Today's albums versus the classics: reviewer bias?

Do you think that albums released in retrospect are reviewed differently than albums released during PA's lifespan? I can't help but feel the overexposure of 70s albums in the top 100 might have a little to do with nostalgia and not just their quality.

Yep. I've noticed the same. TBH I gave my stars to the Genesis albums very early on in my prog listening, and now, years after, the only album I'd grant five stars would be Foxtrot. There is definetly bias towards the classics, but whether that matters is another thing.

The most hilarious example is when one particular reviewer dismissed Opeth's Still Life only on the basis of death growls. It's precisely the same as the parents of those born in the late 40's and early 50's who dismissed bands such as Led Zeppelin etc because they were playing too loud and screaming.

Opeth's Still Life is pretty much the defining moment of Progressive Death Metal, and although it's already pretty high up on the list, it should be even higher in my opinion. Same could be said about a plethora of other bands and albums.

richardh wrote: I suppose a question is there someone out there who gets biased slightly over the top praise for almost everything he does and could his name be Steven Wilson?

But he's able to count 500 million prog bands in his sleep, while tapping 9/8!

richardh wrote: My feeling is that those pillars of progressive rock music (Yes, Genesis, Floyd etc) will never be toppled and then you have that sneaky bunch of bands that never had great commercial success such as VDGG , Gentle Giant and Banco but who are adored by many a serious prog fan. These bands have so much praise lavished on them which appears to be almost in direct inverse proportion to the lack of general interest in them when they were actually around. So any relatively new band has to clamber over all that just to start with.   I suppose a question is there someone out there who gets biased slightly over the top praise for almost everything he does and could his name be Steven Wilson?

Let's just say that I take his reviews with a grain of salt also.

paragraph7 wrote: Yep. I've noticed the same. TBH I gave my stars to the Genesis albums very early on in my prog listening, and now, years after, the only album I'd grant five stars would be Foxtrot. There is definetly bias towards the classics, but whether that matters is another thing. The most hilarious example is when one particular reviewer dismissed Opeth's Still Life only on the basis of death growls. It's precisely the same as the parents of those born in the late 40's and early 50's who dismissed bands such as Led Zeppelin etc because they were playing too loud and screaming. Opeth's Still Life is pretty much the defining moment of Progressive Death Metal, and although it's already pretty high up on the list, it should be even higher in my opinion. Same could be said about a plethora of other bands and albums.

Meltdowner wrote: ^ You don't like Frank Bornemann's accent? That's an acquired taste too

Guldbamsen wrote: I know what you're saying, but this place would be extremely dull if people weren't allowed to have an opinion on an album simply because they hadn't been exposed to the style of music beforehand. Some times it can be refreshing to have an outsider looking in. Oh and why is it not valid not to like growls? I mean, people write off Yes, Can and Van Damme Generator because of Jon Anderson, Damo Suzuki and Peter Hammill. They're an acquired taste. Hell, I have a problem with certain types of accents applied to the English language. Danish, German and Swedish really rub me the wrong way.

While I agree with you, I always hope to read reviews with insight to the music outside personal preference, and when I actually notice that a reviewer is going all Genesis-fanboy on the stuff that he is reviewing, I lose interest. But you are right, it is valid not to like growls, Hammill, or Jon Anderson, and no-one is forcing me to read those biased reviews either. What I said, after all, was that I found the review "hilarious", which again, is only my opinion.

Guldbamsen wrote: Not a fan really no, but some times they can be extremely funny.  I do like his voice though and would probably have loved it if he just sang in his native tongue.

I admit I laught many times when I listen to his singing. I wish he did that too.

I love Traced in Air by Cynic. Their last album to feature throaty vox and I miss it.

Meltdowner wrote: Guldbamsen wrote: Not a fan really no, but some times they can be extremely funny.  I do like his voice though and would probably have loved it if he just sang in his native tongue. I admit I laught many times when I listen to his singing. I wish he did that too.