How should albums be rated?

The binary ranking is interesting. If it weren't abused, it would probably be more informative than the 1 to 5 star ranking (or used together it could be even more effective).

I have never heard Dream Theater (to use an oft mentioned example), but I don't want to belittle their fans or their output. I have been listening to and in one way or another reviewing music for thirty plus years, and performing for twenty, but I wouldn't even begin to think I am qualified to make an opinion about any of their work in the context of, say, someone familiar with that type of music.

I am instantly turned off to it because it is lumped as heavy metal, or prog metal, or whatever. I personally think most of that genre sounds the same, just as many people think that certain other genres sound the same. I'll admit it, but that doesn't mean I won't listen to it with at least an open mind. I may not like it, but then again, I don't have to buy it, and my opinion isn't going to matter to fans of that genre anyway.

I really like this website, but it is irritating to see so many people actually take the time to bash music they really haven't heard enough of to form an informative opinion. Move along, I say, or spend their time reviewing music they like.

Cheers!

I think you should rate an album truly and honestly as you can.  If it is a 4 star or 5 star to you then it is.  If someone feels as strongly on the other side of the opinion then they will give it less and balance it out.  As for Dream Theater i think it is just a lack of maturity on the reviewer,s part for the most as it was a few months ago during the Radiohead debacle. 

It would be great if there was not only five star rate but a ten star rate and that we could rate in half stars aswell so if i was going to do a review i could give it 7.5 star rating.

^ Some is rating the album with one star and says: + another half star and another one says - a half star...

Hammill wrote: spectral you know that i was kidding, honestly i believe that everything in live is subjective...someone might like pink floyd someone not....the problem is that many people follow other's opinion and don't create their own taste on music.

Dude, I know you were joking.  I thought it was funny. 

Actually , this has been a discussion since day one, but the general feeling is that an album should first be compared to the rest of the artist's catalogue and in general terms against all other prog albums , certainly by genre but the whole of prog also. This would seem logical in sense of perspective and for not mis-leading others. Most ProgReviewers (IMHO) have that more or less in mind when choosing a rating.

However the casual reviewers do not seem to follow any rules and may not be aware of this because clear guidelines are not set and I believe because the admins choose to keep it so! Gnosis2000 is a closed circle of reviewers with strict guidelines for rating (on a almost linear scale of 15) and this is why I consider them the safest rating website around . Written review section is rather thin and divided in two sections. A new album cannot receive more than 11 out of 15 until a few months after its release. This given on the Archives, Octavarium would not get more than 4* because it is new and reviews are based on enthusiasm instead of clear tought-over opinions. I believe I am not the only one thinking so!

I think historically important album , such as The Nice's debut or Marillion's script should get even a higher rating just because they were influential album. A bit like Beach Boys 's Pet Sounds (not listed) influenced a lot of album and pushed the Beatles to outdo them with Sergeant Pepper's, some prog albums managed to be highly influential but have not been heard by many but the artist who based their works on those. 

But in general , five stars album are just too many , although before the latest DT album , the over-rating was less than it used to.

IMHO, 5* rating should only concern the top 5% of your albums, the rest of those you love being on the 4* status. remember that 3* is still a very good rating (some people would consider disgraceful to rate an album they like 3* , but this is still good but non-essential meaning that there are better albums to investigate both for a given artist but in the genre also).

Two star rating means average (therefore for fans only)and normally average would concern some 50% of all prog albums around.

Hammill wrote: well it depends on how muc i spent to get the album.....if i spent a lot then i would say that is masterpiece otherwise i will be an as***le

cool idea.  so all albums should be rated on price and price alone.  the more expensive the more stars it gets.

what a grrreat society we live in!

Man Overboard wrote: I saw a guy who reviewed a Dream Theater EP release and gave it one star because he hated the title track.  He'd never heard the single-release, which was full of yummy B-sides, he just felt the need to say "Hollow Years blows, 1-star " or something along those lines.  This was almost definitely a reaction to the whole Octavarium issue.

That wasn't fair mate...

spectral wrote: you get a feel for different types of reviewers and where they're coming from; if you generally agree with the person, then refer to their reviews to find out about a record.

So true mate 

Man Overboard wrote: Against other albums by the artist?  Against the best the genre has to offer?  Against its own subgenre?

Very good question.

It's really hard to say how the top list(s) should be, to me Dream Theater is not even on top 5000 but that's maybe me only and that's taste and it would be cool if all the user could have their own list(s) (somewhere in their profile for example) that would be super 

About the top 100 list... it's not a bad list because it shows what albums are most loved here at the archives of it's users on the other hand it's scary to see Octavarium go from spot 45 to spot 28 in just one day (it's at 27 at the moment though).

So i really don't know how to change the big list... better maybe to have it what like it is now and don't take it so serious...