Here is some analysis of two music reviews, one from NME and one from The Sunday Times Music section that I did during my Media class which have helped me to identify what goes into a music review.
Review on Guns N Roses (Elizabeth Goodman, NME 27 May 2006)
What features about the concert are highlighted in the review?
The singer Axl's appearance, the songs played, and how the band has changed due to the death of Slash and the aging of the band.
Describe the style of language used in the review.
It’s very descriptive at first describing the beginning of the show, and then it is more chatty, colloquial as if it were a friend talking to you, quite critical but complimentary as well as she says ‘the songs are so epic and transcendent and undeniable that it doesn’t matter'.
What previous knowledge about the band is expected of the reader?
The reader is expected to know the songs, the albums and the band members along with their history as they are quite a famous, iconic rock band who would appeal to their target audience.
How do you know that the journalist is into the band?
She seems very passionate about certain songs, about how the new guitarist doesn’t compare to the old one, but praises the songs anyway saying that it doesn't matter that they're not as good cos the songs are 'epic' in her opinion.
What assumptions does the journalist make about the reader?
That they like guns n roses and have a knowledge of all of their songs/albums/band members and also that they have an interest in the band and are as passionate about the music as she is and includes the audience when she refers to 'NME' as she is saying they weren't just the songs she wanted to hear, they were the songs the reader wanted to her as well.
Does the review link to the music publications identity and target readership?
It does link to the publications identity as they are talking about this band to the reader in a way that suggests their readers should know this band, which they most likely would as they are one of the classic rock bands and with NME's target audience of 16-34 year olds who are predominantly male who have a keen interest in music, it is unlikely that they haven't at least heard of this band.
How does the review suggest that there could possibly be an audience of different age ranges? What pleasures do you think that different age fans of Guns N Roses would experience at a gig?
It suggests that it could be for a younger audience of 16-24 as the beginning is very descriptive and creates the buzz of the concert which would be one of the main attractions of the younger audience. It also refers to the bands newer album which the 16-24 year olds may be more familiar with than the old ones. However it also suggests there is an audience of 25-34 or even possibly older as it refers to old songs and band members that the older audiences would remember. The pleasures of Guns N Roses fans at a gig differ as young audiences would just be discovering the music and would enjoy the atmosphere perhaps more than the music whereas older audiences could get pleasure from memories of particular songs or the band in general at one of their gigs, however both audiences would find the gig an escape from their usual everyday lives.
What other possible music publications would review this concert?
Kerrang!, RockSound, Q, any magazine that features rock music heavily.
Clare Maguire review/article (Paul Lester 2010 The Sunday Times / Music)
Before reading the article:
What do you think is the relevance of the term 'Talking Topshop Blues'?
The word Topshop is a clothing shop, blues has connotation of sadness, depression but also of a type of music so suggests something about somebody who used to work in Topshop who wasn't very happy there and has moved on into that type of music perhaps?
How many columns are there?
3
How many images?
1
What connotations does the image give of the artist and the content of the article?
Quite a weird image of her looking to the side and what looks like branches over her face suggesting she’s hiding behind something or something’s tieing her down. She looks almost gothic with pale skin, and black poker straight hair. Overall quite a strange image.
What are your initial impressions of this music feature?
A lot of text which suggests the readers want to read about music and aren't too fussed about image. Could either be about blues music from the title or perhaps from a slightly more rock or indie genre as her pale skin and dark hair make her look a little gothic however her music must appeal to an older audience of about 25+ due to the magazine it's in.
After reading the article:
What techniques does the writer use in the first sentence to engage the reader?
Starts with a declarative sentence ‘Clare Maguire will be’ and compares her to two popular artists of the past two years so the audience will be encourage to read the rest of the article if they like them. Engaging visual technique with larger C.
What does 'ubiquity' mean?
Ubiquity is when you seem to be present everywhere at once
What is the focus of paragraph one?
The sound of her voice and the different style and sounds of her music.
What technique features in Maguire's quote in paragraph two?
She lists all the different things and repitition
In paragraph two, how is Maguire made to sound like an average person?
As she is suffering from a cold
What is the focus of paragraph three?
Her image and style
What do you think is exaggerated in paragraph three?
A noir Florence or ellie in hell – a troubled soul – blues genre
In paragraph five, what point is made about Maguire's relationship with music?
Her relationship with music is her way of dealing with issues
How many artists are mentioned in paragraph six?
8
On what tone does the article end?
Positive, saying that she will do well.
Which current artist is Clare Maguire most similar to?
Ellie Goulding, Pixie Lott and Florence and the Machine.
