How scores work
Every review links to the original, and the score the critic gave is always shown exactly as they printed it. We never republish review text.
1. Converting to one scale
To compare scores, each one is converted to a number out of 100:
| Source style | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Out of 10 | × 10 | 8.2 → 82 |
| Stars out of 5 | × 20 | 3½ → 70 |
| Letter grades | A+ 100, A 95, A− 90, B+ 85 … D− 45, F 30 | B+ → 85 |
| The Needle Drop | × 10, then light −4, decent ±0, strong +4 | strong 7 → 74 |
Reviews without a score are listed as “Unscored” and don’t count toward the combined score.
2. Adjusting for each critic’s curve
Some outlets grade hard and some grade generously. Before averaging, we compare each score with that source’s own history: how far above or below its typical score it sits. That way a 7.5 from a tough grader counts as the strong score it is. Sources need at least 30 scored reviews before this adjustment applies.
3. The combined score
Adjusted scores are averaged with equal weight for every source. Albums need at least 4 scored reviews before we show a combined score, and albums with few reviews are pulled slightly toward the overall average so a single rave can’t top the charts.
4. Agreement
Next to the score we show how much critics agreed, based on how spread out their adjusted scores are: Consensus, Mostly agree, Mixed or Divisive.