New Year's Resolutions for the Blog: Help A Sister Out

By Annie Zaleski Fri., Jan. 2 2009 at 12:00 PM

Categories: This Just In

I'll have a couple of year-end mixes for A to Z readers on Monday (my crushing hangover and then the raging cold I subsequently developed meant I wasn't much up to, um, anything yesterday), but until then, I'd like to throw out a question. We talked about music community new year's resolutions over there -- but what should this blog resolve to do more (or less of) in 2009? Keep in mind that I can't control design elements and such -- but I'm looking for ideas and constructive criticism about content. Do you like having MP3s posted? Do concert calendars help? What about our weekly elements? Comment away. I'm listening.

-- Annie Zaleski

Tags:

2009, blog, new year's resolutions, self-improvement, the business end of things

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No comments from the RFTafia on this since ever? Wha Happen? Is dis a fublic porum? mango is so 2008
agreed (Mr. Vegas speaks volumes)... fair and balanced coverage of the local scene might help boost it a bit... I've read so many laments about why our city's local music scene is floundering, yet I still find myself reading about the same 3 or 4 bands time and time again...mixed in with endless Morrissey and REM articles, it does nothing to elevate the local scenery...it does nothing to galvanize the bands and fans and venues... you need to cover as many local acts as possible, especially the hard working and locally popular bands... ...even if you have a personal disliking for a band or specific members...ahem... don't punish your readers by excluding any and all news, posters or upcoming shows or events, just because a musician rubs you the wrong way or has the audacity to publicly disagree with you and your writers... If you want our local music scene to thrive, you should start supporting it, and celebrating it...
I had always hoped this would be just a showcase for items with a strictly local angle. The old print RFT used to have entire columns about local music (updates, rumors, shows, fueds, etc.). Now it seems like a dumping ground for everybody's pop culture tidbit of the moment. Why don't you just use your Myspace or Facebook account for that? If I want to see and old 'Til Tuesday or Master P video, it will find me somehow. Or at least make a new blog dedicated to that non-local trivia. Does the local reading public really need another REM or Moz review? especially if they aren't even thinking about coming to St. Louis. Reviews/previews for local shows by national acts are fine, but why do we get reviews for KC shows or Chicago shows? If they aren't gonna come here, there has to be a local act that deserves that space. The Pitchfork and Lollapalooza posts take up that entire top right list of previous posts. Couldn't you just post a link to those stories and put them somewhere else? All those posts seem to do for me is to hide the items that I would be interested in, do you know what a pain in the ass is to try to backtrack through all the older posts? This column/blog needs to go with its strong points- local, local, local! I do love you AZ, but you asked. Happy New Year, greener pastures are ahead! It's morning again in America!
Maybe an "in this issue" link list at the top of an article that lists the artist and genre -- especially a longer one -- so people who are interested in a particular band or genre can jump right to that one. Here's an example: Band Name Gets Funky - R & B Band Name Is Smooth - Contemporary Jazz Awesome Hair - 80's Metal
as someone who does an internet radio show/mixtape every week, the Mp3s are a HUGE help... Show previews and the new idea about posting flyers are also very cool. really a big fan of the more compressed critpics and plain goofy stuff (Tweedy's son's blog, for example).
One of A to Z'a greatest strengths is its detailed concert reviews of national touring acts. The photographs, insightful commentary, setlists and the occasional video clip all act as a springboard for further conversation (as evidenced by the posted responses). I know it can be a thankless job, but there are many of us who really do appreciate it. The album flashbacks are also outstanding. I check A to Z daily and am never let down by what I find. Thanks for your hard work!!!
Yes, the MP3's are great, and I always look for the concert calendar. Keep Second Spin! It's hysterical! And I already mentioned this before, but... MORE JAZZ! A one and a two and a...
I don't know if this is too much to ask (I'm not being sarcastic, I really don't know if it's too much), but how about sending out someone every week or every two weeks to see a local show for a group that hasn't been covered here before? Or at least one that doesn't get regular coverage. Just a simple report on new bands. I'm not saying that you stick to your favorites too often, but you mentioned in your resolution about how everyone stays in their comfort zone more than they should, so why not lead by example? Also, and this might just be me, but can you guys not cover every rockwell knuckles/family affair/gotta be karim show? I actually like all those artists, but it seems like they get covered for every show they play. Then again, if the writer's going to the show by his own volition anyway, you might as well get a review.