The Mission
In the streaming era of music, songs are often no longer treated like pieces of art with something to say. Half of the music out there trending and being recommended in playlists is essentially a 20 second TikTok clip surrounded by filler, created with the sole purpose of trying to go viral (or worse, AI slop).
Ratefold was born out of a different philosophy. I wanted to share my thoughts, feelings, and human expierences with some of my favourite (and not so favourite) albums with the world. No big publication, no corporate meddling, no nepo babies. Just a guy sharing some music the good old fashioned way with the world.
"You're not being challenged if you're in some weird feedback loop with stuff you've already done. When music itself is starting to follow the algorithms – then you're really fucked..."
- Thom Yorke, Radiohead
The 5 Star Rating System
We use a 5 star rating system to get just enough differentiation between good, bad, and great, all while keeping a simple and intuitive scale that doesn't feed into the endless decimals or hundreds.
A masterpiece of the genre, and its craft. Essential in every record collection.
Exceptional. Doesn't quite hit all the boxes for a masterpiece for some reason or another, whether it be vision or execution. Still worth a listen.
Not my cup of tea neccesarily but there's stuff here to dig your teeth into, and you may like it depending on your taste.
Something is wrong here. I may take issue with the writing, production, or overall execution, but whatever it is, it's a fundamental part of the album and cannot be ignored.
I hate this.
How We Review
Every (non Quick-Listen) review on this blog follows a strict three-phase listening ritual:
- The Playback: Initial playback and subsquent listens. Where I get a feel for the album's vibe.
- The Deep-Dive: Researching the album's recording history, production techniques, and the artist's intent. Background context is essential to understanding the sonic choices made in the studio.
- The Rating:A rating out of 5 stars is assigned based on how much the album resonates with me, how well it holds up to repeated listens, and the "vibe factor".