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Member since: 6/29/2008 • Forum posts: 1642 • Last visit: 11/20/2024 11:44:59 AM EST
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On how I rate

I always reserve the higher ratings (fours and fives) to albums that I think really deserve a higher rating. In general, I think that many reviewers here are far too generous with the higher ratings. In my view, every reviewer should make his or her ratings conform to the so-called normal distribution; you should not have more five star ratings than four star ratings, or more four star ratings than three star ratings. Your overall average rating should be somewhere around 3,0. If your overall average rating is closer to 4,0 (or above that!) you really should consider lowering some of your ratings! If people are too generous with the higher ratings inflation is the inevitable result.

If you find any factual mistakes in my reviews, please let me know and I will correct them!


This is what the ratings mean to me:


Five stars (Essential, a masterpiece of progressive rock music)

Albums with this rating are very highly recommended!

Albums with this rating deserve many repeated listens in their entirety. I never give out a five star rating impulsively and I always reserve this rating to albums that have stood the test of time and remain consistently enjoyable time after time after time. An album can have such a lasting positive effect on me for several different reasons: it can, for example, be highly original or ground-breaking, or it can manifest an unusual degree of musical or lyrical perfection (or usually combinations of these factors). But the most important thing for me is artistic expression - truly great music for me is such that every note sounds like the artist really means it.

Five star albums are such that they deserve to be heard from start to finish by everyone many times, and if you are new to the band in question, the particular sub-genre, or to progressive Rock in general, these albums are the perfect places to begin your journey.



Four stars (Excellent addition to any Prog rock music collection)

Albums with this rating are highly recommended!

A four star album for me is a consistently excellent or very nearly consistently excellent album that I often listen to in its entirety many times. Like with five star albums, there must be something about these albums that impresses me, moves me, and leaves a lasting impression on me, but they might not be life-changing events. Again, I am careful with giving out these higher ratings and use them only for really good albums.

Four star albums are very well worth having and worth hearing several times by anyone who is interested in progressive Rock. If you are new to the band or sub-genre in question, or to Prog in general, you cannot go wrong with these albums.


Three stars (Good, but non-essential)

Albums with this rating are recommended!

A three star album is for me a good, or even very good, album that is worth having and definitely worth hearing at least once by anyone interested in progressive Rock. Three star albums are definitely enjoyable and may even contain some really excellent or essential tracks, but they might also have some minor flaw or a few less than really convincing moments or features. Some of these albums are such that I clearly recognize their quality but they don't always impress me very much or leave any very strong lasting impressions on me. All three star albums are clearly above average.

These albums are perhaps not the optimal starting point for newcomers, but some three star albums are still pretty good starting points.


Two stars (Collectors/fans only)

Albums with this rating are still recommended, but not for everybody!

A two star album for me is an average album that might be very enjoyable and well worth having if you are a fan of the band or the sub-genre in question, but perhaps not for everybody. I generally like albums with this rating to some degree, but I rarely listen to them in their entirety more than once or twice (at least not for other purposes than giving a fair rating and producing an accurate review). These albums either have some clearly noticeable flaw, or they have too many "fillers" or weak moments, or the music is not quite my cup of tea. Still, a two star album might have several good songs or moments, or perhaps even an excellent song or two, but the album as a whole is just average or not quite up to my standards.

A two star rating should be taken as a slight warning and as advice to approach with some caution unless you are already a fan of the band or the sub-genre in question. These albums are generally not recommended as starting points if you are unfamiliar with the band or sub-genre in question or with Prog in general.


One star (Poor, only for completionists)

Albums with this rating are generally not really recommended!

A one star album is for me below average. Still, many one star albums are such that I find at least something good about them. I generally avoid rating albums by bands I have no respect for or from a sub-genre I have no general interest in; thus, the mere fact that I have chosen to rate a given release should be taken as some kind of merit in itself even if I give just one star. With these low ratings, I often understand how someone else might like the album in question even if I myself don't get that much out of the music. Some one star albums might still feature one or two good songs or moments but also some unforgivable flaws and weaknesses.

One star albums are generally not worth seeking out unless you have a special interest in the band or the sub-genre in question or if you want to complete your collection. If you are new to Prog you should under no circumstances begin here!

Sub-genre Nb of reviews Avg rating 1 Prog Related 451 2.50 2 Symphonic Prog 444 3.03 3 Crossover Prog 352 2.53 4 Neo-Prog 226 2.89 5 Eclectic Prog 166 2.84 6 Prog Folk 162 2.77 7 Heavy Prog 100 2.75 8 Progressive Metal 96 2.65 9 Jazz Rock/Fusion 82 2.76 10 Psychedelic/Space Rock 78 2.63 11 Proto-Prog 35 2.74 12 Canterbury Scene 23 2.52 13 Various Genres 16 2.69 14 Progressive Electronic 14 2.43 15 Rock Progressivo Italiano 13 3.31 16 Experimental/Post Metal 5 3.00 17 Indo-Prog/Raga Rock 1 3.00