Grade Inflation
I was just browsing thru this month’s Mojo magazine and read the various album reviews. Of the new albums reviewed – I count 73 (but I got a little boggle eyed so this may be +/- 2 or 3), the reviewers awarded 53 albums 4 stars (8/10) and 20 albums 3 stars (6/10). No albums received 1 or 2 stars. I enjoy reading Mojo, and have read it most months since the first issue 20 or so years ago. But – one of the main reasons for reading the music press is to be alerted to new recordings – particularly by artists with whom I am unfamiliar – that are worth exploring. Like many music fans, 4 stars or 8/10 seems to be a good review and excellent album (5 stars being an all time classic). If three stars represents a good album (average), then either this month’s releases represents an amazing month for music or overall grading inflation for fear of upsetting the artists or the record company.
Looking at the re-issues – there are 40, of which 34 received 4 stars, 1 received 5 (Bessie Smith – great but unlistenable due to lo-fi) and 6 received 3 stars (one of which, the deluxe edition of “Searching for the Young Soul Rebels” is generally agreed to be a 5 star album). To summarize – 116 albums reviewed of which 87 received 4 stars. You might as well read the press releases rather than the reviews.
audioexchange 