CONSERVATIVE MAN deliver on ear candy.

December 23, 2009 | by Joseph Rose | Album Reviews

The production on the new self-titled Conservative Man EP is really quite good, if you’re into that sparkly, soulless electro-pop thing that these guys do. And is it really “these guys”, or this guy? There are 3 members listed:
Justin Sokol – Drums
Darren Hyest – Keys, Synth
Ian McCarthy – Vox, Bass, Guitars, Spite, Synth, Drum Programming, Bad Production, Non-Conversationalist, Songwriting, etc, etc.

Wow. I don’t have any inside information here, but I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess that Ian is the one that wrote those descriptions. He didn’t feel that just one “etc” would be sufficient, so he went ahead and added a second one just to make sure we all understand just how much of this sugary sweetness was all his doing. Was “bad production” the only snippet of humility to be found anywhere near this project, or was it just an attempt at witty self-deprecating hipster humor? I wonder.

His voice, while extremely limited, is good. And again, the production value is certainly up to par. However, if this music has any value, it’s that it could be mildly danceable in certain environments. If you’re looking for anything deeper than that, unfortunately you’ll have to look elsewhere.

myspace.com/conservativemanmusic

About Joseph Rose

Joseph is a father, a music production teacher, and a front man. He consumes as much music as he does pizza. And that's a lot.

CAL

CM are cool! Great review
bustedaxe66

Simply stated, CM kicks arse. I give these guys credit for doing what they love, regardless of adversity. Thanks for your opinion and you're welcome for mine.
Warren.
gargamelio

Conservative Man's music is pretty darn good. Methinks that this Joseph Rose wouldn't know good music if it slapped him on the backside. Go listen to more Pearl Jam, Rose! I'm sure that mainstream crap is right up your alley.
Joseph_Rose

You got me. I guess I just can't handle this hardcore underground stuff, like Conservative Man. And Pearl Jam are totally blowing up MTV and the Billboard charts right now... oh wait, no they aren't. SYNTH DRIVEN POP IS. Pay attention.
gargamelio

Rose,

Your review is worse than I may have thought.....So you're comparing groups like Lady Gaga and Collette Carr to this band? Come on now.
Joseph_Rose

Lady Gaga is more relevant here than Pearl Jam, which you seemed to completely pull out of your ass for no good reason. Yes, I dig Pearl Jam. I also dig Pantera, Sade, Karl Denson, dredg, Dr. Dre and tons of other artists from tons of genres. I don't happen to like this album. For whatever reason you're butthurt over that fact, and well... that's weird of you. But as long as you keep clicking on this site, I'm willing to keep engaging you in order to help inflate the Google Analytics stats here.
gargamelio

I used Pearl Jam as an example (yes, out of my ass and maybe a bad one to pick out of the much more horrible Lady Gaga) solely based on my own assumption that you only dig mainstream music and using this band as a comparison.

It's funny how you mention that this band's album isn't very deep when this "review" is anything but deep. - Quote:"If you’re looking for anything deeper than that, unfortunately you’ll have to look elsewhere." Within this small paragraph is the only time when you actually review, at a miniscule level, the actual music in the album. You seem to enjoy trying to humiliate the band rather than reviewing anything in depth with their music. You even ridicule an attempt for the band to poke fun at themselves.

It's fine that you don't like the album - it's your opinion. It just seems you didn't even give the band a chance.
Joseph_Rose

Do you have any idea how many bands are in Philadelphia? Take a guess. I bet you don't know. I'm sure that I have taken the time to listen to more of them than you have. I would also bet that I have done far more to expose those bands (including this one) to a new audience than you ever have. I gave this band a chance while other bands music waited in line. I JUST DON'T LIKE IT. I'm sure even the member(s) of this band don't care about my review as much as you seem to. Now stop being a weirdo. Start a website, post under your real name, and go write about how great this band is compared to fucking Lady Gaga and Pearl Jam. One last bet... I bet you won't do any of that because it is far easier to just come to this site and bitch.
gargamelio

Rose,

You didn't give this band a chance; You attacked them on a personal level. I think you saw them as a bunch of young kids trying to make popular music and you made your judgment way before you even listened to them.

