How should albums be rated?

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   See, that's what I believe.  It's hard to do that without raising
a controversy...  for some people, Dream Theater's new album could
definitely be a 5-star album.  I've probably heard it 30
times...  it's in my top three Dream Theater albums, which gives
it a solid 4 stars in my book (along with Awake and Falling Into
Infinity).  It really *is* well-crafted, with flaws, but nothing
that makes it a bad album...  the good stuff is really really
good, and the less-than-good stuff is still above-average.

Of course to many, a 4-star rating to THOSE HORRIBLE ABOMINATIONS OF
MUSIC CALLED DREAM THEATER invalidates my opinion as a progger.  

But then, to me, The Flower Kings' weakest album is still 3-stars, in
comparison to other TFK albums...  but I like that album more than
a Dream Theater album that I would give 4 stars.  I'm
confused.  

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Man Overboard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 07 2004 Location: Austin, TX Status: Offline Points: 3830	Posted: June 10 2005 at 08:41
	See, that's what I believe. It's hard to do that without raising a controversy... for some people, Dream Theater's new album could definitely be a 5-star album. I've probably heard it 30 times... it's in my top three Dream Theater albums, which gives it a solid 4 stars in my book (along with Awake and Falling Into Infinity). It really is well-crafted, with flaws, but nothing that makes it a bad album... the good stuff is really really good, and the less-than-good stuff is still above-average. Of course to many, a 4-star rating to THOSE HORRIBLE ABOMINATIONS OF MUSIC CALLED DREAM THEATER invalidates my opinion as a progger. But then, to me, The Flower Kings' weakest album is still 3-stars, in comparison to other TFK albums... but I like that album more than a Dream Theater album that I would give 4 stars. I'm confused.

spectral Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 04 2005 Location: Vatican City State Status: Offline Points: 1422	Posted: June 10 2005 at 08:34
	On it's own merits, perhaps? Can you truly compare one artist to another and say that they are better or worse?
	"...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine."

Man Overboard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 07 2004 Location: Austin, TX Status: Offline Points: 3830	Posted: June 10 2005 at 08:32
	Against other albums by the artist? Against the best the genre has to offer? Against its own subgenre? For example, I think The Flower Kings' "Unfold The Future" is a 5-star masterpiece. Their best work by far. But a lot of forum members don't seem to "get" these guys, and would probably call me a fanboy for rating it that high, though I feel that it's also a 5-star album against any symphonic prog, up there with CttE and Selling England By The Pound, or even against prog in general. Then again, I could probably get away with a 5-star rating with that. I feel the same way with Pain Of Salvation's "Remedy Lane". Perfect album, though obviously different. But if I rated that 5-stars, I've have all sorts of people crawling up my ass for rating a prog-metal album 5 stars, even if I would rate plenty of prog-metal much lower. shrugs