Looking for ideas for rating tracks into rating albums
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JoshN125
Gender: Male
Age: 42
Location: Kentucky 
- #1
- Posted: 05/24/2026 08:38
- Post subject: Looking for ideas for rating tracks into rating albums
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Sorry if I've missed other threads on this topic, I searched but didn't find anything. I was wondering if anyone has any specific methods of rating tracks then turning the track ratings into album ratings that they would like to share with me, as I'm going to start the whole thing over again.
I like the idea of an average rating of the songs leading to an overall rating of the album, though 1 song can sometimes make a big difference, talking Rev 9, or what I call filler tracks, ie Tool albums, can bring an overall rating down. I've noticed at least one rater in his comments who knocks out the lowest rated track or something like that.
I've also tried just the regular old rating the album as a whole, but there is also a big issue with that. If I'm trying to separate 95 rated albums or 90's, no big deal because I won't have a ton of them, but once I get to 85's and especially 80's if I'm on yearly charts, things can get a bit tricky.
Let's say I rate 1969 on a yearly chart. If I have 20-25 85+ rated albums, and maybe 50ish 80 rated albums, as it is a phenomenal year, how do I choose among 50 items rated the same?
I know this is getting a bit scientific with something meant to be fun, but it's both for me, and a part of the reason I love this site so much is the debate between user ratings and how me loving one album can lead to a nice bump in its rating.
I've tried straight averages of track ratings, knocking out low ratings, point systems for the different rating levels, and just plain old fashion feel with overall ratings.
I appreciate anyone's ideas or suggestions, I'm just rambling at 4am at this point, unable to sleep.
Thanks in advance.
_________________
Stupid people do stupid things, smart people outsmart each other.
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MadhattanJack
Just to end the list
Gender: Male
- #2
- Posted: 05/24/2026 09:27
- Post subject: Re: Looking for ideas for rating tracks into rating albums
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| JoshN125 wrote: | | Let's say I rate 1969 on a yearly chart. If I have 20-25 85+ rated albums, and maybe 50ish 80 rated albums, as it is a phenomenal year, how do I choose among 50 items rated the same? |
Personally, I'd say you're overthinking it. It doesn't have to be perfect — I suspect most of us probably just group all the 85s together, then all the 80s, and so on, throw them in there and then fiddle with it until it looks like it makes some sort of sense. Members like ThuramThugood, as impressive and appreciated as all that effort is, are something of an anomaly if you ask me. And besides, lots of people think an album isn't just the sum of its parts (songs), it's an artistic statement in itself that includes things like track sequencing, segues, cover art, dramatic momentum, and whether or not playing it in certain real-world scenarios can increase your chance of scoring with potential sex partners.
Or then again, you could do it the way I do it, and just put all the XTC records in at the top and then everything else just gets added in kind of at random. 😄
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JoshN125
Gender: Male
Age: 42
Location: Kentucky
- #3
- Posted: 05/24/2026 09:32
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For sure, I'm overthinking it. I get in the bea wormhole, if you will. Appreciate the feedback. Often, I get caught up trying to do things correctly, when there really is no right or wrong.
_________________
Stupid people do stupid things, smart people outsmart each other.
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baystateoftheart
Neil Young as a butternut squash
Age: 31
Location: Massachusetts
- #4
- Posted: 05/25/2026 22:05
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I've tried a bunch of different approaches, and here's how I currently make averages from track ratings (in the rare event I get around to rating tracks - to make year charts I mostly just wing it).
I time-weight the ratings, like so:
100 x number of minutes (including fractional) of 100/100 tracks
95* x number of minutes of 95/100 tracks
etc...
Add up all of them, then divide that by 100 x total minutes of the album, and round to 3 figures.
You get a track-based rating that reflects that much more of an album can be one track than another. To break ties (say between multiple 82.2 albums), I just sort by longest album to shortest album. If an album can sustain the same average quality for longer, it's better. Then if it's somehow still a tie, I just go on vibes.
*I actually just rate in multiples of 10 for tracks, to keep it simpler.
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Join us in the canon game :) / Add me on RYM
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JoshN125
Gender: Male
Age: 42
Location: Kentucky
- #5
- Posted: 05/25/2026 22:36
- Post subject:
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baystateoftheart That's actually a very cool idea that I never would have thought of. Thanks, I might actually try that.
_________________
Stupid people do stupid things, smart people outsmart each other.
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Johnnyo
Gender: Male
Age: 67
Location: London Town 
- #6
- Posted: 05/26/2026 16:21
- Post subject: Re: Looking for ideas for rating tracks into rating albums
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| MadhattanJack wrote: | | And besides, lots of people think an album isn't just the sum of its parts (songs), it's an artistic statement in itself that includes things like track sequencing, segues, cover art, dramatic momentum) |
That’s my feeling summed up in a nutshell. There are album which I would score as 100 / 100, which don’t have a single song that scores 100. It’s how the album makes me feel of the whole 40 minutes that makes it a great album not necessarily its individual tracks. I’m very touchy feely and not at all scientific about my scoring
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