The Album Review Club - Week #102 (page 1199) - Pocket Symphony

[RobMCFC]

Another music voting thread!

Several people have commented that the randomizer in @BlueHammer85 's Top 1100 album review thread isn't doing a great job of selecting albums.
Some people have suggested that we'd be better selecting the albums ourselves.
I would argue that the randomizer is doing a perfect job - it's completely random after all - but I understand the sentiment.

However, it got me thinking: given that some of us spend a lot of time on the thread, wouldn't it be nice if we were reviewing and commenting on albums that meant something to us? Even better, we could get an insight into why an album means so much to the person who selected it.

Blue Moon Forums - Album Review Club Scoreboard	Date	29/11/2023
Pos	Nominator	Week #	Page #	Album	Artist	Year	#Votes	Average
1	OB1	67	815	Naturally	J.J.Cale	1971	14	8.14
2	GoatersLeftShin	61	678	Revolver	The Beatles	1966	18	7.83
3	Mancitydoogle	87	1038	Live Drugs	The War On Drugs	2020	8	7.75
4	Gaudion M	76	921	Cold Fact	Rodriguez	1970	11	7.73
5	BlueHammer85	48	492	The Queen is Dead	The Smiths	1986	15	7.67
6	OB1	83	1007	Live and Dangerous	Thin Lizzy	1978	14	7.61
7	threespires	88	1043	Talking With The Taxman About Poetry	Billy Bragg	1986	10	7.60
8	BlueHammer85	94	1111	Ten	Pearl Jam	1991	12	7.51
9	OB1	5	70	Physical Graffiti	Led Zeppelin	1975	19	7.47
10	Mancitydoogle	100	1164	This is the Sea	The Waterboys	1985	14	7,46
11	bennyboy	51	541	Car Wheels on a Gravel Road	Lucinda Williams	1998	16	7.44
12	OB1	96	1136	Rainbow Rising	Rainbow	1976	13	7.42
13	Coatigan	98	1149	V	The Budos Band	2019	11	7.18
14	GoatersLeftShin	89	1053	Live at the Star Club	Jerry Lee Lewis	1964	11	7.14
15	mancity2012_eamo	57	629	Viva Dead Ponies	The Fatima Mansions	1990	11	7.09
16	southamptonblue	44	468	Beautiful Freak	Eels	1996	12	7.08
17	RobMCFC	92	1095	American Man	The Yawpers	2015	12	7.08
18	RobMCFC	1	11	The Lonesome Jubilee	John Cougar Mellencamp	1987	19	7.05
19	stoneblue	97	1142	Feats Don't Fail Me Now	Little Feat	1974	12	7.00
20	FogBlueInSanFran	80	979	Siren	Roxy Music	1975	14	6.93
21	BimboBob	77	928	The Battle at Garden's Gate	Greta Van Fleet	2021	10	6.90
22	bennyboy	82	1001	Radio City	Big Star	1974	9	6.89
23	Saddleworth2	35	392	10cc	10cc	1973	16	6.88
24	FogBlueInSanFran	2	24	Let It Be	The Replacements	1984	14	6.86
25	threespires	74	901	Strong Persuader	Robert Cray	1986	13	6.85
26	BimboBob	58	639	The Colour of Spring	Talk Talk	1986	12	6.83
27	BlueHammer85	3	40	The Masterplan	Oasis	1998	18	6.81
28	Mancitydoogle	14	200	Southeastern	Jason Isbell	2013	10	6.80
29	Bill Walker	24	310	Bare Wires	John Mayall's Bluesbreakers	1968	10	6.80
30	Saddleworth2	4	54	Before The Dawn	Kate Bush	2014	14	6.79
31	Saddleworth2	84	1016	The Wild, The Innocent and the E-Street Shuffle	Bruce Springsteen	1973	13	6.77
32	FogBlueInSanFran	93	1102	The Tubes	The Tubes	1975	13	6.77
33	Marklr	8	111	Foxtrot	Genesis	1972	20	6.75
34	GoatersLeftShin	75	914	What's Going On	Marvin Gaye	1971	14	6.75
35	denislawsbackheel	55	606	Flat Baroque and Berserk	Roy Harper	1970	15	6.73
36	GornikDaze	91	1089	Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?	Fantastic Negrito	2020	9	6.72
37	RobMCFC	63	775	Living With The Law	Chris Whitley	1991	14	6.71
38	Onholiday(somemightsay)	7	99	Rage Against The Machine	Rage Against The Machine	1992	22	6.68
39	OB1	36	402	Moving Pictures	Rush	1981	23	6.65
40	mancity2012_eamo	15	207	Paradise in the Picturehouse	The Stunning	1990	11	6.64
41	Saddleworth2	49	513	The Crossing	Big Country	1983	15	6.63
42	bennyboy	40	444	Lost Songs of the Confederacy	James King and the Lonewolves	2014	12	6.58
43	Saddleworth2	68	827	Purple Rain	Prince	1984	14	6.57
44	mancity2012_eamo	27	329	Irish Tour '74	Rory Gallagher	1974	13	6.54
45	Journolud	71	875	Curtains	Tindersticks	1997	15	6.53
