Matthew Levinson

It's just not good

Published on 14/08/07
by matt

Toni Collette’s management sent out an email today, imploring industry folk to rethink her record, Beautiful Awkward Pictures (released October, 2006). She’s a fabulous actor. Apparently a pretty great person too, especially considering she self-released the record when all signs point to her having a lot more success on a major.

Despite all the exposure this amazing band has managed to achieved, they have still struggled to gain significant airplay. Those in control within radio have provided assurance that this is no reflection on the quality of the work, but as the record is rich and piano driven in a Nick Cave sort of way then Toni, like Nick, does not seem to suit many mainstream radio formats.

The manager’s appeal asks industry egos of “some considerable taste & influence” to relisten to the record. But despite the flattery, this record has little to compare it to Nick Cave. Sure: it’s by an Australian; instruments are played; a singer sings self-penned songs. But that’s pretty much it. Nick’s magnetic. He’s wild and his songs are rawly intimate. Toni’s songs are trite, the music’s bland. There’s a reason noone’s playing it. Toni’s a celebrity – so in a TV or feature context she’s still interesting despite the music – but that doesn’t count on radio.

That's it. What Next?

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