ABSTRACT
As a popular musicologist, I find myself increasingly irritated by tabloid pop journalism, whether on television or in the press. Clearly there are notable exceptions, and I am an avid fan of The Guardian’s Michael Bracewell, whose insights into such artists as Patti Smith and Björk have informed my own writing; but all too often there is an emphasis on the three s’s of sensationalism, stereotyping, and stitching-up. Generally the spotlight falls on image, but when critiques include new releases, these are tethered by clichéd references to genres or past bands, and are all too often underresearched. As such, listening is tempered by a constricted interpretation.
