Inappropriate Ratings

Sure, we might get pre-release copies from the artist, but if the site has a policy not to post reviews before the street date, then we should wait until that time.  Do we have that policy?     

toroddfuglesteg wrote: idlero wrote: Amazon prevents reviews to be added before official release by hiding away the Add your review  button That would be a good idea here too to avoid legal problems........... but it is a massive undertaking, admin wise. That means we must appoint a New Releases Collab. And that must be an oracle of infinite wisdom type of Collab. I am not sure if that is possible.

The problem with this is that artists often give us legitimate pre-release copies to review. 

New Mogwai album will be released at February 14,2011. This information is oficiall from band's site:

http://www.mogwai.co.uk/News/News_2010/Hardcore_Will_Never_Die,_But_You_Will/

We have there some ratings on this album right now, almost one and half month before release:

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=32052

harmonium.ro wrote: This rating is not OK.

• Third Eye Traveller (Bartek)

That's not me! I swear!

^ From Kayo Dot label Hydra Head Records: HH666-213 KAYO DOT "Stained Glass" CD EP will be officially released at November 26,2010

http://hydraheadlines.blogspot.com/search/label/Kayo%20Dot


Then, all ratings before that date are against the rules and I am 100% sure that 1* rating isn't based on legal pre-release promo.

This rating is not OK.

Hard to really get out of line with a rating.  Reviews are a different matter.  I have been smacked down for doing a review of Morning Sky by Morning Sky and for doing a review of Marillion's Somewhere Else after my first listen.

So anyway:

SKY — Morning Sky
Review by Slartibartfast (Brian S. Lindsey)

4 stars This album seems to have vanished down the memory hole. I have been unable to find it listed in any of the muscian's discographies. The closest reference to this one I could find on the internet is Cavatina being used as the signature theme for the film, The Deer Hunter. A new version of the theme from Z also shows up on Sky 4.

It's not an official "Sky" release, but I've always considered it to be the first Sky album as it has "Sky" in the title, plus it has Williams and Flowers on it. Rick Wakeman is also in the credits, but I don't hear anything in the keyboard work that is distinctively Wakeman. If the acoustic guitar playing weren't distinctively Williams, I would almost doubt this album is for real, something I snatched out of dream made solid.

No telling if this album will ever see the light of CD. I acquired it in the age of LP, somewhere in the early 80's, used. Wish I could share it with fellow Sky fans. I feel very lucky to have stumbled across such a rare release.

A little elaboration on the credits: Track 5 is listed as P 1971 Fly Records, Londaon The second side of LP, I listed as tracks 6-10, are credited to being arranged and produced by Stanley Myers P 1971 Fly Records, London.

Marillion may have started out heavily borrowing from old Genesis’ style, but they’ve come a long way, baby.  They have a sound now that is totally their own.  I’m a little surprised by the occasional negative review I’ve seen before mine.  I’m one to pay more attention to the appreciators than the criticizers.  This is an excellent album.  I’ve only had one complete listen so far and I can tell it will grow on me even more.

I'm not volunteering for anything

We can keep the system we have if you want, but it still seems strange to me that we would encourage and solicit reviews from people that we plan on deleting.

With all respect, I think this is a decision for the Admin group to make with Max, not something for members to create.  There must be a good reason for the original rule.  If it still exists, we should enforce the rule and remove reviews.  If the reasons for the rule don't really apply or matter anymore, the rule should be dropped. 

I don't know the particulars and legal issues that concerned Max in the first place, so I'm hardly the person to suggest a proposal.  My comments were just general, that if we have a rule, we should comply and enforce it. 

There are a lot of difficult decisions that come with running a site.....personality issues, genre debates, etc.  This should not be one of them.  It should be very easy to determine what our policy is, then either dump it or enforce it. 

I'll stop now....I've said too much, obviously ambiguity is a pet peeve of mine.

Gotta get ready for beer hour, it is Saturday night.  Prog on boys.