I'm one of those misbegotten "generalists" -- that is, I don't restrict myself to one genre or style of music and roam freely between classical, jazz, rock and folk. All I really ask from a record is that it have a sense of individuality and/or a striving for transendence. A few good jokes don't go astray either.

Note that my ratings reflect how much pleasure a record gives me, not how I think posterity will view it. It's quite likely that I'll give some obscure release more stars than something generally regarded as a classic that doesn't appeal to me. Which should also explain why there's so many four and five star reviews here: because in general I'll make more of an effort to review something I really like.

NOTE: I started a new job fairly recently, one where I'm MUCH MUCH MUCH busier than I was before (which is a good thing), so I probably won't be updating/reviewing as much as before. Also, my recent purchase of an iPod (yes, folks, he succumbed) has, for the moment, changed my buying habits; I'm not buying albums as much as I used to, instead buying single tracks or listening to old stuff anew.