Comments on: Who’s Your Music Critic?

By: Jim Malec

Jim Malec — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:20:00 +0000

My favorite critic (aside from Chris N, of course!) is Holly Gleason. Her writing just melts and awes me–I hope I’m that good someday.

Also, thanks to everyone who mentioned me. That’s very humbling and I really appreciate the kind words. It makes me want to work even harder.

By: Dizzee

Dizzee — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:42:00 +0000

Can we really count Hazel Smith as a reviewer? I enjoy her column very much but wouldn’t take her recomendations seriously at all. Last week she took a shot a Picklers wardrobe at the CMAs without mentioning her by name because she likes her peronally.

The one name I am surpirised is not mentioned is Brian Mansfield from USA Today. While I think the reviews themselves as pieces of writing sometimes are lacking, the content tends to speak to the type of listner I am.

By: Rainbow

Rainbow — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:17:00 +0000

Yes Chris, he did write the “Fireflies” review, among others. He seems very unprofessional.

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:48:00 +0000

I’m truly not sucking up to my boss when I say this, but I have to give a shout out to Kevin. I’m glad that others have mentioned him here. He’s the one who got me reading blogs in the first place. I have no idea what I was searching for when I stumbled upon his blog, but his one man operation of Country Universe is what made me discover this addiction that I’ve had for the last year. If it wasn’t for becoming a fan of his blog back then, I wouldn’t be in this community, for better or worse. It’s CU that helped me find all of the other country music blogs that I frequent nowadays. So, while we don’t always agree on music (and we’re both fine with that), he’s my ultimate favorite music critic. I love his humor, writing style, knowledge about the genre, not to mention his inherent sensitivity to the human condition.

By: Chris D.

Chris D. — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:48:00 +0000

Rainbow, did he write Faith Hill’s Fireflies review? That review was terrible! That’s the one time I haven’t really agreed with Slant.

By: icfmusic

icfmusic — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:24:00 +0000

I'm don't always agree with Chet Flippo, but I like him better than most. Craig Shelburne is cool.

Hazel Smith is a different matter. She seems like a nice lady, but too nice. Most of her articles, if you could call them that, are all about how "cute" an artist is, and this and that. Nothing that really matters too much.

My favorite critic would have to be Kevin @ CU. I usually agree with him, and he's turned me on to several different artists or to songs/albums of artists I already knew of.

Jim Malec and about everyone at The9513 I think are very knowledgeable and articulate about their opinions and I have high respect for them, and usually like what they write down lol.

There are some others, but I'm keeping it to a minimum.

By: john

john — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:15:00 +0000

Grant Alden

By: Rainbow

Rainbow — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:34:00 +0000

Slant.com has the worst reviewer I can think of, which is Jonathan Keefe.

I’m also a big Jim fan, as well as a fan of Leeann and Blake over at CU.

By: Chris D.

Chris D. — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:08:00 +0000

I also don’t really keep track of individual critics, but I find myself agreeing with slant.com on general music reviews. I think the writers at the 9513 are great too, I almost always agree with them, my largest discrepancy being Sugarland’s latest album.

I read so many reviews it’s hard to keep all the writers straight, so I gave up. xD

By: Chad

Chad — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:56:00 +0000

I’d actually probably say Kevin over at Country Universe