Badawi, Schneider TM and Anouar Brahem: Are they too "out there"?

This makes more sense now.

I am not a critic, but take their role very seriously, because I wanna now about all of the music that is out there that I'd love (I assume there's tons of it). But often, I get the idea that many critics don't take their roles as seriously....maybe worrying more about having to churn so much of this stuff out before a deadline, or creating a niche or schtick. Whether or not those are legitimate concerns for their own livelihoods, I really could care less as a music press consumer.

Hence my question as what constitutes a "Music Critic".....I often wonder if its just someone who is a better [or at least more prolific] writer than me who knows a thing or three about music, but could easily be in the business department in their paper......or writes just as much about pop culture in general as they do about music.

As for the "...so what", there's 1000 posts on the thread comparing the two polls.

Mark Nauseef, Ikue Mori, Walter Quintus, Sylvie Courvoisier: Albert.

http://www.sylviecourvoisier.com/discs.htm

I just heard La Voyage de Sahar for the first time, and it's really really tedious, even by ECM standards.

If anyone is looking for some good Oud action there is a a Holland/DeJohnette rhythm section on Brahem's latest, and I think it is beautiful.

Yep, looking forward to hearing it - Thimar, Brahem's previous rec w/ Dave Holland (and John Surman), is one of my v. favourite ECM discs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg0PcRPgYhQ

I'm really in thrall to this one at the moment.

i can't claim to know anything about Anouar Brahem's discography, although i aim to become more familiar with it in the coming weeks. but Blue Maqams is EXCELLENT