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As someone who has been writing for20 years, I have always thought it better to get things right as opposed to being first. It is only recently that I have added writing music reviews most notably CD reviews to my list credits.

Any artist endeavour is always highly subjective according to the viewer or listener as the case may be; however, this does not mean a music review cannot be written with some objectivity. As with any artistic work what is hear or felt will vary with each person; so a reviewer giving his personal opinion of what he thinks is of little use to the general public wanting to know about an album. I seldom, if ever, read music reviews because I feel like I am being told what I should think instead of being able to make up my own mind about what I feel or like. Giving me a line by line description of every lyric gives me little information to make an informed decision about an album.

When writing a music review I prefer to give some background information about the artist or band; especially if it is a new or little known artist. Describe some of places and people the artist has appeared with, any awards they have won, and any other information that will allow the reader to make up his own mind about what he wants to hear.

Labeling bands and artists can be misleading since even that is rather subjective. For example, when an artist is label as alternative. An alternative to what? In the early days of rock the music was called rock and roll; today that same music is called rockabilly. Pop music is popular which means whatever is popular for that particular time. These phrases do little in aiding a reader in deciding whether or not they wish to buy or listen to an album.

Describe the music in terms that are general to every musical style. Are guitar chords hard or heavy? Does the singer sing or scream the lyrics? While a reviewer doesn't have to be a musician it does help to know and understand a little something about music; as in how things fit together, a feel for the flow of the music, and what sounds right.

Out of respect for the artist and the work I will not write about an artist whose music I am not fond of; just because I don't like it doesn't mean the music isn't good. On the other hand; if I really like something I am very likely to express my pleasure and interest in the music. There has been occasions where my feelings for a particular album or artist was very evident; and while there is nothing wrong in this I do try to temper it with as much information and objectivity as possible.

But in the end a review is the writer's thoughts on any particular work and there really isn't any one way that is better than any other; after all it is a piece of artistic work in itself. And to say that any one style of work is better than another is a matter of debate in itself.

Learn more about this author, Sherrill Fulghum.
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