Mr Hepworth made an interesting point in the Joanna Newsom thread:

"Another good reason not to have star ratings
One of the sad consequences of giving records five stars is that most people approach it in a spirit of "go on - prove it" which is no way to listen to music."

To look at that from the other side, should an artist be 'proving it' to us? Do we want artists to just create at their leisure music that we just sit back and relax and let soak into us. Or do we want somebody to fight for their place in our listening space?

I was at an acoustic night recently and the host made sure there was no talking when an artist was performing. Some of you here might like that, but from a musician's point of view, whenever I've performed I've felt if I'm not holding people's attention then I've failed.

My musical heroes as I grew up were the likes of Strummer and Rowland and Costello - no shrinking violets they. And 30 years on from when I started listening to them they still hold a major place in my heart. I want people like them, passionate and grabbing at me. I want people who want to be noticed, who feel they have to prove it to me with everything they release.

I don't want musical semolina.

So go on, tell me something is brilliant, the best thing you've ever heard. Give it five stars. That's fine, but yeah, I do want the artist to prove it, even though they have nothing to do with the review. Go for great art, not a career. That way lies accountant pleasing albums. And that I don't want!