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Posted in music on December 11, 2006
Time Out rates the critics
Time Out New York got together an independent group of panelists to rate New York's art, book, dance, film, food, music, and theater critics. The panel was independent to avoid any conflicts of interest that would arise from the fact that Time Out itself employs its own critics. Panelists included Fluxlblog's Matthew Perpetua, Luna's Dean Wareham, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (all of them?). Music critics were judged on knowledge, style, taste, accessibility, and influence and then ranked based on the average. MSN's Robert Christgau came in #5. Sasha Frere-Jones took the title.
Not surprisingly, the critics who write for The New York Times were nearly universally deemed to be the most influential in their various fields, though some scored low in taste and knowledge. Also unsurprisingly: TONY held its own quite well in eight genres of criticism, against critics from various NYC publications.The whole thing is here.
Posted on December 11, 2006 9:29 AM
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Comments (7)
If it wasn't for that whole stupid Stephin Merritt thing, I'd probably like Sasha more.
Posted by Jeff | December 11, 2006 11:58 AM
the stephen merritt thing:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/18/arts/music/18rock.html?ex=1305604800&en=263554be1a825d4e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Posted by Anonymous | December 11, 2006 12:05 PM
wow. a critique the critics? we really have our heads up our asses now.
Posted by b | December 11, 2006 1:50 PM
why shouldn't the critics be critiqued? it's not as if what they do is above valuation. some are gifted at what they do, and some are total hacks: just like the artists, poets, musicians they write about. i think it was a great article, I just wish more critics had been taken to task for the shite they spew, and that time out's own sub-par critics weren't so flagrantly, embarrassingly trumped up.
Posted by cw | December 11, 2006 2:55 PM
"and that time out's own sub-par critics weren't so flagrantly, embarrassingly trumped up."
I totally agree w/ you on that one. I find most of their reviews--namely, their music listings/reviews/interviews/etc--to be beyond embarassing.
Posted by Brian | December 11, 2006 3:11 PM
I find it impossible to imagine Fluxblog having any credibility here.
Posted by Anonymous | December 11, 2006 5:18 PM
The best part is that if someone critiques this issue of TONY, TONY will retroactively pan the critic. I've never seen a magazine come this close to masturbating. I hope to never see it again.
Posted by Moiche | December 13, 2006 1:11 AM