Pitchfork Reviews Reviews

so anyway today i took the day off from work to drive this van in the presidential motorcade and i hope that by the end of the day i can ask Barack Obama what his favorite indie rock band is and if he’s familiar with Pitchfork (i know he’s 48 but he’s pretty hip and from Chicago and lived there for years while the festival was going on and before he was president) and i’m gonna ask him what he thinks of it if i can!!!

I hope he did NOT.

has anyone actually claimed to like this other than contenderizer?

I won't go as overboard as contenderizer (mainly because I get made fun on enough already on ILX) but, yeah, I think dude's writing is really evocative. And it has nothing to do w/ being Pfork-related.

It's not necessarily GREAT WRITING but I like that he has his own distinctive voice, and is so full of energy and enthusiasm. Very fun to read, and while the sentences themselves are not brilliantly constructed, I think he does a fine job of really hitting home on his main points in each post. Especially the longer essays, not the Pfork reviews reviews.

i guess it means life's too effing short to read pitchfork reviews reviews

― i am legernd (history mayne)

it's like the worst-case scenario of someone raised on internet and regurgitating their add mind onto the screen

it's like the worst best-case scenario of someone raised on internet and regurgitating their add mind onto the screen

It's not necessarily GREAT WRITING but I like that he has his own distinctive voice, and is so full of energy and enthusiasm. Very fun to read, and while the sentences themselves are not brilliantly constructed, I think he does a fine job of really hitting home on his main points in each post. Especially the longer essays, not the Pfork reviews reviews.

― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, September 2, 2010 9:49 AM

^ this

i guess it means life's too effing short to read pitchfork reviews reviews

― i am legernd (history mayne)

― ('_') (omar little), Thursday, September 2, 2010 11:28 AM (6 minutes ago)

^ increasingly feeling like this, though

I think he does a fine job of really hitting home on his main points in each post

not sure about this tbh, but that's just because I mostly skim-read his stuff

either that or I apparently don't retain much of what I read there for the longterm

i mean you guys can enjoy him and consider him to be this important new voice on the scene if you want. some people probably really love jan terri too.

I think he does a fine job of really hitting home on his main points in each post

this is a wacky thing to say because of his run on wordvomit style.

also, how is this guy a "music writer" exactly?

totally not on topic, really, but I've just read one of this guy's post (from a DJ gig in Manhattan) and the dude wrote it on his Blackberry. That's dedication.

read upthread. there's a whole thing about him posting from the loos at work.

Pretty sure he's admitted to writing most of these on the subway/train/whatever via BlackBerry on the way into work.

^

It's not necessarily GREAT WRITING but I like that he has his own distinctive voice, and is so full of energy and enthusiasm. Very fun to read, and while the sentences themselves are not brilliantly constructed, I think he does a fine job of really hitting home on his main points in each post. Especially the longer essays, not the Pfork reviews reviews.

It's compelling, but not good. Like a car crash.

It's too personal, like any other blog. Interesting but it basically reads like a diary. Plus I don't need to read about the President's motorcade and schedule unless it's a press release. Too many weirdos out there.

I think the blog would be better if he stopped posting about Pitchfork reviews and confined his comments about that site to the occasional post, posted less frequently, and edited his stuff a bit more. Not too much more editing, because it's apparent that his off-the-cuff, brain dump, highly enthusiastic and earnest style of writing is a huge part of his appeal. But some editing.

Plus I don't need to read about the President's motorcade and schedule unless it's a press release.

You've gotta be kidding. As much as it's not GOOD WRITING, this PRR shit is infinitely more exciting to read than a White House press release!

just burst out laughing because I realized I probably read his blog more than I read P4k reviews these days u_u

If you were really driving a van in a motorcade (is it that easy?), you should keep your mouth shut. You don't want to give the impression that the president's security is a joke.

Okay, I am working my way through all of this. Anyway, I am horrified that the New York Times and the Washington Post would cover an amateur BLOG. Also the NYT article is really bad, and I'm not a huge Pitchfork defender, I just think they serve their market well. But what an ass the NYT writer is for this:

"Regarding reviews, “there’s definitely a drive to be comprehensive,” he said, though one that’s limited by the interests of the site’s staff and by its vision of its readers’ interests. There’s barely any mainstream rock, country or Latin music and only selective engagement with hip-hop, electronic and world music."

i.e. they're "prejudiced", especially against "Latins".

I am horrified that the New York Times and the Washington Post would cover an amateur BLOG.

why? and i don't think the accusation of racial prejudice is really present in the quote you pulled. it reads more like a snarky but non-condemnatory statement on pitchfork's limited range of interests, relative to the idea that its coverage is "comprehensive" (wherever that comes from).

i.e. they're "prejudiced", especially against "Latins".

