Page for cleaning this up:
Reliable sources
| Publication | Primary focus | Rating system | Country | Website/Archives | Discussions/Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| About.com | All genres | 5-star scale:   
|
US | Website | Only cite critics that are marked as "Yes" in this table: Wikipedia:WikiProject Albums/Sources/About.com Critics Table |
| AbsolutePunk | Rock, alternative, indie | Percentage scale: 93% | US | Website | Only use staff reviews. |
| All About Jazz | Jazz, blues | No formal scale, or 5-star scale:
|
US | Website | |
| AllHipHop | Hip hop | 10-point scale: 7/10 | US | Website | |
| AllMusic | All genres | 5-star scale:
|
US | Website | Biography/reviews are fine, but do not use genre sidebar, as it is generated from a separate source from the prose. Don't use review score when review is not present, or mention the "Album Pick" designation. |
| Alternative Addiction | Rock, independent | 5-star scale:
|
US | Website | |
| Alternative Press | Rock | 5-star scale:
|
US | Website, Archives | |
| AltSounds | Rock, independent | 10-point scale: 7.6/10 | International | Website | |
| American Songwriter | Singer-songwriter | 5-star scale:
|
US | Website | |
| American Theatre | Theater | No formal scale | US | Website, Archives | |
| The A.V. Club | Popular music | Letter grade: B +/– | US | Website | |
| Bach | Baroque, Bach compositions | Not applicable | US | Website, Archives, | |
| BBC Music | All genres | No formal scale | UK | Website | Do not use mirrors of Wikipedia |
| BBC Music Magazine | Classical, jazz, world | 5-star scale:
|
UK | Website, Archives | |
| Blabbermouth.net | Hard rock, heavy metal | 10-point scale: 7.5/10 | US | Website | Exercise caution with any controversial claims, especially for BLP statements, though reviews are acceptable for use in all articles. |
| Big Cheese | Rock, alternative, punk | 10-point scale: 7/10 | UK | Website | |
| Billboard | Popular music | Older (between the early 1970s and mid 2000s): various categories such as "Spotlight", "Recommended", "Pick", "Four Star", "Critics' Choice" and "Vital Reissue", as defined in the reviews key Newer: 5-star scale: , scores out of 100 before 2014
|
US | Website, Magazine archives, Scanned archives. | |
| Blender | Popular music | 5-star scale:
|
US | Website Archives | |
| Bluegrass Unlimited | Bluegrass, old-time | No formal scale | US | Website | |
| Blurt | Popular music | 5-star scale:
|
US | Website | |
| The Boombox | Hip hop, R&B | No formal scale | US | Website | |
| The Boston Globe | Popular music | No formal scale | US | Website | |
| Canoe.com | All genres | 5-star scale:
|
Canada | Website | Portal for Sun Media newspapers in Canada |
| CCM Magazine | Christian – CCM, gospel, rock, heavy metal, hip hop, urban |
5-star scale: , older reviews letter grade: B +/–
|
US | Website, Achives | |
| Chart/ChartAttack | Rock, alternative, indie, some pop and hip hop | No formal rating system | Canada | Website | |
| Chronicles of Chaos | Metal, rock | Ten-point scale: 7.5/10 | Canada/International | Website | |
| Czech Music Quarterly | Classical, particularly Czech classical | No formal rating system | Czech Republic | Website, Archives and Magazine archives | |
| Robert Christgau | Rock, popular music | {{
Rating-Christgau}}: C+,
or
|
US | Website | Note: Christgau's articles appear in numerous publications |
| Christianity Today | Christian – all genres | 5-star scale:
|
US | Website, Archives | |
| Clash | Popular music | 10-point scale: 7/10 | UK | Website, Archives | |
| Classical Music | Classical | Not applicable | UK | Website, Archives | |
| Classical Net | Classical | No formal scale | US | Website | |
| Classical Recordings Quarterly | Classical | No formal scale | US | Website, Archives | |
| Classic Rock | Rock | 10-point scale: 7/10, although the magazine's website omits the review score | UK | Website | |
| CMJ | Popular music | No formal scale | US | Website | |
| Cokemachineglow.com | Pop | No formal scale | Unknown | Website | |
