Ray Stamford writes:

>So do people find reviews useful, does it matter if they are not entirely
>objective, do we mind some (a lot of!) subjectivity in them
>and to what extent do they affect our CD buying habits?

If you can find a review that is entirely objective, you've found a
reviewer without emotions.  The best I could hope for in a review would
be for the reviewer to shed preconceptions, and that's not an easy task.
Don Vroon of ARG can't do it at all, and I often notice many reviewers
approaching a recording with a predetermined set of musical requirements.
The only major complaint I have with reviews is when it is clear that the
reviewer already knows he/she dislikes the composer, or the work, or the
style in which it is performed; I end up wondering why in the world the
particular reviewer accepted the assignment to begin with.  There certainly
is no value which a reader can glean from this type of situation.  Again
referring to ARG, they have fairly staunch anti-period instrument folks
reviewing period instrument recordings; it's just a waste of time for all
concerned.

Don Satz
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