Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

Consumer Guide:
  User's Guide
  Grades 1990-
  Grades 1969-89
  And It Don't Stop
Books:
  Book Reports
  Is It Still Good to Ya?
  Going Into the City
  Consumer Guide: 90s
  Grown Up All Wrong
  Consumer Guide: 80s
  Consumer Guide: 70s
  Any Old Way You Choose It
  Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
Xgau Sez
Writings:
  And It Don't Stop
  CG Columns
  Rock&Roll& [new]
  Rock&Roll& [old]
  Music Essays
  Music Reviews
  Book Reviews
  NAJP Blog
  Playboy
  Blender
  Rolling Stone
  Billboard
  Video Reviews
  Pazz & Jop
  Recyclables
  Newsprint
  Lists
  Miscellany
Bibliography
NPR
Web Site:
  Home
  Site Map
  Contact
  What's New?
    RSS
Carola Dibbell:
  Carola's Website
  Archive
CG Search:
Google Search:
Twitter:
****

BETTIE SERVEERT
Log 22
Palomine

In "wide eyed fools," the first song on her fifth American album, Carol Van Dyk specifies her continuing identification with functioning misfits who "don't have much to show for life." That's her gift, and that's her curse. The college radio-heads who loved 1992's Palomine have settled into reasonable lives. They don't have the time or the spiritual resources to understand a "freak" who asserts, "Ever since the age of five/I was already aware of what's important in life." The incomprehension isn't Van Dyk's fault, however. Competing Brits and Americans (and Swedes and, please, Icelanders) should note this Dutchwoman's command of idiomatic English, so rarely awkward that its lapses are endearing. The first few tunes are instant, and all stay with you. And just when you thought her musicians were content to anchor a song band, they'll jam your ass off, alt-style: Seven minutes of "The Ocean, My Floor" could inspire Lou Reed to a cutting contest.

Rolling Stone, Apr. 17, 2003