| Complex | Hip hop, R&B, pop, electronic, rock | 5-star scale: no formal scale before 2014 |
US | Website | |
| Consequence of Sound | Popular music | Letter grade: B +/– | US | Website | |
| Country Standard Time | Country | No formal scale | US | Website | Originally a print magazine from 1995-2009; site does not include all reviews from the magazine's history, so print copies may also be cited |
| Crawdaddy! | Rock | No formal scale | US | Website | |
| Dark City | Heavy metal, Gothic music | Russia | Website, Archives | In Russian. | |
| Diapason | Classical, hi-fi recording | France | Website | ||
| Decibel | Heavy metal | 10-star scale:   
|
US | Website, Archives | |
| DJ Mag | EDM | UK | Website | ||
| Down Beat | Jazz, blues, R&B | 5-star scale: , online reviews have no formal scale
|
US | Website | |
| Drowned in Sound | Rock, independent | 10-point scale: 7/10 | UK | Website | Only use staff reviews |
| Dummy | Electronic music | 10-point scale: 7/10 | UK | Website | |
| Early Music | Early music | Not applicable | UK | Website, JSTOR access | |
| Early Music Today | Early music | Not applicable | UK | Website, Archives | |
| Entertainment Weekly | All genres | Letter grade: B +/– | US | Website | |
| Exclaim! | All genres | 10-point scale: 7/10 or no formal scale | Canada | Website | |
| ExploreMusic | All genres | No formal rating system | Canada | Website | |
| Fact | Popular music | 5-disc scale, 3.5/5 | UK | Website | |
| The Fader | Popular music, folk, experimental | No formal scale | US | Website, Archives | |
| Filter | Popular music | 100-percent scale: 75% | US | Website, Magazine archives | |
| The Fly | Popular music | 5-star scale:
|
UK | Website, Archives | |
| General Music Today | All genres, classical focus | Not applicable | US | Website, Archives | |
| The Gleaner | Jamaican | Jamaica | Website | ||
| Goldmine | All genres | 5-star scale: ; or letter-grade scale for reviews posted on staff blogs
|
US | Website | |
| Gramophone | Classical | No formal scale | UK | Website, Archives | |
| Le Guide musical | Classical | No formal scale | France and Belgium |
WorldCat listing WorldCat listing |
French language publication that ran from 1855 until World War I |
| Harp | Adult album alternative | UK | Website | 2014 consensus | |
| The Hindu | Indian – all genres | No formal scale | India | Website | |
| Hip Hop Connection | Hip hop | 5-point scale: 4/5 | UK | ||
| HipHopDX | Hip hop | 5-star scale: (Converted from X's)
|
US | Website | |
| HM | Christian – rock, heavy metal | 5-star scale: , some older reviews 10-point scale or no formal scale
|
US | Website, Archives | |
| The Huffington Post | Popular music | No formal rating scale | US | Website | |
| Idolator | Popular music | 10-star scale:
|
US | Website | |
| The Independent | All genres | 5-star scale:
|
UK | Website | |
| InRock | Popular music, primarily rock music | Russia | Website, Archives | In Russian, with option for an English main page. | |
| Les Inrockuptibles | Rock, indie | France | Website, Archives | French language | |
| The Jamaica Observer | Jamaican | Jamaica | Website | ||
| Jazz Hot | Jazz | French | Website, Archives | In French. | |
| Jazzed Magazine | Jazz | Not applicable | Website, Magazine archives | ||
| Jazz Journal | Jazz | 5-star scale:
|
UK | Website | |
| Jazz Magazine | Jazz | France | Website, Magazine archives | French language. | |
| Jazzman | Jazz | France | Website, Archives | Defunct since 2009. French language. | |
| JazzTimes | Jazz | No formal scale | US | Website, Archives | |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | Christian - popular music | 5-star scale:
|
US | Website | Avoid user reviews (distinguished as yellow stars instead of red) |
| Juice | Rock, heavy metal, surf and skate music | No formal scale | US | Website | |
| Kerrang! | Rock, heavy metal | 5-"K" scale, 4/5 | UK | Website | |
| Kludge | Popular music, independent | 10-point scale: 7/10 | US | Website | |
| Krugozor | Classical music, popular music | Soviet Union | Website, Archives | Defunct. In Russian. | |
