Album Rating: 4.5

"I'm all for a bit of poptimism but what you have to realize is that since Pitchfork was bought out by Conde Nast and especially since Ryan Schreiber left it's basically an entirely new organization - they're gonna be behind a paywall soon too."



Actually had no idea about any of this, so did some research just now and it was an interesting read. Glanced through Schreiber's "list of songs that have meant the most to him" during his years atop the post at p4k, and it's much more in-line with the tastes and genres that drew me to the site in the early-mid 2000's. In researching Conde Nast, their musical departure to mainstream pop makes a lot more sense, as do some of the more obvious political leanings that come through in their reviews now. Will be interesting to see how that paywall pans out for them, and to what extent access will be restricted to the average web surfer. I wonder if only certain content will be inaccessible (a la ESPN+) or if they'll just say you have to pay for a membership in order to read any of their articles, sort of like an online subscription to a news website like the New York Times.

Album Rating: 4.3

I remember some of Pitchforks social media posts these past few years being downright embarrassing, pretty sure I unfollowed a number of months ago cause I was tired of that and of hearing about a bunch of stuff I didn’t care about, compared to how they used to push stuff like Modest Mouse and the top 50 greatest ambient albums of all time. Makes sense that there was a change of ownership, since it seems like a totally different news source now.

i thought about making a list to discuss the p4k songs but sputnik isn't the right audience at all for it

Album Rating: 4.5

Yeah I unfollowed them as well, was tired of hearing "why {insert now irrelevant pop album} revolutionized the musical landscape and stuck it to conservatives at the same time!" The first time I saw it, I was like "oh that's cool." Then the second time I probably still ate it up. By the 15th time I was like, OK, they can't all be earth-moving social commentaries. So then I started really listened to the lyrics while p4k hyped them, and they were (mostly) terribly shallow and/or stale takes. Or, better yet, they'd pull one political line from the album and headline it like the entire album was "a statement", then the rest of the record would just be contrived, nonsensical mainstream fodder. That's when I realized that they really just wanted to push their views rather than promote good music; although I assumed at the time that it was due to turnover in the writing department and this was just what the new wave of reviewers brought forth - not that they were purchased and the owner left (so this all makes more sense now, thanks Boney).

Kanye got downvoted hard lol. The contextualizing at the end of Runaway is delicious:

"But the song’s enduring legacy is in its hook: Once West started toasting the douchebags and the assholes, he couldn’t stop. His unbridled, unapologetic id became the governing force of not only his increasingly dodgy career decisions but of the nation, too, so steadily we barely even noticed."

the omissions are extremely glaring. there was exactly one metal song (some sleep track instead of dream house), barely any punk or rock, no sufjan stevens etc.

it's like the only genres that exist are pop, hip-hop and early 2010's indie rock

Album Rating: 4.0

the same thing has happened to the AV club. used to be one of my favorite sites. now it's awful.

Album Rating: 4.3

The old TV episode reviews of Six Feet Under on AV Club are fantastic. They had some really great article like those back in the day.

Album Rating: 4.0

Honestly, are there any good “professional” music reviewing sites anymore? Now that I spend all my time on Sput and RYM I really don’t feel the need to care about professional criticism.

I still enjoy Stereogum reviews pretty consistently tbh

true boney, last review site I cared about was cokemachineglow (they folded a few years back)

i don't like stereogum reviews, especially breihan's

Album Rating: 4.5

i only trust sputnikmusic.com



when it's not sowing



nothing personal, friend

Album Rating: 4.9

do you trust me

Album Rating: 4.5

haven't read a single one of your reviews tbh



not sure how that happened

Album Rating: 4.9

because I don't write as much lately :c

Album Rating: 4.9

New song with Matt Berninger is breathtaking, esp the alt version with mainly her vocals only

If the alt version turns out to be the opener on her new album I'd cry, absolutely gaga over the country direction

Holy fuck that sounds amazing, need to listen to that ASAP

Album Rating: 4.5

absolutely gaga over the country direction



*shoots himself in the face*

Album Rating: 5.0

Whoah, thanks neeka! Damn I’m digging this country sound for sure

Album Rating: 4.9

< 3



God it's beautiful



Honestly might prefer this to the entirety of BOCC