The Progarchives site

How interesting or not this poll is I really don't know - but as there have been discussions regarding the development of the site past, present and future a poll like this might give some clues as to what the average users think in this debate and not just the ones thriving in the discussion forums.

It'll be interesting to see whether or not this poll even will be found of interest though ;-)

adding more artists, without a doubt, imho...

Well, I don''t think the review issue is a huge one, as reviews are so subjective.

for example: I love Toby Driver's solo album, but Easy Livin reviewed it and gave it one star, with some pretty harsh words backing it up (I"m not refuting the review at all--his opinion is his opinion, this is just the quickest example that popped into my mind).

If that had been the only review, I may have gone off of that alone and never heard the album--which I consider great.

Thus, I think that, while certainly reviews of albums on this site can be very helpful, only albums with maybe three or more reviews are really going to say anything about the consistency/quality of a certain album. otherwise, a user can use teh intarw3bz to help him investigate an album's quality.

However, I think it is important have more streamable mp3s on the site, as one of the quickest ways to discover music on the site is to pick a genre, and just let the mp3sa roll by, finding ones you like, writing down the artists' names, and then investigating further.

As for adding more artists, I do think it's a priority, but one that the site has been handling well for a long time, so I'm not too worried about it.

And really I could care less what they decide to call a certain genre, as long as it makes some amount of sense; I don't think this really will affect a user's opinion of the site or the music, despite if they disagree with a term here or there.

So, I voted mp3s.

For me it's making ProgArchives more complete when it comes to missed albums for certain artists,or adding bands that should be on here. AFTER for example is a band from Poland that every other prog site seems to talk about.I'm not complaining because i know it's a big job,it's just i see what i would consider obscure bands being added all the time.The more the better though.

The Antique wrote: However, I think it is important have more streamable mp3s on the site, as one of the quickest ways to discover music on the site is to pick a genre, and just let the mp3sa roll by, finding ones you like, writing down the artists' names, and then investigating further. As for adding more artists, I do think it's a priority, but one that the site has been handling well for a long time, so I'm not too worried about it. And really I could care less what they decide to call a certain genre, as long as it makes some amount of sense; I don't think this really will affect a user's opinion of the site or the music, despite if they disagree with a term here or there. So, I voted mp3s.

yeah... I remember when I first discovered the site...  I ripped tons of mp3 onto CD-R and played them at work. They can be a great resource for discovery.. much more than a review.  Of course there are issues involved with mp3s so we take what we can give the forum

adding artists IS the primary focus on this forum.. make no mistake about that.. no addtions.. no reviews.. no samples. .no categories.. no discussion.

as far as genre's....   they are guides.. not hard and fast and set in concrete. Take the recent addtion of Miles Davis...  we never intended to say he was a prog artist.. or was a jazz-fusion artists.  He was placed there... becuase his albums that are pertinent to this site.. .fall within that area.

micky wrote: The Antique wrote: However, I think it is important have more streamable mp3s on the site, as one of the quickest ways to discover music on the site is to pick a genre, and just let the mp3sa roll by, finding ones you like, writing down the artists' names, and then investigating further. As for adding more artists, I do think it's a priority, but one that the site has been handling well for a long time, so I'm not too worried about it. And really I could care less what they decide to call a certain genre, as long as it makes some amount of sense; I don't think this really will affect a user's opinion of the site or the music, despite if they disagree with a term here or there. So, I voted mp3s. yeah... I remember when I first discovered the site...  I ripped tons of mp3 onto CD-R and played them at work. They can be a great resource for discovery.. much more than a review.  Of course there are issues involved with mp3s so we take what we can give the forumadding artists IS the primary focus on this forum.. make no mistake about that.. no addtions.. no reviews.. no samples. .no categories.. no discussion.as far as genre's....   they are guides.. not hard and fast and set in concrete. Take the recent addtion of Miles Davis...  we never intended to say he was a prog artist.. or was a jazz-fusion artists.  He was placed there... becuase his albums that are pertinent to this site.. .fall within that area.

what I think would be awesome is implementing a system sort of like last.fm uses, where one can stream full albums for some artists/albums, and otherwise at least usually stream a full song, or hear clips, on the artist page...

Though I realize that, for a site like this, that would probably be a nearly impossible feat. Still, it'd be neat.

Making my opinion more powerful!!!!

"You can not vote in this poll"

huh?

I think that what makes this website so successful are first and foremost the reviews ... so if I was allowed to vote I'd choose that option.

Adding more artists to the site - definitely! I can't imagine when it would all end concerning this. The hope is, moreover, for things to be improved when the addition process shows signs of slowness or endless pending. More artists, yay!

Expanding the various subgenres - I can't tell if there is or not room for one of the current genres to redefine its state or not, but, mostly (and generally) speaking, I don't think the way of splitting current subgenres in even tinier cultures is necessary.

Focus on writing reviews for all the albums without one - Here's something that would get my vote, except the thing is:

1. reviewing an album requires to have that album; in case one doesn't have it, it further requires purchasing the album
2. reviewing a rare album is even harder to do, since you've got to be a collectionist or a deep-collection searcher for that
3. reviewing, generally, is a thing of preferences, since all members can freely review what they want; that's why I consider the top polls a simple thing of popularity; but anyway, if person X wants to review Close To The Edge or wants to review a rare Krautrock, it's his pleasure; the rules can't exceed past the encouraging state; reviewing unreviewed albums is encouraged - and there's even a guide list - but it can't be implemented or, worse, forced
4. Collaborators often exceed expectations in reviewing more unknown prog - though that isn't a general rule or statistic

Adding more mp3 samples to the site - I watch the process and think it is a continuous one, so it's not a major thing to improve or accelerate

Simplifying the genre and subgenre system - well, since the discussions of tagging albums instead of bands is still pending, I'd say "simplifying" is just a figure of speech ; if regarding a "meld" of some sub-genres, I think we shouldn't go back, mainly because the split of genres was a sign of individualized directions in prog music; of course, they're only guiding grounds of the same acknowledged universe called prog (rock? heh), but, the way it seems now, neither a step back, neither too many steps forward would be my option.

So, concerning priority, it's also a subjective thing

1. Collaborators have the priority of adding bands
2. Prog reviewers don't have the strict obligation of posting reviews more than they were awarded the distinction thanks to the merit of having written good reviews - but still it would be also abberant to picture a Prog Reviewer not reviewing at all.
3. Sub-genres business, when discussed, involves Admins, the Webmaster and Collaborators altogether (and I'd add the forum was sometimes consulted too) - but, as a priority, except perhaps the multi-tagging issue (still, not even this one perhaps), it was never one
4. MP3 additions are something a couple of Collaborators and Admins assigned to do, but it doesn't imply an obligation or a priority
5. Focus on reviewing - was almost never a priority. Everyone reviews when they want (and the ideal would also be when they're ready to review - but let's not diverge into that...).


Edited by Ricochet - August 30 2008 at 11:41