a quick (maybe stupid) question: why is the P&J referred to as the the 30th (or 31st) Pazz & Jop Music Critics' Poll?

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what's up with the waffling on the numbers there?

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 19 February 2004 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I think they skipped a year early on, didn't they?

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Thursday, 19 February 2004 20:50 (twenty-two years ago)

The first poll (in 1970 or 1971 or so) was an open poll where I believe 50 or so Voice readers, not just (but mostly) critics, sent in ballots after a notice that Bob Xgau posted in the Voice. After that, a year or two went by without a poll at all; when it came back, it was specifically an invitation-only critics' poll, as it's been ever since.

― chuck, Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:15 (twenty-two years ago)

were the results of that first poll uninteresting?

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Too many votes for Bloodrock, not enough for the Edison Lighthouse.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:17 (twenty-two years ago)

It's on-line (as are most of the others) at robertchristgau.com if you want to read it.

― Not That Chuck, Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres71.php

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:28 (twenty-two years ago)

And here's Xgau's essay:
http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pj71.php

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Joy of Cooking!! God people really did listen to them.

― Broheems (diamond), Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Christgau and Greil Marcus both listed it at number one.

― Not That Chuck, Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Xgau 1971:

>The thing is, I don't believe credentials make much difference either. I figure that a critic ought to have three qualities: interest, and arrogance, and writing ability.

Xgau 2004:

>Our rolls are larded with part-timers who buy many records and miss many more. And they're joined annually by newbies who learned to write from literary theorists and honed their opinionizing skills in the dog-eat-dog cenacles of college radio.

How times change.

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Thursday, 19 February 2004 22:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 19 February 2004 22:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I love how Christgau says in '04 that the poll is essentially shit now.

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 19 February 2004 22:29 (twenty-two years ago)

haha "writing ability"

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Thursday, 19 February 2004 22:34 (twenty-two years ago)

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