Why Pazz +Jop 2009 is so dull

Pazz + Jop is the end of year poll for US rock critics. It used to be interesting and authoritative. Now, with the decline of print journalism the poll seems to be dominated by bloggers and indie rock fans. There are some constructive ballots by old style writers like Robert Christgau, Kandia Crazy Horse, Jim DeRogatis, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Tony Fletcher, Frank Kogan, and Derk Richardson, but the results have Sunn O))) at a lowly 41st place. The trouble is that, despite its turnover of new bands, Indie is essentially a conservative genre. Probably most of the poll respondents just copied the Pitchfork end of year list. There is a nice article on Gaga (who ends up at a pathetic 31st place), but overall this is a disappointment.