I was hoping that maybe we could do the top albums with write-ups/blurbs for each of the top albums. Here is the way I did it last year. I thought it was a good idea but I was hoping for more participation than I ended up receiving. I don’t have the time to do it again this year so first I wanted to see if there was someone out there that wanted to compile it. This person chooses the write-up for each album and can also write a few write-ups themselves.

My ambitious goal is to have write-ups for each of the top forty albums (maybe 50.) I would also like to have the person that chooses to do this, work closely with L.R. on the album’s list. This means that people submit a few write-ups for albums they would like to be chosen for. Naturally, nobody knows where the albums will rank but people can still submit write-ups for their favorite albums starting now. They can PM them to whichever person chooses to do this and that person does the rest. So when Jan. 15 rolls around, L.R. can tally up the totals, send this person the results and then both the final list and write-ups can be unveiled at the same time.

I sure hope all of this makes sense. I don’t know if this is asking too much but like I said, it is ambitious but I think it could work with some patience, hard-work, participation and support. If hardly any people want to do it, too many think it’s a hassle, or even worse, if nobody even wants to compile this, then I will just delete this thread and we can forget about it. I do hope this idea can see its fruition though.

I'd love to write some blurbs. I don't understand the compilation process entirely, and am going to be fairly busy over Christmas break, so I don't want to volunteer myself beyond my capacity. But I'd love to help however I can.

I'd like to take the job, if no one else's heart is set on it. I generally write blurbs for my own top 10/20 so I'll already have a few written up and I'll take any submissions that anyone wants to do.

That’s great guys, one volunteer to compile them and one to write a few write-ups already. It looks like this will work, I just hope that people really do contribute.

As for the compilation process, it’s pretty easy. We’ll PM our write-ups/blurbs to Chamberk and we will each choose however many albums to do write-ups for. You can write for 30 albums, 5 albums or even 1 album but it’s up to Chamberk to choose whichever ones he wants. The criteria that I used last year was a combination of seniority, forum contribution, writing quality and first come, first serve basis. Naturally, Chamberk will have the last say on which blurb he uses for each album and he can use the format I used or employ a different one. I would also like to extend how long the blurbs are this year. Five or six sentences seem good and word count could be between 90-120 words.

So yes, Chamberk you can do it, you can PM me with any other questions you have and then everyone else can submit their write-ups when they are ready. One of the issues might be that we won’t know what the final tally will be until Jan. 15 but that shouldn’t be a problem. You can just submit your write-ups now or whenever and if your album doesn’t make the final 40 or 50 then it’s OK. I would like to get a lot of involvement though—Chamberk should be complaining about how much work it is! I know that we have a lot of talented writers here and a lot of members. Last year I had about ten contributors and there is no reason why we shouldn’t have at least 30 members contribute to this—especially if you have been a member for at least a year or are a Jedi, should contribute. If we do get that many, then applying write-ups for the top 50 albums should be a breeze.

I hope that explains everything, from here on out Chamberk can PM me any questions he has and everyone else can now direct all questions to him, either through here or PM. I will be contributing as well and I hope a lot of you do the same.

I'll definitely write something up. I'm just sad that Liars' album is not in the top 20 or I'd pick to write about it.

quote:

Originally posted by Gravity's Rainbow:
I'll definitely write something up. I'm just sad that Liars' album is not in the top 20 or I'd pick to write about it.

Well, for one, FKA is planning on doing more than the top 20, perhaps as many as the top 50. I'm also considering doing a separate write-up thread consisting of albums that made users' top 10s (or maybe top 20s) but did not make the MC top 50. I think it would be a very interesting way for some of us to introduce some of our favorite lesser known artists.

quote:

I'm also considering doing a separate write-up thread consisting of albums that made users' top 10s (or maybe top 20s) but did not make the MC top 50. I think it would be a very interesting way for some of us to introduce some of our favorite lesser known artists.

good idea. i'll be an attentive reader.

I will do some write ups, just don't know if any of my albums will make the top 50...

Chamberk, I'd be more than glad to write about Neon Bible or any of the albums on my list that no one else takes. I'd especially like Neon Bible since I've obsessed over it all year, and it's my #1. Just let me know what you need and when you need it and I'll do it.

