder, “Why in the fuck am I continuing to write new reviews if only a few people are going to read them?”
2026 views:
- Visitor views of reviews written between 2011-2025: 149,384
- Visitor views of reviews written this year to date: 2,990
- Top Ten Most-read reviews, 2026:
- The Kinks, Preservation Acts 1 & 2: 2392
- “The Rodeo Song”: 2240
- Radiohead, OK Computer: 1590
- David Bowie, Heroes: 1374
- The Beatles, Abbey Road: 1310
- The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced?: 1302
- King Crimson: In the Court of the Crimson King: 1257
- Françoise Hardy, La Question: 1232
- Jethro Tull, A Passion Play: 1096
- Green Day: American Idiot: 1069
- Most-read new review, 2026:
- Yes, Fragile: 322
- Least-read new review:
- Road Apples, the Tragically Hip: 145
Obviously, the balance between effort and reward is out of whack, and most of my readers have no interest in my new review choices. I was looking forward to stretching my wings this year, but now it seems self-indulgent and a waste of time and energy. After giving it some thought, I decided I had three “fuck it” choices: say “fuck it” and execute my plan for 2026, say “fuck it” and stop writing altogether, or say “fuck it” and do something in between.
I also noticed that my “likes per post average” is down by more than 50%, so my writing skills may be slipping. Once you start to doubt yourself and lose your confidence, it’s game over.
Before deciding which path to follow, I thought it would be a good idea to consult three serious music lovers: my father, my mother, and my partner. I sent them copies of my stats, and we agreed to discuss the situation a couple of days later, giving them time to process the data and come fully prepared to weigh in.
Dad wanted me to continue and focus solely on U.K. artists, because they have strong fan bases in both the homeland and the States, and represent my largest group of followers. Alicia wanted me to do whatever made me happy, but she doubted I would be happy if I continued with my 2026 plan. My mother was straight and to the point: “You are wasting your time and energy and need to stop now.” She pointed out that my reviews of Canadians Gordon Lightfoot and Leonard Cohen never reached the expected minimum of 500 visits, so I shouldn’t have been surprised by the limp response to my Tragically Hip reviews. Maman dismissed my father’s idea by noting that this year’s reviews of Deep Purple, Yes, Kirsty MacColl, Electric Light Orchestra, and Procol Harum have also performed poorly. “Your audience consists of Baby Boomers who love the music of the 60s and 70s and Millennials who love the 90s and early 00’s, and they want to hear and read about the music they cherished most, not artists they don’t remember or never heard of. You have done more than enough to satisfy those cravings, so there is no need for you to go on.” When I asked if they thought it would help to suspend the American Boycott, they responded in unison: “NOOOO!”
I wanted to know if they thought my writing was going downhill, and they all rejected that possibility, but reminded me that my deep dives are unlikely to have much appeal in a world oriented towards quick and dirty. Then I shared my feeling that after all the preparation I had gone through to shift gears towards non-American music, I was reluctant to let that effort go to waste. Maman responded by posing a question that went to the heart of the matter. “Are there any reviews on your list that you feel you need to write to complete your study of a century of popular music?” I pulled up my master spreadsheet and identified twelve albums and one historical period that I felt were must-dos. I pointed out that I would need to publish something at least every two weeks to remain relevant to the search engines, but I could fill those spots with some of my readers’ requests or a Chick Riff or two. The bi-weekly schedule would also give me more time to launch a job search if I follow through on my intention to leave the EU (now less certain because my director made me one of those Vito Corleone offers to stay on). While I hated to abandon my study of the Tragically Hip, I had to admit that if my audience ignored the first four reviews, they would likely pay no attention to the last nine.
The discussion ended with a classic family sitcom moment. Dad asked, “Well, since you have so much room in your schedule, how about doing the Traveling Wilburys?” The script instructed me to shout “NO FUCKING WILBURYS!” as I had done several times before, but I stopped myself and said, “Okay, Dad. You win. I’ll do the fucking Wilburys.”
To sum things up, my plan for 2026 is kaput. Between now and March 2027, when my WordPress renewal comes up, I will publish reviews or riffs every other week. Next February, I’ll take a look at the stats, and if things have continued to go down the toilet, I will close the site permanently and devote my energies to the fight for human rights.
Ironically, the most fitting lyric I can come up with to describe the likely future of the altrockchick comes from an album I reviewed thirteen years ago and recently drew enough visitors to become my most-read review of all time. As Ray Davies so wisely noted in Preservation Act 2:
“Nothing lasts forever.”
I’d suggest your stats aren’t what they once were because blogging itself isn’t what it once was. Many of us are seeing declines in readership and engagement. It has less to do with quality or commitment and more to do with the pull of alternative social platforms, algorithms, and short-form content.
I wouldn’t worry too much about giving readers what they want. That can work for a while, but it’s more sustainable to write what you care about What you actually want to spend time with. Putting that much time and effort into something you’re not fully invested seems like a recipe for exhaustion.
