The truth about the TOP 100 ranking

"The album ranking algorithm is an attempt at finding a balance between quality (average rating) and popularity (number of ratings) . If popularity was not considered at all the top of the chart would be cluttered with hundreds of obscure albums with only one or two 5 star reviews. If quality was not considered the top of the chart would essentially show the most most reviewed albums. In order to find a balance between those two extremes the parameters of the algorithm were configured so that the resulting chart matches the expectations of the typical prog expert (your faithful admins and collabs). For example, the top 10 should feature albums which are considered to be the best prog albums of all time - like Close to the Edge, Selling England by the Pound or ItCotCK. Of course there are some experts who believe that the true masterpieces are not among these most popular albums ... "hidden gems" like Gentle Giant - Octopus, CAN - Ege Bamyasi, Magma - Mekanik Destruktiv Kommandoh, Van der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts ... these are albums with high average ratings (quality) but fewer reviews (popularity) than the widely known albums. But you can't please everybody, and especially for newbies the more popular albums are a good starting point for exploring metal ... save the best for last!"

I think its a pretty good algorithm. However, it would be even better if you could choose the emphasis, ratings or popularity. But maybe that's too much work for the end result.

akin wrote: "<snip> But you can't please everybody, and especially for newbies the more popular albums are a good starting point for exploring metal ... save the best for last!"

  I hope that word in bold is a mistake???? Or is this the algorithm from progtology.com? 


Edited by Angelo - March 28 2007 at 17:35

Angelo wrote: akin wrote: "<snip> But you can't please everybody, and especially for newbies the more popular albums are a good starting point for exploring metal ... save the best for last!"   I hope that word in bold is a mistake???? Or is this the algorithm from progtology.com?

It's a mistake  ... I wrote that text in a hurry. Of course it should say "prog" instead of "metal" ...

BTW: If you think that there's too much metal and not enough rock on PROGtology.com ... submit some ratings to even it out!


Edited by MikeEnRegalia - March 28 2007 at 17:57

This is the problem: Some people get angry because some of their favorite albums have higher average ratings than CttE or the other albums in the top 10 (20, 50, 100 etc) but fewer ratings/reviews ... so they're demanding that the weight of the popularity (number of ratings)  is reduced because they think this makes the algorithm more "fair".

el böthy wrote: martinn wrote: Yes, so...? Ehm... yeah, so?

Edited by Frasse - March 28 2007 at 18:18

Angelo wrote: akin wrote: "<snip> But you can't please everybody, and especially for newbies the more popular albums are a good starting point for exploring metal ... save the best for last!"   I hope that word in bold is a mistake???? Or is this the algorithm from progtology.com?

I think the algorithm is nigh on perfect, and I want to publicly thank those involved. It's all in how you use it, really. The top albums are the best' popular' prog albums; others further down the track are either popular albums on which opinion is divided, or more obscure albums beloved of fans. What tends to happen, I've observed, is that as an obscure album gets noticed and more people acquire it, the average rating gradually drops and its position stays about the same. This seems to be as the album moves out of the ambit of fans only and into the general prog consciousness.

Lotsa fun and not a life or death issue.

Edited by russellk - March 28 2007 at 20:38

rileydog22 wrote: I don't understand why anybody gives a crap about the top 100.  If you love an album, then you love an album.  Does it really matter that it isn't on the list some computer algorithm spit out?

I agree.  I don't mind the top 100, but the more important thing is that you like the album.  Rankings don't necessarily mean anything other than that the majority of people like these albums.

The top of the charts is pretty much as I would expect. It feels right so I'm happy.Obviously I would happier if my favourite album (Brain Salad Surgery) was higher but I have to factor in others opinions who don't share my enthusiasm.Hence its low placing (and other ELP albums) I suppose.