Part of this change can be attributed to the dying trend of print and digital magazines. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Dan Ozzi of VICE said that “it’s actually news at this point when an album does get a bad review.” Therefore, it’s not surprising to see only “eight out of 7287 albums” receive a red score on Metacritic, a website that aggregates reviews for music and other forms of entertainment. With the exception of already–shunned artists, mostly negative reviews have all but disappeared instead, the publications don’t write one at all. Other music publications have undergone a similar, albeit less noticeable, shift. Lana was originally disliked by the indie community leading to a mixed reception for Born to Die, but after her monumental Norman Fucking Rockwell!, both Born to Die and her past discography have received retroactive acclaim. This appeal to the conversation around an artist can lead to review discrepancies. Most of the criticism wasn’t even directly attached to her it was attributed to Jack Antonoff, whose collaborations oversaturate the pop market. But other artists like Lorde, who spent years away from music, have also been subjected to intense scrutiny which is shifted away from the album.Ĭritics saw her new release Solar Power as a substantial downgrade from her sophomore album Melodrama, one of the most acclaimed albums of all time. Reviews of Donda mentioned his past and the inclusion of Marilyn Manson, which sometimes led to an automatic zero stars. When it comes to someone like Kanye West, it’s difficult to avoid the controversies when they play a direct role in his persona. This inconsistency comes in part from discussing the artist and trying to match the current narrative surrounding them. If these scores really do reflect Pitchfork’s self–described reputation as the “most trusted voice in music,” then that would be a massive blow to the artists who worked hard on their albums only to be placed below Peppa. When looking at scores from the past, the comparisons become even more ridiculous Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die scored a 5.5, Nine Inch Nails’ The Fragile scored a 2.0, and The Strokes’ The New Abnormal scored a 5.7. This still places Peppa’s work higher than Weezer’s OK Human and Madison Beer’s Life Support, two albums released this year that had much more artistic inspiration. But like all other reviews from Pitchfork, it was given a numerical score: 6.5, a relatively low score for Pitchfork’s standards. Given that the author compares the tracks “Recycling” and “Bing Bong Champion” to the defining works of Fiona Apple and Swift, the review was clearly not meant to be taken seriously. There was an even more dramatic change when Pitchfork reviewed Peppa Pig’s Peppa’s Adventures: The Album just a few months ago. They started to embrace mainstream artists including Taylor Swift, whose work was noticeably absent from the website’s wide array of discographies. After its takeover in 2015 by Condé Nast which also owns Bon Appétit and Vogue, Pitchfork focused more on its image rather than its scores. Over the years, however, Pitchfork has shifted away from its former role as indie music connoisseur to more of an eclectic culture publication. They have a certain air of credibility that exceeds their competitors. Although these reviews have been a staple in the music industry, the purpose they serve now is flawed and inconsistent.Īrguably the most prominent music review site, Pitchfork has developed a dedicated fanbase. Good scores can lead to bragging rights and appearances on Grammy campaigns, while a poorer reception can cause an artist to find new inspiration in their music. Publications such as Rolling Stone and Spin have reviewed and rated albums for decades, and some seek validation for their accomplishments through their approval. For other artists and a select group of fans, appreciation comes in the form of overly favorable reviews. For some musicians, this may be in the form of commercial success, sold–out global tours, or widespread media attention.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |