hi all,

thought a thread on criteria for what # ranking we give albums might be interesting.

my chart:

1 = sucks
2 = bad
3 = meh ~ not good
4 = kinda good, kinda bad, can't decide
5 = i like it ~ good
6 = an album that'd barely miss or make my weekly top 20; for older albums that predate my countdown, i guesstimate
7 = good top 20 entry
8 = good top 10 entry, w/some top 5 run, strong album
9 = good top 5 run, possible #1, near-perfection, very strong album
10 = long #1 run, perfection


others?

10 = perfect
9 = exceptional
8 = outstanding
7 = very good
6 = good
5 = okay
4 = mediocre
3 = pretty bad
2 = very bad
1 = awful

1 - OPENLY GAR
2 - OPENLY DECENT
3 - OPENLY DECENT
4 - OPENLY DECENT
5 - OPENLY DECENT
6 - OPENLY DECENT
7 - OPENLY DECENT
8 - OPENLY DECENT
9 - OPENLY DECENT
10 - OPENLY QUAL

Good call, I thought about this too.
The simple rating system is the Suicide System as noted in the first thread. The number corresponds to how many times I could listen to the album in a week without shooting myself (or for those of you with softer stomachs, throwing the damn cd out the window).

The expanded version:

01: I prefer to never hear it again. Ever.

02: One slight redeeming quality or song. (e.g. Cat Power, "He War")

03: 1 or 2 decent songs, or maybe use of a banjo, or in the case of Prince, a 1 for each disc. (Mclusky Do Dallas explained in other thread)

04: Generally something that was interesting at the time, but I have little to no desire to listen to now. Usually has a track or two I still will turn on from time to time. (e.g. Mass Romantic and "Letter to an Occupant")

05: Usually a decent album that is just half and half, tires quickly or is a bit dated. Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain is a good example. I like about half of it a lot, but can do without the other half.

06: Solid album, but infrequent listens or tied to a particular time or event. All Eyez on Me would probably be an 8 or 9 if a single album, but it was the shit in college, all the damn time.

07: Either a solid album with no real standout tracks or a very good album with a stinker or two. Pleased To Meet Me is awesome but I don't like "Red Red Wine" or "Shooting Dirty Pool" all that much.

08: Very good albums that slip up a bit. Either a little too long or a misstep in pacing or something to that effect. "This Song is Over" from Who's Next hits the nail on the head. Six minutes that sorta slips off track.

09: Not quite perfect, but damn near. Maybe just one song sucks but the rest of the album is so damn good, too long, or a double album. (e.g. I usually skip "Sunday Papers" on Look Sharp!)

10: One of those albums that very rarely if ever gets old. Can fit most moods or most situations for me. Can usually listen to these albums multiple times in one day with no problem.

10 - I heart this record
9 - Listmania contender, annual top 3-5
8 - Annual top 10 material
7 - Annual top 20-25 material
6 - Like it enough, but not that much
5 - meh
4 - bleh
3 - no sir, I don't like it
2 - I couldn't make it through the whole thing
1 - I don't openly admit to ever hearing this record

i don't say 10 is perfet - i use elvis' description

Damn near my same criteria.

I like this metric and have more or less been implementing it.

Zero thumbs up -- sucks, target market are deranged, heavily medicated, or POWs (our prisoners, not theirs)
One thumb up -- very select target market, not including me
Two thumbs up -- target market should be a bell curve of people who like music (with the other axis being some as yet unknown quantity that somehow maps to the particular recording being discussed)
Three thumbs up -- I am an alien, and you puny humans, yes the entire race, are the target market for this wonderous religion-inducing recording

I fight a constant struggle not to score every hits/compilation with a "1". I don't view these as "albums" per se, just a whole bunch of singles/songs pressed into one.

This is an openly sarcastic post that I find both gar and qual.

I gots no system. Just kinda throwing numbers that seem to fit my quick judgement of a particular album. It's a highly ineffective, and inconsistent way to rate albums.

I've been handing out 10's like sugar cubes so I thought maybe I better explain my system too. Its probably closest to Spade Kitty's.

10: A classic: Listmania worthy...either made my listmania and would make it again, didn't make it but would likely make it now or didn't make it but not for quality reasons (not considered because its a comp most likely)
9: Still outstanding but doesn't make above cut
8: Truly great but not really even in the running for listmania, probably few recent years would even merit one album with an 8 or above
7: Very good with legs into future years
6: Good albums, questionable legs but good enough that they aren't trade-in material
5: Not bad, but not that worthy of repeated listens
4: don't hate it but somethings clearly missing
3& below: various degrees of BAD

Like most people I hope, I don't rank anything bad just because I don't like the artist, I have to have heard and made a decision on multiple listens that I don't like the particular album. So far, I've only given 3 3's which were my lowest rankings. Its the 7's & 8's that are most difficult to distinguish which is why I haven't ranked a lot of things I like but don't absolutely love.

0-4: would have to be really bad to get something this low. if a group gets together to put forward the effort of actually making an album and actually getting me to listen to it, ill give them at least a 4 for the effort.
5: absolute garbage
6: good enough that i decide not to throw it in the trash
7: listen to and enjoy from time to time
8: listen to and really enjoy quite regularly
9: nearly perfect, listen to at least monthly
10: the perfect album. this mark is not unattainable. i have given it out a couple times so far.

But, y'see, that's really only a 6 point rating system. Why not use all 10?

Mine:

10 - rare air
9 - desert island disc under any criteria
8 - desert island disc under my own personal criteria
7 - an excellent album
6 - above average - some very worthwhile moments
5 - average - nothing to be ashamed of, just nothing hugely exciting either
4 - below average - or a half-assed attempt
3 - uninteresting
2 - they tried and totally missed
1 - they didn't even try

wow I just found these charts.. sweet.. I will use it to waste much time... my ranking system is most similar to Spade Kittys I think...

I guess it doesnt matter as long as one stays consistent