Well, the submission format that FKA suggested sounds like the best way of doing it for me. Send me a PM with your write-up of Neon Bible (or whatever else album you want to do) and I'll slot it in the list. As a fellow admirer of Neon Bible, SDF, I can imagine that you'd do it justice. If there's competition over a spot, I'd probably give it to someone depending on the quality of their submission and their amount of participation on the forums.

I myself am going to call dibs on Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog. The rest of the field is wide open.

I have been doing write-ups for my top 20 already anyway, I definitely have a ton of blurbs ready to go whenever.

I'd be willing to submit a few blurbs too. I may have missed it, but if the final list won't be compiled until after the 15th, when will the blurbs be due?

Just start turning in your blurbs now until the 15th. Of course, no one will know what will end up where but that shouldn’t stop people from writing about their favorite albums. Just send the blurbs to Chamberk so he can start piecing things together.

That’s a big problem I had last year. People didn’t want to submit their blurbs until after the final list was posted. However, nobody cared about 2006 anymore in late January. The deadline is already too late as it is so setting another deadline towards the end of January is just too late. So I say people should send in their write-ups from now until January 15.

Plus, L.R. is pretty good about updating the list so people can follow it to see which albums are where. For example, I doubt the top 20 or so will drop completely out of the top 50.

I'll write up anything you need. Remember last year, when I sent you a 500+ word piece on Dylan's Modern Times, and then you asked me, "Why did you send me that?"

I guess I'm supposed to take the Birdman's, to start?

MC lists the top 30 albums of 2007. Am I missing something, or is there no way to extend the list at this point (to top 40, 50, all albums etc.)

If you do the top 40 or 50, Crowded House's "Time On Earth" might be on there...I'd gladly do a write-up of that one.

quote:

Originally posted by mark f humbug:
I'll write up anything you need. Remember last year, when I sent you a 500+ word piece on Dylan's Modern Times, and then you asked me, "Why did you send me that?"

I guess I'm supposed to take the Birdman's, to start?

Oh man, that is so funny. I had forgotten about that and when you mentioned it, I couldn’t stop laughing. That particular PM you speak of is the first one I ever received/sent on these forums and I still have it. And yes, it is exactly how you depicted; you sent a 500+ review and I succinctly said, “That’s a nice review but why did you send me that?” And in cool, mark fashion, you said “um, am I an idiot or weren’t people who wanted to write about the top 20 albums supposed to send you this?” That’s so funny.

And yes, you are doing Bird’s. When I PM’d Chamberk, I had already told him that you are doing it, sorry I didn’t ask before but I had a hunch you wouldn’t mind

If nobody else has claimed it, I'll do the Radiohead write up just so I can listen to it more.

Actually, Radiohead's been snagged already. Maybe I should start a list of "reserved" albums?

Also, I've received a bundle of write-ups from one member, but no one else has sent in any blurbs yet!

I'd say send in from 1 to 5 short blurbs about the length of what FKA suggested (5 to 6 sentences, 100-150 words) for the albums that you'd like to do. If you call dibs on an album I'll give it to you, most likely. And like FKA and I have discussed, certain folks who have let their feelings be known about certain albums will probably be given precedence - for example, Mark for Andrew Bird, Sinister for Challengers, sk for Arctic Monkeys - if they want it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Chamberk,

I would like to do either Sky Blue Sky or Wincing the Night Away. That's assuming others haven't snagged them, or that they actually make the top howevermanythislistwillinclude.

BTW, I did Islands last year.

Alright, here's the dibs list so far... if I've missed you, shout out. And if there's an album you want to do and it hasn't been claimed, for god's sakes tell me!

FKA - Bon Iver, Radiohead, Okkervil River, Panda Bear, Spoon
Mark - Andrew Bird
me - Iron & Wine
SDF - Arcade Fire
L Spencer - Sunset Rubdown
Il Mago - Shins, Wilco

in limbo has also sent me a good number of write-ups for plenty of albums, and I'm pretty sure I'll take his submissions for Blonde Redhead and Menomena at least, unless someone is dying to do one. (in limbo, if there's one you'd dearly like for me to use, let me know!)

The rest of the stuff is wide open; there are certain albums that I'd probably save for people who've been raving about them all year (sk and Favorite Worst Nightmare, I'm looking at you!) but if you don't call dibs we might have to give them to the first to call them. So speak up!