46	RobMCFC	16	217	Earth and Sun and Moon	Midnight Oil	1993	12	6.50
47	KnaresboroughBlue	69	841	Music Complete	New Order	2015	14	6.43
48	GoatersLeftShin	42	455	Hejira	Joni Mitchell	1976	15	6.40
49	KnaresboroughBlue	6	88	Má Vlast	Bedřich Smetana	1874-79	15	6.40
50	bennyboy	25	316	Fuzzy	Grant Lee Buffalo	1993	15	6.40
51	Bill Walker	9	138	Red	King Crimson	1974	17	6.40
52	FogBlueInSanFran	33	372	Candy-O	The Cars	1979	13	6.38
53	BimboBob	38	432	Sule Skerry	Erland Cooper	2019	9	6.33
54	bennyboy	95	1129	Head Over Heels	Cocteau Twins	1983	11	6.32
55	Coatigan	53	577	Painting of a Panic Attack	Frightened Rabbit	2016	16	6.31
56	southamptonblue	31	356	Dogs at Bay	Bad \\ Dreems	2015	14	6.29
57	bennyboy	12	177	Southern Rock Opera	Drive-By Truckers	2001	11	6.27
58	Journolud	86	1029	Twelve Dreams of Dr.Sardonicus	Spirit	1970	10	6.20
59	BlueHammer85	65	797	Chasing Yesterday	Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds	2015	11	6.18
60	bennyboy	66	809	A Black and White Night	Roy Orbison	1989	13	6.15
61	Coatigan	85	1025	Burst and Decay	The Wonder Years	2017	7	6.14
62	BimboBob	22	287	Songs of Faith and Devotion	Depeche Mode	1993	15	6.13
63	Mancitydoogle	41	449	Crazy on the Weekend	Sunhouse	1998	10	6.10
64	denislawsbackheel	72	888	Rough Mix	Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane	1977	10	6.10
65	RobMCFC	79	972	Girlfriend	Matthew Sweet	1991	11	6.09
66	Saddleworth2	19	247	Jordan: The Comeback	Prefab Sprout	1990	12	6.08
67	FogBlueInSanFran	17	226	Welcome Interstate Managers	Fountains of Wayne	2003	14	6.07
68	threespires	60	667	Stand	Sly and the Family Stone	1969	14	6.07
69	RobMCFC	32	364	So Runs The World Away	Josh Ritter	2010	11	6.00
70	Coatigan	43	463	Puzzle	Biffy Clyro	2007	11	6.00
71	GornikDaze	62	739	Doolittle	Pixies	1989	19	5.97
72	GornikDaze	78	963	Degüello	ZZ Top	1979	14	5.92
73	FogBlueInSanFran	64	792	Under The Big Black Sun	X	1982	13	5.92
74	Mancitydoogle	73	896	Warren Zevon	Warren Zevon	1976	11	5.91
75	OB1	50	525	Women and Children First	Van Halen	1980	18	5.88
76	Mancitydoogle	56	621	Hard Station	Paul Brady	1981	13	5.85
77	Mancitydoogle	26	323	New York	Lou Reed	1989	14	5.82
78	KnaresboroughBlue	37	425	Rusalka	Antonín Dvořák	1900	11	5.82
79	Journolud	13	188	Gypsy Blood	Doll By Doll	1979	14	5.79
80	FogBlueInSanFran	47	485	Last Splash	The Breeders	1993	13	5.77
81	Journolud	23	302	Aldous Harding	Aldous Harding	2014	12	5.75
82	Bill Walker	45	476	From This Place	Pat Metheny	2020	8	5.75
83	Coatigan	70	853	So Much for the Afterglow	Everclear	1997	15	5.67
84	Journolud	99	1154	Astral Weeks	Van Morrison	1968	14	5.64
85	BlueHammer85	18	240	A Century Ends	David Gray	1993	13	5.62
86	Coatigan	30	352	Given to the Wild	The Maccabees	2012	9	5.56
87	Journolud	54	591	American Gothic	David Ackles	1972	17	5.47
88	KnaresboroughBlue	52	559	At Budokan (Live)	Bob Dylan	1978	13	5.46
89	Journolud	39	439	The Magical Record of Blue Orchids	Blue Orchids	2019	10	5.40
90	southamptonblue	59	650	A Graveyard of Empty Bottles	The Dogs D'Amour	1989	13	5.38
91	BlueHammer85	34	378	Once (OST)	Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova	2006	14	5.36
92	RobMCFC	46	481	King Swamp	King Swamp	1989	15	5.27
93	BlueHammer85	81	987	Surrender	The Chemical Brothers	1999	13	5.27
94	GoatersLeftShin	11	169	Planetary Unfolding	Michael Stearns	1981	18	5.00
95	OB1	20	255	Destroyer	KISS	1976	16	5.00
96	Gaudion M	90	1060	Songs of Her's	Her's	2017	9	4.89
97	denislawsbackheel	28	337	Death of a Ladies' Man	Leonard Cohen	1977	14	4.71
98	denislawsbackheel	10	151	The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter	The Incredible String Band	1968	15	4.52
99	KnaresboroughBlue	21	276	Voice	Eyeless In Gaza	1993	14	4.50
100	GoatersLeftShin	29	347	All Possible Futures	Miami Horror	2015	12	4.33
101	threespires	101	1181	A Grand Don't Come For Free	The Streets	2004	16	4.06