One other thought: the boycott idea seems hard to apply consistently. For example, Traveling Wilburys included white American members—would they fall under it?
As noted in yesterday’s post, the Wilbury’s are a minor violation to make my father happy.
Hi from The Netherlands,
I really hope you continue your reviews. I’ve only recently discovered your work and it’s really helpful in making my choices what to listen to and what to buy. And I love your writing skills. Insightful, detailed and fun as well!
Greetings, Koen
I’ll leave a comment, and see what happens. I have subscribed somewhat recently, but don’t know if I “registered” or not, I don’t see an option to do that here, but maybe its right in front of me and I just don’t see it (happens to us old people all the time).
You are a good writer, I value your reviews and read them per my interest level. I probably am one of the few who read your less obvious reviews, and I likely skip a number of the ones that get a lot of views and feedback.
Stay in the game is my advice. Probably a selfish motivation that….but so be it.
jimeddy
Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Additionally, I’d like to get your review of “A Passion Play” tattooed on my back, but there are too many words.
I love your writing but I have a lot of difficulty being able to consistently log in and make comments.
I tried to eliminate the log-in requirement but it blew up my security settings. It should be working now, but I’m also looking for a workaround.
I think it works great now if I just log in with email and not WordPress.
And I hope you are cranking up Conundrum from Bursting Out as you contemplate your own conundrum. Especially Barrie’s rototoms!
ARC,
I have bought several albums that I either had never heard (Marquee Moon) or not been patient enough with (Bitches Brew). Your reviews got me to music that I was finally ready for. Thank you.
Outside of King Crimson, your prog rock reviews were pretty tough going. That genre is not my cup of tea…except for King Crimson, oddly enough. I learned a lot, though.
I first came to the site to read your review of Living In The Past…which helped me decide to repurchase it.
I’ve gone through the Oasis reviews as well, due to having missed them the first time around. What I realized is that I had heard them far more than I thought. When they’re good, they’re on it.
I have learned a lot from your work, whether or not I left a comment. If I don’t leave a comment, it’s because I don’t feel knowledgeable enough to do so. There’s probably a lot of that going on, which might be disheartening. Communicators need human interaction. Otherwise, what’s the point?
So what am I trying to say? Well…there was a comment on an older review which asked (paraphrasing here) why your reviews always seemed to be about you? That struck me as odd because it is your site. And then the light bulb went on…I like this site so much because it’s yours. You’re opinionated, but very well informed. You’re sarcastic, but you have good reason to be. You can be in our faces, but you’re honest. If you came to my bar in Albuquerque, you could always count on a beer from me.
I would read your comments on pretty much anything because they would get a reaction from me. You completely changed my mind’s video of “Gimme Three Steps”. And your comments on “Northern Sky” helped me remember why Nick Drake is so important. High to Low. That’s what I like. Maybe the commitment of writing your reviews is too unreasonable. It almost seems like a second job, and jobs have their ups and downs, right? Either way, I am here to read what you think regardless of the topic.
Work on your garden.
Tony
Well I used to be Michael D and now all of a sudden I’m anonymous. It was me that sent you the please stay in the game comment.
Okay, Got the like to work, had to login, but at least I was able to register this time. Also got my name back, thanks
HI! Well, THIS is the only thing you’ve written in this blog that really sucks! Once again I’ll give you a geriatric point of view. It takes a good amount of time to read these reviews thoroughly. They’re so insightful and detailed that I find myself reading the same ones over and over again. I had planned to read ALL of them! They bring me hours of happiness while stimulating my mind, making me laugh, and entertaining me in general. I only found you 6 months ago and the thought of you taking the site down really saddens me… As far as LIKES, I have the same problem as Peter; every time I hit the like button it asks me to login, give a password, and then sends me into cyber hell looking for a way to join. The truth is, I like them all, but I can’t jump through hoops just to hit the like button. As far as comments are concerned, it took me over a month to figure out a way to get my comments to go through your system without being rejected and lost. Also, there’s the fact your reviews are so well written and informative, that sometimes commenting at all is superfluous. And, just so you know, it can take me hours to write what I consider a cogent comment. I suppose I could shorten them and comment more often, but then I don’t feel like I’ve done justice to the review… When you say you had record numbers in February, don’t you think you’re being a bit premature by panicking in April?… Ultimately, Alicia is right, you have to do what makes you happy. It’s your site, it’s your talent and it’s your life… You know, I feel like I know you, and I’m sure that’s the way the vast majority of your readers feel… It’s such a pleasure to know you. Please stay in the game.
This was sent by Michael D. Remember me? For some reason the site doesn’t know me anymore and I became anonymous. In the future I will sign my comments.
1. Liking still doesn’t work without registration.
2. Maybe it’s ok to write just for the love of music, even for fewer readers – as long as you can be sure theses readers really really appreciate your work. They do.
