CC 2004: Wilco
- A.M. (1995) - ***
- Being There (1996) - ****
- Summer Teeth (1999) - *****
- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002) - **** 1/2
This is a new entry in an old series I am slowly bringing up to date. I'm calling it Critical Consensus 2004. Several people have requested updates of the older series, and since critical opinions shift, I am revamping the entire system. I am averaging the opinions of several excellent music critics to produce a list of each artist's albums. Rather than using a number system, which was perhaps a bit clunky, I will now be using a five-star system. I've ditched placing the albums in a recommended purchasing order, instead using a more traditional chronological order.
These are not my opinions, although, since I have chosen the critics used (and I'm using many), my taste will perhaps seep through a bit.
Terribly nerdy, I know, but maybe this will help people only now beginning to dabble into certain artists' bodies of work.
Scale:
***** - Masterpiece
**** 1/2 - Classic
**** - Great
*** 1/2 - Good
*** - Above Average
** 1/2 - Average
** - Below Average
* 1/2 - Bad
* - Terrible
1/2 - One of the worst albums ever
Only 4.5 stars for YHF makes me sad. What do you think, L? Only a matter of time before the critics realize it's a masterpiece? Or is it just run-of-the-mill underrated?
After a year of being crowned the ruler of all things intelligent and rock, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is suffering some old fashioned critical backlash (nonfans might say 'correction').
I don't know if it will last very long, but for now...
If I made this list a year ago, I suspect a strong five-star rating would be attached to that great album.
Do note, however, that the CCs are much tougher this time around, with a severe reduction in the number of five-star albums on all the lists.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
You're low-balling Being There. My argument. Many great songs, good filler, no bad songs. That seems to me to be better than a 4. I'm still blown away by the strength of each and every song. Yankee Foxtrot is worth a 5 but I'll take the 4 1/2. I say, listen to Being There again.
T'ho
:?)
:?0 ==> L. Bangs is shocked Stook thinks these are his ratings
;?( ==> L. Bangs realizes Stook must not have read the too-lengthy comments above
:?) ==> L. Bangs relaxes, knowing that Stook will probably read the CC descriptions very soon and see that these are critics' ratings, not Mr. Bangs'
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
PS - Please don't sue me. And aren't sign-offs with apostrophes the BEST?
Ha!
:?* <---stook realizes LB just "copied" "patented descriptive heads" and puckers and...
: <---realizes he made a dumb post so he turns off the lights so noone will see him
Woopsy. But who are these critics?
I want names and addresses. I'll "help" them appreciate Being There. >:?)
Do you use Acclaimed Music? Or are you one of the strange musicologists who collect reviews?
T'ho
:?! <---Yes they ARE!