I'm Over "Overproduced"

Ok, I'm guilty of using the word as well, but as I was driving up to Berkeley yesterday, I decided that music critics need to wipe the word, "overproduced," from their lexicons. It is a phrase that says and means nothing, but is used in many ways such as:

1) When the critic thinks there are too many instruments in a song. Okay, come on. That's not what you really mean. If having lots of instruments in a song makes it bad, then why the hell does everyone gush about the London Philharmonic? No, what you mean to say is that you hate that someone added an annoying tambourine part to a song that could have otherwise been good. So say that. Say the tambourine sucks and move on.

2) When the critic thinks there are too many effects. Oh, you don't like the reverb on that track? Hate the use of "phaser" on the lead guitar? Really not digging the clicks, bleeps and bloops added by the keyboard? Well, then I respect your opinion because all of that tells me much more than the word "overproduced."

3) When the critic thinks the band or solo artist had writer's block. Sounds like the guy was trying too hard, huh? As if there was no emotion or inspiration involved and the band was just calculating what group of rhythms would lead to a hit single? Again, all of that tells me more than the word "overproduced."

4) When the critic thinks the band had little say in the music and the guy at the soundboard was trying to call all the shots and make his own album. So, the band wanted to create a breakthrough rock album, but it sounds like the producer made it into a rock-opera instead? Hey, now you're telling me something about the album. This is interesting, however, you might also want to ponder the relationships between producers and bands before you elaborate further.

"Overproduced" was a term that was more commonly used in the business world when factories made too much of their product and didn't sell enough. How did this cross over into the music world?

Well, no more. "Overproduced," I banish thee.