This week on "The Disclaimer," WMSE's weekly panel with Ryan Schleicher, Milwaukee Record editor Matt Wild and I, we're examining the dominant paradigm in music criticism: "poptismism" (yes, we loathe that word, too.) In a column this month for the Washington Post, Chris Richards contended that the pro-pop mindset of many of today's top critics has created a bizarre new hivemind, turning critics into cheerleaders and creating a class of pop stars beyond reproach. Have critics really gone overboard in their support for Top 40 acts? And if so, is it worse than the days when a dominant class of stodgy, largely white male critics insisted that the only "real" kind of music was made by people who wrote their own songs and played their own instruments? We consider the issue from all sides, and examine how the "surprise" release model for new albums may be fanning the sometimes overzealous praise surrounding today's top stars.
Got opinions? We know you do. Let us know what you think on our Facebook page. You can stream this week's episode below.
