Band Comments On Petra - what have you heard?

[executioner]

For the most part we all know how the fans feel about DT, but I was surprised on how many favorable reviews it was given over at Amazon. Out of the 63 reviews 29 of them gave it either 4 or 5 stars which is almost half.
On the flip side the critics seem to be middle of the road, but the o
ne thing critics and fans seem to agree on is the overall quality of production; some critics even go as far to say its the highest quality Petra has ever done.

[superfly]

Even if Petra didn't deserve the Grammy, I still think it was poor of Third Day to say what they did. I guess we as Petra fans are used to a higher standard of behavior. I mean, how long had Petra waited to finally win a Grammy, and they never went around saying the reason they hadn't gotten it was because the powers-that-be have no clue. They were (and are) about ministry. Always have been. That's part of what makes Petra so special and unique. I just can't imagine Bob ever saying stuff like this. Even now, when he's pretty much an undisputed legend, he's saying they make no claims of being geniuses. Oh how CCM needs bands like Petra! Ok, that's my 2 cents

[Shell]

I take the press with a grain of salt. I'm not denying it was said, but you never know what might happen with editing. Bob and company have probably learned to proceed with caution as far as what they say to the press-- -- As should anyone who has to deal with the media. The media is very quick to dig up dirt and be negative. Whatever the case, sure it's great they got an award, but it that really what it's all about in the long run? Awards in the big scheme of things are not ALL that important.

[CatNamedManny]

I guess I give them the benefit of the doubt. It's disappointing to lose, and more so when you lose to someone you know didn't deserve it. Petra didn't have the best Christian rock album that year; I doubt even critics who liked the CD would disagree with that statement, regardless of how well it's produced, and then there's the fact that none of the songs on the disc (except one) were even written that year! It's basically a Grammy for a well produced album of remakes that received mixed critical reviews and was loathed by the band's own fans.

That they basically just said they thought the decision was reflective of Petra's name recognition rather than the quality of the album. That might not have been the classiest thing to say, but it was also accurate. If they had had a couple more days to think about it, or even a couple of minutes without someone waiting for them to answer, they probably would have deflected it and moved on. But when you've just lost and someone asks you the question, sometimes human nature takes over.

[superfly]

I agree that the album shouldn't have won. But I don't buy the "name recognition" thing. If that were the case, Petra would have been winning grammy's every year since the mid 80s. Second, there were much more popular CCM bands at the time of Double Take. Again I don't blame them for how they felt, just noticing how bands with the integrity of Petra (who don't put much stock in awards) and who put ministry at the top seem to be in short supply in CCM.

[executioner]

I agree that the album shouldn't have won. But I don't buy the "name recognition" thing. If that were the case, Petra would have been winning grammy's every year since the mid 80s. Second, there were much more popular CCM bands at the time of Double Take. Again I don't blame them for how they felt, just noticing how bands with the integrity of Petra (who don't put much stock in awards) and who put ministry at the top seem to be in short supply in CCM.

You hit the nail right on the head.

[blayze5150]

Not to get off topic, but I've always wondered what the relationship, if any, between Petra and Stryper is like. I wore a Stryper shirt to Petra's last show on the Farewell tour in Murphy, NC. At the meet and greet, Bob looked at my shirt and gave me the oddest look I've ever experienced, then John kinda busted my chops (in a very nice way) about the shirt. I would've had a Petra shirt on (I'm more of a Petra fan by far), but the biggest they had was XL and I am a fat 4XL. Anything behind this?

[executioner]

I always wanted them to put together a tour back in the day, but too be honest they both were playing to different crowds and markets. Now I think they would be a better fit.

[Shell]

They must secretly all hate each other for some reason... (That is a joke). The two different audiences might be it.

[rexreed]

I take the press with a grain of salt. I'm not denying it was said, but you never know what might happen with editing. Bob and company have probably learned to proceed with caution as far as what they say to the press-- -- As should anyone who has to deal with the media. The media is very quick to dig up dirt and be negative. Whatever the case, sure it's great they got an award, but it that really what it's all about in the long run? Awards in the big scheme of things are not ALL that important.

What an incredibly paranoid summary of the press. You should only say to "the press" something that you would not mind anyone to hear.

[Mountain Man]

Here's what I found:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=834

The comment in question:

JJT: How did it feel to see Petra get the Grammy for Rock Gospel Album? Everyone I know - if they had a chance to sit down with you they’d want to know this. Do you feel you should have gotten that?

Mac: I’m going to be pretty frank with you… I can’t be… It goes to show you with the Grammys, how much they know about Christian music. It’s all name recognition and has nothing to do with the record.

Tai: It was the same thing as in the Album Of The Year category with Steely Dan. It was like the same thing in our category."

I don't see anything objectionable about that. No one thought Petra deserved that Grammy. Heck, CCM openly criticized the choice, saying it proved the voters were "out to lunch."

I differ from you on the comment. What I got from it was a low blow towards Petra. I and most Petra fans didn't like Double Take for on how they changed the classics, but it was probably production wise was one of the best Petra albums in quality production. I believe it to be well received in the industry.
Just because us fans thought it was bad doesn't make it bad in production quality which is a huge factor in getting a Grammy nod.

Yep. From a musicianship and production standpoint, it is an outstanding album. I happen to think it's pretty darn good Petra album in its own right.

[Mountain Man]

I take the press with a grain of salt. I'm not denying it was said, but you never know what might happen with editing. Bob and company have probably learned to proceed with caution as far as what they say to the press-- -- As should anyone who has to deal with the media. The media is very quick to dig up dirt and be negative. Whatever the case, sure it's great they got an award, but it that really what it's all about in the long run? Awards in the big scheme of things are not ALL that important.

What an incredibly paranoid summary of the press. You should only say to "the press" something that you would not mind anyone to hear.

It's not paranoid at all. Having worked in the news industry myself, I can say with some authority that Shell's summary is right on the money. There's a saying in the news biz: "If it bleeds, it leads." People aren't joking when they say it, either.

[sue d.]

I worked for a newspaper for 17 years.... Mountain Man, you are right! Sensational headlines sell papers.

Now this may not necessarily be the case with the Christian media to that great an extent, but still -- NEWS sells.

[Shell]

I take the press with a grain of salt. I'm not denying it was said, but you never know what might happen with editing. Bob and company have probably learned to proceed with caution as far as what they say to the press-- -- As should anyone who has to deal with the media. The media is very quick to dig up dirt and be negative. Whatever the case, sure it's great they got an award, but it that really what it's all about in the long run? Awards in the big scheme of things are not ALL that important.

What an incredibly paranoid summary of the press. You should only say to "the press" something that you would not mind anyone to hear.

That was the point of my post, that you should be cautious and shouldn't say stuff to the press you don't mind others hearing about. I wasn't being paranoid; it was said partly jokingly, note the The news industry is what is it. You don't believe everything you read or think it's wrong to be cautious do you?

[rexreed]

When does "if it bleeds, it leads" turn into "watch what you say to the press?" If not for the free press there is a good chance none of us would be here writing about Petra. There is another over simplified saying that goes something like "there is no such thing as bad press." It's about as ridiculous as the others posted here. The truth is Petra could use some exposure and ppl with unrealistic beliefs about how journalism works might as well lock themselves in a cave and make up some more sayings about how information is always wrong when it comes from the press.