Slartibartfast's Review Appreciation Thread

Thank you, Steve. Much appreciated.

I have enjoyed the break from PA, although this was only from the forum, and send my deepest apologies to those I know were worried by my sudden absence, although I am aware you had posted reassurance following your kind PM. It was, though, pretty rude and selfish to suddenly disappear like that. My only excuse is that I needed the break.

The time away was not completely wasted. I have now completed a huge music playlists project I started some time ago, putting together music in five years blocks for playing especially when travelling, which will start again soon. All of this was done by reference to PA top albums, and reading reviews by people I trust to purchase, either cd or digitally, or otherwise add on my iTunes account loads of stuff, especially a huge amount of Italian prog I have criminally neglected over the years, and am really enjoying.

It was doing this which persuaded me of the continued importance of PA as a reference library. It also persuaded me of the continued need for Collabs here to review, because I know from interactions with artists and prog fans that this is where the site is a critical resource.

I will not be going back to that silly, but fun, birthday thing, because I really do not want to commit to something like that on a daily basis, because it becomes a chore or a duty as opposed to a silly thing. I am also determined to stay away from the non-music and political threads, because I find rational discourse to be almost impossible on many topics. Not with everybody, of course, but certainly some. It is the reason, aside from my work which is sensitive, I stay away from social media.

I am, therefore, determined to get back, permanently this time, to what I love more than anything else, which is reviewing music. It is a pleasure, and not stressful, and without wanting to bore all senseless with my personal issues (which are now very much better thanks to a good break and a loving family), I have resolved to avoid all unnecessary stress.

There. Personal diatribe over. Thanks for the kind comments. Loads more reviews to come, and thank you to those who sent me messages in my absence. They are very much appreciated.

Why, thank you Chris.

Then you must put in your own 5 star review. The more people who do so, the more meaningful the ratings are.

lol, I completely missed this conversation from earlier 

That's kinda the funny thing about Steely Dan though. I'm only 26, so I didn't live to see their initial run, but it's interesting how they're viewed retrospectively. The reason I avoided them for so long was because of people telling me they were just some "stupid Dad-rock band from the 70s"... and that's the reason I included the 2001 Grammys in my review, because I think that moment created a negative perception within more modern listeners. Of course, once I actually explored the whole Steely Dan catalogue (starting with the amazing "Your Gold Teeth II"), I realized just how much amazing music I was missing out on. Luckily, I grew up with classic rock and 70s prog, so I've always been able to explore both old and new music on an equal playing field. I feel like a lot of younger people nowadays weren't brought up in that way, sadly.

Then again, it looks like rock is slowly seeping back into the Billboard charts again these days... so who knows? Maybe there will eventually be a turning point.

I know this was posted last July but I only just saw this; the two of us live together, so thank you on behalf of both of us!

Wippy is a serious multi-instrumentalist, influences of Keneally and Bubblemath. Love this album. Thanks so much, Mira.