Show notes
For this week's episode, we discuss, uh, a website you, y'know... probably haven't heard of.
It's Pitchfork, the most controversial, successful, despised, worshiped music criticism publication of the past 20 years.
This episode is no hagiography, nor is it a typical take-down of the website's prickly legacy. We attempt to dig deep into its history, reputation, writing voice, blind-spots, and evolution from a problematic cultural juggernaut to a more thoughtful elder statesman of the publishing world. The categories are:
(1) Best Album Rated 10.0 by Pitchfork
(3) Most Memorable Review
(4) Best Sunday Review
Listen in, because Pitchfork itself would probably give this episode a 7.2!
Links mentioned in episode:
• Slate article on Pitchfork's bad reputation
• The Kid A review in question
• Pitchfork's since-deleted 10.0 review of 12 Rods
• Article about Pitchfork deleting the 12 Rods review
• Slate article: "When a negative Pitchfork review could end a career"
• Ringer article on the Pitchfork 10.0 and Jenn Pelly interview
• Supergrass' "Alright" music video
• Pitchfork review of The White Stripes and Liz Phair
• Critic Matt LeMay's apology for the Liz Phair review