user
05.17.19 | where's the review for 17? |
Static
05.17.19 | gimme a bit I'll breeze through some of these
|
SitarHero
05.17.19 | I read 2 random reviews and here are my two main impressions:
1. Editing: You need to give your reviews a couple of look overs. There are some easily fixable spelling and punctuation/grammar mistakes.
2. Content: There's nothing wrong with short reviews, but there seems to be nearly no detail in your reviews. When you sit down with an album, write down specific things about specific songs that you like or don't, like particular lyrics or particular guitar solos or riffs or whatever. Don't cop out and say "The lyrics are cheesy" or "The riffs are good" and leave it at that. Provide specific examples to support your opinion. Provide some insight into why some ideas in the album work or don't work. |
SitarHero
05.17.19 | Reviewing should be a fun hobby for you. Don't write a review unless you are compelled to. Usually that's when you like something enough to listen to it repeatedly and pick up on nuances and ideas within the album. But writing a ho-hum review for an album you aren't ACTIVELY listening to doesn't serve anyone, in my opinion. |
Static
05.17.19 | >>SitarHero, post 1
I agree about the editing. I also agree about the length. The shorter ones are definitely weaker. If you don't have a lot to say, then don't write the review. Soundoffs are just as great. Having a broader view of the album tends to work better than mechanically going piece by piece, track by track. Note the emotions in the songs and how they match up with emotions in other songs. You wanna really try to convey to your readers whatever message the artist intended. Write like you talk. Use your own voice.
>>SitarHero, post 2
I agree with you verbatim. Every single thing in this post is true. |
tyman128
05.17.19 | This is more so a personal preference, but the more you write, the better you become. Keeping in mind what Sitar said and still keep it at a fun hobby, try and push out reviews on albums you enjoy reviewing and push yourself to improve upon the last one.
Another way is to find an album from a genre you haven't really delved into and try to review. Of course, if it's something you aren't compelled to write, don't do it. But, if you attempt to review something outside of your comfort zone, it'll be much easier to review in the future since you can take a varied approach with a wider range of understanding. |
Static
05.17.19 | +1 to everything tyman said. well said. |
Static
05.17.19 | Read a view of 'em. some basic thoughts:
your 2 GREELEY reviews are clearly your first. you just started. very vanilla. good
start, though, as you have/had the core purpose of the review down: describing
the album through your point of view. the hard part is making it flow and keeping
readers interested. you want people to hear your voice and actually think what
you're saying is important and valid. you want your words to have life.
HORN OF THE RHINO is more polished with good descriptions but still pretty cookie
cutter. again, the fun of reviewing is making your voice heard.
you improved quite drastically quite quickly, as your FEAR BEFORE review is
legitimately great. straightforward, descriptive, and has life to it.
that trio review with the LYNGUISTS seems kind of disjointed. lot of unnecessary
sentences that seem to exist only to make the review longer. the lyric selection
is also strange, primarily the placement in the review and how long they actually
are. reads like a soundoff poorly stretched into a review. these are my opinions.
that doesn't make them correct, so don't worry.
yeah, I'd probably end up writing that BRITNY FOX record the same way. random
reviews can be tough especially when it's fuckin' hair metal. seems way too
short and lacks passion found in earlier reviews. this gets a pass, though.
gimmicky review. |
Static
05.17.19 | (cont)
the fact that your KINGDOM HEARTS review didn't have any well writtens (until
now) is pretty mind blowing, as it is like a textbook perfect soundtrack review.
you interweave the songs with the moments in the game very well, and your
descriptive choices do a fantastic job conjuring up images, as I have never
played, and yet I totally understand the tone. you nailed how important this
music is for the game, and how it loses so much of its power when listened
to straight up. good shit.
your RINGWORM review is a perfect example of lacking meat and personality. it's a start, but it needs to at least double in length. it doesn't say a whole lot, and I know you got a lot to say. |
Static
05.17.19 | I read all of them, and there's a common theme with your best reviews being
the ones that are either very positive (4) or extremely positive (5). you seem to
consistently struggle with the middle ground 2-3.5 reviews. your THESE ARMS
ARE SNAKES review is probably your best postive work, followed closely by
KINGDOM HEARTS, HORN OF THE RHINO, and FEAR BEFORE.
however, your best review overall is DAMN. a lot of super negative reviews go
overboard. your's pretty much made the 1 an objective fact without grasping at
straws or being overly dramatic. this has a lot of your voice in it. use that voice
for albums you are passionate about. The TAAS and DAMN reviews are
legitimately great and feature worthy. none of your reviews deserve a "No,"
but a lot of them deserve a "Yes."
I'm excited to read your next one. |
ConcubinaryCode
05.17.19 | Massive thanks friends! I do just want to keep it as a fun thing to do on the side and with lesser prevelant albums on the site. Nothing contributer esque status or anything.
I understand that I should expand on my more basic thoughts and maybe stay away from things I'm not as passionate about (random review ones are bad because I basically breezed through it and wrote first impressions)
I also am glad you like the reviews for albums I legit give a fuck about even if I personally found myself have trouble describing things. I'm writing a bunch of thoughts for dgd tree village atm so hopefully I can make a decent review from that. |
Static
05.17.19 | if you end up writing one let me know in my shoutbox pls |
ConcubinaryCode
05.17.19 | For sure man, thanks for the shout on that one Greeley review I did btw. Encouraging |
JustJoe.
05.17.19 | I’ll second all of the actual helpful advice. But I would also like to direct your attention to pizzamachine’s “How to Review an Album” series. Profound. |
user
05.18.19 | that other guy made some good points but if you'd like a masterclass I'd suggest this
https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/69830/Earache-Records-The-Worlds-Shortest-Album/ |