3. I’m GenX from Germany, we have only a few overlaps in our music preferences, some Radiohead, some Neko Case, The Beatles. And I’m looking forward to The Go-Betweens and Prefab Sprout reviews. My most important musical influences are Hip-Hop, UK Dance, electronic Music from Berlin and Detroit and recently music of the renaissance and Italian baroque. Well, maybe my Dad’s Pink Floyd obsession was also not entirely unimportant. But even if most of your content doesn’t scratch my itch I have to come back over and over again. Because what you are doing AS A HOBBY is unique and on such a high level! With my deep love and interest for music for almost 50 years I’ve read a lot magazines, fanzines, books and websites about records. I can’t remember anything of the quality, scale and depth compared of what you are doing here. To make it short – please don’t stop.
4. IMO informing about the achievements of culture, art, music IS fighting for human rights!
Please keep writing and if you get around to reviewing any albums by the Manic st Preachers such as the Holy Bible I promise I will read it multiple times to boost your views.
Try to do this before world war 3 breaks out before I get too old as I am 74.
Whenever I read you reviews of my favorite albums by band s such as XTC or Tull you always manage to give me more perspective and increase my love for music even more.
Thank you very very much.
Your choices & writing have been excellent. I think if your stats are down it’s due to a large percentage of your base only reading about their favourites. You have been reviewing bands that are lesser known worldwide, but stick with it, just throw in the occasional big name. Like Billie Eilish. What I have noticed is that when you review a band that I previously had no interest in, such as recently Thin Lizzy or Chumbawumba, I find your reviews to be educational. I presume that if you liked it, I must have missed something, and I check it out….I am not always convinced ( eg Procol Harem is still for me a one hit wonder), but I do end up learning something new. Definitely a fan
Hi.
Here’s hopefully an honest assessment by someone who may (or may not be) be a typical “fan” of altrockchick.com.
I’m a 71 yr old boomer. I just discovered your site last summer, and for a few months, I went through all the old reviews (in order) like I was reading a book. I enjoyed this immensely. Did I read every single one? No, like you, I have a list of artists I’m not interested in, but if I wasn’t familiar with the artist, I would at least read the information about them and the album, if not the minutiae of every song.
Fast forwarding to now, I always check to see what you’re publishing. And, I almost always at least click on the review to read the intros. But, to be honest, if I’m not familiar with the album being reviewed, I tend to stop reading when you get to the part where you discuss each song (lyrics, meaning, chord progressions, etc.). If on the other hand, It’s an album I love, I’ll devour each word, as you often have things to impart that I’d never noticed or thought about. Thanks for that.
So, for instance, I was thrilled to read the entire review of “Kite” by Kirsty MacColl and “Fragile” by Yes, but as for Rush – no, ignored it (sorry!)
Also, since I have no stake in The Tragically Hip, I read about the group in your first review, but haven’t kept up with subsequent ones. I had no idea they had made so many records, and was disappointed you would be taking up so much time on them.
However, if you had announced that you were going to review all 27 King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard albums, or all 80 or so Chick Corea albums, I would be interested each one, as I’m familiar with them and am drawn to their work.
Since you put so much time into each review, it only makes sense for you to write about what you enjoy, not what “we” want or expect from you. If that doesn’t seem worth it, I get it. And, by the way, fighting for human rights is certainly a worthwhile endeavor on its own.
The stats for WordPress blogs are just numbers, and personally I would be very happy if I got the numbers you still do. But it doesn’t indicate whether visitors come for a look, or read the whole post. Maybe it would be better to just have a hard core of fans who always click on to it for a full read. I have to say that I had never heard of the Tragically Hip before, and didn’t read them all. I had heard the Rush LP (my brother owned a copy), and relived a couple of tracks, but still not my taste in vocals. It will be sad not to have the Split Enz review I had hoped for. But it is also hard to plan ahead with events in the northern hemisphere so dire and a madman still in power. Maybe that affects the ability of readers to absorb new material, and I notice other blogs are getting very sporadic. There was a really interesting one called We Are The Mutants, based on obscure pop cultural topics and films, but it has all but gone now. Maybe WordPress and blogging is in decline more generally?
Actually, you will get the Split Enz review you requested . . . I just need to figure out exactly which album you wanted! “The band’s first album Mental Notes had not originally been released outside Australasia, therefore Second Thoughts was the band’s first album release in Europe and North America. In both territories, the album was titled Mental Notes and featured a different album cover as the album appears to have two different titles depending on the country.
Was it the one that opens with “Late Last Night” and is called “Second Thoughts?”
Mental Notes starts with “Walking down a road” followed by “Under the wheel”. As it happens I am going to their concert on Monday night, 50 years after I first saw them.
I have Second Thoughts, so that is the one I was referring to. Late Last Night is a great song, which I think was written by Phil Judd. When Phil left he was replaced by Neil Finn, but I still like the early material, which was more quirky without trying too hard. Looking forward to what you think of it.
Dear Rebel Angel,
please don’t disappear; the reviews are fascinating, each and every one of them. Your writing, as meticulous and analytical as Spock’s, is beautiful!
Wonderfully beautiful!
