"Consumer Guide" in the "Village Voice" was once a model of cogent, witty criticism. Lately, Christgau has grown arrogant and humorless – the raves are reserved for jazz artists, while even the best rock is treated condescendingly unless it conforms to Christgau's passion for leftist politics (particularly feminism) and bohemian culture. While he is far too shrewd to let his dislike for apolitical or middle-class performers affect his A plus to E minus rating of them, the tone of the writing is now snotty – it lacks compassion, not to mention empathy, with current rock.