CKGI tip sheet – prepared by John Roman
Music Reviews
• Once you’ve identified the genre ask yourself if you’ve listened to a wide or deep enough sampling to comment with authority. If not, then a further sampling is necessary to form a deeper understanding and appreciation of the artist’s work.
• Always try to listen to the album without interruption to get a feel for the artist’s work. The next time prepare yourself to spend time on each track and take notes as you listen.
• Play the album in different locations and see if you get the same feel or impression of the work. Some tracks are better suited to the highway while others beg you to lean back and be enjoyed in a big easy chair.
• Look for comparisons to previous works by this artist or on albums by other artists in this genre. Comment on the tracks that excite you and then on others that make you cringe. Please remember that there are very few perfect works out there and just because an artist had a great album last year do not automatically assume that will happen this time.
• Look at who plays what instruments and is there one who really stands out? In some cases artists will use session players and they should be evaluated too. The big question is – Do they make a difference and are they known to do that or is this the best work they have ever done?
• Try to start with an attention getting greeting in the first few sentences. The review should be informative and fun to read.
• Be concise – try to say a lot with as few words as possible. With some publications you are given a word limit that would surprise. Be concise!
• Comment on the recording quality and production of the album if it makes a difference in what you hear. Either to the good or not so good. If it doesn’t matter either way then I wouldn’t assign it any of the words that you might need elsewhere.
• Summarize your thoughts in the final paragraph and end the review with a creative thought or comment. Write like you are an authority and if you aren’t now you soon will be.
• Last but not least – is this song worth the money to download over others? Is this album worth someone laying down their hard earned cash? Carol King only had one Tapestry album and she could never match it – and for that matter few folk recordings ever did. A five star rating is rare as the complete album must shine like the brightest star in the sky compared to all the others now and forever.
Cheers
