How to Write a Music Review

Writing a review is supposed to be about expressing your opinion. However, many magazines and websites limit your freedoms in how you express your views. You are only allowed to write the positive, even when you dislike a CD or group. Sound tricky? It would be without these tips.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• pencil
• paper
• CD/music to review

1. Open with an interesting quip about the group or CD that grabs readers' attention. This can be a discussion of the group's name, interesting facts about the background of the group, or facts about their latest tours or releases.
2. Describe the overall mood of the CD with your eyes closed. How does it make you feel? Does it remind you of anything? When can you picture yourself listening to it?
3. Pick out a few songs that you could really discuss and focus the last few sentences of the review on these songs. This is where you would talk about the musicality, quality, and lyrics of the CD.
4. Don't forget to close the review. Who would you recommend it to and why?

Tips & Warnings

• Do your research on the group's background first. This may give you many interesting facts for your starting point.
• If your editor says, do not badmouth any group or release, listen!
• Remember that you may end up needing this editor, band, or record company later for other pieces of writing you want to market. You don't want to sever any good connections before they even start.