Qualifications of Critic

First of all, a little background as to what got me thinking about this in the first place. I’ve got a friend of mine in a very successful band that just put out a new album. Yesterday I came across a couple of review that, while well written, were not what most would consider a positive. 

I find the idea of a critic interesting to say the least, especially with regard to the arts (music, film, art).  I understand that they’re allowed to have their opinion, as I am mine.  The only real difference is they get paid to share theirs.  Couple things I was thinking about….

How seriously should we take what they say?  Just because they don’t like an album doesn’t mean I won’t like it. 

How can you tell if they’re a good critic or not?  Isn’t their opinion (and mine) completely subjective?  If they don’t like an album and it ends up going platinum, should they be fired?

With all that being said, I still go looking for movie/music/book reviews on a regular basis and allow some person who I don’t know and whose taste may be completely different than mine tell me why I won’t like an album…or a movie….or a book…or whatever. 

Why should I allow their opinion to influence what I may feel or think about the object of their criticism, whether good or bad?  I shouldn’t, but I still do…and probably will do in the future.  Oh well, one day their critique may save me from wasting $20 and 2 hours on a movie that was horrible…and that they were right about (at least in my opinion).