These days no longer running the Consumer guide. For 41 years, Robert Christgau developed a foolproof form of music journalism: short reviews of records, measured at a scale ranging from A + to E-. Some 15,000 passed through the filter release, which corresponded to a sensitivity of hipster New York particularly worship and eclectic. The disappearance of Consumer Guide may seem merely an anecdote illuminates the siege guild but living cultural journalism.
Always comes a brilliant executive ready to collect on an illustrious scalp
Christgau's comments tended to be dense, rich in complicity, representing a rock aesthetic that was established in the late sixties. Until then, music critics tended to trivial comments, condescension to appeal to young or complicity with industry. Christgau and company to increase the level of demand, established a framework of self-references and even attacked the pretension that characterized many artists suddenly become generational leaders.
Responsible for the weekly music Village Voice, Christgau was a mentor to successive waves of critics, was one of those editors who discuss every comma and every claim. Launched Pazz & Jop, an annual survey with comments that the Voice published in February and is the closest thing to a state of the nation (musical).
In the world of New York, Christgau reigned. When John and Yoko moved into the city, went to see him in his modest apartment. The reporter tried to exercise good host but the former Beatle was not accustomed to the bohemian downtown, ended up going to a fancy restaurant. A fiasco that confirmed the suspicion of Christgau, writing about music should not be used as a passport to mingle with the stars.
In fact, if the antipathy of the musicians equals medals, Christgau did his job. Sonic Youth, insolent in its infancy, he recorded an ominous title track: I Killed Christgau With My big fucking dick, Lou Reed gave him an insulting tirade Take No Prisoners, a member of Suicide attacked him.
Christgau was higher than the rest of their colleagues and that explains his nickname: "The dean of American rock critics." Demonstrated ability to incorporate other music to your diet, from hip-hop to African sounds. At the same time, maintained its bias against the proposals very marked by pelvic formulas, from dancehall to heavy metal. Hula gregarious impulse: his arguments to show that Animal Collective was not the great group of 2009 or, of course, Radiohead's band of the century.
He had less success with the media. When the Voice changed ownership in 2006, was fired. He spent a year with Rolling Stone, an impossible relationship, then jumping Blender magazine that did not prosper. In the last three and half years, the comsumer guide appeared on MSN Music, Microsoft's service intended to compete with iTunes.
And now they throw, but the format of the Guide seemed perfect for digital media. But there is no eternal journalistic institutions, always comes a brilliant executive, recently promoted by instinct murderer, willing to collect on an illustrious scalp. Imagine its motto: "In 15 days, all is forgotten."
Christgau, preferred to emphasize the positive: it says that the guide was a seven days a week: "I always thought you could do other things with my ears. I have the intention to keep up with the evolution of popular music, although it will in a less encyclopedic, which means both a loss and a relief. " Faced with a similar dilemma, one envy his nonchalance.
11.21.2010
The eclipse of the "dean of rock' York Times (El Pais Lost in Translation)
via elpais.com
