Suck it, Maxim!

This just gives a bad name to music reviewers everywhere (and it's not like we need any help with that!) -- from The Associated Press...

Maxim apologizes for Black Crowes review

Tue Feb 26, 4:18 PM ET

Maxim magazine has apologized for publishing a negative review of the Black Crowes' new album by a writer who hadn't listened to the whole CD.

The review in Maxim's March issue gives the Crowes' "Warpaint" a rating of two-and-a-half stars out of five. The band posted an exasperated statement on its Web site last week saying the Maxim writer hadn't heard the entire album because advance copies weren't available. The Crowes' manager, Pete Angelus, said the magazine explained that its review was an "educated guess."

Maxim editorial director James Kaminsky responded Tuesday with this statement: "It is Maxim's editorial policy to assign star ratings only to those albums that have been heard in their entirety. Unfortunately, that policy was not followed in the March 2008 issue of our magazine and we apologize to our readers."

A spokeswoman for the magazine contacted by The Associated Press declined to say whether the writer would face disciplinary action.

"Warpaint," the Black Crowes' first album in seven years, is set for release March 4. The blues-rock group, fronted by Chris Robinson, has released only one song from the disc, "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution."

The band's hits include "Hard to Handle" and "She Talks to Angels."

And the Black Crowes' response...

DATE: February 26, 2008

THE BLACK CROWES MANAGER REJECTS MAXIM'S ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALLS FOR
MAXIM’S FULL ACCOUNTABILITY
AND IMMEDIATE APOLOGY TO THE BLACK CROWES

Maxim magazine has issued a formal “apology” for publishing a negative review of the Black Crowes' new album by a writer who hadn't listened to the CD.

Pete Angelus, manager of The Black Crowes, stated, “In my opinion, Maxim’s fabrication of an album review is highly unethical and indefensible. This issue potentially pertains to all artists and their craft, and a publication which apparently has no respect for either.”

Maxim’s Editorial Director, James Kaminsky, issued this statement to the media: "It is Maxim's editorial policy to assign star ratings only to those albums that have been heard in their entirety. Unfortunately, that policy was not followed in the March 2008 issue of our magazine and we apologize to our readers."

Angelus responds, “Maxim seems to continue in their attempt to deceive the public with their usage of the word 'entirety.' At the most, Maxim could have only heard the one complete song that has been released to radio, before publishing their 'album review.' It comes as no surprise that Maxim has elected to apologize to their readers now that the world has been informed of their deception; however, that is not full accountability.”

In closing, Angelus said, “In my opinion, Maxim’s ‘apology’ is self-serving damage control by failing to mention The Black Crowes. The appropriate action from Maxim is to immediately issue a public apology to The Black Crowes for disparaging both the band and their soon to be released new album ‘Warpaint’ without having heard the material.”