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StyLaZyn 
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Joined: November 22 2005
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 Topic: How to rate albums
Posted: May 12 2009 at 11:39 |
(Not sure if this is the right forum to place this...nonetheless.)
I'm not the most prolific reviewer by any means and part of that reason may simply be uncertainty. What is the correct criteria to rate an album? Because it is Proggie, does it warrant an immediate higher ranking? If it is not, does it detract from the rating I might give it? My gut desire is to rate it based on how I much I like it it, yet that would yield a popularity contest.
Thoughts? Guidance?
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Finnforest
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Posted: May 12 2009 at 11:57 |
The first thing is to follow the criteria the site uses to describe each star rating. This should be the most important thing, because obviously you want to fairly apply your opinion to different bands.
Whether you rate personal likes/dislikes versus objectively is a matter of dispute among reviewers, largely up to you.
Progginess can be a factor of course, but only in the prog subs. If you are rating a Prog-Related band, it's not really fair to hold them to the same prog quotient as they are only related....such as the Beatles or whatever.
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StyLaZyn
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Joined: November 22 2005
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Posted: May 12 2009 at 12:32 |
 Finnforest wrote:
The first thing is to follow the criteria the site uses to describe each star rating. This should be the most important thing, because obviously you want to fairly apply your opinion to different bands.
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This is the criteria I find most difficult. For instance, King Crimson is quite possibly the quintessential band to define Prog, however every release is not a must have 5 star. Their first release is, but the second? Not so much, IMO. Yet I would feel guilty not rating it as such because of the high accolades. Case in point with Genesis. The Lamb. It is definitely Prog but I find it to be nothing special. Now Foxtrot would fit the bill better for their 5 star album. Some would have me tarred and feathered for such desecration to The Lamb.
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progrules
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Posted: May 12 2009 at 14:13 |
StyLaZyn wrote:
Finnforest wrote:
The first thing is to follow the criteria the site uses to describe each star rating. This should be the most important thing, because obviously you want to fairly apply your opinion to different bands.
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This is the criteria I find most difficult. For instance, King Crimson is quite possibly the quintessential band to define Prog, however every release is not a must have 5 star. Their first release is, but the second? Not so much, IMO. Yet I would feel guilty not rating it as such because of the high accolades. Case in point with Genesis. The Lamb. It is definitely Prog but I find it to be nothing special. Now Foxtrot would fit the bill better for their 5 star album. Some would have me tarred and feathered for such desecration to The Lamb. |
It's interesting because I had this exact same discussion lately with Cacho and Micky. They both prefer to rate objectively. But my problem with that is that the ratings are already "settled" or "arranged"' for each album. And then indeed we would all have to give the generally appreciated masterpieces (like ItCotKC, TaaB or CttE or SEbtP) 5 stars. I think that wouldn't be fun would it ?
I always rate 100% subjectively because then people know what I (or any other reviewer) am about, they get to know my taste and eventually know what a new album is worth. And that is one of the main objectives of prog reviews on PA. To inform readers about the quality of lesser known albums.
Besides it's for many albums hard to define what the objective rating is. How do you discover that ?
(as a result of this all I gave Larks Tongue and Pawn Hearts 1 star because I really dislike both albums. In the other perspective that would have been "forbidden" because objectively the albums are worth 4 or 5 stars (to the majority that is)).
But I agree with Finnforest that there are no strict rules for it. Anyone should do as they please. As long as they can motivate it and remain fair to album and artist (which indeed are guidline rules!).
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A day without prog is a wasted day
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Stooge
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Joined: April 09 2009
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Posted: May 12 2009 at 15:22 |
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In the few reviews I've completed, I've gone by the description that each star rating has beneath it. And I strongly disagree with any sort of retaliation grading. For example, if you think an album such as Foxtrot is overrated, don't give it a one star rating just to drop the rating as low as you can. Just treat each album you review under your own evaluation tactics and not someone elses.
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StyLaZyn
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Joined: November 22 2005
Location: United States
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Posted: May 12 2009 at 16:04 |
Stooge wrote:
In the few reviews I've completed, I've gone by the description that each star rating has beneath it. And I strongly disagree with any sort of retaliation grading. For example, if you think an album such as Foxtrot is overrated, don't give it a one star rating just to drop the rating as low as you can. Just treat each album you review under your own evaluation tactics and not someone elses.
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Which really bring it to a matter of preferences. It is difficult to be objective when a highly rated album doesn't impact you. For instance, each Godspeed album would get 1 or 2 stars from me if I was subjective. If I didn't view others ratings, I probably would. So this has left me to stand back and not rate. Sadly to some, I would rate Yes' 90125 and Big Generator very high compared to most other Yes.
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Finnforest
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Posted: May 12 2009 at 16:28 |
I'm a big fan of objective rating. I know most people disagree with me, but I feel it has to at least be a component. You have to consider things like historical importance and move beyond just "what do I like?" Which is why I believe the guidelines need to be adhered to. I'm not saying one's rating be 100% objective, but partially at least. Some are going to give Pawn Hearts 1 star and Big Generator 5 stars, and this is precisely why I do not pay much attention to ratings. I have to hear the reviewer make the case why he would take that stance, and I don't just want to hear about "what I like." But that's just me, and I fully acknowledge I'm in the minority. Most people want 100% subjective rating, they want to establish their own guidelines, and they see no problem with giving Foxtrot 1 star and Big Generator 5 stars. I'll never understand that kind of approach myself but that's OK. We do the best we can...bottom line. Readers figure out what kind of information they want to get, and in the end hopefully everyone is happy. 
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Atavachron
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Posted: May 12 2009 at 18:55 |
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I'm also an objective rating kinda guy, whereas the specifics are in the review itself, i.e.; I've given 5 stars to albums that though not perfect, are certainly masterpieces of prog rock (IMO), and 2 stars to albums that showed real promise but are not up to snuff when it comes to Prog generally.. the review clarifies the content of the music and who might enjoy or dislike it most
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debrewguy
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Posted: May 12 2009 at 19:24 |
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Really there is only one rule - rate it as you see it. Yes, the site does ask that the stated criteria be applied. But in the end, arguing over what one person considers progness is useless. Most of us just want to read what you think of the album, do you like it, love it, hate it, why ertc......
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"Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case.
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progrules
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Joined: September 14 2007
Location: Netherlands
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Posted: May 13 2009 at 01:05 |
Atavachron wrote:
I'm also an objective rating kinda guy, whereas the specifics are in the review itself, i.e.; I've given 5 stars to albums that though not perfect, are certainly masterpieces of prog rock (IMO), and 2 stars to albums that showed real promise but are not up to snuff when it comes to Prog generally.. the review clarifies the content of the music and who might enjoy or dislike it most
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Sorry, but I could never give Pawn Hearts 4 or 5 stars just because the majority digs it and because it is supposed to be a masterpiece. Like I said in my other post: what is the meaning of YOUR rating in that case ? We wouldn't have to rate because it's generally considered a masterpiece (so 5 stars).
Not agree !! 
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A day without prog is a wasted day
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How to rate albums
