I always find it interesting that music critis have to pay attention to and know all genres of music very well while most listenrs (including Slate fray posters) seeem to pretty much like one or two genres and dismiss everything else. It's funny to see Double Up and Sound of Silver on the same list. I listen to a good swath of current "mainstream" music. I don't know that much about "indie" and other "underground" scenes, though I did start to get into some of the French inspired dance music stuff this year (Justice. New Young Pony Club, etc.). I found out about this stuff on the recommendation of critics who also give Timberlake, Timbaland, and The Clipse good reviews. The point of this rambling post is that if you see an artist on one of these top 25 lists that you have never heard of, give him / her a try, you may find something that you like.

It kinda helps that they get all their music for free...

Not only that but they have to deal with people who proclaim an ability to see straight into their souls only to find that their invocations of love for this or that piece of music is really artifice intended for showing off for other critics and such.

Music critics have a thankless job...

...and these three clowns are only making it worse.