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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    Great music video site spotlights indie artists.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–16

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Teens might discover new artists or labels that don't get mainstream media exposure.

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Interviews with musicians show a range of behavior, from crude and partying to smart and socially responsible.

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Sexual talk in some music videos and band interviews. (One interview has an explicit joke about anal sex.)

  • Language:

    Some of the interviews contain profanity, including "c--k" and "f--k."

  • Consumerism:

    Has an ad for the Pitchfork music festival, which contains small logos and a link to buy tickets. Otherwise, no advertising.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    A few mentions of drinking/pot (some cautionary).

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Pitchfork.tv was written by Susan Yudt

Parents need to know that this online video channel showcases artists and labels that don't normally get mainstream coverage. Some videos and interviews contain cursing, crude humor, and sexual references, but in general, there's less of the slick, commercialized sex and violence than you'll find on many other music outlets. There's no social element right now, but Pitchfork plans to add chat, forums, and registration in the future.

Families Can Talk About

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  • Families can talk about music videos in general and how powerful they are at getting the message of a song across. Why do some videos seem to not have anything to do with the actual lyrics? Who comes up with their themes? What types of issues do they address?
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More on Pitchfork.tv

What’s the Story?

The indie music gurus at Chicago-based pitchforkmedia.org launched PITCHFORK.TV, an online music video channel dedicated to artists you won't find in heavy rotation on MTV (one exception: Pitchfork perennial fave Radiohead). Their roster is heavy on indie rock, but also includes non-mainstream hip-hop, metal, folk, and electronic music, among others. In addition to current indie "it" bands like Vampire Weekend or the Liars, the site gives airplay to pioneers like Lee "Scratch" Perry and funk minimalists ESG. The site promises to add chat, forums, personal playlists, and other interactive features later this year.
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Is It Any Good?

Pitchfork.tv is a great find for the serious music fan, or for the casual listener who's interested in expanding his horizons beyond what's on TRL. The site showcases an impressive array of live performances, and visitors with long attention spans will enjoy the full-length films featured on the site each week. Pitchfork professes to be "an independent company with no investment dollars or special interests," and it's refreshing to surf a music site that's not bogged down with ads or sponsorship.
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    davindie
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 5.0

    Great Site

    This is a great site for teenagers who don't like mainstream music to discover new music. The content varies with the song or interview, but is generally okay.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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