Needles & Grooves

To be honest, I can't imagine ever watching a video for a music review, so even though his videos always show up as "recommended" for me, I've never watched one.

I don't think he gives certain scores to generate controversy. I don't watch him often but he's usually very considered and articulate about what he likes and doesn't like about an album. That said, I don't think he gets advance copies so I don't know how much value there is in a review of most stuff a few days after it's released, but generally he puts out quality, thoughtful reviews.

He gave my favourite album of last decade a 4. I disagree with a lot of his scores and often some of his points but he never claims that he's not subjective. Several times he's given good insight or reason enough to give something another shot.

@Jmcg85 The comment section of his videos are 90% cancer but honestly, I don't mind Fantano. Just another perspective of an album from a different pair of ears.

I'm almost certain that the vast majority of his "audience" open the video description just to see the score, and then hit the back button or close the link.

Reference: I saw him on his west coast tour last year. Quite a cancerous bunch of memers and 18-somethings wearing MBDTF shirts. Fantano was pretty funny, though.

I think he's a pretty good reviewer. He's turned me on to some great stuff too. Definitely frequently disagree with him but what reviewer isn't that true for?

Hes easily my favorite music reviewer and hes turned me onto alot of great stuff (U.S. Girls, Sawayama etc) but overall I disagree with him more than i agree with him. His reasoning are usually well explained so i cant get too upset with him, but sometimes it does feel like he shits on an album just to be different.

As for his meme filled fanbase that's a blessing and a curse. I've seem some funny stuff and it's fun poking fun at his reviews and bias, but the majority of it is unfunny and exhausting

Opinions just be like that. I enjoy watching fantano for entertainment and information, but that's just it.

Interesting collection of thoughts thank you all its exactly what I wanted. I too enjoy his videos but find myself disagreeing more than agreeing with him. I feel more often than not he backs up his thoughts with his real feelings so not fake but sometimes I feel he ( as @Fleetwood-Matt ) shits on albums to be different

He's always struck me as a contrarian.

I think Anthony does a pretty great job for the most part. He makes a pretty decent case for why he feels the way he does about an album, and I don’t feel like he is super concerned about heaping praise or giving a contrary opinion just for the sake of it. I enjoy watching him, even when my taste diverges from his.

People often believe reviewers, from Fantano to Pitchfork, skew their ratings for controversy or contrarian opinions. But I never quite see that. Sometimes I think he gets it wrong and misses the point, same with some review sites. But hey he loves things I can’t stand, yet gave that new Laura Marling album a really high score. So it’s a mixed bag of our opinions lining up

Haven’t watched the Fiona review yet...hopefully it is thoughtful in its criticism...