10. Cannonball podcast review

 Listening to cannonball gave me a new perspective on social norms and how music critics operate. I agree that the music industry has made it hard for critics to give their raw opinions in fear of 'swimming against the current.' Morris suggests pop music critics are becoming "too nice," less willing to deliver harsh judgements or dig into serious critique.

I appreciated how they tied this phenomenon to both audience pressure (big fan bases, social media backlash) and institutional pressures. The episode suggests the fear of hurting an artist's commercial prospects or of stirring up backlash has muted criticism. I found this deep and meaningful since in the type of art that I digest, I try and be non-judgemental, trying to see the point of view of an artist completely being substanceless in having no opinion whatsoever. The podcast has inspired me to be a little more critical of the media I digest to have better opinions of what I like and dislike.

At the same time, I found myself resisting the nostalgia for "the good old days of ruthless criticism" that the podcast evokes. Morris wisely hints that harsh criticism had its own problems: gatekeeping, elitism, exclusion, and dismissing whole communities of fans, to name a few. The conversation made me reflect on that tension rather than idealizing one side of an opinion, since 'nothing is black-and-white.'

I also liked how the episode used a concrete case, the reception of Taylor Swift's latest album, to illustrate the shifts in criticism. Kind of giving their argument substance in how critics are scared to say anything negative about a huge artist as to avoid backlash by passionate fans. Honestly, I'm not a Taylor Swift fan and have no interest in her music; I think it is bland and does not speak about deep-rooted topics that criticize social norms.

Finally, I really enjoyed how they highlight that music itself is a criticism. I believe with having free speech in criticism we are able to advance as a society. To me music is a very unique way to communicate and feel emotions. Without criticizing artists' works, we conform to a 1984 society that silences voices that speak the truth. When we are able to freely express our opinions, it upholds a secret humanitarian value to always speak the truth and nothing but the truth, therefore making us more connected.

Personally I did not enjoy Eternal Atake pt. 2by Lil Uzi Vert. I feel like I am comparing it to the original Eternal Atake album, but I was not as captured or stimulated by this new album. Eternal Atake falls short because it confuses constant motion with real artistic direction. The album jumps between space skits, hyperactive beats, and recycled flows without committing to a clear idea, so the concept feels more like loose decoration than storytelling. Much of it plays like a collection of half-formed ideas that are flashy and polished but rarely meaningful. Instead of feeling experimental, it ends up feeling unfocused.

What really hurts the album is its emotional flatness. Uzi’s usual charm and unpredictability turn into repetition here, with hooks and melodies that blur together and leave little impact. There are moments that hint at something sharper or more daring, but they get lost in the clutter. Eternal Atake is not bad because it fails dramatically. It is bad because it ultimately sounds like expensive background music that is ambitious on the surface but empty once you listen closely.