The Public Versus the Critics :: Wessex Scene Online

The Public Versus the Critics

25th November 2005
Tim Woodall

Rate this story

Dec 05 - Real Records or MP3s
Dec 07 - Classic Rock in “Modern Times”
Dec 07 - Have you Been to the Turner Sims?
Jan 07 - Po-Midnight Blues
Nov 05 - The 14:30 to Waterloo Remix

More by Tim Woodall

May 06 - Sigur Ros live at the Carling Hammersmith Apollo
Dec 05 - Lizz Wright Live at Turner Sims Concert Hall
Nov 05 - KT Tunstall
Oct 05 - Jonny Greenwood with the London Sinfonietta

Anyone who reads about music in mainstream publications, from Q through to the daily broadsheet newspaper, knows that some artists are seen almost universally by the critics as cannon fodder.

Maybe the journalistic community compete to see who can give the most damning review. You would expect that these artists who are consistently mauled and ridiculed by the media to experience a complete lack of record sales and end up playing gigs to only an old man and a reluctant dog. Soon enough they will surely limp away from their trade altogether.

But if you cast your eye at the album charts, you will invariably encounter, at the top end of the scale, artists that regularly make critics foam at the mouth with rage. Some, such as Katie Melua and Westlife, have obvious fan bases, from starry-eyed teenagers to middle aged women in need of a chill out. Others such as the Stereophonics and Starsailor are bona fide bands and are consistently successful with music fans everywhere, yet often slated in the media.

Where does the disparity come in? It is not that the music media are not listened to. Coldplay were once a force to be reckoned with. Praised by critics and the public alike they bestrode the world with confidence. Yet after X and Y, they were panned by the critics, and became about as cool as H from Steps.

Maybe the answer is in why we listen to music. The critics and those who value their opinions want to be impressed by the talent of an artist so they would consider putting them in their cherished record collection. John Peel, the most important popular music commentator this country has ever seen dedicated his life to championing new and cutting edge music. But the general public are not looking for progress. They want to be moved. Successful artists such as James Blunt do that in spades. Uncomplicated and pleasing on the ear, there is a lack of irony in their approach to music. Sing from the heart and don’t think too much!

Luckily nothing is going to change. The general public will continue to buy music with sing-along tunes with readily available emotional lyrics and the critics are going to continue to insult them and tell the rest of us where to find music with depth and wit. It is a balance, but do not despair. The process of time will filter out the Katie Meluas of this world. After all, anyone listened to David Cassidy recently? I thought not.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to rush out and buy the next Dido record. Progress is always needed, but we are never going to drive the dross out, just try not to sneer too much when your mum puts it on in the car. No one likes a snob!