How am I being a weirdo, by the way? I'm stating my opinion just as yours. You are the one becoming awfully defensive and using obscene language - not me. I made an assumption, but I never cursed you out.

Otherwise, thank you for your tremendous contributions to the music world. And, yes, I do know many bands from the Philly area including one of my favorites: The Boils, (which, I'm sure you know nothing about.). I never said that I was the biggest fan of this band either, by the way. I can, however, appreciate the tremendous work these guys put in day in and day out to make their music. All that just to have some asshat write a half-assed and lazy review? Nonsense.
Joseph_Rose

You're entire first paragraph is hypocritical and silly. You're basically doing exactly what you accusing me of. You're judging me and claiming to know what I did in my own home. The fact is, you weren't there and can't prove that I "didn't give them a chance." Why would you just choose to make that up? I sat there and listened to their album with absolutely zero prior knowledge of them in any way, which is how it goes with many of the bands I write about on here. I gave my honest opinion of the album and the band. You have a different opinion. So?

At the end of the day, I still feel like I'm doing more to help this band than you are. Prove me wrong... or just continue to argue under a fake name and say something irrelevant about a Classic Rock band. =P
gargamelio

Mr. Rose,

We can agree to disagree.

- Greg Phelan (my real name).

And I'm not a weirdo.
Joseph_Rose

No, you're not a weirdo at all! Your email leads to several different identities.

On Facebook you are: Stonus Filipio

On Myspace you are: Sam, from Alexandria Virginia

You wrote in to http://www.rationalresponders.com/forum/14867 as "Chris K"

You post as "Schizo" over at ign.com, and oh boy are you loved on that forum! I love the part where you said "just because I'm a little wackier than most I get my intelligence insulted and get asked to leave". Classic.

There's a few others, but whatever. Sure, you can be Greg Phelan fan of Conservative Man over here at PRB. Enjoy your stay.
gargamelio

Joseph,

Mind taking my e-mail off this post, please?

Thanks.
Philly Rock Blog

I've edited out your email address from public view since you wrote in and complained about it. But think twice before making it a personal thing if you aren't prepared to be on the receiving end.
Mykel77

Obviously this reviewer has a kind of...crush on Ian judging from the "i can't wait to get to this" last paragraph next to your picture, which is great. Sorry you other two. for most of this review, your work is unnoticed next to Ian's punctuational liner note nuances. Whoever wrote this went out of their way to notice everything about you. read it again to 10cc's 'I'm not in love'.
artman
chanice

Sounds like someone had a bad Christmas :( Is this personal? It does not sound like a review of a CD yet an attack on one person. Do you guys know each other, wow you are really mean. Hope whatever your beef is that you not keep it in print. Keep it to yourselves K? I happen to like the music and don't really care about your opinio about the artist (s)

C
Philly Rock Blog

1. The review was clearly posted on December 23, which is before Christmas on our planet.
2. You cared enough to come here, read the opinion, and then write out a paragraph about the opinion. Admit it, you care.
3. Opinions are like assholes. There are plenty of both around here.
chanice

K you got me on the date Philly Rock Blog :( sarcasm..... I did indeed read the opinion and have also been to a few of "their" shows. They have a great stage presence and I happen to have enjoyed the first CD and will be attending the next show.
In response to your second remark yes, I do care.
Your third remark is so very true, sadly.

C
pennylane8

Actually, I find Conservative Man's music to be unique, emotive, and very intelligent- great lyrics. And soulless? Quite the opposite. These guys are awesome live, talented musicians, and deliver songs that hook you like a drug. I am a conservative man junkie, and this review is bullshit.