Ground rules

1. Let me know if you want to nominate an album. Don't say what the album is yet as we want a bit of mystery and anticipation.
2. A schedule of nominators will be maintained in this post so people know when their nomination is due to appear.
3. Each Tuesday, a nominator will give a review of their album and tell us why it means so much to them. You do not get to score on your own album
4. All other members score the album 1-10 (0 or less will be rounded up to 1) and comment/discuss at will.
5. Voting will continue until the following Monday when votes will be counted and scoreboard on page 1 updated.
6. Once all regular and new contributors have nominated, everybody can have a 2nd choice and we'll carry on until every album ever made has been reviewed. Or until people get bored.

Obviously I can't enforce this, but it would be nice if everybody who wants to nominate joins in reviewing and scoring other nominations.

Nominators List

Round #7

13/09/2023 GornikDaze
20/09/2023 RobMCFC
27/09/2023 FogBlueInSanFran
04/10/2023 BlueHammer85
11/10/2023 bennyboy
18/10/2023 OB1
25/10/2023 stoneblue
01/11/2023 Coatigan
08/11/2023 journolud
15/11/2023 Mancitydoogle
22/11/2023 threespires
29/11/2023 GoatersLeftShin
06/12/2023 *** tbd ***
13/12/2023 BimboBob

*** Christmas Break ***

03/01/2024 LGWIO
10/01/2024 denislawsbackheel
17/01/2024 southamptonblue
24/01/2024 Black&White&BlueMoon Town


Previous nominators not on the current list

Saddleworth2
KnaresboroughBlue
Mancity2012_eamo
Bill Walker
Marklr
Gareth Barry Conlon (aka Gaudion M)

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Another music voting thread!

Several people have commented that the randomizer in @BlueHammer85 's Top 1100 album review thread isn't doing a great job of selecting albums.
Some people have suggested that we'd be better selecting the albums ourselves.
I would argue that the randomizer is doing a perfect job - it's completely random after all - but I understand the sentiment.

However, it got me thinking: given that some of us spend a lot of time on the thread, wouldn't it be nice if we were reviewing and commenting on albums that meant something to us? Even better, we could get an insight into why an album means so much to the person who selected it.
I agree with @FogBlueInSanFran 's comment that this should NOT replace BlueHammer85 's excellent album thread, but should run alongside it.
Therefore I want to make continued contributions to that thread a qualifying requirement for nominating in the new thread.

With this in mind, I have come up with a list of ground rules, all of which are up for debate and modification as others see fit.

