"You Gotta Hear This!" | Gary Giddins | Big Think

TL;DR

The content explores the personal and professional evolution of a music critic, from a focus on live performances to an emphasis on recordings, and the importance of articulating opinions in criticism.

Transcript

the the early years of my work I have to say I often felt guilty because I was having such a good time I couldn't believe I was allowed to make a living first of all listening to this music that I loved and writing about it and there is something bizarre about spending your days exploring the obsessions of your adolescence uh and uh but as you as y... Read More

Key Insights

• 😶‍🌫️ The early years of a music critic's career can involve showing off and making bold statements, which may be louder than necessary.
• 🫒 Being a live performance-focused critic provides a luxury of choice and the ability to select what interests oneself as a writer and listener.
• 🥺 Becoming a parent can shift a critic's priorities, leading to a focus on reviewing recordings and exploring one's changing perspective on familiar music.
• 🎼 A critic's column provides the opportunity to become more of an enthusiast and recommend music, rather than focusing on negative reviews or unknown recordings.
• 😑 Opinions are the least important aspect of criticism, with the focus on articulating those opinions and finding valid arguments that bring the work to life or express valid criticism.
• ✳️ Criticism is about the writer as much as the subject, requiring candidness and a willingness to take risks, even if it means disagreeing with popular opinions.
• 👻 The process of playing disliked records repeatedly allows for a deeper understanding of the criticisms and the ability to articulate them.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the critic's priorities change after becoming a parent?

After becoming a parent, the critic started going out less and writing more about recordings, prioritizing being at home while still exploring recordings and their changing perspectives on them.

Q: How did the critic's writing approach change once they had their own column?

With their own column, the critic shifted towards being more of an enthusiast and critic who recommends music, rather than wasting time telling people not to buy unknown recordings.

Q: How does the critic discover new music to review?

The critic listens to CDs blind, without knowing the artist or album beforehand, often relying on their assistant to select CDs to review, allowing for surprises and a more unbiased experience.

Q: How does the critic approach negative reviews versus positive ones?

The critic plays records they don't like repeatedly to understand their dislike and articulate their opinion, worrying more about negative reviews and the need to explain their criticisms thoroughly.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The music critic reflects on the early years of their work, feeling guilty but also having a good time exploring their adolescent obsessions in music.

• Initially, the critic focused on live performances and writing essays instead of short reviews, but after becoming a parent, they shifted towards writing more about recordings.

• The critic's aesthetic changed over time as they explored different recordings and became more of an enthusiast and critic who recommends music to others.