| Latin Beat Magazine | Latin | No formal scale | US | Website, Archives | Multi-language source |
| Limelight | Classical, jazz, pop | 5-star scale:
|
Australia | Website, Archives | |
| The Line of Best Fit | Popular music | 10-star scale:
|
UK | Website | |
| Living Blues | Blues | No formal scale | US | Website, Archives | |
| Lost At Sea | All genres | 10-point scale: 7.5/10 | US | Website | |
| Loud and Quiet | Popular music | 10-point scale: 7/10 or no formal scale | UK | Website, Archives | |
| Loudwire | Rock, heavy metal | 5-star scale:
|
US | Website | |
| Magic | Popular music | France | Website, Archives | French language. Many back issue are out of stock. | |
| Magnet | Rock | 10-star scale:
|
US | Website, Archives | |
| Melodic | Rock, independent | 5-star scale:
|
International | Website | |
| Le Ménestrel | Classical | No formal scale | France | Archives | French language publication that ran from 1833 until World War II |
| Metal Forces | Heavy metal | 10-point scale: 7/10 | UK | Website Reviews archives | |
| Metal Hammer | Heavy metal | 10-point scale: 7/10 | UK | Website, Archives | Includes Team Rock |
| Metal Storm | Heavy metal | 10-point scale: 7.6/10.0 or
no formal scale |
Estonia | Website | Do not use guest reviews, recognizable by a tag, or staff reviews from before 2009 |
| MetalSucks | Heavy metal | 5-point scale:
|
US | Website | Be cautious of overly satirical posts, especially those written by author Sergeant D. |
| Mixmag | EDM, Synthpop | 5-"headphones" scale | UK | Website, Archives | |
| Mojo | Rock, popular music | 5-star scale (from 2003 onwards):
|
UK | Website, Archives | |
| MTV | Popular music | No formal rating system | US | Website | |
| Musical Opinion | Classical music | No formal scale | UK | Website | |
| The Musical Quarterly | All genres, classical focus | Not applicable | US | Website, JSTOR access | |
| Musical Theatre Magazine | Theater | US | Website | ||
| The Musical Times | Classical | Not applicable | UK | JSTOR access | |
| MusicMight | Rock | Not applicable | NZ | Website and Website | Only use content attributed to Garry Sharpe-Young (user Taniwha) |
| MusicOMH | All genres | 5-star scale: or no formal scale
|
UK | Website | |
| Music Times | Popular music | No formal rating system | US | Website | |
| NH7 | Indian - Indie, alternative | Letter grade | India | Website | |
| NME | Rock, popular music | Until September 2015: 10-point scale: 7/10 From October 2015 to September 2016: 5-point scale: 4/5 From October 2016: 5-star scale:
|
UK | Website, Archives | |
| No Ripcord | Popular music | 10-point scale: 7.5/10 | UK | Website | |
| Noisecreep | Hard rock, heavy metal | No formal rating system | US | Website | |
| Nothing but Hope and Passion | Popular music | No formal scale | Germany | Website | |
| Now | All genres | 5-"N" scale, 4/5 | Canada | Website, Archives | |
| NPR Music | All genres | No formal scale | US | Website | |
| Opera | Opera | No formal scale | UK | Website, Archives | |
| Opera Canada | Opera | Canada | Website, Archives | ||
| Opera News | Opera | No formal scale | US | Website, Archives | |
| Opera Now | Opera | No formal scale | UK | Website, Archives | |
| Orchestra | Orchestral music, theater music | No formal scale | Serbia | Website, Archives | |
| Organ | Popular music, especially independent, alternative, and underground music | No formal scale | UK |
Website Website (no longer updated) |
|
| Paste | Rock | 10-point scale: 7.6/10 | US | Website, Archives | |
| Perfect Sound Forever | Alternative, electronic and experimental music | No formal scale, reviews are only included in overviews of musicians careers | United States | Website | Discussion |
| Pianist | Classical, piano music | 5-point written scale (4 stars) or no formal scale | UK | Website, Website, Archives | |
| Pitchfork | Popular music, independent | 10-point scale: 7.6/10.0 | US | Website | |
| Playlouder | Popular music, independent | 5-point scale:
|
UK | Reviews archive | |
| PopMatters | Popular music | Older: 10-point scale: 7/10 From May 2015: 10-star scale:
|
International | Website | No formal rating for reviews published before 2005 |
| Punk | Punk | US | Website, Archives | ||
| Punknews.org | Punk, heavy metal, independent | 5-star scale:
|
US | Website | Use staff reviews only, recognizable by a tag |
| Q | Popular music | 5-star scale:
|
UK | Website | |
| The Quietus | Popular music | No formal scale | UK | Website | |
| RapReviews.com | Hip hop | 10 point scale: 6/10 | US | Website | |
| Rap-Up | Urban, popular music | No formal scale | US | Website | |
| Record Collector | All genres | Older: no formal scale, then 4-star scale: Newer: 5-star scale:
|
UK | Website, Archives | |
| Reggae Report | Reggae, Caribbean, African, hip hop | No formal scale | US | Website, Archives | |
| Renowned for Sound | All genres | 5-star scale: or no formal scale
|
International | Website | |
| Resident Advisor | Electronic | 5 point scale: 3/5 | Global | Website | |
| Rock & Folk | Rock music | France | Website, Archives | French language | |
| Rock Hard | Heavy metal | 10-point scale: 7.5/10 | Germany | Website, Magazine archives | German language |
| Rock Sound | Rock | 10-point scale: 7/10 | UK | Website, Archives | |
| Rock Street Journal | Indian - rock | Letter grade | India | Website | |
| Rolling Stone | Rock, popular music | 5-star scale:
|
US | Website, Archives | |
| Respect. | Hip hop | No formal rating scale | US | Website | |
| Revolver | Heavy metal | 5-point scale: 3/5 | US | Website, Archives | |
| Roots Archives | Jamaican and Reggae | Not applicable | Website | A discography database | |
| Roughstock | Country | No formal scale | US | Website | |
| SB&O | Band and orchestral music | No formal scale | US | Website, Archives (subscription required) | |
| Select | Popular music | 5-point scale: 4/5 | UK | ||
| The Skinny | All genres | 5-star scale:
|
UK | Website, Archives | |
| Slant Magazine | Popular music | 5-star scale:
|
US | Website | |
| Sonic Seducer | Dark culture | 10-point scale or no formal scale | Germany | Website, Archives, archive.org Reviews archive | German language. |
| The Source | Hip hop | 5-"microphone" scale | US | Website | |
| Spin | Rock, hip hop, alternative | 10-point scale: 7/10 | US | Website, Archives | Is no longer run in a print version |
| Spinner | Rock | No formal rating system | US | Website | |
| Sputnikmusic | All genres | 5-point scale: 3.5/5 | US | Website | Use staff and emeritus reviews only, recognizable by tag |
| Sruti | Indian | No formal scale | India | Website | |
| Stylus Magazine | Popular music | Letter grade: B +/- | US | Website | |
| Symphony | Classical music, orchestral music | No formal scale | US | Website, Archive | |
| Taste of Country | Country | 5-star scale ; some old reviews use 10-point scale (7.5/10)
|
US | Website | |
| This Is Fake DIY | Popular music, indie | 10-point scale: 7/10 | UK | Website Archives | |
| Thrash Hits | Heavy metal | 6-point scale: 4.5/5 | US | Website | |
| Triple J | Popular music | No formal scale | Australia | Website | |
| Ultimate Guitar Archive | Rock, heavy metal | 10-point scale: 7/10 | International | Website | Only cite articles written by " UG Team" or any members within its group. |
| Uncut | Popular music | Older: 5-star scale: From April 2012: 10-point scale: 7/10 |
UK | Website | |
| Under the Radar | Indie | 10-star scale:
|
US | Website, Archives | |
| URB | Electronic, urban | No formal scale | UK | Website | |
| VH1 | Popular music | No formal rating system | US | Website | |
| Vibe | R&B, hip hop | 5-star scale:
|
US | Website | |
| The Wire | Avant-garde, modern classical, jazz, hip hop, electronic | No formal scale | UK | Website | |
| Welsh Music History | Welsh music | Not applicable | UK | Archives | |
| Wondering Sound | All genres | 5-star rating:
|
US | Website | Reviews before 2014 are unrated. |
| XXL | Hip hop | System based on clothing sizes; scale of small ("S") to extra-extra large ("XXL") | US | Website | |
| Yearbook for Traditional Music | Traditional, traditional dance | Not applicable | UK | Website, JSTOR access |