"Critics are like eunuchs in a harem; they know how it's done, they've seen it done every day, but they're unable to do it themselves." gold. but people are generally more cruel to critics than critics are to the art they're offering an opinion on. It's important to remember that most critics of art have chosen that profession because they love the art itself - not because they hate it so much that they want to invest their lives in berating it.

I agree. And one can't do without the other. At the end of the day hopefully we're all in pursuit of excellence. I think that the standard of Music journalism in Ireland is very good. Like the bands themselves it's important that young journalists are given opportunities to develop their skills. The above post about vision and opinion actually refers to some words of encouragement given to a young Louie Le Broquey by William Butler Yeats (I think!) when the established art critics of the day lambasted his work. It's really weird when you first start getting reviewed etc. Good and bad, and keeping in mind that as an artist that you do have a vision is important. I didn't mean to suggest that one is of more worth than the other. RIP John Peel.

Fair enough.