Distinguishing the particulars of a topic rates as the most basic element of aesthetics (art criticism), or of philosophy generally. Picking apart the quality of an underlying melody of a lead vocal, versus the harmonic and production elements- that's what critics DO.

I was perhaps slightly hurt, then, by this accusation in the comments to a Blogcritics post: "Al Barger pretty much confines his jabbering to the subject of liberal perfidy, and he's one of the worst about sticking political screeds into the review categories."

Really. I think I'm one of the BEST. If you look carefully, I've repeatedly tried to address art that has political content, trying to distinguish between the artistic versus political merits of a song or movie. Note for example this positive review of John Mellencamp's new protest song.

Now, dissecting and mocking liberal perfidy is certainly a legitimate and highly entertaining philosophical sport. I like to think that I write about other things as well, but liberals need to be knocked around. However, I would take it as a significant personal insult to be accused of inability to make even a basic distinction between art and politics. Those are whole separate branches of philosophy. I'd sure hate to thing that I am so blinded by political passion as to not be able to appreciate the skill, craft and passion of a good song or movie just because the author is a liberal.

Liking or disliking a song or movie just because it presents a political stance that you agree or disagree with shows shallowness of artistic judgment. If a song has a good tune and is emotionally convincing, I don't have to agree with any secondary political sentiments.

Similarly, I'm known to listen to a fair amount of various types of gospel music. Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers really do it for me. Elvis gospel, Bob Dylan, even Jimmy Swaggart and Bach get my attention. I won't quite go so far as to say that I'm absolutely sure there is no beyond, but I'm certainly no kind of believer. Yet much of the world's greatest and most meaningful music has been created as religious expression. There is emotional truth in the Hallelujah Chorus that transcends the specific issue of the truth value of Christianity.