The Rating System
I included a description of the ratings way back here because I don't want anybody to take too much stock in them.
It's most important to read the descriptions of the albums, and just let the stars establish
the relative quality of the albums of an individual band. They're out of five stars, but those stars are relative to good metal, not all music. For example, Rage's "The Missing Link" gets five stars. Of course, that's about the best you'll ever get in an album of any type of
music. A band that I don't really like but don't mind listening to, say, Pantera, might get a one star rating.
Rarely will I go under a two star rating (see "Buying") Compare that to someone like Alanis Morisette, who I can't stand, she'd be getting negative stars. My point is, it's all relative.
If this is confusing to you, that's good. I don't even know what I'm talking about. It
just isn't easy rating albums. Anyway, here's a direct breakdown:
- *****
The best. Only a few albums get this rating. Get them. Even if you hate metal. You won't be disappointed.
- ****
An excellent album. It doesn't really have any glaring flaws, it just doesn't quite make five stars. In other words, changing a song or two wouldn't make it five stars. Still buy these too.
- ***
Just because this is the middle doesn't mean it's average. It's average for me, but my tastes are a lot crueler than many people's. I still listen to three star CDs quite regularly.
- **
Ok, now we're getting down there. I won't listen to these quite as much. Probably not worth searching to the ends of the earth for a two-star.
- *
I don't think I give this rating to anything.
Of course, there's half-star ratings in between all those to. Make up your own description.
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Questions, comments, complaints? Let me know:
gregie@students.uiuc.edu