Album Rating: 5.0

How many times have you listened to this one Pika?

Album Rating: 2.0

Five times, yesterday was last.

Album Rating: 5.0

Yeah, you need to live with this a while if you like LCW - took me weeks, maybe months, to really get into this one



Although at no point getting to know it would I have rated it a 2/5 so you might just be genre rating - which is fine, I genre rate from time to time (chart pop and brootal death metal for example, are two styles I never really enjoy the fundamental ‘sound’) - but to claim these songs are actively bad within their genre is...nah

Album Rating: 5.0

Man, I wish the run of the mill indie bands in my country sounded half as good as Built to Spill's PFNO.

Album Rating: 2.0

You can't really say I'm genre-rating, because I have the band's other albums at 3.5+. Genre-rating is stupid anyway, I mean, why listen to it in the first place then? Also, I don't really rate albums based on how they rank within certain groups, the only thing that really determines the score is my enjoyment. In this case, it's not a hate score, it's more of a "this does nothing for me" score.



If it takes this long to get into an album, I don't usually bother with it. Just imagine putting 20-30 hours into an album you're trying to like when there are other records that hit you right away. I am not saying instant gratification is the way to go, but usually three-four listens should suffice for me to tell if I like something or not. Maybe I should come back to it in a year or so, because yeah, opinions/perception can be funny that way.

Album Rating: 2.0

It's kind of annoying too, because I actually like the band's other output.

Album Rating: 5.0

I get maybe that someone would prefer TLCW, it's a great record, and it's more immediate. But I can't wrap my head around someone rating this as poor who doesn't dislike the band, it's like it should at least be considered average. It's so diverse, and the lyrics are top notch, and the record sounds so good, like just the perfect amount of studio trickery.

Album Rating: 2.0

If you check my rating distribution, you'll notice I don't really give out many 3s and 3.5s. I don't have many albums that I think are just "okay."

Album Rating: 5.0

Fair enough. Side note (I've never really been very active here) - Am I one of the only people who interprets 3.5 as a pretty good score?

Album Rating: 2.0

It's supposed to be, but I think most people tend to revisit albums they rated 4 and higher.

Album Rating: 3.0

Yeah wtf is 'genre rating' - don't give stuff a free pass because it's not your usual tipple, just rate on enjoyment. As Pika says, if he likes other MM releases that point isn't entirely accurate anyway.

@fogza: I consider 3.5 a strong score, but that doesn't appear to be the general consensus. I regularly listen to/revisit my 3.5s and am happy to recommend them, for the majority the cut-off for that sort of thing appears to be one step higher.

Album Rating: 5.0

Ok, thanks for the heads up, don't think it will change my scoring. It's just weird when I see someone rate something a 4 and then comment like it's a massive disappointment.

Album Rating: 3.0

Yeah that's weird, unless they're your favourite artist ever, then the disappointment could be considered relative. I'm always wary of users that have crazy high averages, to each their own though. Some people apparently hardly bother rating anything below a certain level, so in those instances you would have a naturally inflated average, which is understandable.

Album Rating: 5.0

Pika this album is slightly different in its song writing approach and sound so effectively that is genre rating.



In other words you aren’t rating on inherent quality - you’re rating on whether you like the sound/song writing style at all.



If you’re judging on inherent quality then I think you’re wrong.



If you don’t like the approach (something close to genre rating) I have more sympathy

Album Rating: 5.0

fogza - Most 3.5’s I revisit and I always joke ‘some of my favourite albums are 3.5’ in that I still like and listen to some 3.5s but there’s something stopping them getting a higher rating (Maybe Side A is way better than Side B? etc)



Every third album I listen to (statistically speaking) gets a 3.5

Album Rating: 4.5

This is way more accessible and immediate than LCW in my opinion.

Album Rating: 5.0

The sound is more accessible, the structure of the album maybe less accessible :/

Album Rating: 5.0

TLCW sound more angry and has a kind of bleakness about it, along with heart on its sleeve stuff like Trailer Trash. I could see someone having a more immediate emotional connection as it's more in your face.



TMAA is almost more insidious or sinister, and the lighter moments are maybe more thought provoking rather than straight up emotional. Although I would argue 3rd planet manages to be both. I'd say thematically it's more complex.

Album Rating: 5.0

I much prefer the lyrics on this one, in fact they're probably top 10 album lyrics of all time for me

Album Rating: 2.0

Since I'm the type to not give a damn about lyrics in general, that might explain why this does nothing for me. Also I take back what I said about the first three tracks being the worst - that's going to Lives. And Tiny Cities is great. This album is so uneven in quality, hmm.