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Pop critics Jim DeRogatis and Ann Powers discuss the uncertain future of music criticism.

The New York indie rockers Vampire Weekend are topping the Billboard 200 chart by selling more than a 120,000 copies of their second set "Contra." While fans praise their unusual, global sound, critics call them Ivy-league elitists ripping off third world music. Joining us for a Soundcheck Smackdown: Chicago Sun-Times ...

Every year there's at least one new Christmas album that manages to sharply divide listeners and critics alike. This year, Bob Dylan's notorious Christmas in the Heart easily takes top prize. But there are others that either inspire good cheer or make you wish for a silent night. Pop critics ...

2008 saw comeback albums by Britney Spears, Janet Jackson and Brian Wilson. It also saw indie-rock darlings like Vampire Weekend and The Killers attract continued buzz. None of this impressed Chicago Sun-Times pop music critic Jim DeRogatis. Today he shares his least favorite and most overrated albums of the year.

Soundcheck Smackdown: Music critic and author Michael Azerrad claims R.E.M.'s fourteenth album, "Accelerate," is their hardest-rocking ever. Chicago Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis is not convinced. In the first of a new weekly series of musical debates we have both on to discuss the return of one of the most ...

Chicago Sun Times music critic Jim DeRogatis offers his irreverent look at the worst and most overrated albums of 2007. Also: we unveil the results of the Soundcheck listener poll.

Jim DeRogatis' list of the year's worst albums.

The Stooges, The Weirdness

Feist, ...