[FelipeBoorkes]

I'm interested to see which criteria you use to grade albums.

I've been using 4 criteria.

1) Importance in their musical context
2) Consistency of all the song as a musical concept
3) Iconic or irreplaceable songs.
4) Albums that left a personal mark

[Rhyner]

I use just one criterion when deciding on a rating for an album.

1. How much do I like it?

[Daydreamer]

[albumceleste]

I would say 1 and 2 probably have the bigger impact in my rating or personal valuation.

About (1): I tend to judge recordings/art within their context -or at least as far as my honest limited knowleadge can contextualize it-. (i.e. If a Greta Van Fleet album had been released in the 70s I could have a positive reaction to it, but as far as I'm concerned releasing such album in 2010s is completely outdated and derivative so I would rate it poorly; or on an album like Ramones debut I can overcome it's technical defficiencies, but not on a punk album that sounds like that released 20 years later; etc).
About (2): I value consistency very highly. I want the artist to have a coherent vision or concept or sound or mood. I tend to rate albums that feel disjointed or very uneven -or that have a huge dissappoiting moment within them- relatively lower. (i.e. my least fav of the Rolling Stones' Big Four is Let it Bleed, just for the choir intro on You can't always get what you want, even when the rest is clearly as good as the other 4).
About (3): a really amazing moment can bring the rating high a little, as a really bad one can lower it a bit, but the overall feel it gives me is the main reason of the rating.
About (4): well no one can escape itself and personal bias... so it's implied it has an impact.

[carpents]

[AfterHours]

Of course, as others are already posting, "how much do I like it?", as anyone will (or should) say.

I've detailed the factors that determine this and answers to your OP pretty extensively on "My Criteria" page: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15503
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Best Classical
Best Films
Best Paintings

[RockyRaccoon]

Yea, as far as I'm concerned, the only criteria in rating an album is "how much did I like it." I dunno why anyone would use any other criteria
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Progressive Rock

Early Psychedelic Rock

Live Albums

[RoundTheBend]

I suppose anyone who is more self aware would want to know "why" they like something.

I like music that is:

1) Tonal, melodic, and has good rhythm. There's also a sense of ambience with what I like. These age old rules can be broken if 2 and 3 make up for it.
2) Intellectually/philosophically intriguing
3) Emotionally convincing (why some free jazz/experimental music I like and others feel contrived).

That I suppose is the what and the why behind that is because without those elements it doesn't connect with me either with a cathartic event, or mental inspiration, or makes my butt jiggle.

[Repo]

[RoundTheBend]