I usually like the albums that have really high scores on metacritic. Some are better then other, but usually I get them. With few exceptions. One is "TV on the Radio"-I'm sorry, I just don't get them. Arctic Monkeys, sure then were hyped but the album is decent if not great.
The most important review for me is Pitchfork. There were some albums that were underrated by others, and Pitchfork got it right(Ex: Blur-13). I do admit that they're a bit hard on the likes of Coldplay, Oasis, even The White Stripes.

Right now, the top three are all questionable with regard to there position, as all three are the types of albums prone to serious critical grade inflation (1 work of a all time master, two solid world ethnic themed albums) that your average indie release isn't going to get.

That said, I like all three albums and am fine with all in the top thirty, just maybe not top three spots.

The only albums I take serious exception too are Sereena Meneesh (Top 30 worthy but continually slipping IMHO and definitely not top ten material), Aloha (Too few reveiws, Doesn't Belong in Top Thirty, with another ten reviews, it wouldn't be there), and Tom Ze's latest, another album getting a huge liberal media overvaluing world ethnic music bump, which I just gave a fourth spin to today and still find to be the year's most annoying releases (though not worst, that title goes to Thursday's A City by Lights Divided).

quote:

Originally posted by Illiniq:
Aloha (Too few reveiws, Doesn't Belong in Top Thirty, with another ten reviews, it wouldn't be there)

I think that Aloha album is pretty damn good. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. It may find it's way on to my top 20 at the end of the year. I actually think it's one of a handful of albums that does deserve to be on that metacritic top-30 list.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:

quote:

Originally posted by Illiniq:
Aloha (Too few reveiws, Doesn't Belong in Top Thirty, with another ten reviews, it wouldn't be there)

I think that Aloha album is pretty damn good. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. It may find it's way on to my top 20 at the end of the year. I actually think it's one of a handful of albums that does deserve to be on that metacritic top-30 list.

I agree. I picked it up right after it came out, but have recently rediscovered it. I agree with you eric that it gets better with repeated listenings. I'm not sure if it will make its way into my top 20, but it will definitely be close.

I think you nerds don't your asses from your elbows. The Arctic Monkey's album is slanted, solid all the way through.

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Originally posted by Bruce Oothout:
I think you nerds don't your asses from your elbows. The Arctic Monkey's album is slanted, solid all the way through.

. You are funny, man.

I think that the 2006 Arctic Monkeys' release is extremely overrated, such stereotypical alternative rock sames goes for Tapes n' Tapes. I also think that "Wolf Like Me" is somewhat overrated, a good album, but not one of my favorites of the year.

quote:

Originally posted by DrAwesome:
I also think that "Wolf Like Me" is somewhat overrated, a good album, but not one of my favorites of the year.

When I first listened to TV on the Radio's album, I may have agreed with you, but it's quickly becoming one of my favorite albums of the year. I think they've managed to create a sound that's truly unique, and the songs really stick with you.

I've always loved "Wolf Like Me" since the day I heard it though. It's so infectious. It's easily in my top 5 songs released this year.

I also love Tapes 'N Tapes and the Arctic Monkeys, though I won't totally disagree with you that neither is breaking a ton of new ground with their releases. I still think both bands do what they do very well though, and considering both were self produced/self released albums, they're pretty impressive.

Sorry I actually meant "Return to Cookie Mountain" the single "Wolf Like Me" is by far my favorite track on the CD. I don't hate the CD and I listen to it once and awhile, but it just didn't live up the the high review numbers IMO.

Not enough time now to unpack all the reasons why, but I think "Return To Cookie Mountain" lives up to the hype -- perhaps even exceeds it. And I didn't like their debut album at all.

Having said that, "Wolf Like Me" does tower over everything else on the album. That song is like a coiled fist, manically twitching and fluttering about threateningly. It's one of the best songs of the year.

I've listened to Modern Times quite a few times now and I definitely do not understand the high praise. Yes, it's a good album, yes, the lyrics are great (as usual), but it's not among his best. The production is plain, the instruments needs more space and the songs just aren't as good as the ones he normally delivers. Compared to his last two albums it's kind of pale.

I'm sort of with you krea. I think Modern Times is on par with Dylan's last two efforts, but as I've said before, new Dylan just doesn't excite me. I can still listen to his '60s output and be blown away. I still crave those albums from time-to-time. On the other hand, I don't remember the last time I've had a burning desire to listen to Time Out of Mind or Love and Theft. I imagine I'll forget about Modern Times in a year or so too. Dylan's stil good, he's just not as great as he once was.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
I don't remember the last time I've had a burning desire to listen to Time Out of Mind or Love and Theft.

I do. I think it was earlier today.

Actually I really really like Dylan's new stuff. Love and Theft rocked, I probably like it more than his 60's releases to be honest.
As for this whole "World" business:

Ali Farka Toure = way overrated .
Tropicalia Revolution in Sound = not overrated.
Tom Ze = overrated.

Rap has been gettin good this year ! (listening to Lupe Fiasco)

quote:

As for this whole "World" business:

Ali Farka Toure = way overrated . CONCUR - Though I still kinda like it
Tropicalia Revolution in Sound = not overrated. CONCUR - this is a fantastic collection.
Tom Ze = overrated. Do Not CONCUR - WAY OVERRATED - one of the most annoying releases of the year.

And if we throw in the Congotronics CDS - OVERRATED BEYOND BELIEF - an African METAL MACHINE MUSIC.

Truth be told, this is the one Bugaboo of having a predominently liberal slant with music critics, they can't help themselves but to give these "Cultural" releases a higher than legitimate score "because they're important".

As I've said before...Ethnic releases, New albums from Legendary Artists, and super niched stuff that only gets 10-12 reviews(ie. Isolee from last year) are the three categories of albums that are most prone to collective grade inflation on metacritic.

What does being liberal have to do with it?

What, right-wingers hate world music?

Liberal is to the political world what indie is to the music world. A word that has lost all meaning that gets thrown around by people who don't really get what it means.

quote:

Originally posted by Illiniq:
As I've said before...Ethnic releases, New albums from Legendary Artists, and super niched stuff that only gets 10-12 reviews(ie. Isolee from last year) are the three categories of albums that are most prone to collective grade inflation on metacritic.

I've gotta say that I pretty much agree with Illiniq here.

And when did that "Hide Post" button appear? I've never noticed it before.

quote:

Originally posted by Illiniq:
[QUOTE] As for this whole "World" business:

And if we throw in the Congotronics CDS - OVERRATED BEYOND BELIEF - an African METAL MACHINE MUSIC.

Blah blah blah. Bit dramatic to call it "African Metal Machine Music". I really don't care if you dislike it, but all the people I'm sure you swear by—you don't strike me as an Entertainment Weekly reader—weighed in on Konono N°1, and 'Fork's 79 is the lowest score.

Those damn liberal critics and their universal acclaim for the likembe's 1500-year history!

Way to show that brain off though.

It's surprising how high The Hold Steady is currently rating on Metacritic (91). The average from the five scores it's got so far is only 85. Does that mean Metacritic gives a lot of weight to P4K reviews and not much to Cokemachineglow?

quote:

Originally posted by Thisheregiraffe:
Does that mean Metacritic gives a lot of weight to P4K reviews and not much to Cokemachineglow?

Yes