'I love music'

Music critic Christgau delivers new guide to consumers

Critic Robert Christgau is the E.F. Hutton of the music world -- when he talks, people listen. He follows up his music guides for the 1970s and '80s with his defining take on albums in the '90s

In this story: 'I don't get fooled' Nirvana, Fugees and ESPN 'I will be vindicated' RELATED STORIES, SITES

By Jamie Allen
CNN.com Senior Writer

(CNN) -- One gets the feeling that Robert Christgau, inveterate music critic for the Village Voice, lives his life like a DJ at a never-ending rave.

That is, he's constantly spinning music, changing CDs, taking in new sounds and creating an ever-changing soundtrack in his life.

At least, that's the way it sounds as he talks on the phone from the living room of his New York apartment: music playing in the background changes from one band to the next as often as Christgau changes subjects.

"Basically, if I'm awake," he says over the din of Marvelous 3's latest, "I'm listening to music."

At this particular moment, Christgau says he's taking notes for his upcoming annual Turkey Shoot -- his nickname for his Thanksgiving Day article in which he lampoons as many new albums as he can manage.

"It's definitely the hardest part of my year," he says. "I much prefer to write about records I like. It's not a pleasant place to be, psychologically. I become testier. My mood worsens."

Tops on this year's list of records that make Christgau testy appears to be Carly Simon's new release, "Bedroom Tapes."

"The third cut of it is so horrendous," says Christgau. "I thought I couldn't ignore her any longer. I just sat there, agape. It was a song about how stupid her boyfriend is, and how she liked him because he is stupid. I couldn't believe."

Chances are, fans of Christgau's work won't believe in Simon either. In a world where "reviews" can be found on every fan's Web page, Christgau is the E.F. Hutton of the music world -- when he talks, people listen.

Along with his Voice columns, he has written defining guides to music for the 1970s and '80s. And now he has a new book on shelves: "Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s" (Griffin) reviews the good, bad and ugly of a decade that brought us grunge, hip hop, techno, and the oxymoronic mainstream-alternative.

"I like pop music, and I like stupid, catchy songs with a lot of energy and life to them."
-- Robert Christgau

Christgau has listened to it all. His guide contains over 3,800 short critiques culled and updated from his Voice reviews, followed by Christgau's own rating system -- ranging from A+ (the best) to a cartoon drawing of a turkey (the worst).

Christgau says he merely wants to help music fans weed through all the bad music out there.

"I have fairly mainstream critical tastes," he says, "and I don't get fooled."

Christgau started reviewing music for the Voice in 1969. Now 58, he has seen his share of changes in rock and pop. But he swears that he doesn't get tired of listening to CDs from dawn till dusk.

Although Radiohead has long been a critic's choice, Christgau says of the group's music, "It's art rock. It's stupid"

"One of my gifts as a critic is that I have a lot of genuine enthusiasm for music," he says. "I love music."

This is apparent when browsing through "Christgau's Consumer Guide." The critic especially loves good music and is not afraid to admit when he's found it. Nirvana's 1991 decade-defining album "Nevermind," for instance, received a typical thumbs-up from Christgau in a blurb that mixes praise with perspective.

"This," he writes, "is hard rock as the term was understood before metal moved in -- the kind of loud, slovenly, tuneful music you think no one will ever work a change on again until the next time it happens, whereupon you wonder why there isn't loads more. It seems so simple."

Likewise, Christgau gives a high evaluation to the Fugees' 1996 release "The Score."

"It's so beautiful and funny its courage could make you weep," he writes.

Christgau is not afraid to praise an album that some critics might prefer to ignore. He gave an A+ review to the compilation CD, "ESPN Presents Slam Jams Vol. 1," which is basically just a re-packaging of former hits like Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself" and Madness' "One Step Beyond."

"I like pop music, and I like stupid, catchy songs with a lot of energy and life to them," he admits.

"Like (the recent Baha Men hit) 'Who Let the Dogs Out.' That song is good. People complain about songs like that, but what do they know? Don't they have any sense of fun? What's wrong with them?" he says.

One popular rock group that Christgau doesn't find appealing is Radiohead. The British quintet has been a critical darling throughout the 1990s, and they debuted at the top of U.S. Billboard charts with their latest release, "Kid A."

But Christgau has never been a fan. In his guide, he gives two of their '90s releases -- "The Bends" and "OK Computer" -- the dreaded turkey.

"I dislike Radiohead quite a bit. It's art rock. It's stupid. And I will be vindicated," he laughs.

Ultimately, Christgau just wants to listen to music and pass along his wisdom to fans. In fact, he is so confident in his musings that he offers a challenge to potential readers of his new book.

"If you see my book in the store, turn to the A-list, pick a record from the top of one of the A-lists, buy it, and if you like the record, go back and buy the book," he says. "If you don't like the record, we can part company. And I'm very confident that if people were honest about doing that I would make a lot of money."

Beatles, Radiohead albums voted best ever
September 4, 2000
Lucinda Williams chooses acclaim over fame any day
February 4, 1999
Interview with music critic Anthony DeCurtis
April 20, 1998

The Village Voice

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.