Review an Album

So you like an album so much that you have to give a review of the album. This article will teach you how to give a good album review.

Steps

  1. Listen to the album multiple times, giving yourself a chance to really understand what is going on in the music. You don't want to write a review solely based on first impressions.

    Read the album cover while you listen, for an overview about the band/singer. You can also read other reviews or ask others for their opinion, to ascertain common attitudes towards the band/singer's genre and previous work. This is just background work; you won't be slavishly recycling old opinion from others.
  2. Think about what points you want to make in your review. You may want to write out an outline if that helps you organize your thoughts.
  3. Give basic information about the band, such as where they are from, the members' names, and the instruments they play. This information is especially important for a debut album, but less so if the musicians are superstars, or if you would expect most readers in your intended audience to be familiar with the band.
    • If the celebrity is a standalone singer, still give information such as where are they from.
  4. Discuss the album's background, including where it fits in the context of the band/singer's career and what possible influences they might have. You want the reader to get as much of a sense of what the music sounds like as possible.
  5. Review particular tracks that stand out, either because they are great or not so great.
  6. Summarize your feelings about the album in your final sentence. This will stay with the readers and help them to decide whether or not to buy the album.

Tips

  • Try to include some style and personality in your writing, as this will set the review apart from the many others out there.
  • For example:
    • From Newark, NJ, they call themselves My Chemical Romance. The members of the band are Gerard Way (Lead Vocals), Mikey Way (Bass), Frank Iero (Guitar), Ray Toro (Guitar), and Bob (Drums). With their 2004 album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge and songs such as "Helena," "The Ghost of You," and "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)," My Chemical Romance has never been more successful in their career than now. Lyrics such as, "Long ago just like the hearse you die to get in again," "I never said I'd lie and wait forever," and "You said you read me like a book but the pages are all torn and frayed" accentuate the band's dark sound. With their 2004 music video hit "I'm Not Okay (I promise)" the band made its mark on music television. Their music influences are Iron Maiden, Thursday, and AC/DC - just to name a few. On tour at the moment in Europe and back here in the U.S., fans are raving about how energetic their live performances are, and how they have a huge impact on them. Fans from all over are leaving comments on their site at www.Myspace.com/mychemicalromance. Their official fan site is www.mychemicalromance.com, where you'll find tour dates as well as merchandise to purchase. On November 22nd, 2005 there will be a DVD released, documenting their rise as musicians and also their latest tour. While the band was making Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, Gerard Way's grandmother passed away. It was a difficult time for him, which the song "Helena" covers. His grandmother always encouraged him and his brother Mikey to be musicians. Working hard for their ever-growing fanbase, My Chemical Romance is still striving for more success.

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