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PinkPangolin
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 26 2006
Location: Somerset (UK)
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Points: 213
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Topic: Tendency to 5 star rate....? Posted: May 28 2008 at 18:35 |
I know the website pushes hard not to rate albums as Masterpieces (5 stars)....
However....
Don't you find you have a tendency to review albums you like the most (because you want others to enjoy them too)? Hence, there is a tendency to have a larger number of 5 star reviews than it might be expected.
This is especially true if you don't do many reviews (eg less than 50)??
I mean - why listen to albums you hate loads of times in the vain hope they might grow on you?
pp
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russellk
Prog Reviewer
Joined: February 28 2005
Location: New Zealand
Status: Offline
Points: 782
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 19:08 |
I've wondered about this - am I giving too many five-star reviews - but I think it's what you say in your review that matters most, not how many stars you give an album.
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tszirmay
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Joined: August 17 2006
Location: Canada
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Points: 6673
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 19:11 |
russellk wrote:
I've wondered about this - am I giving too many five-star reviews - but I think it's what you say in your review that matters most, not how many stars you give an album. |
Absolutely PERFECT comment, dead on. Er... 5 stars 
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I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
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micky
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Joined: October 02 2005
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Points: 46843
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 19:15 |
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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Darklord55
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 08 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 357
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 19:16 |
Well, I'm very glad that I gave Opeth a chance and didn't dismiss them after first listen. There was a time I hated growling, screaming, grunting etc. etc. I started with Ghost Reveries and thought if they would just quit the death growls they would be a great band. But, I listened a few more times, got used to the growls, then started liking the growls. Complete turnaround!! They grew on me and now I'm an offical Opeth fan boy.
The same goes for Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater, The Flower Kings and a few other bands. So there is always hope of a change given enough time to get what the band is trying to do. At least with me. I don't write reviews though. I would probably give out too many 5 star ratings. Like those listed above, I would not give any of their albums less than 4 stars and most would get 5. Just because I like them and completely satisfied after listening to their music. And really, compared to the mainstream crap that's out there, a "prog" band, any genre, deserves 3 stars just because it's leaps and bounds ahead of any mainstream music out there. Just my 0.02 worth humbly submitted. 
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Atavachron
Special Collaborator
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Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
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Points: 65880
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 19:18 |
Darklord55 wrote:
Well, I'm very glad that I gave Opeth a chance and didn't dismiss them after first listen. There was a time I hated growling, screaming, grunting etc. etc. I started with Ghost Reveries and thought if they would just quit the death growls they would be a great band. But, I listened a few more times, got used to the growls, then started liking the growls. Complete turnaround!! They grew on me and now I'm an offical Opeth fan boy. |
same here, liked the music on Still Life but not the growls.. now I love that record and let Akerfeldt do his thing
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micky
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 19:21 |
Darklord55 wrote:
Well, I'm very glad that I gave Opeth a chance and didn't dismiss them after first listen. There was a time I hated growling, screaming, grunting etc. etc. I started with Ghost Reveries and thought if they would just quit the death growls they would be a great band. But, I listened a few more times, got used to the growls, then started liking the growls. Complete turnaround!! They grew on me and now I'm an offical Opeth fan boy.
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yep have a clappie for recognizing this stuff isn't pop music and you can't dismiss it after a listen or two.. and a bonus clappie for being an Opeth fanboy 
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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Finnforest
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Joined: February 03 2007
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 19:33 |
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TGM: Orb
Prog Reviewer
Joined: October 21 2007
Location: n/a
Status: Offline
Points: 8052
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 19:40 |
PinkPangolin wrote:
I mean - why listen to albums you hate loads of times in the vain hope they might grow on you?
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Because sometimes an album just clicks, and that is probably the single most satisfying feeling I get from all my musical explorations. I don't find an album I really hate and simply put it on time and time again until I decide I can't listen any more, but every now and then I do try and give something I haven't heard for a while and wasn't too impressed by, and occasionally this has surprisingly great results. Some albums have just needed to be listened to with the right amount of listening experience or focus to really produce results. Otherwise, russelk was dead on.
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tszirmay
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Joined: August 17 2006
Location: Canada
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 19:55 |
The charm can be very subtle and choose to seduce very slowly while at other times, its love at first hearing! Which is why prog is very much like courtship (Hence the Crimson King) , you need a couple a dates to see if you are headed towards Heaven or Hell. (Heavy Choir Mellotron background )
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I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
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russellk
Prog Reviewer
Joined: February 28 2005
Location: New Zealand
Status: Offline
Points: 782
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 20:11 |
That was a swift capitulation, Finnforest! But you are an excellent case in point: I barely notice what you award an album as I'm always taken by what you have to say.
