"Their Qualification for The Job Is...They've Got The Job..."

Oxymorons.

An often witty little feature of our everyday language.

Defined, of course, as a phrase containing conflicting words.

Jumbo shrimp.

Free gift.

Military intelligence.

Music critic.

That last one is my invention.

I'm both copa and cetic with the idea that everyone is entitled to their opinion.

And when it comes to subjects that generate opinions, you cant do much better than musical taste.

But, musical taste is a subject that makes the subject of critque irrelevant.

Because, it's totally subjective.

That's why "critics" of music who offer up their two cents about whether this CD is good or this CD is bad or this CD is whatever are generally a waste of your reading and/or listening time and/or consideration.

The only music critic whose "observations" ever resonated for me was the late Frank Zappa.

"I do what I do", he said, "you either get it or you dont. I dont have time to explain it to you."

The chap in the video at the end of this piece has obviously convinced somebody with a checkbook that his two cents are worth paying for.

Nice work if you can get it.

Personally, I agree with what this "expert" says about Carrie Underwood's newest CD and the whole "machine" thing.

But, it doesnt matter a hoot in hell what this guy says or whether I agree with him.

Or don't.

Because neither his, nor my, opinion is going to prevent millions of Carrie Underwood fans from forking over twenty bucks to buy the CD.

Nor should it.

Because they're entitled to their opinions, too.

And, what the hell, it's their money.

For my money, here's an opinion.

Nashville is a factory that is in business to manufacture product that will appeal to a broad and massive audience in the hopes that they will sell lots of said product.

They make no secret about it.

"Critics" are people who cloak their personal opinions in some kind of "credibility" cloud in the hopes that they will keep getting a check to offer those opinions.

Those that can, do.

Those that can't, teach.

Those that can't do or teach...

Offer "professional opinions."

Now, there's an oxymoron.