"Positive Reviews - Positive Feedback" Thread

Many of us here, collabs and non-collabs, spend our time and inspiration for writing reviews. What moves us to do it? I think first of all the need of self-expression. And the hope that our thoughts will be helpful to others.

What happens in reality? You make your best to share your thoughts with others, write a review, it appears on PA main page and after several hours it's getting 'lost' in the site database - until someone, maybe tomorrow, maybe some years later will read it and find something interesting in it. The only feedback is "Great review, XXX" and probably short discussion in some forum thread. That's all, communication breakdown! But I guess deep in our souls all of us need to feel that our efforts are not in vain, feel some support and have a feedback.

Visiting PA for several years, I remember some reviews which helped me a lot to discover some new music, have a new, different, look at familiar albums, get into the concepts etc. In other words, efforts of these people widened my musical and probably even cultural horizons, and I'm greatful for that.

I propose to start the thread (in fact I already started it), where we can say our 'thank you' and point out reviews, important and helful for us.

1. Please no negative opinions here, there are other threads for this purpose!
2. Please give links to your favourite reviews and explain what took your attention and what was important for you, what helped you to come to some new ideas etc.

Hey NAP, what a great idea for a thread!!  And thanks for the mention....it makes the time consuming task of reviewing very pleasurable when you find there are people out there who take something from them....

I almost don't know where to start.  I don't have any examples picked out to link to, but I love reading Assaf, whose reviews encourage me to try challenging things.  I love John Davie for his pure love of prog and open mind.  I love Tszirmay's for the same reason.  I love Clem (Bob Moore's) for his awesome, interesting folkie reviews.   I love Easy Livin's subtitles that are an art form in their own.  I loved reading Shakes and Joey Opeth for their acerbic tongues and humor mixed with keen ears, wish they would review more!   I love Teo's epic metal reviews which lead me into the genre way back when.  I love all my Italian pasta boys...you know who you are.  I love King-ByTor for his quality writing and reasoned reviews, same with Russellelk, you know these two guys give each band a fair shake. 

The bad part about listing people is that I know I am forgetting many more that I also enjoy, so don't be offended if I missed you.  I probably love yours too!!!!  

Chicapah's and Tszirmay's stand out at the moment that make best reading for me..... great thread BTW because in many respects without reviews this site would be......more value LESS.....than value ADD!!!!

ps: Love Gatot's reviews also.

^ BTW I did not know Welsh language is in many ways unlike English.

Great idea for a thread! Hey, I even got a nod already - gotta like that. Thanks Finn! I've always loved your reviews.

Hmm, who can I mention. Well, I always follow the superb and well thought out reviews of one TGM: Orb, (even if his views on Rush clash with mine), John Davie (Sinkadotentree) for his always mind-opening reviews, many times with bands I've never even heard of. UMUR and Clem for their quality and often times opposing views (I love reviews that are from a different angle than what I think of an album). ZowieZiggy, Obiter and Sean Trane - because sometimes it's nice to read from someone who is brutally honest. Febus, Chicapah and Tszirmay for their thought out reviews. Easy Livin - as others have mentioned - because of his great titles and excellent reviews. Of course I also really miss reading Ghost Rider reviews, because those were always excellent. Whistler, as David so kindly pointed out, for his humor. There's also a number of non-collabs who I've seen and have been very impressed by, but they're quite hard to find when they're not on the front page! If I see you I'll mention you here...

Specific reviews, hmm... None are coming to mind, but if they do I'll be sure to post them here.

Shamelessly stealing Micky's phrase, my clappies go to

Sean Trane - for his awesomely wide (and still not finished) view over prog rock, that also means the same amount of dedication in purchasing prog rock, coming with mostly original thoughts and fine visioning from work to work - plus with a lot of special words, like ouevre, that add a sensible chord to the read; anyway, if there is one person putting the E in exhaustive...

