Can an experienced reviewer look at my reviews?
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Topic: Can an experienced reviewer look at my reviews?
Posted By: DisgruntledPorcupine
Subject: Can an experienced reviewer look at my reviews?
Date Posted: May 09 2010 at 14:14
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I want to know how my reviews are doing. Can someone please have a look and leave any constructive criticism or tell me things I am doing right?
And I started out by reviewing Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree as they are my favourite bands and I thought it'd be easy. |
Replies:
Posted By: The Runaway
Date Posted: May 09 2010 at 14:23
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If you write by songs (which is my way of writing), try saying what it sounds like. Think about it, most chances are, the person reading your review has never heard the album, he doesn't know what to expect, so it's up to you to show him what it's all about. YEAHH ------------- http://www.formspring.me/Aragorn224" rel="nofollow - Trendsetter win! The search for nonexistent perfection. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: May 09 2010 at 15:21
Tell me how to review instrumental albums properly and I will tell you how to review albums in general. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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DT-PT wrote:Posted By: Marty McFly
Date Posted: May 09 2010 at 16:27
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Instrumentals are tough nuts to crack. I usually depend on feelings, name what instrument they are using and which moods it creates, how do I like it and how it fits in overall composition.
------------- There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless," -Andyman1125 on Lulu  Even my |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: May 09 2010 at 16:57
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I know, I'm in the minority here, but read what other reviewers already wrote before about your chosen albums. If you don't have something to add to what is already said, don't write at all. Better review something else instead.
------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: May 09 2010 at 17:39
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- don't write so subjectively, think more in terms of a news report rather than a personal diary - song-by-song is bad: many do it, most fail, and no one wants to read a laundry list - describe the feeling and sound of the music and how it compares to other albums by the same artist ..and you might want to give the link to your Review Page instead of making people go to your Member Profile to find it, it might garner more responses |
Posted By: Marty McFly
Date Posted: May 09 2010 at 17:55
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Many people, many opinions, none is ultimately right, but trying to learn something from them, oh yeah, that's wise.
------------- There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless," -Andyman1125 on Lulu Even my |
Posted By: jampa17
Date Posted: May 10 2010 at 10:49
I support this... it's not that you have to travel through the 1000 reviews of Close to the Edge but read some of the reviews, and see what people is saying, it help you a lot to see what people think about it and compare with your particular point of view... and of course, try to add something, most of the people different reviews, so, if you can complement what others say, is better to the newbie to "Get it"
Also agree with Avatachron, song by song description is not that good, I don't like to read it because I want to hear and put attention... general information or particular moments are cool tu give information of, but not about each and every song... I tend to skip those paragraph and jump to the conclusion... remember that you have to have in mind that people don't know the music, that's the key to right a more accurate review...
of course, I'm not a great reviewer so... nevermind...  ------------- |
Posted By: A Person
Date Posted: May 10 2010 at 11:22
Yes you are Jampa.  I generally don't like song by song description, but there are some reviews that are very good that way. |
Posted By: tarkus1980
Date Posted: May 10 2010 at 14:04
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I've been writing album reviews for well over a decade, and while I don't consider myself to have mastered the art entirely, I think I have a pretty good idea what I'm doing, so my advice might be helpful.
Mentioning every song on an album is sometimes fine, but there are better ways to do it than others. A review should (in my opinion) ideally be treated as if you were writing a mini-thesis on your thoughts and feelings about the album. When you write about an album, you should have an overall impression of the album, as well as insights into some specific aspects of the album. You should seek to describe the album in a way that provides details in support of your main thesis and your sub-points; in this, you should describe the individual tracks to the extent that describing them is necessary to flesh out the point you're trying to get across. Often, this will mean mentioning every track; sometimes, mentioning only half is necessary, and sometimes you don't need to mention more than one or two. If you're presenting an especially nuanced opinion, it's more likely that every track will require a brief mention. ------------- "History of Rock Written by the Losers." |
Posted By: DisgruntledPorcupine
Date Posted: May 10 2010 at 14:24
Thanks for all your advice. 
I, personally, have always enjoyed song by song reviews which is why I chose to write them, but I can choose another style as it would seem most people are different.  |
Posted By: UMUR
Date Posted: May 10 2010 at 15:16
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I usually skip the song by song reviews ( they usually bore me to bits). I want to read an overall description of the music, some background history and discography context, references to other artists who are similar in style, production values, musicianship and of course a subjective opinion about what you feel about the album. What you feel about the album and what you rate it shouldnīt always have to coincide. Iīve rated albums that I felt were the work of a genious, but I personally didnīt care for much, both 3 and 4 stars. ------------- http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/" rel="nofollow - Metal Music Archives https://rateyourmusic.com/~UMUR" rel="nofollow - UMUR on RYM |
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: May 10 2010 at 15:32
| I also prefer to read(and write) non-song-by-song reviews, specially when it's an album with many songs. Although I have to admit I have written various song-by-song reviews, though if I'm not mistaken, never an album with more than 9 songs. |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 10 2010 at 15:34
I do song-by-song for all studio albums. Some like that, and some don't. Adopt your own style, be helpful, and you will please some people. You will never please everyone. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Vompatti
Date Posted: May 10 2010 at 16:16
| Maybe it's just me, but I tend to like reviews that begin with an aphorism with the word 'ostrich' in it. |
Posted By: UMUR
Date Posted: May 11 2010 at 02:40
^ ------------- http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/" rel="nofollow - Metal Music Archives https://rateyourmusic.com/~UMUR" rel="nofollow - UMUR on RYM |
Posted By: jampa17
Date Posted: May 11 2010 at 11:51
Yeah, I like your reviews Rob and I don't like song by song reviews... that means that I only read yours for the jokes that you place here and there...?
When a review has quality, it doesn't matter if it is a song by song or not... but most of the time I get bored with that method... not with you Rob... of course... ------------- |