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infocat 
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 Posted: January 11 2014 at 19:47 |
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--
Frank Swarbrick
Belief is not Truth.
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Polymorphia
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Posted: January 11 2014 at 21:25 |
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Dean
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Posted: January 12 2014 at 03:42 |
 Polymorphia wrote:
The Bearded Bard wrote:
Toaster Mantis wrote:
Horizons wrote:
Plus some people don't have the knack for writing or describing music. |
How likely are they to register on a forum like this, though |
Believe it or not, we do exist. Being a fan of progressive rock doesn't come with a degree in musical theory, sadly. |
But who wants to read music theory in a review? 
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Sounds more like people are just making excuses.  I don't write reviews because I don't want to, there are a few reasons why I don't want to, but they all boil down to the same thing - I don't want to. However having posted the album cover image you've found on the interweb, adding a few words about the album you're currently listening to isn't writing an entry for a musicological encyclopaedia or aiming to be the next Christgau.
The "What are you listening to" threads are like conversations, the people who use them regularly are sharing the experience to some extent so there is an unwritten communication going on that casual readers will not pick up on so words are often deemed unnecessary. Personally, because of that I find them to be a little cliquey (not really but there isn't a better word) - sometimes it's like trying to join a private conversation and being ignored.
Recommendation threads are different thing all together - if you're recommending an album and cannot be bothered to describe it then how can that possibly encourage people to listen?
Edited by Dean - January 12 2014 at 03:43
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What?
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The Bearded Bard
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Posted: January 12 2014 at 05:50 |
Dean wrote:
However having posted the album cover image you've found on the interweb, adding a few words about the album you're currently listening to isn't writing an entry for a musicological or aiming to be the next Christgau.
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No, but it requires me to describe music, which I'm not experienced with doing, and, as the perfectionsit that I am, I would rather say nothing than something I felt wasn't "good enough". Stupid perhaps, but that's how I feel about it.
If it was a requirement for posting in the "What Are You Listening To Right Now?"-thread that you had to write a description of the music you're listening to, however short, I wouldn't post there half as much as I do, perhaps not at all. I just don't feel comfortable writing about something I feel I don't have enough knowledge of.
Plus, writing in a language that is not my own, and that I'm not 100% comfortable with, makes it even harder.
Edited by The Bearded Bard - January 12 2014 at 05:56
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rushfan4
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Posted: January 12 2014 at 05:57 |
As per usual, Dean is spot on with his observation. The What are You Listening to Now? crowd may be cliquey but it is of the stoner clique variety instead of the cool girl clique variety. i.e. stoners are more accepting of other members, although maybe a little leery that the n00b may be a cop. 
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Dean
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Posted: January 12 2014 at 06:09 |
The Bearded Bard wrote:
Dean wrote:
However having posted the album cover image you've found on the interweb, adding a few words about the album you're currently listening to isn't writing an entry for a musicological or aiming to be the next Christgau.
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No, but it requires me to describe music, which I'm not experienced with doing, and, as the perfectionsit that I am, I would rather say nothing than something I felt wasn't "good enough". Stupid perhaps, but that's how I feel about it.
If it was a requirement for posting in the "What Are You Listening To Right Now?"-thread that you had to write a description of the music you're listening to, however short, I wouldn't post there half as much as I do, perhaps not at all. I just don't feel comfortable writing about something I feel I don't have enough knowledge about.
Plus, writing in a language that is not my own, and that I'm not 100% comfortable with, makes it even harder. |
You've missed my point I think, but never mind. I see from the one review you have written that you are like me - you can write reviews (and a good one at that, perfectionist or not), but you chose not to. I'm not arguing for the proposition here, (I think it unnecessary, as are most "rules"), I'm just pointing out that no one is expecting a musicological description or a full-blown review - a simple "oh, this is good, some really cool guitar here" or "hmm, this sounds like early Sabbath" would be more informative than nothing at all.
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What?
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The Bearded Bard
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Posted: January 12 2014 at 07:25 |
No, Dean, I think I see your point, and I mostly agree. I'm just saying that writing about music doesn't come as easy for everyone, though I understand it can get easier with practice.
