Granular Album REviews
Albums that our team has done a deep dive into. Each album is listened to several times and given a rating out of 100. Check out the reviews below, and look at all of the scores on the leaderboard!
How are albums rated?
Albums are scored out of 100 points using the following rubric:
Category: |
Description: |
Points Awarded: |
| Overall Aesthetic | Does the aesthetic contribute to and match the theme and overall vibe of the music? Takes into account the album cover, album title, and track names. | 10 |
| Album Structure | Are the album tracks organized in a way that makes sense? Do songs flow together? Does it feel like a cohesive project or just a collection of unrelated songs? | 10 |
| Production Quality | Is the sound clear? Is it well-mixed with a good balance between parts? Is the dynamic range consistent between tracks? Is the music free of artifacts? If no to any of these, is it intentional for the album, or is it a mistake or oversight? | 10 |
| Lyrics | Do the lyrics make sense and do they contribute to the meaning of the album? Are they well written or just thrown together? Would the song be just as good without the lyrics, or do the lyrics help make the song what it is? | 10 |
| Vocal Performance | Does the singer or rapper perform well? Does their performance match the lyrics and vibe of the album? Are there clear mistakes, and does the singer or rapper do well to maintain pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and tempo? (For instrumental albums, this category does not apply, does not affect final score and the instrumental performance and composition categories will be out of 15 instead.) | 10 |
| Instrumental Performance |
If the album uses real instruments and performers: Do the instrumentalists perform well? Does their performance add to each track, or would it be just as good without them? Are there clear mistakes, and if so are they intentional or accidents? If the album uses synthesis, midi, or other digital instruments: Does the digital instrument performance sound good? Is it unique and well-crafted, or does it feel thrown together? Does the digital performance and sound design add to each track, or would it be better with something else? |
10 |
| Composition/Songwriting Quality |
Is each track well written? In other words: Does the composition make sense for the theme? Does the instrumentation make sense for each track? Is each track well structured and timed in a way to contribute to the overall sound? Is there clear intention in the way the tracks were made, or does it sound thrown together? Does the melody of each track make sense and capture the ear? Is the harmony put together well, and is it interesting? |
10 |
| Authenticity & Emotional Connection | Does the overall album fit with the artist? Does the artist seem invested in the theme? Essentially, does it matter to the artist? Does artistic expression take hold, or do the songs sacrifice expression for commercial value? Does the album speak to the artist's lived experience? If not connected to the artist, is it culturally relevant? Does it have a message or theme for the listener to connect with? | 10 |
| Originality | Is the music unique for the genre? Does it break new ground musically, or does it express something new? Does the album simply copy what has been done before (this does not include referencing other artists, samples, or taking inspiration from others), or is the artist able to craft something new with their personal style? Are there moments in the album that stand out? | 10 |
| Replay Value & Listenability | Is this album something worth listening to more than once? Does it actually sound good, and is it something to put into your rotation? Is there enough depth to the tracks for listeners to notice new things? Are there moments that stand out enough to go back to? | 10 |
Total: |
Up to 100 |
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