Used to be a go to site for album reviews for me. Even if I didn't always agree with their takes, I could at least gain some insight into whether or not I would like an album. Now it seems that their reviewers are lockstep with other media outlets in combing everything in our culture for what may be offensive. Here's a short excerpt from their recent review of The Cars "Shake It Up" reissue:

quote:
By contrast, singer-guitarist Ric Ocasek wrote hooky songs about girls on hoods: dumb but not stupid, sexist but not offensive. They were touring vets whose stunted idea of female sexuality—and men’s, too—resonated with their teenaged fans.

Music has always carried themes like this. That's why it's an art form. I can do without this kind of commentary in an album review.

This post was edited on 3/31/18 at 1:01 pm

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Posted by The Spleen

Member since Dec 2010

38865 posts

Posted on 3/31/18 at 1:11 pm to High C

They've sucked for years now, at least their album reviews have.

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Posted by Damone

FoCo

Member since Aug 2016

32966 posts

Posted on 3/31/18 at 1:25 pm to High C

It’s a shitty rap website now

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Posted by DB10_AFC

South Louisiana

Member since Jun 2012

7080 posts

Posted on 3/31/18 at 2:47 pm to Damone

Pitchforks hip hop reviews are usually terrible. They give any generic trap album a 7 no matter how terrible.

This post was edited on 3/31/18 at 2:48 pm

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Posted by danman6336

Member since Jan 2005

19554 posts

Posted on 3/31/18 at 4:19 pm to Damone

quote:
It’s a shitty rap website now

Yep

At some point in time, maybe 2 or 3 years ago, they decided only hip hop artists were worthy of their praise and indie rock is all but ignored

It’s unreadable. Their albums of the year list reads like the Billboard Urban Top 100 list now

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Posted by el Gaucho

He/They

Member since Dec 2010

60138 posts

Posted on 3/31/18 at 5:54 pm to danman6336

They give rap albums an automatic 7 because they don't have privilege like indie bands you racist

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Posted by hogfly

Fayetteville, AR

Member since May 2014

5306 posts

Posted on 3/31/18 at 9:19 pm to High C

I still look at their reviews just to see if I missed something (new Amen Dunes is fantastic and was totally under my radar until they gave it BNM), but I actually read stereogum and the comment sections there. It’s way better writing and I love the comment sections which are even more entertaining and provide more insight into music.

For example: stereogum will put out their Album of the Week, which is generally worrh listening to, but the comments sections will provide 10 more albums I should listen to as people bitch about why that album didn’t receive AOTW.

This post was edited on 3/31/18 at 9:21 pm

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Posted by PhilipMarlowe

Member since Mar 2013

22079 posts

Posted on 4/1/18 at 12:14 am to Damone

quote:
It’s a shitty rap website now

Nailed it. I haven’t visited their site regularly in years now because there’s way too much reverence for hip-hop.

quote:
I still look at their reviews just to see if I missed something (new Amen Dunes is fantastic and was totally under my radar until they gave it BNM

I actually went there just the other day and noticed the high marks for his new album. I was unaware he had released one. Not a huge fan though I must say, and I loved his 2014 album “Love”. Will give this new one another listen though before I make final judgment.

This post was edited on 4/1/18 at 12:20 am

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Posted by RogerTheShrubber