I think another way CK was very influential was he made it ok to appreciate "low brow" music like metal (basically the meat of his very first book) and argue its importance to the culture. It was what most people listened to despite beeing sneeringly dismissed by more canonical critics. He is actually much like Bill Simmons in that way, who was sort of writing from the Everyfan perspective, just in a different arena of sports.
Both were so groundbreaking that it's pretty much unappreciated now because (like any mold-breaking endeavor) they changed the game so much that it's now normal and no one considers how it was before.
Oh, and here's the obligitory Onion article - one of the best ever
How about 21st century critics? Probably too hard for Hyden to pick from his peers. Off the top, I'm going Jeff Weiss, Meaghan Garvey, Craig Jenkins, and Leor Galil.
Klosterman is a giant. I get why people don't like his style, but I love it, and love just about everything he's written. I flew through his recent book on The Nineties. Great stuff.
Klosterman: SD&CP was my intro in 2002. Killing Yourself To Live I recall as my fave although I haven’t read them all. Enjoyed IV, FRC & his fiction Downtown Owl.
I went through an Ebert phase, had one of the companions and Hated x 5 This Movie. Bugged me when he got details wrong, the one that come to mind is Denzel’s car model in Training Day.
Always enjoyed Noel’s AVC criticism. Haven’t followed his stuff lately.
Dave Marsh was definitely the first music critic I was aware of as having a distinct point of view. I missed out on Lester Bangs initially and Greil Marcus was a bit over my head.
But I think my list would look very similar to Steven's. Only he would be one mine, and I'm sure modesty would not allow him to put himself on his own Mt. Rushmore. But really... that whole AV Club crew was really important to me. I miss it so much, but... moment in time, you know?
I had the same experience with the Ebert companions even thought my parents wouldn’t let me watch most of the movies in it. The new one was a reliable present under the Christmas tree every year and I usually spent the day plowing through it reading the new reviews. I still look at Ebert’s website pretty much whenever my mind turns to an old movie.
I didn’t come across Marcus till a college professor assigned Mystery Train. I’ve read it maybe half a dozen times since. I’m still not sure I get everything in it, and Lipstick Traces is on my long list, but I keep going back to it.
Klosterman didn’t enter my life till I picked up a copy of sex drugs and Cocoa Puffs in a bookstore, basically because the title stuck out to me. I was into Grantland and the Simmons podcast at that point, and I think I’ve read everything klosterman has written.
Willis I came to through your Bruce book and some other writing about the 70s music scene in nyc. But I’ll pick up that collection. Thanks!!
I think another way CK was very influential was he made it ok to appreciate "low brow" music like metal (basically the meat of his very first book) and argue its importance to the culture. It was what most people listened to despite beeing sneeringly dismissed by more canonical critics. He is actually much like Bill Simmons in that way, who was sort of writing from the Everyfan perspective, just in a different arena of sports.
Both were so groundbreaking that it's pretty much unappreciated now because (like any mold-breaking endeavor) they changed the game so much that it's now normal and no one considers how it was before.
Oh, and here's the obligitory Onion article - one of the best ever
https://www.theonion.com/chuck-klosterman-corners-guy-at-party-wearing-dio-shirt-1819575481
How about 21st century critics? Probably too hard for Hyden to pick from his peers. Off the top, I'm going Jeff Weiss, Meaghan Garvey, Craig Jenkins, and Leor Galil.
Greil Marcus is one of my all-time favorite critics to read.
Klosterman is a giant. I get why people don't like his style, but I love it, and love just about everything he's written. I flew through his recent book on The Nineties. Great stuff.
Klosterman: SD&CP was my intro in 2002. Killing Yourself To Live I recall as my fave although I haven’t read them all. Enjoyed IV, FRC & his fiction Downtown Owl.
I went through an Ebert phase, had one of the companions and Hated x 5 This Movie. Bugged me when he got details wrong, the one that come to mind is Denzel’s car model in Training Day.
Always enjoyed Noel’s AVC criticism. Haven’t followed his stuff lately.
Thought Dave Marsh might make it, seems he’s just dropped off the map, except for his relationship with Springsteen. Honorable mention maybe.
Dave Marsh was definitely the first music critic I was aware of as having a distinct point of view. I missed out on Lester Bangs initially and Greil Marcus was a bit over my head.
But I think my list would look very similar to Steven's. Only he would be one mine, and I'm sure modesty would not allow him to put himself on his own Mt. Rushmore. But really... that whole AV Club crew was really important to me. I miss it so much, but... moment in time, you know?
I had the same experience with the Ebert companions even thought my parents wouldn’t let me watch most of the movies in it. The new one was a reliable present under the Christmas tree every year and I usually spent the day plowing through it reading the new reviews. I still look at Ebert’s website pretty much whenever my mind turns to an old movie.
I didn’t come across Marcus till a college professor assigned Mystery Train. I’ve read it maybe half a dozen times since. I’m still not sure I get everything in it, and Lipstick Traces is on my long list, but I keep going back to it.
Klosterman didn’t enter my life till I picked up a copy of sex drugs and Cocoa Puffs in a bookstore, basically because the title stuck out to me. I was into Grantland and the Simmons podcast at that point, and I think I’ve read everything klosterman has written.
Willis I came to through your Bruce book and some other writing about the 70s music scene in nyc. But I’ll pick up that collection. Thanks!!
Love the page and your books.