Rated

Rated is my new series where I review albums on the only two axes that matter for pop music: art and commerce. I dive deep to give the record a score of 0-10 on each, in turn placing it in one of nine categories on the Rated Rubric. The intro post walks you through the whole process.

I started Rated for a few reasons:

This is how I already think about music: I’m a pop fan first and foremost, so my love of music is intertwined with watching how it succeeds or flops on the charts. That doesn’t mean I only like popular music (far from it!) but that whenever I’m writing about music, these two axes are lurking behind my ideas, and I wanted to bring readers into this world.
Reviews are too rushed: The pressure to review a new album in 24 hours or less is massive on the internet. I’m only reviewing albums that are at least six months old, by which point I can really sit with the music and have an informed understanding about its commercial impact.
I love (politely) arguing about music: The goal of Rated is always to start a conversation. We can both say an album was a smash, but when I label it an 8 and you call it a 10, that opens the door to dialogue. Whether a piece is old or new, I hope you’ll comment your personal rating, and especially if you think I got it wrong, I want to know why.

If you’re a pop obsessive like me, or just want to learn more about what’s currently popular on the charts, I hope you’ll subscribe. Every Monday, I write a column about pop stardom from the past and present (including a new Rated entry roughly once or twice a month). On Wednesdays, I publish the Chart Roundup where I walk you through what’s trending on the charts and why, plus share recommendations for great music that isn’t charting.

Albums are listed alphabetically by artist - check out the full post to see the final rating.

Amy Winehouse: Back to Black (part of the series intro)

Charli XCX: Crash (part of the series intro)

Selena Gomez: Stars Dance (part of the series intro)

Taylor Swift: Lover