In part 1 of this month, reviews of Jason Derulo, Skrillex, Linkin Park, and Young Thug & Bloody Jay.
Music
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The Legendary Auteur: Deconstructing Pazz & Jop
As the Village Voice’s 41st Pazz & Jop Critics Poll makes clear, Kanye West is the most gifted popular musician of our time. This may sound like empty, generalized hyperbole, and it is. But nothing else would do justice to a man whose renown dwarfs your average celebrity, because West has reached an utterly unprecedented level of acclaim.
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Fagen’s Critical Catalogue (May 2014, Part 2)
In part 2 of this month, reviews of Drive-By-Truckers, The Hold Steady, and Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars.
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Fagen’s Critical Catalogue (May 2014, Part 1)
In part 1 of this month, reviews of tUnE-yArDs, Lykke Li, Pharrel Williams, and Rick Ross.
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Fagen’s Critical Catalogue (April 2014, Part 2)
In part 2 of this month, reviews of Young Money, Kid Cudi, Iggy Azalea, and Nancy Ajram.
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Fagen’s Critical Catalogue (April 2014, Part 1)
In part 1 of this month, reviews of Karmin, Perfect Pussy, Sunkil Moon, and Todd Terje.
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Fagen’s Critical Catalogue (March 2014, Part 2)
In part 2 of this month, reviews of Toni Braxton & Babyface, Foster the People, Schoolboy Q, and Real Estate.
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Fagen’s Critical Catalogue (March 2014, Part 1)
In part 1 of this month, reviews of Beck, 2NE1, Eric Church, and St Vincent.
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Yeezus Christ Superstar
When Kanye West first released My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in 2010, his celebrity had reached its peak, or so we all thought. No album that year dominated as absolutely — critically, commercially, artistically, musically, culturally. Not only did it go platinum, but hip-hop intellectuals loved it.
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Justin Bieber, Ideal Lover
The most remarkable moment of the Justin Bieber concert I saw July 20 at Boston’s TD Garden occurred before the singer even showed up.
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Fagen’s Critical Catalogue (February 2014, Part 2)
In part 2 of this month, reviews of Fall Out Boy, Luke Bryan, R.Kelly, Sky Ferreira, and Speedy Ortiz.
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Fagen’s Critical Catalogue (February 2014, Part 1)
In part 1 of this month, reviews of 2 Chainz, Panic! at the Disco, Jason Isbell, David Bowie, and El-P & Killer Mike.