Well, I just want to tell you that no matter what happens, whether the numbers decline more or not, it is better that you do what benefits you the most mentally. But never feel bad, terrible, or insignificant.
Here, in this place, you will leave a legacy that everyone will remember, and I will do everything possible to make it so. (…)
I appreciate your reviews, and I appreciate everything about them. They are always so logical and humorous…A
And i love that.
The best advice was from Alicia; you really are both fortunate to have each other.
‘If you do a thing, do it with the best grace possible and deserve all the merit you can.’
with deep admiration,
sheridan
Damn, one more thing. If you love doing this, keep doing it for yourself. Audience be damned. I’ve been making music for decades that no one will hear. Just do it for me . Makes me happy. Be happy! Know you’re appreciated!
Here is a UK band for you: Chameleons.
They are fantastic!!
Hello from amerika.
I understand your thought process. If no one is engaged, why continue? This is, after all, about communication. Sharing ideas and potentially opening doors.
I have left comments to you previously, and you kindly responded, and I appreciate.
I have reached a point where I feel that my thoughts/opinions matter nought to anyone.
My “mantra” is: Strive for invisibility, but accept anonymity. So I don’t leave comments.
Please know that I read everything you post, even if I have no interest in the music you write about. For me, its all about your writing and insights.
While I am supportive of your boycott of amerikan music, there is one band from this cuntry I think you might enjoy.
This band is Failure. You can look them up (they’re from LA) and have been making some amazing music since around 1991 or so. If you want to have a great listening experience (I’m not advocating a review), check their 1996 album Fantastic Planet. To my ears, wonderful! They also released on April 24 a new album Location Lost.
What choices you make are choices for your happiness and peace of mind. For what it’s worth, I have always looked forward to, and enjoyed your writing and thoughts.
Be well, be happy, and always know you have a fan in the hell we call Phoenix!
K
I’m sorry to hear that your plans for 2026 have not yielded the results you desired. I’m sure that when you posted your review of The Tragically Hip’s “Day for Night” last week you were expecting more than a single comment which happened to be mine. I’m also sure you would have preferred my comment concern the substance of the music rather than Allan Gregg’s CV. I can only hope this did not contribute to your conundrum,
To quote Eddie Murray, “Baseball is a game of adjustments.” The same can be said of writing music reviews. Your conversation with your parents and with your partner reminds me of a conversation between a player and coaches. If you were a pitcher, I’m sure the conversation would center around your pitch selection, delivery and how to approach hitters both with and without runners on base.
Of course, the baseball metaphor is by design. I am aware of your love of baseball. Out of curiosity, have you ever written about baseball or any thoughts on doing so? If this is not the case, I would very much like to know how your interest in the game came about. I say this because I am a lifelong fan of the game although in recent years, I have kept something of a distance from it. I follow the standings but rarely watch any games on TV and have only been to Fenway Park once in the past 7 years. There was a time I used to attend games on a monthly basis. With that said, I hope you will share what baseball means to you.
In any case, I hope your adjustments will yield further traffic to your site and that we can look forward to your reviews for many more years to come.
I can assure you that you did not contribute to my conundrum. Even when someone disagrees with me, I’m happy that they took the time to share their thoughts.
I have a vague memory of a Chick Riff on baseball years ago with my predictions on the upcoming season but deleted it after it served its purpose. I became a baseball fan because Dad had season tickets to the Giants when they played at Candlestick and I loved the lingo, strategy, unpredictability and the stats (but not the wind). I read the entire Baseball Encyclopedia and several bios of the greats and books covering various seasons. I saw games at Fenway, Wrigley, Yankee Stadium, Chavez Ravine, Oakland Colosseum, Safeco Field the Sky Dome, visited minor league parks on the West Coast and went to Spring Training in Arizona one year as well as Cooperstown. I also watched several World Series from the 60s and 70s via MLB.TV and all the great movies. I too haven’t paid much attention to the current game except for watching last year’s series; it’s getting boring with everyone trying to hit home runs and pitchers relying too much on speed rather than guile. I’m also turned off by the economic model of the MLB and excessive expansion that makes it hard to keep track of the players. I loved baseball’s rich tradition and history, and I firmly believe that the USA started to go down the toilet when football became the new national pastime.
But in this case, I think my pitch selection and lineup was off and I should have stretched out the Hip reviews over time, as I did with nearly every band I’ve reviewed.
I would very seriously hate to see this come to an end but you need to do what makes you happy. I’ve loved reading your reviews and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the bit of back and forth that we’ve done. (Are you planning to leave the site up so we can read your reviews that we haven’t gotten to yet?)
Whatever you decide I know you’ll keep up the good fight. All the best to you, your dad, your maman and Alicia.
Hi again,
I just went to hit the like button and it asked me to log in and create a password….I’m sorry but I don’t want to log in and sign up to something else.
I read all your reviews and I like them all. I will have to like you in the comments!
Damn WordPress! I’ve fixed the problem and now no one will have to log in for comments or likes—and hope the spam filter works!
