About my rating system:

- I only dislike the albums I rate 2 stars or less. And even the ones with two stars have something about them I enjoy

- A 2.5 is in my view a nice but unremarkable album

- 3 stars already qualifies as a good, solid album, that I listen to from time to time

- I consider a 3.5 a great record. Many of the year's best releases fall under this category

- 4 stars is an excellent album, that I really, really love

- 4.5 is a truly outstanding work, amongst my all-time favourites

- 5 stars is the ultimate masterpiece. A perfect record, with an exclusive seat on my personal pantheon

And remember: this is art, not science. In the end, everything's pretty much subjective.