Talk:Heartland rock/GA1

GA Review
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Reviewer: Seabuckthorn (talk · contribs) 18:02, 27 December 2013 (UTC)

Nominator:  SabreBD  (talk)

Hi! I'll be reviewing this article for GA status, and should have my full review up shortly. It's my second review. I'll be assisted by an experienced Wikipedian. -- Seabuckthorn   ♥  18:02, 27 December 2013 (UTC)

GA review – see WP:WIAGA for criteria The article is very well-written in terms of the prose quality and the reference formatting. It's a very promising candidate. I've few insights to offer.
 * 1) Is it reasonably well written?
 * A. Prose is "clear and concise", without copyvios, or spelling and grammar errors:
 * Good
 * B. MoS compliance for lead, layout, words to watch, fiction, and lists:
 * See below.
 * 1) Is it factually accurate and verifiable?
 * A. Has an appropriate reference section:
 * Good
 * B. Citation to reliable sources where necessary:
 * See below.
 * C. No original research:
 * Good

Issues with 1b: Definition and notability should be in the first sentence (WP:LEADSENTENCE). I recommend the following revision:


 * Heartland rock is a genre of rock music that is exemplified by the commercial success of singer-songwriters Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Tom Petty and John Mellencamp. It was characterized by a straightforward musical style, a concern with the average, blue collar American life, and a conviction that rock music has a social or communal purpose beyond just entertainment. It was also associated with a number of country music artists including Steve Earle and Joe Ely, along with less widely known acts such as Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes and the Iron City Houserockers. The genre developed in the 1970s and reached its commercial peak in the 1980s, when it became one of the best-selling genres in the United States. In the 1990s, many established acts faded and the genre began to fragment, but the major figures have continued to record with commercial success.
 * ✅ Was browsing through the GA nominees on hold list, thought to lend a helping hand. Ethically (Yours) 16:27, 29 December 2013 (UTC)

Issues with 2b: The author of Source 2 is Steve Peake profile. As per WP:RSVETTING, I have the following questions: Is the second source a WP:RS and not a WP:SPS? I recommend removing this source and citing a reliable source. The RS Noticeboard (here) has consensus that about.com is not a RS. All important information that relies on this source will have to either be removed or be cited to a different source.
 * Who is the author? Is the author an established expert? Google search showed no results on him.
 * The author does not have a Wikipedia article.
 * The author's academic credentials and professional experience are not known.
 * Is the publication about.com reliable in this case?

Another 2b issue: The article says that Springfield's songs were "influenced by 50s rock and roll, Bob Dylan and Phil Spector's Wall of Sound". The source says "A blue-collar fairy tale evoking Phil Spector in its romanticized grandeur and Bob Dylan in its street-corner poetic grit". The source talks about what the album evoked for that reviewer, and not what Springfield used as an influence. I recommend a reparaphrasing to clarify that one reviewer found these links, but to not claim that Springfield intended them.

I am putting this article on Hold for 7 days. If the required issues are dealt with in that time the article will pass, otherwise it will fail. -- Seabuckthorn   ♥  19:12, 28 December 2013 (UTC)


 * This nomination has been on hold for 7 days. I'm going to fail this nomination due to inactivity. If you resolve the above issues at a later date, feel free to renominate the article for GA status. -- Seabuckthorn   ♥  14:55, 4 January 2014 (UTC)