music

Musicreviews

WHY DO WE WRITE THEM?

1. As a service to readers

2. To call attention to things that deserve it

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED?

1. The most important thing is to tell your

readers whether or not its good and why?

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED?

2. Some issues to explore:

a. What does it sound like

A. using words describing brightness

(dark, light, shiny, murky)

B. terms that describe weight

(light, heavy, etc)

C. Onomatopoeia

(jangly, thumping, etc)

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED?

b. What genre?

c. Does it sound a lot like anybody

else? (rock critics even have their

own special set of adjectives

(“Beatlesque” “Byrdsian”)

The Rock ‘n Roll Dictionary is up next

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED?

d. Artist description/history/how does this

hold up next to their other work.

e. How does it affect the listener?

f. Lyrics--often good to quote from songs .

WHAT TO AVOID

1. Don’t rely on trite comparisons

a. sometimes unavoidable and there are even some

terms for these

A. “Beatleesque”

B. Stonesy

2. Don’t be too obscure--remember you’re writing for a

general audience

3. Unfair bias--don’t say something is crummy because its

rap-metal (and you hate rap-metal). Say its crummy because

its not original, intelligent etc.

Other suggestions

1. Package reviews with “If you like this, try this”

sidebars.

2. Also could package with “Also by this artist

sidebars/infoboxes”

PLACES TO LOOK FOR INSPIRATION and

INFORMATION

1. Any music mags--Rolling Stone, Spin, Harp, Magnet,

Paste, Blender, etc)

2. Web sites (www.allmusic.com is a good start)

ISSUES

1. How important are album reviews?? Is it more

important to review single songs now, since that’s

the way much of your audience gets its music?

2. How can you incorporate more small, quick reads?

• Dave Matthews Band: Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King: 

• Even the death of a beloved band member can't excuse the subpar songwriting and playing so sterile it could be used as birth control.

From Newsweek Magazine

Spin Magazine 125 albums of the last 25 years

http://www.spin.com/spin25/125-best-albums-past-25-years

The Rock ‘n Roll Dictionary

A collection of words that speak to

music.

Your turn:In brief review two new tracks. They can be from any bandColdplayThe Ben Daniels Band or

anything you like right now.

FREESTUFF

GoMoxie.org

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