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RARB Scoring System
- 5 = excellent
- top notch, shining, an example to us all
- 4 = good
- many redeeming features; good, but not great
- 3 = average
- your standard fare, could take it or leave it
- 2 = weak
- has some problems that need work
- 1 = poor
- a real stinker, major problems throughout
Reviewers are instructed to grade albums in comparison to the general body
of a cappella recordings available.
Scores on the 1-5 scale will also be given for the album overall (from
each reviewer and averages) in the following categories: tuning/blend,
energy/intensity, innovation/creativity, sound/production, repeat
listenability, and soloists.
- Tuning/blend
- Does the group stay on pitch and in tune? Do they gel, lock
or ring chords? Do they match tone and timbre
appropriately?
- Energy/intensity
- Is the group appropriately fired up in their sound? If the
song is a quiet one, do they sing with the intensity and feeling
that the song requires?
- Innovation/creativity
- Is the songwriting, arranging, and/or singing done in a new
and exciting way, or is it just the same old stuff you've heard
before? Can you learn from it?
- Sound/production
- How are the studio techniques? Are reverb and other studio
magic used appropriately? Are mics used well? Is there a lot
of noise and distortion?
- Repeat listenability
- How do you like listening to the album after hearing it a
number of times? Does it stay fresh and interesting, or do you
find yourself diving for the stop button?
- Soloists
- How would you rate the soloists? This can take into account
both their voices and the appropriateness of their style for the
songs they sing on.
Reviewers may consider these categories when commenting or deciding on
overall or track scores, but they do not have to.