Jim DeRogatis is the rock critic for the Chicago Sun-Times (arguably the best thing in that paper) as well as the drummer in the Agit-prop band Vortis. I can also personally attest that he?s a swell guy. That?s why I?m really excited about his new book that?s coming out, Kill Your Idols. He basically invited a bunch of rock writers he respected to come in and tear down the supposed great albums in the rock canon. He gives a great interview that really digs into what?s wrong with rock criticism today over at mediabistro.com. When asked if he avoided rock-crits like Rob Sheffield at Rolling Stone, or Kelefa Sanneh at the New York Times he had a great answer:
Yes, I have a real problem with critics who are in the club. There is definitely a lunchroom clique of hip critics. Now, mind you, we are talking about a world of geeks to begin with. There is no such thing as a cool critic. But within the geek existence of critics, there is the cheerleader jock crowd. They are the snotty elitists, they are the hipsters. And I ain’t one of them. I’ve never been one of them, and I wanted to unite the folks who are not one of them.
Read the full, great interview here.