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Best Albums of 2003, Scientifically
thdexter writes "Two guys statistically analyzed the best albums of 2003, from some thirty top-10 lists, giving value to how often an album was mentioned by editors and recording its mean place. White Stripes came out on top, with Outkast below. Full results are available on the site."
that the use of the word arbitrary twice in the article and the description of the "method" - "Not-Very-Scientific" which was also used as the article title (basically picking stuff at random) sheds a "few" question on this "survey" (don't think I could have used any more quotes). I would rather have another article on SCO or the RIAA.
"It's so convenient to have a system where everyone is a criminal" - A. Hitler
By looking at the list of results, I can tell you right away that by "best album" they don't necessarily mean "best music".
that was used as a part of my technical writing class (under the heading "How to lie with statistics"). "Some people use statistics like a drunk uses a lamp post. For support rather the illumination."
The dogcow says "Moof!"
So when they say "best albums of the year" they actually mean "most admired by critics." Gotcha.
Les Miserables Volume 1 now up with my reading of
So these guys basically admit just everything is arbitrary with numbers pulled out of their asses, and still manage to get on the front page of /.
Genius. Pure f'ing genius ;^)
They simply quantified references to certain artists/titles within a small batch of source material and then declared it to be a top-10 list. What would be a more accurate description of their list would be "most often referenced albums in music editorials". Trying to quantitatively rate music based upon the analysed opinions of the music press is pointless. Music itself is a very intimate and personal medium, experienced differently by all listeners. Trying to rate a particular albums's ability to reach its listeners requires a much deeper understanding of psychology than is currently possible. That being said, the top-10 list has value in that it's quite good at showing what is en-vogue at present. Atleast, in the opinion of the music media. Then again, my favorite music is sugary JPOP and trance as found in Dance Dance Revolution, so I won't venture an opinion as to the music selected by the list :)
------- "From bored to fanboy in 3.8 asian girls" ----------
Metacritic.com compiles up to 30 reviews for a particular video game / movie / CD and averages the review score. Here are to true top albums of 2003 as rated by nearly everybody: http://metacritic.com/music/bests/2003.shtml
Note that the list does change as more reviews come in. This list actually has good music like The Shins or The Notwist.
It's like the TV commercials for bad movies. Across the whole screen it says "AMAZING". The original quote is "It's amazing this film was actually given a theatrical release."
-B
Best album in 2003 was my family photo album.
I am sorry, but the music industry is beyond rescue. When there are songs people don't even bother kazaa-ing for free, you know the industry is dissolving to hell.
Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they hide is vital.
We Build Beautiful Websites
Now come on the RIAA put out way more crap than that this year!
True, but these were the cream of the crap.
It goes from God, to Jerry, to me.