Every album I buy/get I give a 3-listen test to, usually over a period of a fortnight. If I still don't find the album enjoyable or even vaguely intriguing after that, it's destined for my re-sell crates. I have bought many, many albums based on the recommendations of Bob Christgau (Welcome back Consumer Guide...er, I mean, greetings Expert Witness), and I increasingly pay attention to reviews in Uncut magazine and The Weekend Australian newspaper, along with personal ongoing research about what I've missed since WW2. (This is especially in regards to Jazz, Reggae and World musics). Genres I have difficulties with include Gangsta Rap (I hate being sworn at and told how crap I am, and I thought violence and misogyny were supposed to be, er, very wrong), Heavy / Speed / Death Metal (can Terrorist Metal be far away?), Free Jazz (abrasive noise from clever people), Prog Rock (My God! How didn't Punk kill this?), British 80's Hairdo Rock (don't you just want to slap them?) and anything involving pretension, prejudice or yodelling. And, of course, "I've Been To Paradise But I've Never Been To Me".

Being an ex-pub-band-singer, I'm a sucker for tunes I can join in with, great vocal performances, catchy choruses, hooks unlimited, a beat that could go on forever and (ultimately) real FEELING, from inspired silliness to black dog misery. To me, "Sugar Sugar" and "Mmm Bop" are as emotionally significant as "Racing In the Street" and "Working Class Hero".

Here's how I work my ratings:

5 Stars / A+ / GREAT= A jawdroppingly flawless album which has that mysterious something extra to make it an emotional favourite. Gets played a lot, even after many years.

4&Half Stars / A / VERY GOOD = A terrific album that has one or two ordinary (but still quite listenable) tracks on it which prevent it from being an undeniable classic. Gets played regularly.

4 Stars / A- / GOOD = An album with many enjoyable tracks but is slightly marred by a couple of weaker ones or a vague feeling of craft-without-inspiration. Gets played occasionally.

Everything else...who cares?