Should reviews be written only by genres'

I ask this because I've read a few opinions saying that people shouldn't review albums that they more than likely won't like because they don't like the genre itself. Now, the argument is not that illogical: if you go about writing a review with pre-conceptions about a particular genre, maybe it won't be that fair. Or, even more important, people that DO love certain genres know more about every aspect of the music and therefore may be more qualified to write a review about an album. On the other hand, might it be that when people that don't like or don't know a particular genre that much write a review about it, that review would probably be more cold, ergo, more useful for another person who doesn't know the music? For example: should I review post-rock? sdhould someone that dislikes progressive-metal review progressive-metal albums? Will those reviews be fairer or more unjust towards the music than reviews written by genre's lovers? What kind of review is the average person looking for when that person is researching about music he/she doesn't know and have never heard? How come gas prices keep going up in US? All these questions I'd like answered, please. If you may.

Basically the number of reviews (and ratings) are too low, so therefor it would be better to have basically just the people who are favourable towards a subgenre to rate those albums, since the downward effect of one or two nay/sayers have too much affect on the albums stats.

If I may quote (roughly) the great "T", from a previous post - if there's an album that I see is rated highly & once I've listened to it, I dislike it, I think I should share that with others, just as much as I would share a positive review.
I.E. If I don't care for RIO/Avant-Garde, how would I find out about Univers Zero , which I've come to love.? The reviewer who has stumbled upon an album outside their usual fave genres can be a great guide in arousing others' curiosity. Plus, even if I'm an RPI fan, there are bands that I just can't understand their high ranking. SO even within a genre, my taste may be mine only.


Edited by debrewguy - May 01 2007 at 19:02

The problem is that if people reviewed only genres they loved every album would have a 4.something rating. If reviewers have natural prejudices against the band (as Ivan does about DT) he or she should not review. However, if someone doesn't like prog metal but gives DT an objective listen, I welcome the review, however negative.

 ^ M-icky, I often read reviews by strangers (in magazines) whose tastes are unknown to me, but which I nonetheless find useful and informative. (i have been led to many fine albums this way.)

Edited by Peter - May 01 2007 at 20:39

Peter wrote:  ^ M-icky, I often read reviews by strangers (in magazines) whose tastes are unknown to me, but which I nonetheless find useful and informative. (i have been led to many fine albums this way.)   Re the larger, original topic, in general I believe one should at least be a potential fan of the type of music in question. Imagine me reviewing for a hip hop or death metal site. All of my reviews would read like this, in essence: "Warning -- more hip hop!" or "More death metal. hate it -- haven't heard any good death metal yet. What's wrong with you people?"   Imagine a food critic who hates all but kraft Dinner and PB sandwiches... Imagine a theatre critic who hates plays.... A book reviewer who hates heroic fantasy reviewing LOTR: "Elves, orcs and hobbits? WTF? Those aren't real! Are you people all on drugs? This is limp-wristed, escapist hippy crap!"   etc.   (To that degree, broad categories, as we find in record stores, are useful: "This section is Death Metal, hey? Well I won't like any of that!" "Miles Davis is Jazz? Yuck! Where's the Rock section?" )   So let's assume the reader already knows that DT is a metal band. He doesn't need me to tell him that, or that the lyrics of said form are often doomy/gloomy, the riffs lightning fast, the drums bombastic, etc. I think he'll be best served by a review written by someone who appreciates metal, and who can thus write about it in a more informed, unprejudiced manner.   We are prog fans. how much sense would it make for us all to write reviews for a country site, and for the hard-core, line-dancing Shania Twain and George Strait fan to review Pawn Hearts or Free Hand?   So yes, I think one should like at least SOME of the genre in question, to review it, and you should reasonably, potentially be capable of liking the album you are reviewing.   (Would you want a non beer drinker's advice on the best beer to buy? Let a gay guy pick your next dance partner for you?)   My 10 year-old son's appraisal of the opera i played for him this morning was not a flattering one, but what does he know about opera, Bizet, or Luciano Pavarotti?

Yes, I think you nailed it!

Four pigs for you! - - oops one of them seems to have died...

Of course I make a habit of reviewing everything I've ever heard, even if I fell asleep while listening to it 5 years ago and havn't heard it since.

But, thats because I'm strong (flexes muscles while holding a guitar in one hand and shotgun in the other).

I think reserving yourself to groups you like makes it hard for people to figure if they should try a new group that they've yet to hear. For me, that was VDGG. I went through some heavy listening sessions with 5-6 albums of theirs & simply did not find them to my liking, although I could see what others might find attractive. So I figured my reviews would at least balance out the fanatics raves.

No, because I hate people who only review one specific genre or the like. It's a sign of narrow mindedness.

Certif1ed wrote: I don't believe in genres - they only confuse matters.   If I've bought an album and feel like reviewing it, then I'll review it.   After all - it's only one opinion among many, and I don't consider myself a genre expert as I don't believe in them.   It's all Progressive Music.   Or not...

But surely having a solid background (e.g. knowing similar albums) improves the quality of a review (its usefulness). For example, if you're a total newbie when it comes to Krautrock and you listen to Tago Mago, you can write a review and describe what you like about it and what not, but you have few points of reference to compare it to.

Generally I'd say that a fan of the band is in a better position to write a helpful review for an album than someone who completely dislikes the band or the style.

Imagine someone who completely dislikes onions and one day decides to post reviews of dishes which contain onions. These reviews will probably be negative ... and even if that person tries to be objective and to judge the dish from the perspective of someone who likes onions, it would still be a little bit awkward ... and how would that person be able to distinguish good onions from bad onions?




Edited by MikeEnRegalia - May 02 2007 at 08:03