After speaking to a few magazine editors I have realized that the print magazines cannot publish critical reviews of toys (or art) so I have been playing around with the idea of starting a "toy review" blog. I think there should be a lot more critical thinking about the products that are thrown at us every day. It would be a blog run by collectors not industry types.

Let me know what you think.

Sounds cool, but could be used against you later.

Im down.

Please do. I think the "Western" vinyl scene could use a reality check to save it from itself. All of the vinyl industry could benifit from the truth.

playing devils advocate but if the figure is not poor quality wise how can you be critical? surely then its just artistic [sic] opinion.

If the figure is flawless but not to your taste, do you think there is a point?

You can be critical of the actual art work! Have you ever read a negative music review?

They are reviews not facts.

i like the idea.. but first i need a taste of what you mean. like what toy did u see a good review of that you totally feel is wrong?

i think it is a fantastic idea

there are reviews of movies....reviews of plays...
not all of them are glowing, by any means.

at the end of the day, of course it is just someone's opinion, but i think if this is done right it has the ability to be something that people will respect and utilize.

vinylpulse seems stale to me. it is time for something new to take over and to provide product reviews.

and, of course, if you need any opinions from me, i would be glad to participate(even though it could be used against me in the future)

p.s.
can it have a section titled "fuck you trexi!"
?

the whole point is nobody reviews these figures. For the most part the blogs and magazines just reprint or rework the press release.

well.. i sorta wanted to know an example of a toy you're real critical about.

anyways, it would be interesting to see unsugarcoated www.millionaireplayboy.com reviews

Hahaha, I fucking hate those things.

I think it's a great idea, most toy mags and things seem pretty fucking stale to the point that I would hardly care to read them even if they are talking about toys that I like, it's just boring for the most part.

okay, I think I will do it. I grabbed a domain today: hiddenvinyl.com (nothing up now)

any hosted blogging software suggestions?

Good idea. I'd like to see this happen.

+1 but i also see this working if it is done in the same manner as a food or movie critic would review their "vinyl". good idea...stoked to see it happen.

Also think this is a great idea...it unsettles me a lot when people react negatively to others posting critical opinions...there's alot more point to someone making an intelligent, thought out, critical point about a piece as opposed to the throngs of "that's awesome" etc...
If you like something, one man's opinion shouldn't change your view but should rather help/force you to examine vinyl pieces more closely...anyway, keep us posted on the site Glenn...

if you do this right...
you might be able to score some free schwag from companies. maybe they will send you their toys for free hoping to get a good review

Knewnan, fantastic idea. I think the whole scene needs a more critical eye. I have just quit buying any type of hype and just buy what I like. Funny that more and more it's strictly JP vinyl. I like the idea of having a place to go and be critical, and open to criticism, to push the conversation further. The boards are great, but a blog would really keep it centralized.

I know there are negative music reviews but one mans top 5 albums is another mans top 5 shite.

I think most people on here could not stand to listen to SunnO))), but if the production (and product) is flawless, some people think its some of the most amazing music ever recorded.

If you get what i'm aiming at.

Like the recent Dun nys QC problems. The KOA ones are quite a nice design but the paintjob looks crappy - so give a negative mark. But to say the Dun ny and KOA design is shit - is surely subjective.

no free shit, if a company sends a product for review it gets sold on eBay for charity (unless someone sends RxH). If you take free shit you are part of the industry.

screw ebay. sell it here and donate the proceeds.

to be honest, If I do this right I don't expect for people to send much.

I dont think the toys should be added to a collection, they should be for the sole purpose of review.But I do think it would be good if companys wanted to send a toy for review, but you would have to maintain the integrity of the project, or else your just taking a bribe.

so are you honestly saying you are only doing this to be negative, or are you going to praise a dun ny?

I don't think you'd get many toys if people knew it was going to be a critical eye doing the review. I think the way to take it to the masses for real and to turn a little cash on it is to setup the Blog with AdSense space for Google ads.

Then when people click through to KR or other contextual art/toy related ads, you get some revenue, but are free to speak your mind. In a sense you are a voice that can help start guiding collectors in the right direction. Why not make something for it? Plus, given the size of the market, you aren't talking mega-bucks for ad dollars. But enough to potentially cover some basic overhead.

No I will try and post negative and positive reviews of most high interest” releases. What little I know of the toy business makes me believe any negative press will knock me off the freebee list.

Besides, if I start getting free stuff the aftermarket might collapse. (JK)