IAJP: The Fatal Sputnik Flaw

liledman 07.27.10	staff review whats most popular, because those albums get the most hits, so they would rather have the "more professional" reviews repping the site. but really, does it matter? review what you love, what you feel like people need to hear... more useful than having 15 reviews for a popular album.
IAJP 07.27.10	i do appreciate that man but it just seems like the site has been taken to a point where it's too professional. sputnik to me was always about the users and now that albums are just being sold off to the staff it seems like the point of it is now done. don't get me wrong, i like reviewing obscure albums but y'know who's to say i wouldn't want to review the new knife album or whatever. it seems like the staff are getting the best of everything (and maybe for the right reasons, i dunno), including best picks of album, and best quantity and quality of feedback due to the albums they review being more high profile than say, red mecca by cabaret voltaire. just seems really unfair, not, as i say, so much on me, but on everyone else as well.
Deviant. 07.27.10	I'm not exactly complaining, I got a review featured on the front page atm. Just because you're not going to be the first to review the new Arcade Fire isn't going to stop people noticing/reading when you are legitimately allowed to review it yourself. And while its nice to be that
LaCosaNostra13 07.27.10	stop crying
Deviant. 07.27.10	And while its nice to be that guy to do an album first, at the end of the day who cares?
IAJP 07.27.10	Deviant.: i know the whole 'you can still review an album after it's been done' thing exists, and that's cool i suppose but it seems not only pointless when it has been done, but it seems actually counter productive, no-one is going to read something that is secondary to what staff have written, is all i'm saying. by making certain users 'staff', it has created an uncrossable boundary for ordinary users, i could see one day this site being just staff reviews because all the ordinary users will not be bothered competing with staff reviews because they will always come 2nd best. lacosanostra13: fuck off
lobby 07.27.10	I agree with this. staff seem to be rushing in with new reviews of new releases of popular albums as soon as they can (cmon, two staff reviews for AF, and it only leaked a few days ago). Personally, I value the opinion of certain users (mostly non-staff) and their digs more so than what is on the front page.
liledman 07.27.10	well see thats another point, there are plenty of people on this site (myself included) who would trust certain reviewers (staff or not) based on their tastes, and therefore be more inclined to read what they have to say.
IAJP 07.27.10	the thing is, this site will always be user generated, so in theory i could now do four consecutive reviews of the knife, arcade fire, big boi and dillinger escape plan, and that would be that. they would undoubtedly get feedback and comments, but they would always be secondary to the staff done reviews, and that is my issue. the average user fills in the gaps of bands who have had their best albums reviewed and that's it, nothing more. the staff rushes out the reviews so quick they completely miss the point of music in general, if you're going to just review everything that is brand new you tend to forget what the fuck ever happened before it, that's this site, and that's a lot of the staff on here.
IAJP 07.27.10	liledman: i totally agree with you on that one, i am the same here to be honest, but i know a lot of the newer users and certainly some staff themselves would rather read the trusted opinion of the staff than of me or any of the other just 'users'.
liledman 07.27.10	"The only thing I really agree with you on IAJP is that if a staff member puts out a review for a new album just when it comes out, their rating plays a major role (not all of it) as to who likes the album and how much." high profile users you would assume would have a bit of influence, and the staff become staff because they have a high profile.
lobby 07.27.10	well, IAJP, get a good taste in music (you already do!), develop a reputation, and people will respect your opinion on music
IAJP 07.27.10	also to add, yeah, the suburbs and the best coast album aren't actually out yet anyway.
liledman 07.27.10	yeah i agree with that too, but i guess its kind of necessary to have some sort of guidance in the form of staff, for the newer users.
DaveyBoy 07.27.10	Unrstand where you are coming from Kraig, but there are (for want of a better term) ways around this. You will find that many of the contributors (Knott, Observer, SeeAnemone, etc...) right now have that status because they have worked this out the best (& I'm including recently promoted staff like Rudy & Adam T). Use the 'Contributors thread' in the forums as a valuable resource. It lists the upcoming new releases early & which albums are going to be reviewed by staff. Trust me, there is a fair bit left over & they can often be some very big releases. Just keep at it man... You'll get noticed if you write on a consistent basis. And maybe try to comment on the reviews of others also. 86 comments against 21 reviews is telling in a way.
IAJP 07.27.10	what i meant by that 36 (Sorry) was that when an album gets reviewed by a member of staff users tend to ignore other reviews of it, sorry if that came out a bit jumbled i'm on me lunch break here heh..
IAJP 07.27.10	just to clear up i'm not bemoaning my lack of high profile release reviews (in fairness i enjoy doing fairly unheard of or bizarre releases), i just feel a bit like the site has lost it's value as user generated content if it's predictable which member of staff will do which review, it kind of ruins the site for new users who will have a mighty tough time in getting into the sites format whatsoever
Zip 07.27.10	Are you capable of writing comments shorter than novel length?
