Now I know who NOT to listen to.

Have you ever had one of those days
where you casually browse through the recent reviews and
stumble upon some reviewer whose opinion appears to be the
EXACT OPPOSITE of yours on almost every album reviewed ? 

That's when you simply have to shrug it off and say to yourself,
"Now I know exactly who NOT to listen to."

A good review should allow the reader to make their own mind up. The reviewer may recommend an album, but the supporting text should give the reader a good indication of whether or not they might like it.

Easy Livin wrote: A good review should allow the reader to make their own mind up. The reviewer may recommend an album, but the supporting text should give the reader a good indication of whether or not they might like it.

Well put.   There's such a wide variety of music on this site that there really isn't anything universally appealing to everyone.

It seems some times people slam something just because they think they are being clever.  If there's something new out I am interested in, I will let a few more reviews come in before I will decide whether or not to order it. 

I must say I have never yet been disappointed by anything a fellow PA member has personally recommended.  

Edited by Slartibartfast - May 25 2010 at 13:56

Well, I think I'm in the minority disliking Opeth and Gentle Giant (bands which albums are usually highly rated in PA).


Edited by lucas - May 25 2010 at 15:51

I find that reviewers with whom I strongly disagree have often heard something that I have missed, and more than once have listened to the album so reviewed again with different and more sensitive ears. As an ideal--one that I try to follow, but not always successfully--I at least entertain the possibility that, where someone else sees beauty or quality that I myself have missed, the deficiency is not in the music (or other art) in question, but rather in me. It is sometimes hard to be true to that ideal, especially on matters in which I've got a lot of myself invested, but when I have been successful, I have always been glad of the mental effort involved.

I don't know of anybody who has my exact opposite taste, partly because I don't spend much time reading random reviews on the front page, but there are certain positive adjectives that people often use that tell me I'm probably not going to like it; such as, melodic, accessible, straightforward/straight-ahead, direct, minimal, hypnotizing, charming, muscular, atmospheric, and ambient. I particularly hate charming: I'm not even sure what it means in a musical context, but I've never liked an album that somebody else called charming. Although it's not used all that often, so maybe I'm not being fair.

Edited by Henry Plainview - May 25 2010 at 22:32

And of course, Zorn is most definitely not charming.

rushfan4 wrote: And of course, Zorn is most definitely not charming.

What about O'o? 

Buncha songs about lil' birdies

It is a good idea for a thread  I'll check back later

Critics are to do the following:


1. Praise musicians who make good music

2. Metaphorically spit on musicians who make bad music.

3. NEVER, EVER regard the FCC or any such organization as an authoritative force with power.

4. Exercise their freedom of speech like no other has ever done before.