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Heptade 
Prog Reviewer
Joined: May 19 2005
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 427
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 Posted: May 19 2005 at 12:41 |
Agreed...I really just read the reviews for the text, anyway. I would never
want to dampen anyone's enthusiasm. 
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FloydWright
Prog Reviewer
Joined: January 20 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 369
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 12:45 |
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Going back to Dick Heath's question, I do think it's too much to expect a standard distribution of reviews.
In my case, I generally listen to an album three times before reviewing...usually, unless something is truly horrible, if I get rid of it before that point I don't consider myself qualified to review it. Plus, I also tend to know which genres to avoid and which ones I like, so I am more likely to pick out albums that float my boat in the first place.
I've tried not to over-award the 5-star, though. At this point I have 15 5-star albums out of 82. This percentage will drop because I reviewed the albums I liked best, first. Most of the reviews on my "pending" list (16 albums at the moment) I am not even considering a 5-star for, except for 2 which may or may not get it.
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ita_prog_fan
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 20 2005
Location: Italy
Status: Offline
Points: 258
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 12:59 |
 BELVA wrote:
What do you think.... I think we should use 4 stars more often, even 3, that doesn't mean actually the album isn't good, just not essential...........
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What is essential for me couldn't be essential for others; i saw a lot of 5 stars given to albums i consider nothing more than trash, but it's often a matter of taste, personal stories and memories (i.e. 4 me Yessongs is essential and Tales From Topographic Ocean is just litter).
However i think you're overall right
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WillieThePimp
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 02 2005
Location: Bryan, Texas
Status: Offline
Points: 421
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 13:57 |
Many people also use the phrase "I just couldn't bring myself to give it 2 stars, 3 stars, etc. I think that ties into people only reviewing their favorite bands. It happens especially when people idolize the bands and everything they do too much to give them a proper review.
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You can't possibly hear the last movement of Beethoven's Seventh and go slow. ~Oscar Levant, explaining his way out of a speeding ticket
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Heptade
Prog Reviewer
Joined: May 19 2005
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 427
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 14:01 |
A good point. Rate it as it deserves, not highly because Mr. Rock Star
happened to record it! 
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FloydWright
Prog Reviewer
Joined: January 20 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 369
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 14:46 |
WillieThePimp wrote:
Many people also use the phrase "I just couldn't bring myself to give it 2 stars, 3 stars, etc. I think that ties into people only reviewing their favorite bands. It happens especially when people idolize the bands and everything they do too much to give them a proper review. |
Conversely, I've occasionally had cases where I really WANTED to give 5 stars but couldn't justify it, like with Opeth's album My Arms, Your Hearse. I love the album to death. I really do. But I just cannot deny that in comparison to their later catalogue, the production and a few other things just aren't what it would become later. That 4-star was very painful to hand out!!!
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WillieThePimp
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 02 2005
Location: Bryan, Texas
Status: Offline
Points: 421
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 15:28 |
I agree completely with Floyd, My Arms Your Hearse is my definite favorite despite the rap it gets from not being prog enough. The album encompasses everything that people love about Opeth in my opinion. Sure it was done in a much heavier manner with deeper growls, but the acoustic passages in my opinion are the best Opeth has to offer. The bridges and transitions in every song are absolutely beautiful.
There was a forum topic started here titled Opeth Dilemma. My Arms Your Hearse was mine. As superb of an album that it is, the song Amen Corner is what made it 4 stars for me. The intro rubbed my the wrong way. The riff in the beginning was just a bad idea in my opinion; albeit it does become better after he bellows "White Summer". Opeth remains my favorite band in existence at this moment and I still have yet to give them a 5 star rating. This doesn't mean they're any less innovative than Pink Floyd or any other band, they just haven't released the perfect album from start to finish. My Arms Your Hearse cut it close, with the exception of the first minute or so in Amen Corner. I apologize for going on and I hope not to turn this into an Opeth Rulez adn iz Gawd! topic but I just believe in giving reviews that are truel; giving the band credit where it is needed and pointing out flaws that you saw in the album. No review should ever be a rant about how they are no longer true to their poorly produced black metal roots or how Rick sold out for giving his stage costume to support the new Harry Potter movie. Discuss the qualities that make an album an album and then discuss how it made you cry to your school counselor later.
And in case you were wondering, the only 5 star album that I have come accross so far is Dark Side of The Moon and Thick as a Brick simply because I get the goosebump feeling throughout the entirety of those albums.
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You can't possibly hear the last movement of Beethoven's Seventh and go slow. ~Oscar Levant, explaining his way out of a speeding ticket
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DarioIndjic
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 15 2005
Location: Universe
Status: Offline
Points: 600
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 17:29 |
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The problem is that often the people who rates the albums with 3 starts(which seems a good album),write their review with more negative than positive points.
