DJ Jim Q's Playlist: Critical

The theme this month is Critical. Selected by our Northern friends from the Calgary Chapter, the word critical is multifaceted and often maligned. It can mean evaluative or analytical, it can also be a synonym for essential or crucial, and its most common usage is to connote negative judgement or disapproval. In the evaluation of artistic endeavors we use the closely related words critique, critic, and criticism. These words are particularly interesting because they seem to combine all the various definitions of critical. To critique is to evaluate something through careful analysis, to reveal the most crucial elements and by making judgements, reveal weakness or deficit. Criticism is vital to creative work. It’s one of the ways we expand our view beyond our own myopic perspective. Exceptional work is forged in a crucible of critical examination and persistent refinement. The road to mediocrity is paved with empty praise and reserved judgment.

It’s a mistake to see criticism as purely negative. While the observations may be critical, the intent of a good critique should be to make something better through outside perspective. In non-professional criticism, offering critique is an incredibly generous and even brave thing to do. The critic risks being wrong, hurting someone’s feelings, or maybe causing discomfort, tension, and animosity all in order to help reveal something to the creator that they may have missed. The easiest thing to do is just keep your mouth shut and say nothing — or worse, blurt out an insincere “good job.” I have found the best critical discussions are built on a foundation of mutual trust and respect. Trust between individuals reinforces the assumption of good-faith intent behind the criticism. Most folks don’t like hearing negative input, especially about things they have invested energy into. I am certainly no different. I find it helps to remember that if someone took the time to think deeply enough about your work to form an opinion and then risk articulating it to you, that means they actually care. So thank your critics.

The reviews are in, the critics agree, this one is a hit! The music this month confronts the criticism, critiques the critics, and passes judgement on the judges. The theme is Critical. And we have an essential mix of artists grappling with detractors. Missy Elliot takes down her haters in ”Gossip Folks“, The Dirtbombs cover Phil Lynott’s defiant ”Ode to a Black Man“, Danielle Ponder declares "And I don’t care what people say, I’ll do it my way” in “So Long”, and Bongwater responds to a particularly negative write up in Rolling Stone Magazine in “The Bad Review”. If you’re looking for fuel to fight the defamers, here are over 40 songs to light the way.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy these playlists despite this month’s negativity, please share them and give me a shout on Twitter, I would love to hear from you. And if you would like keep up with these releases, follow me on Spotify. See you next month.