jdwhitt

The Guardian references this article! http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment...

In addition to TXU's givings, two of the individuals listed are former high ranking TXU Officers. Think TXU (sorry - Energy Future Holdings Corp.) has a dog in this hunt, much?

http://www.txucorp.com/media/newsrel/...

http://www.dallaschamber.org/news/Nye...

If you experience what you consider unethical or errant conduct by your retail electric provider, you should consider filing a formal complain with the PUC:

http://www.puc.state.tx.us/ocp/compla...

Damn The Man...! Except when there's a paycheck involved, I guess...

Seriously, way to go and best of luck. And thanks for supporting local music, among other things.

Two items of interest from the Texas Music Academy's ("sanctioning" body of the Texas Music Awards) website (http://www.mytexasmusic.com/ ):

• Only performers who are members of the Academy are eligible

• 3rd sentence found on http://www.mytexasmusic.com/ : "In an effort to insure high standards..." "Insuring" high standards should begin by using spell check...

Not trying to deminish the nominies, but sceptical of the organization/process...

Thanks for the love... and yes, I'll submit a copy to texasgigs.com for a review... but not until after I strap on my battle armor! : )

I'll be backed by a band, but not Trainwreck... really not that important, but wanted to clear that up.

Hey, Hopper... looks like they got it right to me, fella!

-JD

p.s. thanks for the promo.

One last comment... as it is important to my point above to highlight the fact that finelinelive.com did NOT "post a harsh review of SZ". The review was a USER COMMENT. The user's screen name was "Val’s friend Danny," NOT Amanda or Cindy. finelinelive.com simply asked users, in this one particular case, to review this album. First one to do so got some silly prize or somesuch... thus the "winner" headline. ...just trying to keep our facts straight...

And while, I have played a show with the band reviewed on texasgigs.com, I certainly have no loyalties to them (though I do like the album). My beef was with the tone (spiteful) and methods (ridicule) used in the review. I read negative reviews all the time (received a couple myself...) But, as I stated earlier, most keep the punches above the belt.

However, thanks to your explanations and the disclaimer added to the review since our discussion began, I now know to approach reviews on this site with lowered expectations, as any user may contribute without editorial oversight. I did not previously know this was the case. (...and that is not meant to be a stab at you... the curators of the site.)

I appreciate your response to my comments and the explanation you provide as to the purpose of texasgigs.com and processes the site employs.

However, I find it somewhat ironic (and misguided) that you link to www.finelinelive.com to suggest that the authors of that site encourage harsh reviews (you should probably be aware of this fact since you previously had a working relationship with Cindy). FineLineLive.com purposefully avoids negative reviews and sticks to reviewing only those albums the authors enjoy. This is thier approach. It's what works for them.

In fact, the link you provide to this site is the one case that I am aware of in which finelinelive.com resorts to the texasgigs.com method of inviting user feedback on a particular album. It so happened that the feedback was negative (and rightly so, in my opinion).

If you look at the history of that particular post, you'll find that the band in question came dubiously close to threatening the authors of finelinelive.com for having not reviewed thier album in an acceptable timeframe, saying, " i’ve bleedin’ had it w/the two of you. not to be forgotten!!!”".

Best of luck in your endeavors...

"You're right about the need to post the explanation of how our reviews are written and by whom. That is our practice and had been inadvertantly left off this review. I added it yesterday."

Had the disclaimer not been left off the page, I most likely would have not had much to say regarding this review, other than, "I've given this album several listens and I've enjoyed it..."

This isn't the first time I've seen you guys feel the need to defend your review "process." Accordingly, it might behoove you and the integrity of texasgigs.com to explicity and prominently state somewhere on your site that "ANYONE in the TexasGigs community" (which should probably be defined) has the ability to post a "review".

I was under the impression that the texasgigs.com "organization" was a media outlet staffed by bloggers/writers with a desire to be taken seriously, rather than a message board (of sorts) that allows anyone to comment on a genre, album, issue, etc...

I was not necessarily offended by this reveiw, as I realize opinions differ, but was rather dissapointed with the lack of journalistic approach. Aside from my highschool newspaper, I can't recall the last time I saw an album review published in a legitamate publication (print or web) resort to ridicule to make it's point. To do so goes beyond criticizm and, as I stated previously, borders on vindictiveness. But, I suppose texasgigs.com now espouses this the type of behavior (either directly or indirectly) in it's effort to support it's policy to allow "writers" to freely express their opinions.

You know, editorial oversight does not necessarily infringe upon a writer's ability to express an opinion... it just makes for a better, more professional publication. Those running this site should perhaps that this into consideration.

Meanwhile, there are a plethora of websites out there one can resort to for the opinions of their "user community."

Please note that I am approaching this subject not as a musician, but rather as a music fan and longtime (since it's inception) peruser of texasgigs.com.

I've given this album several listens and I've enjoyed it everytime. Not everyone can pen the next Born To Run, but what these boys produced is solid and they should be proud. I've also had the opportunity to see them live and they put on a great show. This review appears to border on vindictiveness for some reason. I remember a time when TexasGigs.com took the time to critique rather than to criticize, and its authors, even when reviewing what they deemed the worst of the worst, could always find some silver lining for a band to build upon.

Word.

guy over at SOH is top notch!

WooHoo!

I'm sorry I knocked that column down. I promise - no more drinking and driving...!

I'm loving living vicariously through flat Cindy. Ahhhh, Taco Xpress... Makes me ready to jump in the car and head south. by southwest.

Say hello to Beaver for me!

Oh, come on...! It was just one little shot... and it wasn't even my idea, anyway. I think. That's my story, anyway... Have fun at sxsw. I recommend the pancake breakfast with Allen's Oldies Band (former members of Banana Blender Surprise) in front of The Continental club and then the nooner hosted by Mojo Nixon at said club on Saturday morning/early afternoon.

The songwriter circle over at the sons of hermann on thursdays used to be legit. Very laid back... Don't know if it still is. Same goes for Adair's on Sunday afternoons.

The best open mic in town is without a doubt the Fallout Lounge on Monday nights. That's where all the cool kids hang out. I went there once but it made me feel old and Sara Raddle was bartending, so I was extra self-conscious.

The best Jazz I've ever heard in Dallas was pretty much next door to the Fallout (possibly that same night) at the New Amsterdam Coffee House (Haus?). Don't know if it was a jam or not...

"Where do artists get together to just share music and mix styles?" Good luck with that...

" Several incidents have taking place before 12:00 a.m.in DE with the presence of DPD on one street harrassing club goers and a murder taking place on the next street over close to another club that has an after hours permit that allows 18 and over in their venue and "

I'd rather enjoy good food and Singapore Slings in the comfort of my own home, where there is a much slimmer chance I'll be murdered.

Deep Ellum is Dead. Long Live Deep Ellum...

Cindy, you keep it up and you will have a street or something named after you one day...

...awww.... ...good times...