Entry 3:

06/03/08

So, What Makes You A Critic Anyway?

By TheMFE

There are varying opinions on what qualifies a critic to do the job, especially amongst – who else? – critics.

Unlike film-critics, who are often film-school grads or credentialed directors or screenplay writers, the standard isn’t so cut n’ dried for the music critic:

It could be argued that a music critic should – at least – be a musician of some sort. And I’m in that school of thought, however, I didn’t always know how to play guitar, or bass, or drums, or sing with reasonable skill. Therefore, were my pre-musically apt opinions less qualified?

It should also be considered that if one is going to review an album or concert of an unfamiliar genre, they should opt out of that editorial opportunity. A music journalist with any real credibility wouldn’t have a problem with that.

If punk is your thing, and all you’ve heard was scant echoes of pure country, then why review Sugarland’s new album if you know you’re gonna dis’ it? A common exception might be the occasional Johnny Cash box-set, who has all but replaced Hank Williams, Sr. as the preferred country-outlaw amongst rock audiences.

But all of these requisites can be trumped if any writer adheres to what should be the universal standard:

Research and acquire a fair understanding of who that artist is – and judge their work on who they are – not whether you care for that style of music.

There’s nothing more shameful than an artist who releases an odiously, transparent record of contrived, sell-out bullshit.

knottwire.com recently reviewed Usher’s disappointing album, Here I Stand. We factored out how he was once the most ubiquitous product-pusher in the history of televised commercials; we didn’t consider past projects we may or may not have liked.

It was an easy call to thumbs-down this record – not so much for Usher’s r&b vocals, but because it is obnoxiously over-produced and musically hollow.

We give credit where credit is due, and when Usher, or when any other artist puts out a great record, knottwire.com will be glad to write about it.