DaveyBoy 07.27.10	Zip, you asking me or IAJP? If me, then you already know the answer to that; NO. Chapter 2: The hills were alive with the sound of music... The End.
witchxrapist 07.27.10	The staff review big names, but I've gotten stuff before them, like both Graves Of Valor albums, September 22nd, etc. :D Just gotta keep it real.
IAJP 07.27.10	another classic short witty rebuke from one of sputnik's most notorious trolls, to answer zip, no i'm not.
witchxrapist 07.27.10	IAJP, are you capable of listening to music that isn't recommended on Pitchfork?
IAJP 07.27.10	if you're basing my music taste on the stuff i've put here you're a fucking idiot. check out my profile for more info, i was using these as examples of new music that the staff jumped on instantaneously, not of 'Mi FaV bAnDzZzZ'.
LaCosaNostra13 07.27.10	IAJP, are you capable of not crying about trivial shit?
Willie 07.27.10	I see your point, but I think you're making it to be more than it is. Ask the contribs and even some of the general users and you'll see that there are still a lot of new releases available and we never hesitate to feature one of their reviews when it is well done. Also, if this list is a reaction to the dibs list that I publish in the forums, just know that a lot of the time the staff reviews are either late or don't show up at all which gives someone else's review a chance for a feature. As for the Big Boi being stickied for weeks, that's an issue with Best New Music and a solution is being worked on.
IAJP 07.27.10	nah man i wasn't aware of a dibs list even existing to be fair! so that probably invalidates this post, i just think it's a bit silly sometimes considering that this is a website with users who actively post reviews that some should get more exposure than all Willie, that's all dawg.
IAJP 07.27.10	make the dibs thread easier to find
IAJP 07.27.10	and although i just found it in the sputnik sub-forum on MX, i don't really go on the forums as much these days, and i can speak for a lot of other people on here with regards for that too.
Willie 07.27.10	Getting exposure for the user reviews is a priority for Mx, actually. I don't know how long you've been here, but within the last year Mx made the user reviews more prominent and added more space to keep the reviews on the front page longer. Also, it is possible to be featured for a new release as a general user (as Deviant pointed out). The weekly news highlighting the week's releases is kind of a helpful prompt to let users know which albums are coming out if they'd like to try to write on a new release.
IAJP 07.27.10	yeah i've been on MX for about 6 years, though obviously not consistently at all. i must stress though i don't really want to do a load of brand new releases just for the sake of it, i like doing the stuff i do but i do sometimes get a bit fed up of seeing just the same staff member doing the same genre and new releases all the time.
Willie 07.27.10	--i must stress though i don't really want to do a load of brand new releases just for the sake of it, i like doing the stuff i do but i do sometimes get a bit fed up of seeing just the same staff member doing the same genre and new releases all the time.-- It's a double-edged sword. It might get predictable but it's also what allows the staff to build up a reputation for being knowledgable in certain genres. I know it doesn't really mean anything, but I had well over 100 reviews before I ever got a feature. It didn't really bother me because I was reviewing all the old shit that I love.
IAJP 07.27.10	that's very true of me Willie, i don't much care for being a contributor or member of staff because the people who appreciate my reviews tend to be those who have similar tastes as me. d'you see where i'm coming from though, when a certain staff member is just reviewing all the new stuff, it will surely put new users off the site amongst others because they feel as if they haven't got a chance of being read or gaining feedback (Which is what this site's all about really)...i just use it as a tool to share my reviews with likeminded people and maybe get someone to listen to an album they wouldn't have considered listening to.
Kiran 07.27.10	the best coast album has been leaked for like 3 weeks, i have had ample time to digest it and intellectually analyze its many layers and interpretations chill if you think staff are stealing all the new music, you arent well informed on how much music is out there
Meatplow 07.27.10	idk I still can't get over this notion of sputnik being an "inferior" site to other music communities such as RYM, though it still has elements that make me want to stick around help improve it as there is so much potential here. I don't review much, i'm mostly in it to add and rate albums to help keep track of stuff I like as well as discuss music with other users. Popular albums written by staff will always be flagged and commented on the most, but I don't think is a reason to just give up as if you start writing quality reviews of niches not covered here it's still a contribution that other users can refer to and that can be stumbled upon in a google search and inspire other people with similar interests to join.
Willie 07.27.10	I see where you're coming from and I have had those discouraging moments too - where you post a review and in less than an hour it's off the front page. That's where lists, shoutboxes and commenting on other reviews will help. If people don't recognize a band name but do recognize the user name they're more likely to click on the review anyway. Just post more comments and build some name recognition.
IAJP 07.27.10	you're missing my point i you start thinking i don't know how much new music is out there, i am well aware. this has nothing to do with music in any sense - bizarre as that sounds. it's about exposure, and the simple fact of the matter is, hyped albums are reviewed on here, hype generates discussion and discussion generates feedback. how can anyone be expected to be excited about..for example the savannah jo lack album which is released today, when the majority haven't heard about it?
