"What many in the critical community have come to understand is that there is no such thing as a "guilty pleasure." Sure, there are albums that will never be considered alongside the new Radiohead disc in contention for a Grammy, but that's not to say you should feel guilty for enjoying it. You like what you like; it's that simple. When I sing along to "Machine Head" in Ashley's Underground, I feel no shame despite the three people staring at me.
And it's in this regard that being a critic becomes so complicated: I'm forced to make an objective judgment on the new Jamie Lidell album whether or not I actually enjoy it. I'm supposed to break it down and look at production, lyrics, structure and melodies. And this, somehow, is supposed to help me determine whether or not it gets any one of 11 different star ratings.
There emerges, then, a schism between what is seen as objectively good and what is objectively bad. And yet all I can really tell you is whether or not I enjoy an album. Herein lies the contradiction. Since there is nothing I can say to change your opinion of an album, I'm ultimately just spewing hegemonic bullshit about my own delusions of grandeur. And yet every time you or I pass judgment on an album, it seems to have a lasting effect on the culture around us, whether through the prolonged career of the latest teen craze or just a few more tickets sold at the Backstreet Boys reunion tour.