Ground rules

1. A list of nominators will be drawn up for the next phase (between 6 and 12 weeks, depending on the number of nominators available).
I will select the first list of nominators, and first nominator, based on contributions to BlueHammer's album review thread.
Members may wish to opt out of being a nominator, which is no problem - just let me know.
2. One member will select an album to review each week. They will be given one week's notice to prepare their nomination.
If a member can't participate for the selected week, we'll just re-jig the order as required.
3. A new album will appear on Tuesday - seems like a good time when posts on the original thread are running out of steam.
This day may vary, depending on holidays, but I'll try to keep it Tuesday-Monday.
4. The first task for the nominator is to select NEXT WEEK's NOMIMATOR (from the approved list) and then give their review of the album.
Maybe let us know what it means to them. Note that they will NOT cast a vote for obvious reasons.
5. Any member may vote or comment, regardless of nominator status. Voting will use the 1-5 scale (0 or less rounded up to 1).
6. Voting will continue until the following Monday when votes will be counted and scoreboard on page 1 updated.
Page 1 will also be kept up to date with the current and past nominators list.
7. Steps 2 to 6 will be repeated until the current list of nominators is empty.
8. Everybody on the current list of nominators can help decide the next list of nominators.
The exact process is tbd, but it won't be a heavyweight affair! However, regular contributions and scoring on BlueHammer85 's album review thread during the
current phase is a requirement.
9. Repeat steps 2 to 8 until we have a core list of regular contributors as nominators. At this point, members can get a 2nd album choice as we "reset" the list.
I think an ideal number would be 15-26 so that we all select 2-3 albums per year, but let's see how it goes.
10. If I suspect that the new thread is causing a decline in participation in BlueHammer85 's album review thread, I'll kill it (the new thread that is!)
The in-built participation rules will hopefully ensure that this is not the case.

Any thoughts?

Sounds complicated.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Another music voting thread!

Several people have commented that the randomizer in @BlueHammer85 's Top 1100 album review thread isn't doing a great job of selecting albums.
Some people have suggested that we'd be better selecting the albums ourselves.
I would argue that the randomizer is doing a perfect job - it's completely random after all - but I understand the sentiment.

However, it got me thinking: given that some of us spend a lot of time on the thread, wouldn't it be nice if we were reviewing and commenting on albums that meant something to us? Even better, we could get an insight into why an album means so much to the person who selected it.
I agree with @FogBlueInSanFran 's comment that this should NOT replace BlueHammer85 's excellent album thread, but should run alongside it.
Therefore I want to make continued contributions to that thread a qualifying requirement for nominating in the new thread.

With this in mind, I have come up with a list of ground rules, all of which are up for debate and modification as others see fit.

Ground rules

1. A list of nominators will be drawn up for the next phase (between 6 and 12 weeks, depending on the number of nominators available).
I will select the first list of nominators, and first nominator, based on contributions to BlueHammer's album review thread.
Members may wish to opt out of being a nominator, which is no problem - just let me know.
2. One member will select an album to review each week. They will be given one week's notice to prepare their nomination.
If a member can't participate for the selected week, we'll just re-jig the order as required.
3. A new album will appear on Tuesday - seems like a good time when posts on the original thread are running out of steam.
This day may vary, depending on holidays, but I'll try to keep it Tuesday-Monday.
4. The first task for the nominator is to select NEXT WEEK's NOMIMATOR (from the approved list) and then give their review of the album.
Maybe let us know what it means to them. Note that they will NOT cast a vote for obvious reasons.
5. Any member may vote or comment, regardless of nominator status. Voting will use the 1-5 scale (0 or less rounded up to 1).
6. Voting will continue until the following Monday when votes will be counted and scoreboard on page 1 updated.
Page 1 will also be kept up to date with the current and past nominators list.
7. Steps 2 to 6 will be repeated until the current list of nominators is empty.
8. Everybody on the current list of nominators can help decide the next list of nominators.
The exact process is tbd, but it won't be a heavyweight affair! However, regular contributions and scoring on BlueHammer85 's album review thread during the
current phase is a requirement.
9. Repeat steps 2 to 8 until we have a core list of regular contributors as nominators. At this point, members can get a 2nd album choice as we "reset" the list.
I think an ideal number would be 15-26 so that we all select 2-3 albums per year, but let's see how it goes.
10. If I suspect that the new thread is causing a decline in participation in BlueHammer85 's album review thread, I'll kill it (the new thread that is!)
The in-built participation rules will hopefully ensure that this is not the case.

Any thoughts?

What you are saying I think, is that anyone that wants to nominate an album passes their name to you and you will produce a list/order for those album nominations. Anyone can vote or Bly those that have put their name forward?

 

[RobMCFC]

What you are saying I think, is that anyone that wants to nominate an album passes their name to you and you will produce a list/order for those album nominations. Anyone can vote or Bly those that have put their name forward?

The initial list of nominators will those who have contributed most to the existing Top 1100 thread. Nobody needs to pass their name to me.
The way to get on that nominators list is to keep scoring and contributing to that thread
Any Blue Moon member is free to vote and comment here, regardless of their participation on the other thread.

