Robert Christgau

Robert Christgau is one of the most influential music critics of the modern era. The author and essayist is credited with creating the album reviews sections at The Village Voice in 1969, making him the first full-time pop music critic of any serious publication in the United States. Throughout his career, Robert Christgau has been a major force in the analysis and criticism of popular music, from rock and R&B to punk, hip-hop and jazz.

Robert Christgau was born Robert Thomas Christgau in 1942, in Escanaba, Michigan. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1964, where he received a B.A. in English writing. Following his career in journalism and criticism, Christgau has gone on to become a professor at Queens College, New York, where he taught 20th Century Poetry, Criticism and Journalism, among other classes.

Robby—his preferred nickname—has written for a variety of publications throughout his career, including Rolling Stone, Spin, The Nation, and Pitchfork, but his work with The Village Voice remains his greatest legacy. As music editor for the alternative newspaper, Christgau wrote the “Consumer Guide” a review column that was received with enthusiasm by alternative and college music fans. He began by reviewing albums on a scale of A+ (greatest) to C- (worst), but eventually expanded to include an even more detailed rating system.

Robby’s essays and books offer thoughtful insight into a range of genres and eras of music, and they were written with a distinct voice that has managed to remain consistently fresh and vital over the years. Christgau began writing books in the early 80s, and released such notable works as Grown Up All Wrong: 75 Great Rock and Pop Artists from Vaudeville to Techno, and Going Into the City: A Big Life in Rock & Pop. In 2010, Christgau also published his autobiography, Going Into the City: Portrait of a Critic as a Young Man.

In addition to his career in journalism, Christgau was a vital force behind early stadium and outdoor concerts, including the famed Rock ‘n Roll Circus in San Francisco during the late 1960s. Christgau’s influence spilled into academia where he was a major inspiration for The New Musicology, the academic branch of the field of musicology. The genre was popularized by Christgau’s own non-traditional approach to academic music criticism. These days, Robby continues to be a devoted music fan and critic, championing the work of unknown musicians, and offering his keen insight to more established and popular artists.

Overall, Robert Christgau is one of the most influential and iconic music writers of our time. His work with The Village Voice has inspired numerous writers and critics, and has helped shape modern understanding of popular music criticism. With his books, essays, and non-traditional approach to the academic side of the field, Robby has solidified his place as one of the greats of the profession.