Justin Davidson, over at New York, gives a much needed kick in the balls to the New York Philharmonic. Despite hot ticket sales and a generally sound institutional infrastructure, the band can still sound like pure caca.

Especially considering the Lucerne Festival Orchestra’s performance at Carnegie the other night, there is no excuse that the NY Phil shouldn’t sound every bit as excellent (as a “festival” orchestra).

Our favorite part of Davidson’s review, however, is the article’s subtitle:

The New York Philharmonic is as reliable and consistent as a metronome—and about as dull.