Kiran 07.27.10	er, realized my post sounded a bit annoyed - i'm not. just saying that there is ample opportunity to find and review music that you like without being overshadowed by staff or contributors.
IAJP 07.27.10	it's not so much discouraging to me meat/willie, i know for a fact the former enjoys my reviews (heh!) and that is encouraging in itself, would be nice to see a featured album from someone new or something though i dunno
Willie 07.27.10	Deviant is new and is featured right now.
Willie 07.27.10	New as in not always featured.
IAJP 07.27.10	haha don't worry guys i'm not annoyed and nor am i upset or any of that stuff, i will continue finding (what are, in my opinion,) classic albums and reviewing them, if not only to add to the comprehensive database of this site, just sometimes i feel like the site is fraternized and maybe a monopoly put upon albums that will be guaranteed to raise the most debate (M.I.A., arcade fire, big boi to name three). despite a lot of the fuckwitts on this site it will always seem to me a place to go to talk about music who are equally nerdy and passionate about it as i am.
Meatplow 07.27.10	if a review is written around release time and submitted within that week, you can request in the mod thread for a feature and if it is slow they might just do it (it has happened to me before). also i'm pretty sure staff members have read reviews of new releases by users and put them up as without being asked from time to time.
LaCosaNostra13 07.27.10	If you're not annoyed or upset, then why are you crying?
IAJP 07.27.10	yer meaty, i agree. i can't remember if in the past there were staff or what have you, but a simple trawl through my history reveals some pretty disgraceful 14 year old TbT reviews of the doors, black sabbath and napalm death..ha
Meatplow 07.27.10	funny you should mention your review of Cabaret Voltaire, before I started regularly using sputnik I was dismayed to find they hadn't even been added to the database, and even Throbbing Gristle had one or two lousy additions. Other first wave industrial like SPK, Boyd Rice/NON, Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft, Monte Cazazza and Test Dept. were a non-entity, joining a music community and releasing none of the stuff you listen to is up here is a bit discouraging. Still, things are in motion. IAJP, you should drop by this thread maybe you would like to help out if you want to improve this site and have the time - http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581627
Meatplow 07.27.10	realising* even
Slum 07.27.10	Sputnik's fatal flaw is too much complaining.
IAJP 07.27.10	hah yeah meaty the site is like a playground if you like some types of music, was bemused red mecca, deceit and flowers of romance hadn't been reviewed...i'm gonna review new york by lou reed next i think. i will stop by that thread man thanks a lot.
StreetlightRock 07.27.10	Fair critique. But - I think it's fair to say that despite your point, I don't think I've actaully seen such a strong community here. There's been alot of threads/lists in the last month or so about "drama" and complaints and stuff, but the cool thing is, the only reason anything like that is appearing is because there's a community to complain about and there's people enough to create that "drama". Two years ago this was John and Chan's playground because it was essentially a dead zone, and the only reason they don't run the site is because they don't need to anymore - it runs itself. As for staff reviews, the whole point of them is pretty much your exact criticism. They are MEANT to be featured over regular users; they are MEANT to review things earlier than other users. The reason is fairly benign and isn't down to ego so much as audience draw. Keeping a stratospheric system of 'staff' and 'users' means we get taken -that- much more seriously, even if it is - in the end - all a bit of a farce. But the initial point is the draw readers. This isn't all good and we sacrifice a hint of community, but it's made up by the fact that what we lose in quality is made up in quantity of users. And they in turn feed into quality. And if you've been here long enough, it's arguable that it's worked to make the site a more buzzing place than it has ever been. You lose some, but we (as a website) win more. And most of the staff are pretty chill dudes and good writers. The staff hating parade will disagree, but we really aren't all that terrible.
SpottedTrout 07.27.10	I feel that what your describing is more of a user problem. A problem where they take the staff's view on each album and don't objectively make their own.
Sheeple9000 07.27.10	Quit your bitching and go mow a lawn emofag !
conradtao 07.27.10	Your criticism is valid but I don't think it's entirely correct. Yeah, users don't get features particularly often but I've done five reviews and for every single record I was the first one to review it. If that means so much to you, it isn't hard.. just get the record when it leaks and review it. BTW, Best Coast was officially released today. Just sayin'.
Spec 07.27.10	Who cares? You can review the album too and get tons of views.
VicariousIntent 07.27.10	Users can still have featured reviews for new albums. The new 36 Crazyfists review is a good example of that. Just keep reviewing.
Torii 07.28.10	Whoa so much words in the comments.
Sowing 07.28.10	become staff. problem solved.
Zizzer 07.28.10	Actually people don't follow staff opinions quite often. I can think of several albums recently off the top of my head where the staff review had a different opinion than most users.