A defence of music criticism is that it offered the only written dialogue about music--which was valuable as long as you didn't take it as gospel truth. It's kind of futile now with the internet.
That sonic youth song "I destroyed robert christgau with my huge fucking ****" pretty much sums up what I think about the guy. Half of his reviews are just a bunch of non-sequiters that only his circle of friends might get...plus he gave thin lizzy a c+ and all the steely dan records A's.
On the other hand I enjoy hearing other peoples opinions. Some people can express there opinions more clearly than others and that's why there is paid music critics just like newspaper columnists...music critics should piss people off...otherwise people wouldn't buy music magazines and the likes. I read the newspaper editorial everyday so I can be pissed off at someday.
....and authenticity isn't a superficial thing...using somebody's else's definition of it instead of your own intuitive sense is.
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