What is the most accurate music review you've read?

Stereo Review's review of Radio City - Big Star. It was written by Steve Simels in a 1974 issue, and, IIRC, was one of their "Best Recordings of the Month" selections.

Rolling Stone's 4 star review of In Color by Cheap Trick. (1977)

 

Pretty much any that were run in Creem or Trouser Press back in the day.

 

Love Duran Duran, but that album sure was a stinker. Except "Perfect Day" which I love!

 

Whichever review agrees exactly with what I think.

 

I think there was an old review for a Yes album that just read "no." I like Yes, so I don't think it's accurate, but I know a lot of people that would.

 

Obviously, those people (and reviewer) aren't the fans. So essentially, it's not accurate. Close minded? More likely.

 

The last music review that I thought was spot-on was a piece in Greil Marcus's Van Morrison book about Jennifer Jason Leigh's performance in the movie Georgia. Not only was I shocked that somebody else besides my wife and I even knew and appreciated this version of a Van song, he absolutely nailed what we thought made it special. It's a staggering moment in a fairly good (but not great) film.

 

And almost everything else he wrote as well.

 

I came to post this one, but it was JD Considine in Musician magazine, and the review was even more succinct. just GTR - SHT. Brutal and funny.

 

That opening line is clever enough, but there's something about low-hanging fruit...

 

The allmusic review saying Faces box set Five Guys... was the best one of its kind.

 

Despite previously praising the band on their cover as "the only band that matters"

Someone at RS called The Clash's Sandinista "give em enough vinyl"

The second album double entendre was brilliant

 

Although it was mentioned earlier in the thread, the review was GTR : SHT (not ttl sht as the previous poster said).

Accurate or not, many people remember this review, although I'm really not sure where I saw it now (BAM Magazine, maybe? Perhaps GTR should have put up their own review of the magazine, like BAM : CRP)?

 

Andy Gibb was supporting The Bay City Rollers on an Australian tour and critic David Pepperell said the Andy was 'worse than The Rollers' and said 'Thank god Elvis' twin brother died at birth'

 

Anything that does not have "-Lester Bangs" at the end.

 

Where'd they print that?? They can't print that?

 

Rock and roll creation: "What day did the lord create Spinal Tap, and couldn't he have rested on that they too?"

 

Maybe it's the cold medication kicking in again, but since Andy is not the twin of Barry, Maurice, or Robin, that second statement is a little perplexing.

 

Even if he were a Bee Gees twin it wouldn't help the statement.

 

I think he's saying that Andy was only on the tour because he was related to Barry, Maurice and Robin. This was years before he had any mainstream success. I think he had one single on ATA (Col Joye's label)

 

Could you get any more accurate than this review of Coldplay's - Ghost Stories?

http://thequietus.com/articles/15274-coldplay-ghost-stories-review

 

David Thomas of Pere Ubu?

 

Ryan Adams - Gold:

"Pyrite."

(Technically never printed, but Peter Blackstock of No Depression magazine said that he was tempted to use this one-word review, in the forward of Issue 35. Adams apparently blew his lid when he heard that.)

 

At the time I thought this was spot on review of Beach Boys SMiLE

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/oct/27/beach-boys-smile-sessions-review

 

'PiL are miles out and miles ahead'

http://www.fodderstompf.com/ARCHIVES/REVIEWS 2/mbnme79.html

Strangely, it took me about 20 years to get round to listening to Can.