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Underground > Radio & Music >

Alternatives to Pitchfork

flamefilledpiano

20:56 / 28.05.04

Their reputation has been cemented: snobs with overly self-conscious review stylings who also happen to have solid taste in music. I'm a little wary, however, of their monopoly on indie music journalism - it feels to me like they can kill or immortalize an album fairly easily. Lately when I get a chance to pick up an album, I just take a gander at their featured recommendations page, which is a little troublesome, despite the fact that it rarely lets me down.

So, my question is: what other sources of indie/hip hop/&c. music reviews are there that meet the same standards as Pitchfork. In other words, where can I find a site, journal, or zine with (appropriately) comprehensive and timely coverage that reflects decent taste?

22:07 / 28.05.04

I tend to like the reviews at aquarius records.

Red Cross Iodized Salt

05:47 / 29.05.04

Red Cross Iodized Salt

05:48 / 29.05.04

And there is always, of course, here.

11:15 / 29.05.04

I've never read Pitchfork that much apart from for news stories.. the writing has a nasty whiff of NME-ness about it, even if it does often cover good stuff..

I like;

Drowned in Sound: a huge site primarily written and read by teenage British indie kids, with content skewed accordingly. Often quite rubbish (the stuff I did for them years ago was AWFUL), but sometimes good, and you've got to admire their energy in setting up something this big and successful.

Dusted has frequently updated and well written reviews, mainly of avant-rock/electronica stuff, and is well worth an occasional read.

Diskant is a very nice site, featuring writings and resourses about all manner of underground rock, as well as film, politics etc.
It's not updated half as often as it could be, but whenever it is, the results are always cool and interesting. They also publicise my fanzine, which is nice.

The website accompanying the soon to be launched Plan B currently features quite a lot of excellent 'web content' - reviews, interviews etc., as well as weblogs written by it's chief contributors, which are freuqently excellent actually..

16:48 / 29.05.04

i like junkmedia. i usually find myself agreeing with their reviews, and they lack the infuriatingly smug self-referentialism of pitchfork. also, the features/interviews are frequent and interesting. also, absorb is great for electronic music.

17:10 / 31.05.04

The PRP is a good resource, although they do cover some pretty crappy bands, but they are a very good resource.

18:16 / 01.06.04

75 or less offers some brief reviews. But they are usually dead wrong about everything. I like this guy Catbirdseat.org