Not sure how far this will get Dave as you have "Mod on your Side" now (the apple did work then)
Analysing what artists do does id not "criticising' them - it is putting their work into context - every artistic genre should be open to positive and critical comment - most are
What passes for folk now apparent;y isn't - if people "like" someone then they are abpve criticism
There should be no "gods" of folk or any form of art - I'm an atheist in that respect as well
I assume your snide reference is about MacColl - I don't bring his singing into any discussion - I object to the fact that, despite the fact he and others worked on the art and techniques of singing for over a decade and created a theory of how to improve it with exercises and techniques, people would rather discuss political views he hadn't held since 1940 and name-change (even the Robert Zimmerman worshipers)
You won't find a single example of my discussing MacColl's singing - critical or uncritical, anywhere on this form - my concern for MacColl is as an artistic theorist - you are free to prove me wrong, of course
I found to my const not too long ago that to try and discuss this side of MacColl's work runs the risk of suspension

This thread seems to be an example of fanzine at it's most typical - "don't you dare knock my fave singer" - a measure of where the folk scene is going, perhaps
Critisism of the blue-eyed boy elicits only personal abuse, sinking to an agist level even - even at the ageist level, and deleted postings
Ah well, I tried
Keep up with the apples, they seem to be working
JIm