Music Radar/Computer Music has never steered me wrong. You just have to read between the lines sometimes, but it's not hard to figure out what they're really saying.Gribs wrote:I have observed this as well. I prefer to read the words.Hans25 wrote:In general Musictech and Musicradar give almost everything top rating. The lowest rating I have seen was above average on their scales. Sound on Sound is more serious.
I have learned over time that Musicradar / Computer Music does give sufficient review to give me a good idea. I have also noticed that CM does not appear to be opposed to give low ratings to sample sets that are sub-par.
A similar thing works for Gamespot for me for games. The site's reviews are usually sufficiently in depth to help me filter out the stinkers from the closet classics.
less than 4 stars: forget it, it's crap, or, at the very least, there are much better options available (I love that they take this fact into account in just about all of their reviews). While on one hand, 3 1/2 stars may be seen as good, and overly positive, and miles better than a kick in the teeth, it's not really good according to their scale.
4 stars: it's quality, but with at least one rather significant drawback: price, counter-intuitive interface, a rather basic feature is missing, etc. and they always go into sufficient depth about that drawback, providing real life scenarios when necessary.
4 1/2 stars: it's excellent and you're gonna love it, and if you don't love it, there's something wrong with you, not it.
5 stars: a classic/must-have
