A prominent music critic, Laura Snapes, known for her work with Pitchfork and The Guardian, recently made a surprising revelation about her past review of Charli XCX’s groundbreaking 2016 EP, Vroom Vroom. In an article discussing projects that took time to resonate, Snapes expressed remorse for her initial negative critique and now acknowledges the EP’s true value as a modern classic.
Back in 2016, Snapes had given Vroom Vroom a measly 4.5/10 rating, describing it as “exhausting” and criticizing its “intentional shallowness and plasticky transgression.” The review received substantial backlash, with Snapes admitting, “I never got as much blowback for anything as my Pitchfork review of Charli XCX’s Vroom Vroom EP.”
However, it wasn’t until Snapes witnessed Charli XCX’s electrifying live performance in 2019 that her perspective on the EP began to shift. She experienced a transformative moment, appreciating the EP’s car-themed lyrics, previously dismissed as “ferociously trite,” in a new light. Snapes attributes this revelation to Charli’s mesmerizing stage presence, which unveiled the depth and authenticity within the songs.
Furthermore, Snapes reflects on the turbulent state of our society, noting that amidst the chaos and disarray, Charli XCX’s music holds a unique allure. “The general collapse of society brought a new appeal to a record that sounds like a pep rally on the edge of a black hole,” she muses. Snapes, shedding her old self-seriousness, finds solace in Charli’s pioneering vision, gratefully acknowledging her as a trailblazer.
As the music critic concludes her retrospective, she quips, “Charli was ahead of her time, leaving me gratefully eating her dust. Beep beep!” Snapes’ candid admission serves as a reminder that even seasoned critics can reassess their initial judgments and find redemption in acknowledging the artistry they once overlooked.
Overall, this introspective journey unveils the transformative power of music and the potential for growth and appreciation, both in the realm of creative expression and personal interpretation.