Awesome article, and Nouela is well-deserving of the praise. But is it really fair of Megan to be covering her all the time when the two are friends? It casts doubt on her assertions, though they're all completely true.

Awesome article, and Nouela is well-deserving of the praise. But is it really fair of Megan to be covering her all the time when the two are friends? It casts doubt on her assertions, though they're all completely true.

I've been writing about local music for about 10 years--I've become friends with some of the people I've written about. It wouldn't be fair to ignore someone's talent simply because I call them a friend--friend or not, this record is fantastic. And you seem to agree. So I don't really see the point in questioning my motives or ability to write a fair article when you clearly feel that I did.

This record is Fantastic. I will fight you PEP impostor.

It's less about your ability to write a good article than the effectiveness of that article. I think it's just good form for a journalist to at least say something to the effect of "full disclosure: we're friends."

Again, for the cheap seats: this is just me posing a question about journalistic integrity. It's totally not a diss to Nouela or even to Megan.

Hey Nouela, I was really glad to read this story today. Best of luck with everything. I remember seeing you at the EMP sound-offs and really digging your voice/keyboards. Someone in my CD pile, I've got the silver CDR with 'mon frere' scrawled on it with black felt tip..

Since when did this become a Communist regime? Music critics can write about whoever the fuck they want without it being an issue of integrity. They're not reporting news. There's no equal coverage rule. Nouela is topical- awesome new album, sold out Showbox show, etc.

So if a critic likes someone personally and musically, and they happen to be doing something significant, not to mention the best work of their career, that critic should refrain from giving them the recognition (even you admit) they deserve, on the basis of what may be but actually isn't an unfair bias towards that person and their music? Not quite.

There isn't an ethical question here. There is an aesthetic one. And we all agree that Nouela's music is amazing, so problem solved.

I was so happy to see this article in the Stranger this week. I was at the PUSA show and was very irritated with all of the people talking through your set. You were wonderful and I can't wait to see you again soon.

If rock writers didn't hype their friends who made music (or worked at labels), we probably wouldn't have Patti Smith, Richard Hell, The Pretenders, Factory, Sub Pop, and about five hundred other great artists or companies. For a long time, the press's fervent but minority voice needed to move things along beyond the intentions of "authentic" but inessential "non-connected" bands. And sometimes writers back the wrong -- inessential -- bands too. But People Eating People is a great band, and have a great record. If Megan didn't do it at The Stranger, someone else would have (as in Eric, who recently did as well). But someone needs to make sure it gets done, and if it's someone who knows the artist well, it's beyond obvious that that coverage has some benefits for the reader. Contrary to passed along notions and supposed ethics by the sideline punters.

No offense, PEP. It's a good question and people need to ask it more often. But the answer is a lot more complicated than it seems. I don't know any great rock writer who doesn't hang out with artists; I don't know many great musicians who don't have some friends who write for the music press. People are nervous about this kind of thing, but I grew up in a milieu where ten people did everything -- play the show, cover the show, promote the show, review the show, review their friends' records, write songs about their writer friends -- and it was all kinds of what mainstream would think was "incestuous." Think of the music scene more as a creative pool than a series of fixed positions. And when something isn't as good as People Eating People being hyped, and someone not as great and boundary-respecting as Megan Seling writing about it, then it's a good idea to question it. Even questioning it now was OK. It's just not that problematic due to the quality of the coverage and subject.

A simple disclosure of your relationship to someone, if it goes beyond the typical music critic knows the players and operators in the scene socially bit--that you are friends more than just friendly--is critical in keeping your readers trusting you. Every one knows that rock critics cover their friends, but you just have to tell people, it doesn't lessen the praise.