Most Popular Album...?

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   Forgive me if a similar topic has been posted on another subforum. I felt that this was the most appropriate forum for the topic and wasn't able to find anything similar using the site's search feature.

Upon visiting the site today, I noticed the inclusion of another sidebar for "most popular album." I think this space could be better used for other ideas for several reasons.

It's not terribly difficult to see why this feature if a problem if you look at the album currently featured. Not to bash Dream Theater or any of the band's fans, but there has been contention in the past based on the overexposure of this band on this site's forums. Not only that, but the album currently featured is popular as a result of numerous reviews based on unreleased, leaked content. I think that, in a sense, having a leaked album as the "most popular album" inadvertently encourages the site's users to download leaked content, which to my knowledge is blatantly in opposition to the ProgArchives' rules.

Why is a feature like this even necessary? It's not hard to find current popular albums just by looking at the forum sidebar or browsing the forum. There have already been eight topics created based on Systematic Chaos.

Further, I think having a link to encourage writing a review for the most popular album is flawed as it serves to perpetuate said album's status as most popular album. No other album on ProgArchives at the time receives the same exposure.

Instead of having a feature for the most popular albums, maybe instead we should do the opposite: have a weekly feature for the more obscure gems out there by less mainstream bands. I don't submit this as a original idea either. I realize that it's been discussed in the past, but for whatever reason it has been discarded. In comparison to the current system, it would require very little extra effort. I would tentatively recommend the following scheme:
Set up a separate forum where only collaborators and perhaps prog reviewers could can post new threads similar to the current book/misc review forum.
Have a weekly post on this forum where a specific album is discussed.
For inclusion, an album must have less then twenty reviews and have either a >4.0 rating (easier) or be prior discussed by collaborators (more time-consuming, but probably more effective).
The main page sidewindow could be nearly identical to the current "most popular album" except for minor text changes and the addition of a link to the appropriate forum thread.
Nearly every visitor of ProgArchives is aware that Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree are two of the most popular modern prog bands and that they're currently releasing new albums. I think a large constituent of this site's userbase uses the site to explore new, unfamiliar, and often obscure music. Thus, I think that the idea of discussing more obscure albums would be both more sensible and exponentially more useful to the users of this site than what has currently been implemented.

Maybe I should have made this two topics...

Any ideas?

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CaptainWafflos Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 09 2005 Status: Offline Points: 213	Topic: Most Popular Album...? Posted: May 16 2007 at 17:13
	Forgive me if a similar topic has been posted on another subforum. I felt that this was the most appropriate forum for the topic and wasn't able to find anything similar using the site's search feature. Upon visiting the site today, I noticed the inclusion of another sidebar for "most popular album." I think this space could be better used for other ideas for several reasons. It's not terribly difficult to see why this feature if a problem if you look at the album currently featured. Not to bash Dream Theater or any of the band's fans, but there has been contention in the past based on the overexposure of this band on this site's forums. Not only that, but the album currently featured is popular as a result of numerous reviews based on unreleased, leaked content. I think that, in a sense, having a leaked album as the "most popular album" inadvertently encourages the site's users to download leaked content, which to my knowledge is blatantly in opposition to the ProgArchives' rules. Why is a feature like this even necessary? It's not hard to find current popular albums just by looking at the forum sidebar or browsing the forum. There have already been eight topics created based on Systematic Chaos. Further, I think having a link to encourage writing a review for the most popular album is flawed as it serves to perpetuate said album's status as most popular album. No other album on ProgArchives at the time receives the same exposure. Instead of having a feature for the most popular albums, maybe instead we should do the opposite: have a weekly feature for the more obscure gems out there by less mainstream bands. I don't submit this as a original idea either. I realize that it's been discussed in the past, but for whatever reason it has been discarded. In comparison to the current system, it would require very little extra effort. I would tentatively recommend the following scheme: Set up a separate forum where only collaborators and perhaps prog reviewers could can post new threads similar to the current book/misc review forum. Have a weekly post on this forum where a specific album is discussed. For inclusion, an album must have less then twenty reviews and have either a >4.0 rating (easier) or be prior discussed by collaborators (more time-consuming, but probably more effective). The main page sidewindow could be nearly identical to the current "most popular album" except for minor text changes and the addition of a link to the appropriate forum thread. Nearly every visitor of ProgArchives is aware that Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree are two of the most popular modern prog bands and that they're currently releasing new albums. I think a large constituent of this site's userbase uses the site to explore new, unfamiliar, and often obscure music. Thus, I think that the idea of discussing more obscure albums would be both more sensible and exponentially more useful to the users of this site than what has currently been implemented. Maybe I should have made this two topics... Any ideas?

debrewguy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: April 30 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 3596	Posted: May 16 2007 at 21:42
	I see a few problems with this approach - 1) who determines which albums can be reviewed & when; 2) an important part of an online community is the freedom that is given its' members to contribute as they please; 3) who really gains anything by foisting obscure groups that most of us may never have access to or interest in. The first part means extra work for Admin, plus possibly endless debate by members as to the inclusion & exclusion of albums or groups. The second debases the opinion of those who may not enjoy the more esoteric genres of music favored by some. The third simply would lead to many members going elsewhere for prog info. Reviewing an album is an option available to all who register, without the need for any qualifications. The point is the sharing of a common passion. The current mix is set by the community. So those who want to bring attention to lesser known acts are as welcome as those who want to review Close to the Edge for the Nth time. For all we know, there are prog fans out there who may not yet have listened to Yes or maybe that specific album. Plus, if many read these reviews of better known acts, we usually read the others regarding more obscure acts. My own personal experience bears out the logic that this mix entices me in considering all reviews, & there are more than a few unknown groups that I have picked up on without specifically looking for obscurities. It would be nice if reviewers focused on unrated albums, but a fun part of the site is also the top XX lists. They do serve as a decent guide to quality, & although not infallible, they do reflect the community opinion. And as has been stated many times, if you're going to review an album, it is preferred that you give something in writing to explain your rating. It would defeat the purpose to somehow block these from appearing on the site.
	"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.

Easy Livin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: February 21 2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 15585	Posted: May 17 2007 at 04:10
	Please see this thread: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=37878