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White vs Writers: Jack's not happy with music critics
Mike_Diver by Mike Diver March 1st, 2006

Mr Jack White of famous two-piece rock types The White Stripes is hacked off with the hacks that are charged with covering his each and every release...

The band's last record, Get Behind Me Satan, didn't spread a completely high-praise whitewash across the music media, but later won a Grammy. White posted the following on the band's website:

“What a funny album (Get Behind Me Satan), coming from divided critics to supposed disappointing sales, to going platinum in several countries, to making most critics top ten lists, to winning a Grammy. That’s funny right?

“They (critics) all play a coward’s game. [There's] only one side to their playground. [It's] such an easy fight that way. The faceless opinion of print and the internet - what is it teaching all of us?

“Back when there was a time when we had great writers, and respected journalists who had earned their position as tastemakers, and won peoples' respect with their knowledge and insight, it was much easier to understand a written opinion because at least you knew who it was coming from.

“Now those printed opinions are probably coming from the person sitting next to you in the mall. Why should you care about their opinion? Why shouldn’t you?

“Critics are the only public expression that isn’t ‘allowed’ to be critiqued. Be careful children, you don’t have to listen to all those opinions out there, and not even this one you are reading.

“Remember the person’s opinion you are reading probably knows less about less about the topic you are interested in than you do.”

Dunno about any other DiS scribes, but I've never penned an opinion piece at a mall internet cafe. And I know way more than you*, so there.

*This = tongue in cheek



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