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Ars longa , vita brevis
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Dan Yaron
Forum Groupie
Joined: May 19 2005
Location: Israel
Status: Offline
Points: 95
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 18:02 |
I think that the many five starts ratings are great. They show that people actually love this lovely genre! =)
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omri
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 21 2005
Location: Israel
Status: Offline
Points: 1250
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 19:04 |
I am amazed ! and to read it from the only one (but me) that talked of the second era of King crimson as influenced a lot by Talking heads - what a disapointment.
I only reviewed 3 albums here. 2 of them are probably the ones I like more than any other album (nothing to hide - King crimson's Red & lizard). If I'll continue reviw albums here I probably give lower rates but we must remember - most of us do not do it for living. we concentrate in the things we like most. that's how it should be ! I do not spend hours to write about staff I dislike. I'll just ignore it. Life is too short to waste of what you dislike !
However, we have the average rate of the albums and only few rise above 4.5 . This shows you it is easy to get a fair idea of the album worth (at least the albums with over 30 ratings). Leave Gaus alone (he is dead for many years) and remember : We are dealing with the greatest music of our time which we all love (that's why we are here) and it's natural and right to love it .
I'll end with a quote (I feel it's in place here) :
The evil men do lives after them
the good is often, burried with their bones !
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omri
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Borealis
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 06 2005
Location: Neutral Zone
Status: Offline
Points: 599
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 19:14 |
PORCUPINE TREE Deadwing
Review by fl0w @ 9:18:50 PM EST, 3/21/2005
 — I'm just curious how you guys can review the album that isn't still officially released. I still wait for my copy and the official release date is 28th March. It is 22th March today. Where did you get the album?
DREAM THEATER Octavarium
Review by gReAsEr @ 5:32:35 PM EST, 5/19/2005
— You're talking about James Labrie's solo album. Octavarium is not out yet, even the promo version. On the other hand the last song is 24 minutes long. Please if you practice piracy at least do it properly and stop confusing people. The Root Of All Evil (Album Version) 8:07 The Answer Lies Within (Album Version) 5:26 These Walls (Album Version) 6:59 I Walk Beside You (Album Version) 4:29 Panic Attack (Album Version) 7:16 Never Enough (Album Version) 6:33 Sacrificed Sons (Album Version) 10:42 Octavarium (Album Version) 24:00
It's nice to see 5 stars ratings from guys who DIDN'T HERD THE ALBUM YET!...
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King of Loss
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 21 2005
Location: Boston, MA
Status: Offline
Points: 16451
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 19:35 |
Hah, maybe because they like the band a lot and everything they make is 5 stars to them maybe :)
I don't understand why so many 5 stars are given. For example, I really like Symphony X's V, but I'm not going to a 5 because its one of my top 20 favorite albums.
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JMCecil
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 01 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 210
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 21:05 |
It's even lame when the 5 stars show up for albums that have been out a week. That's about like going "I'm giving this CD 5 stars because I hear the band worked hard on it and it is really gonna kick ass".
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greenback
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: August 14 2004
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 3300
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 21:15 |
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i give plenty of 5 stars because the music i listen is fabulous. i do not listen to music like mars volta or tool; if so, my ratings would be near 0 stars!
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[HEADPINS - LINE OF FIRE: THE RECORD HAVING THE MOST POWERFUL GUITAR SOUND IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF MUSIC!>
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JMCecil
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 01 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 210
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 21:22 |
greenback wrote:
i give plenty of 5 stars because the music i listen is fabulous. i do not listen to music like mars volta or tool; if so, my ratings would be near 0 stars! |
I have no problem with someone giving either one of those two bands 5 stars for something they did even though I can't stand either one. But do it selectively and put in some freakin reasons. Not just Oh MY GOD THIS BAND IZ SO GOOD
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greenback
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: August 14 2004
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 3300
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Posted: May 19 2005 at 21:28 |
JMCecil wrote:
greenback wrote:
i give plenty of 5 stars because the music i listen is fabulous. i do not listen to music like mars volta or tool; if so, my ratings would be near 0 stars! |
I have no problem with someone giving either one of those two bands 5 stars for something they did even though I can't stand either one. But do it selectively and put in some freakin reasons. Not just Oh MY GOD THIS BAND IZ SO GOOD
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Who? Me? if so, just take the time to read my reviews!
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[HEADPINS - LINE OF FIRE: THE RECORD HAVING THE MOST POWERFUL GUITAR SOUND IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF MUSIC!>
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Borealis
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 06 2005
Location: Neutral Zone
Status: Offline
Points: 599
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Posted: May 20 2005 at 14:25 |
Maybe some peoples just want to up the overall note of the album.
Anyway, I think that if you are to give a 0 or 5 star rating, you should obligatory give a review with over 200 words (or more/less, I don't know). Because if you give such high/low ratings, you got to have a couple of reasons...
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Too many 5 stars