― i just like barbecue rib, whatever (u s steel), Friday, September 3, 2010 4:45 AM (23 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

wtf are you talking about

Pitchfork would look foolish to pander to some snotty NYT writer and his very powerful and often biased audience by including, say, 25% Latin music or 40% hip-hop. Selectivity is a better approach and when I look at the front page I DO see some hip-hop and occasionally world music. Pitchfork is not one person and you are unprofessional and a bad writer when you use terms like "limited range of interests". It sounds like a character judgment.

Pitchfork just makes it easier to learn about new independent rock / pop and the latest hip-hop is usually in there.

Character judgments are unprofessional and tiresome. Racism is implied, after all there is a history of critics either implying or outright accusing "indie" of being white and even racist.

I assume that many of us attended college or have even attempted to write professionally, I have attended journalism classes and even thought of being a journalist myself. Describing Pitchfork in the NYT as ignoring Latin releases is implying that they are "too white" or culturally biased. I expect adults to not harass a person just because it isn't literally spelled out. If you are capable of reading the NYT I expect you to have some sophistication with regard to what the writer implies.

Character judgments are unprofessional and tiresome.

max works for gawker fyi so

you are unprofessional and a bad writer when you use terms like "limited range of interests".

i dunno, it strikes me as accurate though, again, somewhat snarky. within acceptable tolerances, though. and pitchfork's coverage of country and latin music really is pretty limited.

then again, i have never attempted to write professionally, attended journalism classes or thought of being a journalist myself, so i'm probably not up to speed.

Yeah, Gawker. Should I be afraid or something? He's still wrong. Saying that pitchfork's coverage of country and latin "is pretty limited" sounds like a character judgment, it is a biased remark. If it were merely on a message board it might be harmless but this was published in the NYT.

you are performing quite a close read on that ny times article

you say you'd prefer something more fair and balanced?

it is a biased remark.

in a newspaper? god forbid!

i hope the nyt's webmaster made clear the article contained views -- or, in this case, verifiable facts -- that not everyone would agree with.

Having taken an actual journalism class, one ought to know that it is expected that the NYT is better than that. Excuse me sir, are you interested in getting into a detailed argument with me here? Because I don't like taking too much space in a message board and I'm sorry about that.

I do think your notion that bias is acceptable in the NYT is, uh, unintelligent. Sorry. Newspapers and their power ought to be taken to task.

By the way I am not intimidated by you and you are forcing me to write too much on this thread. It is sad you don't respect your own readership by explaining your own curious views.

x-post to I am legend, this is not clear, the author writes as if he is objective.

not sure if ur trolling or not

maybe eat an apple, go for a walk. i dunno what timezone you're in.

I would assume that someone who cares enough to defend their view with complete sentences isn't trolling.

Of course I am not trolling, I have an opinion I care about and have thought about.

i for one thank my lucky stars that someone has the courage to take the newspapers to task

man this mahnola dargis review is totally biased

Wow, sarcasm is so respectful. You identify with and defend the NYT without feeling you have to write more than a sentence. That makes you a bully.

Also, when are you going to write a thoughtful remark. You make another insinuation, for someone who loves the NYT so much you sure are thoughtless. I don't "think highly of myself" as having "courage", do you always come to message boards with a chip on your shoulder.

I mean, you do your own opinion a disservice when you refuse to defend your own reaction or engage people like a human being. Why then should I find you convincing. Your style is little better than a high school bully.

this is n/l

where did u come from

umm, if you feel you're being bullied, i seriously envy how little you know about being bullied

is us steel pitchfork reviews reviewsbro?

seems to be nytimes articles reviewsbro

I have attended journalism classes and even thought of being a journalist myself.

^^ needs to reach meme status imo

Excuse me sir, are you interested in getting into a detailed argument with me here? Because I don't like taking too much space in a message board and I'm sorry about that.

actually this is better

like i am sure that you are good people and all, us steel, but you seem to be inferring nefariousness from NYT times which i honestly feel is not there. no offense intended.

Experts Fear Mideast Talks Are Too Ambitious
By ISABEL KERSHNER
Published: September 2, 2010

JERUSALEM — As the Israeli and Palestinian leaders pledged at the peace summit meeting in Washington this week to try to resolve the core issues that have long divided their people and bloodied the land, a growing number of stakeholders here in Israel worried that the two sides were aiming too high.

this is how it's done: EXPERTS fear the talks are too ambitious. me? nyt reporter? could not say. no feeling one way or another. just gonna write it up using the neutral and nonjudgemental medium we like to call english.

no offense nrq but... have you ever taken a journalism class?