 

[Saddleworth2]

The initial list of nominators will those who have contributed most to the existing Top 1100 thread. Nobody needs to pass their name to me.
The way to get on that nominators list is to keep scoring and contributing to that thread
Any Blue Moon member is free to vote and comment here, regardless of their participation on the other thread.

ok. understand. I haven't contributed that much to the thread as I haven't had much interest in the albums randomly chosen. Not a great fan of the original Colin Larkin list tbf.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead.

 

[RobMCFC]

The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead.

Ha ha. Seems your name is not recognised on the "members" server. Who'd have thought it?

 

[Bill Walker]

Sounds complicated.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Another music voting thread!

Several people have commented that the randomizer in @BlueHammer85 's Top 1100 album review thread isn't doing a great job of selecting albums.
Some people have suggested that we'd be better selecting the albums ourselves.
I would argue that the randomizer is doing a perfect job - it's completely random after all - but I understand the sentiment.

However, it got me thinking: given that some of us spend a lot of time on the thread, wouldn't it be nice if we were reviewing and commenting on albums that meant something to us? Even better, we could get an insight into why an album means so much to the person who selected it.
I agree with @FogBlueInSanFran 's comment that this should NOT replace BlueHammer85 's excellent album thread, but should run alongside it.
Therefore I want to make continued contributions to that thread a qualifying requirement for nominating in the new thread.

With this in mind, I have come up with a list of ground rules, all of which are up for debate and modification as others see fit.

Ground rules

1. A list of nominators will be drawn up for the next phase (between 6 and 12 weeks, depending on the number of nominators available).
I will select the first list of nominators, and first nominator, based on contributions to BlueHammer's album review thread.
Members may wish to opt out of being a nominator, which is no problem - just let me know.
2. One member will select an album to review each week. They will be given one week's notice to prepare their nomination.
If a member can't participate for the selected week, we'll just re-jig the order as required.
3. A new album will appear on Tuesday - seems like a good time when posts on the original thread are running out of steam.
This day may vary, depending on holidays, but I'll try to keep it Tuesday-Monday.
4. The first task for the nominator is to select NEXT WEEK's NOMIMATOR (from the approved list) and then give their review of the album.
Maybe let us know what it means to them. Note that they will NOT cast a vote for obvious reasons.
5. Any member may vote or comment, regardless of nominator status. Voting will use the 1-5 scale (0 or less rounded up to 1).
6. Voting will continue until the following Monday when votes will be counted and scoreboard on page 1 updated.
Page 1 will also be kept up to date with the current and past nominators list.
7. Steps 2 to 6 will be repeated until the current list of nominators is empty.
8. Everybody on the current list of nominators can help decide the next list of nominators.
The exact process is tbd, but it won't be a heavyweight affair! However, regular contributions and scoring on BlueHammer85 's album review thread during the
current phase is a requirement.
9. Repeat steps 2 to 8 until we have a core list of regular contributors as nominators. At this point, members can get a 2nd album choice as we "reset" the list.
I think an ideal number would be 15-26 so that we all select 2-3 albums per year, but let's see how it goes.
10. If I suspect that the new thread is causing a decline in participation in BlueHammer85 's album review thread, I'll kill it (the new thread that is!)
The in-built participation rules will hopefully ensure that this is not the case.

Any thoughts?

So the idea is for whomever is selected to pick a record and give their thoughts about why it was picked, but not to give it a review, yes? It doesn't necessarily have to be a record we love or hate or even one we've listened to, right?

I do think, assuming I get a slot, I'd pick records that aren't on Larkin's Top 1000 list so we get some variety and avoid repetition . . . who knows, we could be reviewing Nevermind in 2038!!! :)

 

[RobMCFC]

So the idea is for whomever is selected to pick a record and give their thoughts about why it was picked, but not to give it a review, yes? It doesn't necessarily have to be a record we love or hate or even one we've listened to, right?

I do think, assuming I get a slot, I'd pick records that aren't on Larkin's Top 1000 list so we get some variety and avoid repetition . . . who knows, we could be reviewing Nevermind in 2038!!! :)

The person picking the album definitely gets to review it in as much detail as they want. I was thinking that we'd (probably) all pick our favourite albums most of the time so a 5/5 was a given, which is why I thought it would be pointless scoring it yourself. But obviously you can pick an album to annoy everybody if you so wanted.

As somebody who's reviewed and voted on every album so far, you're definitely in the first batch of nominators! ..... assuming people are happy with the system.