The Mix Review -- Happy 10th Birthday!

[Mike Senior]

It's a big occasion for me this month, because The Mix Review is now officially 10 years old! What started as a bit of a leftfield article idea in the pages of SOSback in April 2011 has since grown into an improbably large archive of more than 500 critiques of commercial productions -- and I couldn't have done it without the support of Sound On Sound and all of you valued readers!

So thanks for sticking with me all this time, everyone!

And, seeing as birthdays are as good a time as any for a bit of self-indulgence, I've decided to celebrate the event with a big retrospective article, reminiscing about some of the hundreds of productions I've critiqued over the years -- including both my Highlight Of The Decade... and my Lowlight Of The Decade!

Here's a link if you fancy a trip down memory lane:

The Mix Review: 10th Anniversary Retrospective!

Of course, the column's still going strong, with new critiques posted every Friday. Most recent post is a critique of Billie Eilish's latest Grammy winner 'Everything I Wanted', although I'd say both Sierra Hull's '25 Trips' and Ingrid Andress' 'More Hearts Than Mine' are just as worthy of your attention amongst the latest Grammy nominees...

Mike S.

[Folderol]

Well done!
And long may your pencil remain sharp

[blinddrew]

I really need to add this to my favourites.
Thanks for the reminder.

[Zukan]

Praise be! Here's to the next 10.

[Hugh Robjohns]

A job impressively well-done! Congratulations Mike, and long may the good work continue.

[Wonks]

Happy birthday!

I assume a piece of birthday cake is in the post to everyone?

[CS70]

reminiscing about some of the hundreds of productions I've critiqued over the years -- including both my Highlight Of The Decade... and my Lowlight Of The Decade!

A cool read! An unintended consequence is perhaps another confirmation that a hit does not need to be sonically perfect (or even good) to be extremely popular! There's still hope!

[Martin Walker]

Bravo Mike!

Martin

[resistorman]

Congrats!

[Airfix]

All ye who mix , be afraid be very afraid of the quill of Mike Senior. He's listening!

[Mike Senior]

Thanks for the well-wishes everyone! Here's looking to the future!

I really need to add this to my favourites.

Not sure if you use an RSS reader, but here's the RSS link if you do:
https://themixreview.org/reviews/index.xml

An unintended consequence is perhaps another confirmation that a hit does not need to be sonically perfect (or even good) to be extremely popular! There's still hope!

Agreed, there is clearly only a partial correlation between popularity and quality. That's what I'm clinging to, at least...

[blinddrew]

I really need to add this to my favourites.

Not sure if you use an RSS reader, but here's the RSS link if you do:
https://themixreview.org/reviews/index.xml

Thanks Mike.
One day I will figure out how to use RSS. Maybe.
In the meantime I'll keep having 25 tabs open my browser...

[Airfix]

Dear Mike do Penny Lane

[Mike Senior]

Dear Mike do Penny Lane

Hah! Yes, I'm sure that would be a good track to do, but given that I currently do only one classic track per month, it feels a bit unfair to do another Beatles track (I did 'Yesterday' quite early on) when I still haven't covered so many other iconic tracks by other artists -- Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody', Frank Sinatra's 'My Way', The Rolling Stones' 'Satisfaction', The Shaggs 'My Pal Foot Foot'... The list is endless, basically.

I have considered maybe doing some ancillary themed mini-books, though, so maybe I could do '10 Beatles hits' or something in future. When that mythical spare moment arises, perhaps...

[Airfix]

Thanks Mike - i'm chuffed - your special - Yesterday was easy peasy though-