FAQ

When Chicago Tunes began in August 2010, I had intended it to be a space for me and, eventually, other individuals to discuss and cover Chicago’s music scene. It was conceived, more or less, to be a news source.

As time went on, it quietly expanded into the thing I thought I wanted it to be. By the end 2010, me and a handful of writers were posting a thing or two daily.

As the site continued to evolve, though, I discovered that Chicago Tunes seemed less and less personal to me. Yes, I was still writing about music I liked and, yes, I believed the same to be true of the site’s other writers. But impressions got uploaded so quickly at times that I wasn’t (because I felt like I couldn’t) afford much time to enjoy what I was listening to.

Not sustainable, and not fulfilling. And also not true.

For the better part of 2011, Chicago Tunes has become more personal. I include myself in my writing way more than I used to. Not because I’m a raging narcissist, but because it feels natural and right to do so.

The site is less a news source anymore — if it ever really was — and more a space for me to reflect on what I’m listening to.

You’re here because you discovered me somehow, and we probably share at least some common ground in what we’re listening to. I like that.

So, what is this?
Chicago Tunes is a blog for and about the city’s music scene. Most of what you see here will be reviews of music created by people who call Chicago home. However, I like plenty of stuff outside of city limits and may write about those folks, too, when they come to town.

Who’s behind it?
Well, me. And some others.

What makes Chicago Tunes different?
Chicago Tunes aims to build up the music community, not break it down. Writing largely focused on likes; not dislikes.

It’s not in my nature, really, to rail on a piece of music. Nor is it all that productive. What I do here instead is discuss what I’ve happened upon (or been emailed) and perhaps why it stuck out to me.

I might slip in some bitterness, maybe, when writing about a band I’ve reviewed before, and their new tunes or most recent show disappointed in some way. By that point, and if I’m grounded in my opinion, I’ll go ahead and discuss — productively, hopefully — why I wasn’t engaged, or what was lacking. Make sense?

Why don’t you use star systems or grades in your reviews?
Because I find those little things lazy and meaningless. Were I to use them, I’d totally be contradicting what I set out to do here.

Everything you read here, you see, will be a thoughtful critique. Honest, and probably thorough.

Stars and grades, I think, mostly eliminate real need to read a review at all. These systems, when you break them down, really summarize a thought.

Bah! But I don’t wanna read!
Oh.

What’s with the site design?
Boring, I know. The template is about as bare bones as it gets. I suppose you came here for content, not flash.

I’m in a band and I sent you an email. I never heard from you. What gives?
I try to read and respond to everything, but sometimes I don’t. Or, I might have listened to your music, but didn’t think I’d want to write about it. Or, I figured out I’d been sent an email you also sent to 100 others and didn’t feel compelled to reply.

There are many reasons, really, and the hope is it isn’t taken personally. When in doubt, send another.