Scientific analysis of music criticism

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This is intriguing

If the explanation of the experiment is too technical, check out the results.

― Chris Dahlen (Chris Dahlen), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

wow

― cutty (mcutt), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Sadly, female pronouns score very poorly compared to male pronouns:

his 22048.40
he 2950.50
she 315.38
her 276.60

There aren't as many women playing music as there are men, and it looks like Pitchfork haven't gone out of their way to cover female artists in a positive light. (The word “her” appears 23.3% as much as “his”, but only has 1.25% of the wordscore.)

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Music criticism has found its Bill James.

― rasheed wallace (rasheed wallace), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Bill James has a sense of humor.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

"When the Pitchfork reviewers write about a record they don't like, they're more likely to mention two things:

1. words referencing consumerism and business, and
2. words insulting the intelligence of the musicians or listeners. "

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:45 (twenty-two years ago)

if only that wasn't true...

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:45 (twenty-two years ago)

"There are several words that mean “large,” some of which are metaphors (massive, sky, spacious, ocean). Apparently, music that sounds small is less desirable."

― Chris Dahlen (Chris Dahlen), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:45 (twenty-two years ago)

words insulting the intelligence of the musicians or listeners.

I thought those came free with every review.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:46 (twenty-two years ago)

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"There are several words that mean “large,” some of which are metaphors (massive, sky, spacious, ocean). Apparently, music that sounds small is less desirable."

I like to think my reviews go against this trend. When it comes to music I like getting small.

― Mark (MarkR), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

You and Steve Martin should start a club.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

If I say "microhouse" in a review, I try to bury it in the middle of a 1200 word review so no one will find out.

― dleone (dleone), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Jon Williams to thread!

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"The intelligence words also score pretty terribly, and only two of those words (intelligent, genius) are positive. The rest of the 12 words in that group are fairly insulting (y'all, retarded, frat, vapid, mindless, etc.)."

Music criticism has found its Elias Sports Bureau. Countdown to mucrit's Productive Outs starts NOW.

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, Jon Williams to a titty bar where all drinks are on the house & there IS sex in the champagne room so he comes nowhere near this thread!

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:53 (twenty-two years ago)

JON HAD A DATE LAST NIGHT!

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I HAD 2 DAETZ

― HAMBURGER NEURON GROUP (ex machina), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I almost bought Moneyball at the Strand last night, but put it down.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Moneyball is a pretty decent read; I still like Liar's Poker better though.

― rasheed wallace (rasheed wallace), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Jon's current pull w/ the ladies notwithstanding, my intial request still stands. Also, I have yet to buy _Moneyball_.

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Moneyball is great. Almost as great as burritoville.

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:02 (twenty-two years ago)

$10.46 or whatever was a great price, I just needed to save cash to DRINK OVERPRICED BEERS AT LIT WITH RUSS WATERHOUSE.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:04 (twenty-two years ago)

NOTE: This study's Conclusion section is blank! What could it mean!?!?

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

How's Russ?

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

he's always fine.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:10 (twenty-two years ago)

WELCOME MY SON. WELCOME. TO THE MACHINE.

― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I just described the entire Moneyball/Beane/Youkilis saga to Dahlen over IM in excruciating, painful detail. I think he enjoyed it. I think.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Ha ha ha! I did.

― Chris Dahlen (Chris Dahlen), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

descriptive *not* inferential..

― nothingleft (nothingleft), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Interesting statistics, weak writing, questionable inferences. *GASP* am I talking about the study or Pitchfork!?!?!

Sincerely,

The Greek God of Dis Reviews

― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I really hope "mucrit" catches on.

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

"Muscrit love"

― Mark (MarkR), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

He's talking about Pitchfork, pas question. *grins*

― Ian Beverly (Eastern Mantra), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 22:17 (twenty-two years ago)

This all feels very Momus. Didn't he concoct something like this, or point us collectively towards some reductionist pomo fiend like the Pitchfork critic here, about 2 years ago?

― maria b (maria b), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 00:45 (twenty-two years ago)

This tab in my browser just says "Scientific anal"

― don (don), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 02:28 (twenty-two years ago)

This entire project is retarded and nonsensical and the results are just emo.

― David Allen (David Allen), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 03:31 (twenty-two years ago)

it has the same font as ILM. crazy.

― Daniel DiMAGGIO (Daniel DiMAGGIO), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 05:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I kinda like the second mp3 on that site. The vocals are terrible, but the production, while sounding like third rate aphex twin, has it's moments.

― minolta (minolta), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 05:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Finally, scientific evidence that Pitchfork's ideal music sounds just like the Postal Service.

― Curt W, Wednesday, 9 June 2004 05:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Scientific AMAListical proof that the PJ Harvey album is okay and the Sonic Youth album is pretty good?

― Mike Dixon (Mike Dixon), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 06:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Scientific AMAListical proof that the PJ Harvey album is not okay and the Sonic Youth album is pretty good?

― Mike Dixon (Mike Dixon), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 06:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with Minolta. (I think the guy missed out on the lyrical conent factor, too...whether or not it is advance and eloquent or whether it is plain and simple, and how effective the lyrics are.) I do think it is something Pitchfork reviewers would like, though...emo meets Warp Records or something.

― Ian Beverly (Eastern Mantra), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 11:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Curt W is dead. Dead I tell you.

― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 11:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd like to hear more warmth in the production. Also, more guitars.

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 11:58 (twenty-two years ago)

But what about the SIZE?

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 13:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Sounds have a song called "Riot". Now I may not have passed Punk 101; I admit I still don't really know what Crass was. But my general intuition is that if you have a song called "Riot" anything, you are probably punk." - Alexander Lloyd Linhardt, September 25th, 2003

You don't know how hard it is sometimes.

― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 13:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I assume Linhardt is kept around for comic relief, right?

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 13:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't ask me, I telecommute.

― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 13:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Why does the Pitchfilter show "tortured" as a positive word?

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 17 June 2004 01:43 (twenty-one years ago)

The stats about gender are the most interesting part of the project.

Y'all ought to be ashamed!

― Kevin Erickson, Thursday, 17 June 2004 17:15 (twenty-one years ago)

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Scientific analysis of music criticism - at Pitchforkmedia.com