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From: rpk@mit-eddie.UUCP (Robert Krajewski)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Rock Criticism in England
Message-ID: <5016@mit-eddie.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 17-Aug-85 22:33:42 EDT
Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.5016
Posted: Sat Aug 17 22:33:42 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 20:24:35 EDT
Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 23

The savaging of Kate Bush's latest single might be vicious, but it's par
for the course when considering the usual approach to pop
``criticism'' in England.  The usual approach in England is to build
something up and then tear it down, on the down side of trend.  There
are very few music reviews in England that actually talk about the
music; politics and fashions lend themselves to the preferred schtick,
which is pretentious pseudointellectual ``socially'' minded criticism
and hipper-than-thou posturing.

England still comes out with quite a bit of good music inspite of this.
(Well, maybe lately things are looking grim...)  American black music is
probably also more appreciated ``over there,'' too.  On the other hand,
performers as disparate the Clash, XTC, Robyn Hitchcock, the (English)
Beat, and Phil Collins (and probably Kate Bush) get fairer treatment
from the critics, and longtime support from the audience, in America
than in England.  The American tendency to hang onto groups and styles
can be annoying (generally, the 70s are already smothering whatever
changes that were made on the periphery in early 80s), but at least
decent performers can build up a following.
-- 
``Bob'' (Robert P. Krajewski)
ARPA:		RpK@MC        MIT Local:	RpK@OZ
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