Why bother reviewing all-time classics?
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Topic: Why bother reviewing all-time classics?
Posted By: robg
Subject: Why bother reviewing all-time classics?
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 15:38
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I'm just wondering why people bother reviewing hugely popular albums e.g. Yes' "Fragile", Genesis' "Selling England" or Pink Floyd's "DSOTM"? It seems there isn't a day goes by without one of these, or other, massive-selling all-time classics getting yet another 5 star review or the odd 3 star dissent by someone trying to look clever or different. What's the point, seriously? Today in a review of "Wish You Were Here" the reviewer actually says "Probably everyone on this site already has this album memorized" - so really, why bother? Why not review something that hasn't been reviewed 1,464 times before? If you're on this site and you don't know that "Thick as a Brick" is pretty well regarded, you've surely come here by mistake right? |
Replies:
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 15:56
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I prefer to focus on the stuff that doesn't get many reviews or hasn't been reviewed before, but sometimes you gotta go back to old classics because you know them so well.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 16:00
Robg, it was discussed many times in many threads. Personally I agree with you - it's crazy.  Only few reasons I've read when I asked the same question: 1. The site policy is: everybody can review any album from PA database, the number of reviews is not restricted. 2. New people, just discovering prog music and knowing only these albums, come to the site and it is their right to review familiar albums. 3. Many visitors want to know what some prolific reviewers think of popular albums. I think it's enough to accept things as they are.  Anyway everyone of us decides which albums to review. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 16:12
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*sigh*... 1. Only by rating and reviewing "classics" do the charts ever change. 2. I like reading the reviews of the classics, especially my favorite albums. 3. I especially like reading the reviews of the occasional person who thinks In the Court of the Crimson King and Wish You Were Here are three star albums (like me). 4. I write reviews on everything I have. That includes Close to the Edge. 5. Selling England by the Pound doesn't have 800+ reviews. It has 800+ ratings and reviews. Can we move on to a fresh subject now?  ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 16:12
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It's been discussed before, indeed. It's plain simple. Every person has the right to review an(y) album. It doesn't matter which album. ------------- 
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Posted By: The T
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 16:24
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robg wrote:Posted By: King Crimson776
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 16:27
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Because these albums do this thing called "existing". Because they "exist", I can listen to them, and then formulate my opinion on them, and write it down in review form. Also, it is "fun".
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Posted By: rpe9p
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 16:29
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I'm just wondering why people bother making threads that criticize people for reviewing the albums they want to. It
seems there isn't a week that goes by without one of these threads by someone trying to look clever or different. What's
the point, seriously? If you're on this site and you don't know that "Thick as a Brick" is pretty well regarded, you've surely come to the right place to start your prog journey. |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 16:33
Absolutely. Before I came to this site years ago, I didn't even know Jethro Tull or Genesis played prog. I thought the former was folk rock and the latter was crap pop. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 16:36
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I have my share of reviews on albums with no other reviews at all. And yes I just moved WYWH over CTTE for #1. Even though I don't think that album belongs at #1 or probably even #10, I think to rate it lower that 5 stars is insanity.
As I review more albums, I see glaring omissions so I choose to fill them in. I personally like to go to reviewers profiles and see what they rate highly. So I return the favor.
------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 16:48
| With highly well-known albums like the ones you mention, most reviews are probably getting repetitive BUT I always keep bumping into reviews that are entertaining in themselves or which tell me things about the music I hadn't realised before. |
Posted By: A Person
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 17:11
| I don't mind people reviewing albums that have been reviewed a bazillion times, it is interesting to see people rate the "classics", especially the ones where people think that some well known ones, like WYWH or TAAB are "teh suxxorz". |
Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 17:20
So we're not allowed dissent, aren't we? I have occasionally reviewed albums very differently from the majority and it certainly isn't to look "clever" or "different". It's because I don't share their opinions and wish to offer a differing perspective. For example, I think that, with the exception of Roundabout, Fragile is quite a poor album, the 5 "solo" tracks in particular being utterly forgettable. OK, I'm in the minority, but I still think my view is valid. ------------- A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life. |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 18:38
I concur with both posts. Also, I'm getting quite tired of this question... |
Posted By: debrewguy
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 18:39
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so how would us old folks remember what old albums to go back and listen to ? you obviously missed the 816th review of Selling England by the Pound by Vibration Baby. And LSDisease covered a few classics that prompted me to pull them out for the first listen in a long time. Of course, I can be snarky and just tell you to skip these overabundant reviews. It's really quite easy. Just make believe it looks like this See, if only you imagine the possibility ------------- "Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case. |
Posted By: Isa
Date Posted: June 20 2009 at 19:26
Sounds like communism in the form of progressive album reviews.   Actually I do try to give just as much attention to the less known albums as the prominent ones so that more people will hopefully know more about "this amazing band that people should hear." For example, I really enjoy reviewing Enslaved albums because they're such an amazing band that so few have heard of, and now lately people seem to be giving them more attention. It's almost like I'm promoting a band I love, which is kind of cool, I think. But the classics are classics for a reason, and like many others I hadn't even heard of Jethro Tull until coming to this site, and Thick as a Brick was love at first listen.  It's for young people like me who are just discovering prog and want to know what albums are quintessential to the genre. I've digested most of it quite well now, and hold many of those classic as prized possessions. |
Posted By: Jozef
Date Posted: June 21 2009 at 02:27
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I know I reviewed "Selling England by the Pound" and King Crimson's "Red" but that was basically because I knew the albums so well and wanted to share my thoughts on why I enjoyed them so much. It doesn't bother me that there are so many reviews of these albums, they're held in high regard everyone is free to discuss them however they see fit. I actually would like to read some negative reviews of the "classics", that would be fun and a good source of debate. ------------- 
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Posted By: Queen By-Tor
Date Posted: June 21 2009 at 02:36
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Because it's fun
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Posted By: Toaster Mantis
Date Posted: June 21 2009 at 03:27
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If you have an unpopular opinion on a well-known album, of course. Let's face it, every fan of a specific genre has a handful of "classics" he or she doesn't think are as great as everyone says. ------------- "The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook |
Posted By: friso
Date Posted: June 21 2009 at 06:23
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Muhatma Ghandi: "Even if you are in the minority of one, the thruth is still the truth."
This justifies all. Even 'clever and different' guys like me.
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