Simon Frith - Afterpunk: the different drummer (Melody Maker, spring 1979)

A critic right-footed by history  - not through the success of his coinage "afterpunk" (postpunk would be the winner there) but through siding with the right side in the schism of Artpunk versus Realpunk 

(also known as Street Punk and later Oi!)

 

"Consuming Passion" was an overview-oriented column Frith and others did in Melody Maker - this was a time when MM was giving NME a run for its money on the writing front, if not the design. Along with Frith, the team included Jon Savage, Mary Harron, Vivien Goldman, Chris Bohn, Ian Birch, James Truman, Idris Walters, as well as veteran staffers like Richard Williams, Michael Watts, Allan Jones, Brian Case.... 

Garry Bushell - Gang of Four - Entertainment! - Sounds - October 6 1979

Not quite an example of critics totally missing the significance of an epochal record in real time, as this does get a measured 3 and a half stars out of five from Gaz, with Entertainment! further described as "erratically brilliant".  

Included in the series more because the critique comes from a well-informed position (SWP member conversant with Brecht etc) yet advances a stance contrary to the now historically sanctioned viewpoint (here it is arty postpunk that's deemed is the wrong direction out of punk, the diversion of energy).  Instead of "rip it up and start again", it's more like "reiterate it and stay street".