Objectively speaking, was he privy to their recording process and psychological profile to any greater degree than the rest of us? Of course not. He's a rock critic, not a rock producer, and he did not sit in on those sessions.
He spun the negative attributes that he perceived in a positive manner and slapped on a grade. I saw similar negative attributes and interpreted them at face value. For you to infer a degree of intelligence based upon the way one interprets a subjective observation is absurd by definition, and I'm a little bit offended.
There is absolutely nothing about Brighten The Corners that represents a departure for the band, so I chose to interpret it the way I did. It's a fine record, it's a great collection of songs, but it's not revolutionary. It's a great band doing what they do, and little more (again, maturation? Christgau would say so). And I don't hear inspiration inherent in the songwriting of Terror Twilight. I have no idea whether they were actually inspired, and neither does Christgau.
I use labels like "uninspired" because, whatever their implications, it makes for more interesting discussion than merely assigning something a grade or rank.
Months exploring Europe can't even adjust your perspective.