I just tried to like this and it asked for email and password like it has been all along.
Grrr! I’ll have to investigate further.
It’s Michael D and now apparently, your system has downgraded me to anonymous. Can I get my name back, please?
I temporarily disabled the requirement to log in to comment, but it should be working now.
Bobby Sherman has a Christmas album!!
I enjoy your in-depth reviews. I am not on social media so I look forward to your reviews each week. They are long and take time to digest and I enjoy that. I also enjoy reading about artists I have never heard of before because growing up I had my own favourite artists and missed many along the way. Being Canadian I was not a fan of Rush or Tragically Hip or many Canadian bands. (I am fans of both now and long before your reviews….it just took me a while!) I was mainly a fan of British bands. My tastes changed all the time and now I’m old I prefer going back and seeing what I missed along the way because (in my opinion) the music I missed along the way is better than what is coming out now. (generally)…to each their own. I like what you review.
I think the problem these days is most young people and old people don’t listen to whole albums they listen to playlists or someone elses idea of what they might like. The concept of putting on an album and sitting between two floor speakers and was lost to the last couple of generations. (If my kids are any indication that is changing as both of them have recently bought turntables). For my daughter it was Taylor Swift and the Beaches that got her started. For my son it was more because his sister got one but they are both borrowing my records now and I could’t be happier to let them!
As far as commenting I think we all get bombarded with commenting….How was our service, rate our service, would you recommend us etc. It is hard to comment on everything. (this is not to compare your comments to these other annoying emails we get after purchasing or using the services of something)
It is hard to write a meaningful comment on your in-depth reviews as there is a lot to address…If I don’t know the artist I can’t really give an opinion and if i do know the artist I tend to agree with what you say….doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate all the work you put into it because I certainly do.
I have never noticed the like button before and I will click on it from now on as I can see why you are rethinking why bother if no one was reading.
I hope you keep going. I hope you review who you want to review. I am Canadian and I love the Hip, they have a lot of albums to cover. Do it over five years, or more, or not at all! I have a lot of favourite albums you haven’t covered….that’s not why I am here. I know what I like, I am interested in what you like.
If I disagree with anything you review (which I don’t) I wouldn’t comment as it’s your review not mine.
If you review an album I like I am interested in your take, why do you like it. Again no need to comment!
I hope you keep going in what ever path you decide to take and I will start hitting the like button.
Now I’m off to read the Bobby Sherman Christmas review!
Take care.
If I do continue writing, I will stretch out the Hip reviews over years—like I’ve done with every other band. It was too much too soon for readers to absorb it all. The whole playlist an DJ trend has its downsides, one of which is the destruction of the artist’s intent behind an album.
I’m not sure why, but the Bobby Sherman Christmas Album has legs!
I am sorry to hear that your posts are no longer receiving the audience you formerly had. Tbh, I am not that familiar with your site. I learned of your website when I was researching the Moody Blues. I read every single one of your reviews and they were so valuable! They gave me so much background information that would have taken me years to discover on my own.
I want to say that you are fortunate to have such a close and honest group – mom, dad, partner – to help you discuss important issues such as this. Maybe you have reached the point of reviewing all of the long-time, classic musical groups and it is time to move on. Not an easy thing I know! But I’m sure you know that everything happens for a reason, even though it may not be possible to see it at the time.
I hope that your reviews remain on the internet for future generations to read. I wish your the best and I can tell by your personality that you will succeed!
Sue
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the Moodies reviews as much as I did writing about them. My mother has already ripped me a new one with my comment about shutting down, and if I can find a way to keep the site open without too much trouble, it will stay open.
That’s wonderful news.
The flowers of your past reviews bloomed a little later than expected. Why believing that the flowers you grow today wouldn’t bloom?
To be honest, I think it as a lot to do with the possibility of World War III. My impatience level has gone through the roof.
I’ve read almost all your reviews and consider you the top of the pops as far as music reviewers go. Your indepth research and great and witty writing skills make great reading. Please continue as your reviews last the test of time and people will continue to find and enjoy them! Looking forward to your Echobelly review.
When I cut down my list of reviews to a bi-weekly format, Echobelly was one of the few requests to survive. It’s still scheduled for May 10.
The odds of the site remaining open has increased to due reader response and a tirade from my mother.
Horrors! If you were to throw in the towel, Arielle, I would unequivocally enter a minimum 30 day period of mourning.
I, among others, may be skewing the stats. When I get an email notification of a new review, I always link to a browser because the email snippet doesn’t hint at very much. So you’re probably registering a hit with me (from Canada) on every review, which I may or may not eventually get around to reading.
As a Boomer, I will always read the artists with whom I’m familiar. Names that I don’t recognize will also catch my attention, as I’m always open to new music. However, I think you blew it with the Tragically Hip, thinking that reviews of a Canadian band that has received relatively little recognition outside their (my) native country would garner enough attention for 13 (almost) straight reviews.
Baby please don’t go!
You’re entirely right about my approach to the Hip. I should have stretched the reviews over a much longer time period and hoped for the best.