Some reviewers only review what they love, and they will issue a preponderance of five-star ratings. Others will review a wide range and their ratings will be more balanced. I think we're a long way from Amazon.
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febus
Special Collaborator
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Joined: January 23 2007
Location: Orlando-Usa
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Points: 4312
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 20:15 |
Yes, too many 5 stars given by fanboys/girls including myself....Just checked my reviews,,,, there are a few albums i gave 5 stars...should only be 4!!! i guess i will ask PA if i can do something about it!
The problem for me is when i see a CD just released getting its 5stars by fanboy after just a few spins.....i think time is the essence of a good objective review , but who is objective here anyway 
I noticed fanboys/girls giving their favorite band automatically 5 stars for their good/great CDs and 4 stars for their crappy ones,....as long as it makes everybody happy 
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tszirmay
Special Collaborator
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Joined: August 17 2006
Location: Canada
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Points: 6673
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 20:21 |
Though not paranoid , I have always felt more generous in my ratings because I am one of those old timers who genuinely thought that the glory days were over and done with and that there never would be a prog renaissance. I spent a lot of time roaming thirsty in the arid Sinai of music waiting for the promised sound. A lot of younger fans never witnessed the near demise and hence judge with less historical perspective. I cannot help heaping 5 whatevers because I am reminded every day how intrinsically good most prog is. Just turn on the radio ......
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I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
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*frinspar*
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 27 2008
Location: Arizona
Status: Offline
Points: 463
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 20:35 |
I was around a few years ago. But I stopped coming for no particular reason. Lost my password and my original user name in that time (same as now but without the * on either end) . I think the star ratings here are a little out of sync with the usual meaning of star ratings. At Amazon (since it was brought up), a toaster is going to be the same toaster in each household. A star rating system makes plenty of sense there. Prog is very subjective stuff to almost all listeners. An example is, I'm not really a YES fan. I recognize their talent and their contributions and their importance. But I wouldn't necessarily describe them - from my position - as essential listening. I'd suggest them as an important stepping stone for a new listener and let them make their own mind up as to the album's appeal. But I wouldn't give them a 5-star because I'm not a fan. I'd give them high praise for their accomplishments, but not what they do for me, if that makes sense. The star system on PA is something I pay little attention to. It really is what listeners say that makes a difference to me. I don't really see a 2-star rating (for fans only) as a bad thing. I'd see that as bearing the potential for high praise depending on what words follow to describe the album. There should be a random and meaningless ratings system implemented  I give 'Darwin!' 2 hamsters and a frozen waffle!
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The Quiet One
Prog Reviewer
Joined: January 16 2008
Location: Argentina
Status: Offline
Points: 15745
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 20:35 |
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tszirmay
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: August 17 2006
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 6673
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 20:40 |
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I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
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Finnforest
Special Collaborator
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Joined: February 03 2007
Location: The Heartland
Status: Offline
Points: 17613
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 21:00 |
russellk wrote:
That was a swift capitulation, Finnforest! But you are an excellent case in point: I barely notice what you award an album as I'm always taken by what you have to say.
Some reviewers only review what they love, and they will issue a preponderance of five-star ratings. Others will review a wide range and their ratings will be more balanced. I think we're a long way from Amazon.
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Russ, this topic just makes me so g'damn angry which is why I need to stay out of threads about it. I disagree so profoundly with this advancing disregard of the ratings. If they truly mean nothing to the majority of folks, then lets have Admin disable it and be done with it. Just have reviews without ratings. Maybe that would really be the way to go in the future. All reviews, no more ratings. I for one put much thought into the ratings because I take the site seriously and because i consider the average ratings useful in future purchasing. Guess what...the star ratings averages are only relevant if people make a good faith effort to follow the guidelines and consider things beyond their own self. Good reviewers consider a wide range of things beyond "i like this" when writing for a quality magazine, history, other bands, other comparable albums, etc. As mentioned, the star ratings on Amazon are useless because of 5 star syndrome. They will be here too if we don't have common parameters,and continuing the drum beat of "stars don't matter, only the review does" gets us there quicker. Do you guys really mean this honestly? . If people don't care about ratings then I've wasted a lot of precious time pondering them. Let's get rid of them if that's the case. My blood pressure can go back down then as this won't be an issue anymore.
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 02 2005
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 46843
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 21:03 |
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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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tszirmay
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: August 17 2006
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 6673
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 21:27 |
Humour & Laughter, James, are the greatest gifts AFTER prog
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I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 02 2005
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 46843
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Posted: May 28 2008 at 21:29 |
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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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