Il Duce wrote:
i haven't been reading the newer reviews - they're just not the same without the numbers

Yeah, it does seem as if he's taken a deliberate step backwards into laid-back territory, in contrast to his earlier approach which was so anal and meticulous.  I for one liked that meticulous approach.  Whether or not you agree with his ratings, he stays consistent and really tries to quantify an album's worth, which makes it an excellent guide to discover what things you yourself might like.  Nowadays, it's just a "thumbs up, thumbs down" system, where something has to be really bad to get a thumbs down.  His writing is still sharp and expressive, so it's still a good read, but I think the rating system pushed him to even higher levels.