I still have twenty reviews to write until next March, with twenty different artists (and no Hip). Thanks to my mother—and the fact that my reviews will never appear in book form because no one has the strength to lift a book containing 3 million words—the site will probably remain open.
Completely agree with this and doubt I could recover in 30 day.
Horrors! If you were to throw in the towel, Arielle, I would unequivocally enter a minimum 30 day period of mourning.
I only discovered you in 2025, and, if you never wrote another review, there are enough fabulous reviews published in prior years that I haven’t read to keep me busy the rest of my life. Even so, I look forward to your new output. I even feel guilty that your work is free, and I would be willing to pay for the right to access the old stuff if that made a difference.
No worries—I don’t do it for the money and will never require payment or monetization.
Unfortunately, I think your Maman is right about your audience of baby boomers and millennials. I for one will hugely miss your new reviews, even though I don’t read all of them, and will particularly miss the treasure trove of reviews on your site. On some nostalgic whim, I started collecting on vinyl great albums of rock about two years ago. One, to enjoy the music, but two, to learn more about why the albums were great. That how I found you. Your reviews have been central to my study of music, both old and new, as my purchases have veered into newer material. Thank you for all you’ve done and I hope it continues. One request – Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black. I’ve heard some of the songs on the radio, but upon buying it, I’m amazed how good it is. Cheers to you and thanks.
Amy Winehouse is a great idea.
The quality and strength of your writing had not decreased a single RCH*, your reviews and dispatches on all topics remain relevant and laser-sharp and your balance of obscure and less so should be exactly what readers crave. You are the single best rock writer these days. I musn’t whine if you cutback to every two weeks but I can wish it wasn’t so. Please write as much as brings you fun and satisfaction and let’s watch the West Sacramento Atheletics beat the rodney richpig teams…. till the trade deadline garage sale.
* per my bike mechanic, the smallest unit is the ‘red cunt hair’.
Thank you for the kind words and. . .I love your bike mechanic!
Well I for one will be sad to see the end of your reviews.
Fingers crossed that it doesn’t come to that.
I don’t enjoy the music of probably around half of the artists that you write about but I read the reviews nevertheless and still love your writing.
Sadly, I have never been able to ‘get’ jazz.
It all seems to clever for me but I have always loved blues in just about all of its forms.
I also have to thank you for introducing me to June Tabor.
Her voice and her phrasing are just wonderful and she has become easily my favourite female artist.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
Steve
I still have twenty reviews to write (some jazz is in there) and the possibility of keeping the site open has increased with all the comments I received today. I am very happy that I turned you on to June Tabor and will likely do another review of her music before the deadline.
i stumbled onto your blog while researching a very obscure topic – but i was not surprised, as in my own research on wartime penicillin, i have had people find my very very very obscure blogs because i was about the only person on earth blogging about the subject that also interested them. I had great depth/width but in an overall narrow field.
So I say continue to cast your review nets widely, but with a relatively narrow time period, say ‘american pop 1955 goes world-wide 1955-1985’ with the intent on covering all countries in the world.Rhythms & melodies & recording decisions often remain badically the same on covers, even if lyrics adjust to new languages. Become the global go to expert on that period and that angle…..
Good idea! Those are the years that contain most of my reviews already and I know I can find something there in several languages.
I wouldn’t take the lack of comments to heart, I only comment when I can add a personal experience to my understanding and enjoyment of an artist. Which means a one in ten or more response rate. I can assure you I enjoy every review no matter who it is or whether I agree with it. I agree with your Father by the way and once you have completed what might be called the classics and created a work to be proud of do something else but leave your ” life’s work ” available to be read. If you do concentrate on the UK’s unparalleled contribution , take a look at Bill Fay , he needs to be brought out into the open & written about by a serious critic
I wasn’t familiar with Bill Fay so I looked him up—lots of parallels to Nick Drake’s career. I will listen to his work and see if it floats my boat. Thanks!
Don’t lose heart. After my book on Pink Floyd, which was published in 2022, went to an unscheduled second print run (and continues to sell well), I spent a year on another about the Pretenders (like Floyd a publisher’s commission, not a toe in the water) which after six months had stormed the market for music criticism and sold the princely total of, er, 27 copies.
This might pick up (believe me, people, it’s fucking A) but I’m not holding my breath. MC5 is just out and Velvet Underground will follow next year. These should be okay. Fans of those two bands, along with Floyd and Jefferson Airplane, my first stab, tend to be of a generation who still have the reading gene. Meanwhile, at least three of the four are rightly regarded, in the greater scheme of things rock’n’roll, as hugely important.
But, equally, a toxic combination is in play. That same literate generation is steadily falling off the perch. And the escalating cost of living is squeezing leisure spending, even on books (unless we’re talking audio editions, perhaps; I suppose David Tennant could make a decent fist of reciting passages about Wayne Kramer’s Rocket Reducer tolerance or how Lou Reed created the ostrich guitar).
