CD Reviews and Their Influence on Music Purchasing
What part do CD Reviews play in my CD or on-line music choices? Well, it depends on the source. I read reviews in Acoustic Guitar, Songlines and StereoType. All of these publications reflect my basic interests in music (acoustic, world, and local). Occasionally I might catch a newspaper or on-line review.

I have definitely made purchases, and avoided purchases as a result of reviews. Acoustic Guitar tends to be very politically correct in their reviews, rarely writing anything scathing, so it is sometimes hard to tell if you are getting the whole story. Based in the US, I am most likely to see US-based acts reviewed.

Songlines, on the other hand, tends to be very straight forward, and doesn't hold back (good or bad). Even on products that they are connected to, like the Rough Guides releases, they tend to be critical of quality and authenticity. Based in the UK, but with a world focus, I see fewer US-based reviews.

StereoType (a local publication put out by The Gallery of Sound music store chain in Pennsylvania) is hit or miss when it comes to reviews. Sometimes they are well written and honest. Other times they are sappy and vague. Just by the look of the mag, you can tell there is more of a buzz factor in StereoType, so it is sometimes hard to take their reviews seriously. While I read Acoustic Guitar and Songlines cover to cover, I usually only browse through Stereotype looking for specific reviews of artists/discs I am looking for. Gallery of Sound has some of the best CD prices, even compared to Amazon.com, so I like to stay in touch with what they are doing. Stereotype is also a good place to get summaries of recent events in the rock genre, which I follow only peripherally, as well as pieces on local bands.

 Back to Table of Contents