As an occasional reviewer, I have found that several of the magazines I have dealt with currently want only reviews which are "completely behind the CD." As every production has strengths and weaknesses, this is a cheat to the reader. The reader is entitled to know what they will be buying.

Back in the 60's, I reviewed a release by Omar B, a well known Canadian singer. The production was atrocious but the album was still worth getting as many of the songs were unavailable anywhere else. Sound levels were all over the place between songs. The mike work was poor, even though all of the words were understandable. To not tell the readers this would have been a violation of the contract with the reader.