These conditions militate against uptake and leave me wondering why I spend so long on lost causes. I’ll not be deterred, however, if only because I truly adore writing about the magnificent absurdities of rock music, and wish to impart what knowledge I have in as entertaining a way as 27 people will find.
As, I believe, do you.
No-one else on the web (as far as I can see; it’s a big place) is writing so eruditely on artists about whom dull style hacks have traditionally been so dismissive (ELO, for example, and the Moodies). Thanks to you I looked afresh at the Hollies, via an albums medium which always felt slightly out of kilter for Graham’s old band. So, please, stay on the barricades, keep the Molotovs topped up, and don’t let the numbers – or the bastards – grind you down.
(Apologies for the apparent self-serving promotional spiel, but I think it illustrates a common thread among decent rock writers, and might assure you that you ain’t alone.)
Thank you for the kudos and the reminder that nothing is easy, especially in the literary field.
My friends in high school thought I was a bit weird because I read books instead of watching MTV, and the only video games I played were role-playing games with deep storylines and interesting characters. Both my parents are responsible for handing down the reading gene, and I think I got a double dose because I was an only child. It also explains why I prefer films from yesteryear with strong plots and scripts as opposed to most films made today.
I’ll keep my options open, and I’m looking forward to writing the twenty remaining albums on the schedule.
Would you mind sharing your (author’s) name and titles? I’d be especially interested in your books on the Pretenders and the Airplane. Born in ’58, I not only read books but buy them.
Hi Dragonslayer, thanks for your interest. My name is Richard Butterworth and I’m at bestbutter@btinternet.com (with doubleplusgood thanks to Arielle for your kind forbearance).
Hi altrockchick, sorry you’re feeling a bit ‘fuck it’. I check nearly all of your posts and I cherish the attention and the insight you bring. Thank you!
I’m a late boomer in the UK, but arguably with the tastes of someone five years older, because I consumed a lot of ‘best albums’ books when I was a teenager in the late 70s to early 80s. I’m not proud to say this (cos I’d like to think I’m super open-minded and exploratory) but your pieces that I enjoy most are ones where I already know the album well. I enjoy your analysis which gives me a deeper understanding of music I love. The Kirsty review fell squarely into that category. I’m less motivated to spend time reading about the Tragically Hip, who are a completely new name to me.
I suppose what I am saying is that perhaps ‘popularity’ is the single biggest factor in the reach of your articles. Spreading the word for the underappreciated will always be an uphill struggle. But though less read, maybe such articles are more valuable if they win new fans for underappreciated artists.
You have a great talent, what you do is up to you, but rest assured you’ve brought a lot of joy to this music fan.
Thanks, Rob! I think you’ve captured my intensions beautifully. It is an uphill battle to turn people on to those they know nothing about, which is why I moved from contemporary reviews to the classics. I think my anxiety about the possibility of WWIII has triggered a streak of impatience.
Very sorry to hear this, I love your writing. I think that part of the issue is that sadly some people aren’t prepared to invest the time reading longer form reviews. Also while I like reading about more cult artists the reality is that outside Canada for example, a band like The Tragically Hip are very low profile. I’m a music writer myself so I feel your frustration. I hope you carry on as your list of upcoming reviews features some of my favourites.
Well, I still have 20 reviews to go, so anything can happen. Once I stopped paying attention to the short-and-simple approach to blogging, I felt much better because I believe the effort it takes to write a review should sync with the level of effort displayed by the artist. R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
Yours is a unique voice and one I hope isn’t silenced by others or your own hand, but you have made clear the data that is driving your choices.
Personally, I was not looking forward to more Tragically Hip – I did buy a CD to get a taste (Phantom Power) and listened to a few tracks embedded in your reviews. I find them adequate but basically boring and adding nothing new to the world of music (I have the same problem with “Ocean Colour Scene” that everyone seemed to rave about).
Feels like a swing and a miss – does that lessen my confidence in your choices? Maybe. The flip side is that when you’re on point you are unbeatable (thinking XTC, Yes, Buzzcocks, ELP) but maybe that’s because, as you say, I’m a boomer and looking for stuff I know.
On the other hand, I love a lot of new music across a wide range of genres but appreciate that you are choosing not to go there. I’d love to have your take/hear your voice on some of the new music – Clipping: Splendour & Misery; Vanishing Twin: Pensiero Magico; Masayoshi Fujita: Migratory; Marta Del Grandi: Dream Life.
Regardless, I will look forward to every post.
And I should have done with the Hip what I did for XTC and all the bands who earn a spot in the menu bar—take it slow and do the reviews over a longer period of time. Thanks also for the new artists—I’m always interested in new stuff despite consistent disappointment.
There is so much I could say to this.
First of all, your family is absolutely correct that the quality of your writing is NOT slipping. I’ve sent a couple of your reviews to another lifelong music lover: my father. He told me that he has never encountered anyone who writes about music on your level. Personally, I would go one step further and say that while you are already the best, you are somehow still getting even better with every post. I deeply appreciate the awesome amount of time and effort you invest in this passion project. It blows me away.
