Affinity for Reviewers

Wow, lotsa kind words (thanks MDR) again!

emdiar wrote: ^^ Pete, you should definitely start with "Once Around the World". Did you check out my youtube link?  Most entertaining. Here it is again:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AveJxs_TmY&mode=related&search=   Avoid "Best Of" compilations as they usually consist of "single" versions, which, as we all know, are usually mercilessly edited of their instrumental passages. (read "best bits".)   (ps. See what I mean by "Holdsworth-esque"?)

emdiar wrote: Peter wrote: I'm very flattered to be named in your kind post, Emdiar (you and I often seem to be in accord on non-musical matters, as well), but the shameful truth is that I have not read any reviews on the site for quite some time. This is a reflection of my not having written any reviews for a long time. When I am writing, I like to see what my fellow Collabs have thought of the album I'm either about to review, or just did review. I find that helpful and interesting. I also used to read reviews out of interest, not so much to look for new music (though I've done that a few times), as to see what others think of albums I already own. Re any "affinity" in tastes with another reviewer, I often found that Maani and I were "on the same page," as were Bob (Easy Livin) and I. Their reviews were/are always well-written, as well. In general, though, there are many very good reviewers here (too many for me to keep track of, on an individual basis), and I have found myself in agreement with many over the years. I plan to get back into reviewing soon (when settled in the new school year -- perhaps within a month or so), so no doubt I'll be reading reviews again then!   Hi Peter, yes, we do have a similar outlook on many a topic. Like you, I find reviews on albums with which I am already familiar to be the most interesting. That's how I am able to judge  you, Blacksword and Certif1ed to be among my most kindred spirits. That is in no way a comment on the rest, as I find common ground with many reviewers (we are all progheads after all).   I have yet to "review" an album, though I've written many an opinionated post on bands and their output. Reviews are, of course, very subjective by nature, but that makes them fun. I'm sometimes quite self conscious about voicing my opinions on certain bands, in case it gives the wrong impression. For example, It Bites are one of my favourite 80s prog acts, but I can't explain why. Their sound is WAY too poppy and 80s for my (sometimes) quite conservative proghole tastes, yet I find it to be more 'honest' than most of the neoprog acts earlier in that decade. Does that make sense? I can quite understand why many see them as a pop act with flash muso affectations, but when I saw them play tiny club venues, every tricky time sig and Holdsworth-esque guitar lick was...well...music to my ears, starved as they were for decent sounds in those prog-baron years. I shouldn't care what others think really, but there it is.   I look forward to your first Roy Harper review with bated breath.

Surely Bob, despite that I don't have the same musical tastes, I like his type of writting.

I believe that no one can never be in affinity with my thoughs, but the closest reviewer would be Sean Trane. From the albums we've heard in common, the only one which I disagree is his five stars to Traffic's Shoot out at the fantasy factory. But the rest, overall when it comes to the top ten bands, our ratings are practically the same.

nooooooooooo...

I like prog jesters review's and jareyays, they are not just reviews about what chords are played and how technical it gets, they're more about how enjoyable and challenging the music is!

I've always liked Certif1ed's reviews (Is he still around?). I doubt they influenced me directly, but over the last couple of years I've seen my views and tastes in music shift in a somewhat similar direction.

There is not a single individual reviewer that I look at, but depending on category or genre, I often check out reviews by Sean Trane, Dick Heath, Erik Neuteboom (because of their experience) and The T (for his sanity checks) to get an initial ide about of an album that I want to hear or buy. And of course, ClemOfNazareth's reviews are a good read to get insight in how a piece of music people's touches feelings.

I'm very flattered to be named in your kind post, Emdiar (you and I often seem to be in accord on non-musical matters, as well), but the shameful truth is that I have not read any reviews on the site for quite some time. This is a reflection of my not having written any reviews for a long time. When I am writing, I like to see what my fellow Collabs have thought of the album I'm either about to review, or just did review. I find that helpful and interesting.

I also used to read reviews out of interest, not so much to look for new music (though I've done that a few times), as to see what others think of albums I already own.

Re any "affinity" in tastes with another reviewer, I often found that Maani and I were "on the same page," as were Bob (Easy Livin) and I. Their reviews were/are always well-written, as well.

In general, though, there are many very good reviewers here (too many for me to keep track of, on an individual basis), and I have found myself in agreement with many over the years.

I plan to get back into reviewing soon (when settled in the new school year -- perhaps within a month or so), so no doubt I'll be reading reviews again then!