Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s

Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s is a comprehensive music reference book published in 2000, containing around 3,800 album reviews from the 1990s. The book compiles Robert Christgau's writings from his "Consumer Guide" column in The Village Voice, along with pieces from Rolling Stone, Spin, and Playboy. The reviews span multiple genres beyond traditional rock and pop, written in Christgau's distinct style that combines dense prose with cultural references and political commentary. The book introduces a new rating system developed by Christgau to address the increased volume of music releases in the 1990s. The collection represents Christgau's third volume in his "Consumer Guide" series, following his previous guides covering the 1970s and 1980s. At 396 pages, it serves as both a historical document of 1990s music and a reference tool for music enthusiasts. The book reflects broader cultural shifts in music consumption and criticism during a transformative decade for the recording industry, while maintaining Christgau's established focus on catchiness, rhythm, and social significance in his evaluations.

Readers view this collection as an opinionated, idiosyncratic set of album reviews. On Goodreads, the book holds a 3.9/5 rating from around 50 readers. Readers appreciate: - Concise, witty writing style - Extensive knowledge of music history - Clear grading system - Coverage of overlooked/underappreciated albums - Value as a music discovery tool Common criticisms: - Dismissive tone toward certain genres - Brief reviews lack depth - Personal biases affect grades - Tendency to focus on lyrics over music - Limited coverage of metal and electronic music One Amazon reviewer noted: "His biases are clear but his writing is sharp." A Goodreads user complained: "Too much emphasis on political correctness rather than musical quality." Ratings across platforms: Amazon: 4.1/5 (15 reviews) Goodreads: 3.9/5 (47 reviews) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (8 reviews)

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🎵 Christgau's signature "Consumer Guide" column ran continuously in The Village Voice from 1969 to 2006, making it one of the longest-running music review columns in American journalism. 🎸 The book's grading system ranges from A+ to E-, with specific designations like "neither" for albums that defy conventional rating and "must to avoid" for particularly disappointing releases. 📝 While most reviews are around 50 words long, Christgau coined the term "Consumer Guide" specifically because he wanted to help readers make informed purchasing decisions in an era when albums were expensive investments. 🏆 Robert Christgau is often called "The Dean of American Rock Critics," a nickname he received in the 1970s that has stuck with him throughout his career, reflecting his influence on music criticism. 📚 The '90s guide covers the emergence of grunge, the mainstreaming of alternative rock, and the rise of gangsta rap - documenting one of the most diverse and transformative decades in popular music history.