About the scores

First listen

How the record grabbed you the first time, from 1 to 5 stars.

Still holds up

How the record sounds once you’ve played it many times. This is the most important score on Repeat Listen.

Growing and fading

When Still holds up is higher than First listen, the record is a grower – it gets better with every play. When it’s the other way round, it has faded.

Statuses

• Timeless classic – sounds as good today as when it came out.
• Modern classic – a newer record that already sounds timeless.
• Worth a listen – good, but maybe not one you’ll play again and again.
• Of its time – was big then, but sounds dated today.

Lists

Anyone can make a list of up to ten records or songs, in their own order. Lists can be voted on, and the one with the most votes in a month becomes List of the Month.

Record of the year

Every year the editors choose the record of the year – a new record, or an old one that deserves rediscovering.