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>But the former... I believe the former if only because it >happens so often in the industry, talented folks who obviously >take their shit very seriously get really discouraged when >that talent seems overlooked. I think the narrative is >manufactured w/D insofar as he got a shitload of critical >acclaim for that record - which had to count for something. >This wasn't Leonard Cohen in the late '70s, struggling to get >even a review for work he was pouring his heart into. But I >don't think the story is a complete fabrication... and it's >probably been reinforced over the years by all the dumb press >he's gotten for stupid shit (including his physique).
There is a shitload of music, even entire genres, that never get any critical attention at all beyond the "genre-level", music that can still be successful or at least acclaimed by the people who matters (=the fans). As a guy raised on metal in the 80's I know exactly what I'm talking about. And R&B has a long tradition of artists that has received minimal acclaim and exposure from critics who can still tour and release music well-loved by a fairly large amount of people.
And while the current media-climate has led to a situation where even mainstream media has largely stopped reviewing music on a genre-basis (=the biggest acts as well as some personal favorites from the critic in question in a few relevant genres gets attention/reviews) and instead chose what music to review more on an "interesting music" (generally meaning "big event"-type albums combined with underground "cool" stuff) level, there are still a lot of even successful acts putting out records without much love or attention from "relevant" media.
That Leonard Cohen didn't get any attention for his records at the height of disco and punk-well, duh! There were artists infinitely more talented than Cohen's old rambling, miserable ass that received even less; I could name dozens of jazz-acts in the same era that suffered far worse.
Basically, the whole idea of not just getting but also *expecting* critical love and attention reeks of pomposity and false self-entitlement to me considering how much music there's out there; music made by acts that are bigger/hipper/younger/hotter/"more interesting"/you name it.
What acts like D'angelo (and Cohen for that matter) has is a fairly loyal fanbase, people who obviously didn't care about him not looking like the "Untitled"-video anymore on stage (those fans he should be happy to have lost i f it is indeed the music and "artistry" that matters); that is a luxury that the majority of musical acts don't have (let's be real; most acts aren't bigger or "more interesting" than their latest record)-it's *them* D'angelo and artists like him should make a record for and try to impress, not the fucking critics.
Actually, that those fans-no matter how few-still exist is kind of a mystery and something he should be grateful for. However, if he waits too long, they might not be there anymore and then, I don't think the critics with their oh so important acclaim and Sly/Jimi/Prince-comparisons will be there either...
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