So I was wondering if anyone has any tips on writing about music as lots of people do it often 😄
You see it would be desirable if people kept getting better at writing about music so if we had this thread to get new ideas it would be a good thing. Like how do you write comments on your chart and reviews for albums? How do you discuss music and what should never be wrote about?
I don't have much skill myself so I want to see what others can say before putting my own ideas?
So what skills do you have in writing about what you hear from music?
Honestly I just start writing and hope that when my fingers leave the keyboard I've left something even remotely coherent behind. And even if I haven't I still press submit and hope that someone out there is the same kind of crazy that I am
I honestly have no idea if what I write is any good, makes sense or if people could find it appealing. When I write the notes in my chart I usually write stuff while listening to the album. Sometimes I say what feelings I have during each song, a personal experience, the lyrics I loved; I simply don't care much, whatever comes to my mind.
But it's always better when you read someone else's notes on an album you don't know, it gives you a whole different perspective. _________________ "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming"
Before I write about an album, I usually start by rating the individual songs, then the album as a whole. This helps me put everything into context. Then I may write about the effect the album had on me personally, a song-by-song analysis, draw a comparison a well-known album or artist, etc. Most importantly, though, I try to highlight what makes that album special, different, or important to the development of music. And if the album doesn't get a perfect score, I make sure to explain why. _________________
The most important thing, for me anyway, is making sure that I'd want to read whatever I write. If you look at what you've written and think, "that's boring as fuck", sort it out. Besides that, I guess I prefer people, when writing about albums, to discuss the album as a whole, and not as a collection of songs. Sure, every record will have peaks and troughs, and I'm not warning against pointing out an album's highlights or dud moments, but track-by-track reviews just aren't my thing at all. You wouldn't review a novel by analysing it chapter-by-chapter, and I similarly struggle to accept that an album can be reviewed track-by-track - but I know (/assume, based on how many of them there are around) that some people like those sorts of reviews so I guess it's a case of 'whatever floats your boat'. _________________ 2021 in full effect. Come drop me some recs. Y'all know what I like.
I agree, pointing out track highlights and duds is the better way to to go, but in a few cases track-by-track is not a bad option. First one to come to mind is John Coltrane's A Love Supreme - it's a 4 part journey and it makes sense to look at the twists and turns encountered in each of the 4 tracks. _________________
You can imagine how hard this task can be for someone whose English is not a native language. I usually write small reviews/comments, hoping to evoke the reader into listening (or not) a particular album.... _________________ "And can’t you see you’re in on it?
You were born though you need not
And is that not some cause
For worship, being born among these trees?"
MercuryTurn your back on the pay-you-back last callProfile St. Louis
I'm with skinny for the most part. Generally prefer writing about the record as a whole and what it sounds like to me. But I recently deleted all my chart notes because some of them sucked assss (not that there is anything wrong with that)! Some of the notes I liked and those were generally the ones that I spent more time with and I wrong while I was into the album or listening to it a lot.
Blah blah blah. Just write whatever. _________________ -Ryan
If you want some coaching, we can help you. Write a review of your favorite album. Make me want to listen to your favorite album.
We'll take a red pencil to your review, and tell you what's good and bad about your review. It's a painful process while you're enduring it, but it will make you a much better writer.
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