That being said, I fully support you stepping back to whatever extent you need in order to maintain your passion for this work. I’ll miss seeing you post on a weekly basis, for sure, but in the words of Al Stewart, “Nothing that’s forced can ever be right / If it doesn’t come naturally, leave it.” To use my own words: as much as I value your writing, what’s best for you as a human is what’s most important.
I want you to know that I hold your music recommendations in such high regard that despite lacking any familiarity with the band, I seriously considered buying every Tragically Hip album in advance of your reviews so that I could follow along as you posted each one. It was such an exciting prospect! But I am still working through a long backlog of music I purchased in 2025… Plus, I like to take several month to familiarize myself with a new album, so the monthly schedule would have felt pretty rushed to me. So, I didn’t buy any of their albums and haven’t engaged much with those posts.
My apologies for my insufficient engagement! I’ve never been drawn to a “Like” button anywhere on the internet, but from now on, when I’m here, I will try to remember give it a press now and again. And I guess I can comment more, too… if you want? (I try not to post too often lest I begin to annoy. I fear the sheer length of this comment may annoy all by itself!)
Thank you so much for restoring my confidence in my music writing (my writing in another field earned me the offer of a promotion with the EU, so I thought I might be getting too formal). I fully completely admit I made a mistake by going too fast too soon on the Hip and should have stretched them out over a few years. As is true of anything unfamiliar, they are an acquired taste.
Comment and like all you want! I’ve fixed it so people don’t have to share their email address on either.
I’d hate to see you go, especially in this mordant way. FWIW, when I first encountered you, maybe 3 or 4 years ago (?), I was stoked to find someone writing from the heart and in depth about bands that I grew up with and sometimes forgot about (e.g., Spooky Tooth; not actually certain you wrote about them but it’s an example). So, I looked (and continue to look) forward to your stuff but … in the past few months you seem to prefer to focus in greater depth on a band that I don’t care for (the Hip, sorry) or one I do (Moody Blues) but too much (IMHO). For example, when I see another review of TH I’m not so keen to open it.
I’m not writing this out of any sense of righteousness but just to give you some feedback. I enjoy your writing and opinions even if they are not identically mine; especially I guess. I’ve also learned a lot from your research. So, for me, I would suggest you consider more of a layered approach that is broad first, and in depth second. The diversity of artists is really attractive versus what happened between the 4th and 5th album, for example. I think this is more or less what you used to do; maybe you got bored with it.
However, it you choose to bail that’s perfectly understandable because you can’t be driven by what ‘I’ want (metaphorically speaking). The cool thing is what you’re interested in and hearing it in your voice. It’s a super amount of work and If you’re not into it, and not getting the satisfaction you need, time to move on, as you say. I will miss you, if that’s what you decide.
I appreciate the feedback and totally agree that I should have covered the Hip gradually like I’ve done with the Stones, Beatles, Kinks, Tull and XTC. The twenty reviews now on my schedule consist of twenty different artists (and no Hip).
Interesting and challenging. I was tempted to ask, has something changed, but the question is redundant. So – what has changed? For my part I can say – the bloody algorithm/s has/have changed. IDK why but I’m getting different prompts now. Your reviews used to hit me in the face, now I scarcely notice. And my email inbox is inundated with purchase related bumf … arguably due a greater tendency to buy online. And we’re all grumpy o/a the ludicrous and depressing state of the world. Do I not notice? Do I not have the time? Do I give a damn anymore? Some blend perhaps.
On a related note, I viewed a couple of those reaction channels on YT. And that algorithm has hit me big time. I decline. Begs the question, is your format and your channel right for the times? Can or could your content be realigned to voice and video vs the written word?
All the best to you whatever your decision.
I think you’re definitely on to something. Because I refuse to have anything to do with social media, I depend on the search engines to clear a path toward my site. Some years back one of my readers suggested I switch to podcasts or video, but rejected the idea because the written word offers greater opportunity for deep dives and reflection. The best video-oriented commentary on music comes from Rick Beato but a set-up like his is far beyond my financial capabilities (and space).
I would very sincerely hate to see you go but you need to do what makes you happy. I’ve loved reading your reviews and enjoyed the bit of back and forth we’ve done. Will you leave the site up so we can keep reading the reviews that you’ve already done? I’ll miss you if you quit writing but I’ll completely understand. Whatever you decide about this I know you’ll keep up the good fight. (I said it once before but it will be like losing a friend.) All the best to you, your dad, Maman and Alicia.
You have a friend in me and an ally in my mother. She wasn’t expecting me to announce the possibility of closing the site and emphatically rejected the idea. I’ll keep my options open for now and see how things play out with the stats and my negotiations with the EU. The offer my director made would pay a lot more and maybe put me in a stronger position to make a difference but I don’t care about the money as much as I do with the work-life imbalance involved. In the meantime, I have twenty reviews to write!
Sorry I replied twice but I wasn’t sure the first one “took” as it were.