Thanks for the sane respomses, even those in disagreement.
Dave Van Ronk recorded for Ken Goldstein at Prestige, using the best equipment available at the time. He was a savvy businessman, when it came to his career, even though his politics were so radical, he got tossed from a Trotskyite splinter group. (I kid because he waas a friend)
The whole record buying scene has changed dramaticly. With the death of outlets, like Tower Records, most sales, today, are at performances, where CDs are sold to a market, predisposed to like the product. Thus, the natural advantage that labels had, in distribution, is no longer in place. The function of reviews, in the eyes of the artist, are publicity and introduction into unfamiliar markets. If the reviewer is unimpressed, their will be no introduction and, as a result, no sales. It doesn't much matter what you mat think of the qualifications of the reviewer. To the artist, the reviewer is free advertising and free entree. I, for one, am glad to provide both.