Easy Livin - always one of my favorites, and a daily reviewer mostly, a rhythm even I couldn't keep up all the time (I was either squeezing 4 to 9 at once, either doing effort on one or two ); maybe a bit opposing to me myself in regards of musical (deep) analysis, but in the meantime a reviewer whose certain expressions inspires me to search for a nice English (unburdened) phrase which to use for one album in particular

sinkadotentree - definitely for his optimism in prog rock, cause I rarely see a 2-star review from him, and some of those 3-stars already have lines like "it didn't do much for me" ; otherwise, good, honest and nicely-written reviews, having, as a daily rhythm of reviewing, double the one I mentioned regarding Easy Livin (which is already wow!); for his rather minute incursion in the album, challenging the reader to search for certain tunes at certain times - a thing I once tried in my practice, but rather can't keep up with it, it's only for special occasion or b*****dly long electronic epics....

Clem - one of the truly prolific reviewers around here, no matter if the 1900+ words are gone, and I was so fascinated by the big step he took towards not just being a specialist of Folk, but also covering the genre itself through reviews - it almost inspires me to do the same, first of all in the two genres I work, then in other genres I'm deeply walkthroughing i.e. Krautrock, Post-Rock, and maybe one day even Folk, Zeuhl or Psychedelic

Finnforest & LinusW, as part of the Italian gang, also the enthusiastic jimmy_row for their wonderful incursion in one of the genres I haven't even debuted properly in; it's like reading about a world that's pending to be discovered, and all three are mostly making me read great things about that world

TGM:Orb - a blogger who has turned into a wide-acclaimed prog reviewer, and every new review counts

Special mentions to César Inca and Rivertree for their two-in-one package of suggesting + reviewing
and to salmacis, Chicapah, memowakeman and avestin, reviewers who take time to cover up a story and bring a full read when they fell ready




Edited by Ricochet - September 12 2008 at 02:29

micky's review of Battiato's L'Egitto Prima Delle Sabbie
http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=126940

ZowieZiggy's series of LED ZEPPELIN & QUEEN reviews (read them chronologically!)

man overboard's old but always fresh FLOWER KINGS review
http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=41738

certif1ed's one star reviews - although I might disagree - they're pleasure to read.

seyo's BIJELO DUGME series. Great.

Hopefully ExitTheLemming will became a prog reviewer soon. I love all of his reviews, and this is the best DSOTM review
http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=170087

russelk's most beautiful review posted on Prog Archives. Ever.
http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=117783

LinusW wrote: Ricochet wrote: Finnforest & LinusW, as part of the Italian gang, also the enthusiastic jimmy_row for their wonderful incursion in one of the genres I haven't even debuted properly in; it's like reading about a world that's pending to be discovered, and all three are mostly making me read great things about that world Thanks a lot! Means a lot for me (us!) that we manage to reach out with our favourite sub. Makes it all very much worth it

same here; I really appreciate that Rico!  Inspired me to pick up the seldom used pen this afternoon  ...for the love of the music

King By-Tor wrote: Great idea for a thread! Hey, I even got a nod already - gotta like that. Thanks Finn! I've always loved your reviews. Hmm, who can I mention. Well, I always follow the superb and well thought out reviews of one TGM: Orb, (even if his views on Rush clash with mine), John Davie (Sinkadotentree) for his always mind-opening reviews, many times with bands I've never even heard of. UMUR and Clem for their quality and often times opposing views (I love reviews that are from a different angle than what I think of an album). ZowieZiggy, Obiter and Sean Trane - because sometimes it's nice to read from someone who is brutally honest. Febus, Chicapah and Tszirmay for their thought out reviews. Easy Livin - as others have mentioned - because of his great titles and excellent reviews. Of course I also really miss reading Ghost Rider reviews, because those were always excellent. Whistler, as David so kindly pointed out, for his humor. There's also a number of non-collabs who I've seen and have been very impressed by, but they're quite hard to find when they're not on the front page! If I see you I'll mention you here... Specific reviews, hmm... None are coming to mind, but if they do I'll be sure to post them here.

great calls...

and I'm sure Raff appreciates the mention..  I always looked forward to her reviews. She had a real style in her reivews and knowledge that is sorely missed around here.

I enjoy Exitthelemming's reviews - his one-star reviews (http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=174773) as much as his five-star reviews (http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=169570) are provocative and extremely well written. I agree with virtually none of them, but that makes it all the more interesting.

Finnforest writes authoritavely and thoughtfully on a wide range of subjects, awarding five stars sparingly but when he does leaving the reader in no doubt as to why (http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=150825).

We're lucky to have such talented reviewers turning us on (and sometimes warning us off) new music. A huge thanks from me.