Dean wrote:
I see from the one review you have written that you are like me - you can write reviews (and a good one at that, perfectionist or not), but you chose not to. |
Thanks! 
It's not that I choose not to, I don't feel confident enough to, yet. I plan on writing some more though. Hopefully my confident level will rise as I get more reviews under my belt.
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poeghost
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Posted: January 12 2014 at 10:29 |
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I hope you do write more, Bearded Bard. You write well. I enjoyed your review of Jethro Tull's Christmas album. I've been wondering what that one was like.
I like to write, but a little shy about it myself. Sometimes I feel I can't describe things as well as some of the others here can. I will keep at it because it can be fun and gives me a chance to listen to music more focused rather than in the background when working on things.
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Guldbamsen
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Posted: January 12 2014 at 10:43 |
I think the main rule to reviewing is that it should be fun. It should be something people do out of their own will - and because they feel like it and have something to say (hopefully interesting). It's so obvious when folks are doing it for sports ie the quantity factor or simply hyping x act for then never to reappear.
I'd like to think we can embrace all sorts of reviewing styles, short and long, analytical, funny, crude and so on, but it's also important to keep in mind that all reviewers start somewhere. To give people the benefit of a doubt before passing judgement, and see if things don't pick up or otherwise contact the person yourself instead of bitching about it in a thread that a lot of these writers never get to see. It's a two-way street. We can't expect to raise the bar, if we're not actively endorsing the reviewers to partake in such an endeavour.
Edited by Guldbamsen - January 12 2014 at 10:46
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams
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ExittheLemming
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Posted: January 12 2014 at 15:49 |
Polymorphia wrote:
I suggest the improvement of reviews be in the hands of the members. The advantage of a forum is that it gives us a good platform to discuss
these kinds of things and improve that way rather than enforcing rules. How about starting with a "Review Discussion, Advice, Tips" thread for members to discuss reviewing and whatnot?
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Although Andy Webb has highlighted there is a Reviews Discussion Thread where members can debate the merits or otherwise of submitted reviews, I think it worthwhile to reiterate that the current state of affairs already places any monitoring of reviews entirely in the hands of PA members i.e. those reviews that are considered to contravene the review guidelines can be highlighted in the Review Reporting Thread (which is also accessible to non collaborators) So in effect we 'police' our own site but without any formal procedure set in place to bring this about. This seems to work quite well but it has always concerned me slightly that we could be deemed a bit complacent in this area i.e.without the continued goodwill and vigilance exercised by those who frequent such threads, we would be guilty of hosting considerably more reviews viewable by visitors that cast the site in a very unflattering light.
If it ain't broke don't fix it etc but would this become a problem if, for whatever reason, members stopped voluntarily reporting dubious reviews?
Do we need the contingency of a monitor to monitor the monitors?
I guess that any proposed rule changes considered from this discussion will inevitably undermine PA's most attractive feature: the ease with which the members can submit reviews (on some other Prog sites you have to jump through interminable administrative hoops to get anything published and that can takes several months) I certainly don't wish to make it harder for members to review but if we are serious about improving the quality of written work, the status quo will certainly never deliver our avowed aims.
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Atavachron
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Posted: January 12 2014 at 21:01 |
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^ Well put. The pangs of liberal policy. But better, I believe, than a hoop-jumping one which would remove, as you point out, one of the site's best features: the open community atmosphere.
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Polymorphia
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Posted: January 12 2014 at 21:30 |
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Indeed. I suppose any effort to improve reviews will require some kind of pressure, even if that's the pressure put on a person to improve when another writes a good review.
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The Bearded Bard
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Posted: January 13 2014 at 14:24 |
poeghost wrote:
I hope you do write more, Bearded Bard. You write well. I enjoyed your review of Jethro Tull's Christmas album. I've been wondering what that one was like. |
Good to know somebody found it useful.
poeghost wrote:
I like to write, but a little shy about it myself. Sometimes I feel I can't describe things as well as some of the others here can. I will keep at it because it can be fun and gives me a chance to listen to music more focused rather than in the background when working on things. |
Yeah, continue writing reviews is all we can do to get better at it. Keep it up!
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