I love the University of Toronto Department of Music's Annual Sale -- where else can you get nine records and three books for a measly $18.50?

For a near crimminal 50 cents, I grabbed the "Trouser Press Guide to '90's Rock", published in 1996. This volume was edited by Ira Robbins, who also is a main contributor (along with a few dozen other journalists). Robbins warns us in the Forward that his essays were meant to be both informative and critical. You can say that again. From what I've read so far, his pieces are far more scathing than any of the other authors. Among his victims are many of my favourite groups and albums.

On one hand, criticism and alternate points of view are extremely constructive. A fan will be upset about a bad review of their favourite band, and they will quickly erase such negativity from their minds immediately after reading it. A music appreciator may get upset, but he or she will store those words in their head for a long time afterward, pausing to reflect on them from time to time and perhaps getting around to questioning whether they contain an element of truth.

On the other hand, no matter how brilliant a piece of music may be, you can always find something to criticise. And criticism for the sake of criticism is a practice that many writers engage in, maybe due to a reluctance that they will gradually become indistinguishable from the common fan should they allow themselves to like something too much.

To demonstrate both points, over the next several days, I will make concerted criticisms of my ten favourite albums of the 1990's. Actually, there will only be seven, since in the case of bands with multiple entries, I will choose the higher ranking record.