Rating the Best CDs of the Year: How it Works

I used to rank CDs, and after awhile that just got tedious. Especially when the difference between #3 and #10 was negligible.

So now I'm going to a tier system.

• The Slammy goes to the CD of the year.
• Platinum LPs are awarded to CDs that exhibit a superior effort. Kinda like getting a A in a tough class from a professor who doesn't believe in grade inflation.
• Gold LPs go to artists who exhibit excellence in a release. Think B+.
• Any CD that I personally contributed to is not eligible, although I will make some comments on it.
• The entries for each CD aren't intended to be reviews. I'm not a very good reviewer, actually, so I sort of explain why I think it's a great piece of work from my point of view, and the elements I'm commenting on can cover a wide range of criteria.
• Obviously I can only rate what I hear, and I never hear as much as I want to. So if there's a CD you think I should have included, either I didn't hear it (feel free to buy me a copy) or I didn't like it as much as you did.