Students must have access to multiple models to write effectively. Find four or five good examples of music reviews. It is helpful to select reviews that are of sufficient depth and that cover a variety of music genres. Your students need to have copies of the model reviews (their own copy or a class set) when they begin drafting and throughout the rest of the writing process. Below, you will find examples of reviews written by students and professionals.
They're back! And, God help us, they have evolved! Slipknot has obtained new masks, better equipment, and a new found insane aggression for their hit follow up to their debut album 870621345. Trust me on this one, folks, "it's a scream!"Just like their previous CD, Iowa is profusely profane, but not to the point where all of the songs are like "Surfacing." However, they still wear their parental advisory label with pride as if it were a victory flag. Don't be too paranoid, though. There are actually five curse-free tracks . . . for the most part. Well, five out of fourteen isn't too bad is it, considering one of those in as intro track of nothing but a solid minute of tortured screams of "death!"
But the "dirty words" are but one of the lyrical aspects I shall share with your. The songs vary from the ultimate anti-social theme "People = ####" to the slightly narcissistic declaration of the band's originality in "I am Hated," to singer Cory's twisted view of love as portrayed in the title track "Iowa." The CD is laden with morbidity, self-pity, and pure, undiluted anger. Slipknot has really taken a step forward with their writing. Even those who, impossible as it may seem, are unfamiliar with Slipknot, will notice some of the elaborate and descriptive language. With lyrics such as "megalomaniacal tab on my tongue" and "to see you thalidomide robot face" it is easy to see time and effort went into this sweet sequel, right down to even the ever controversial "Heretic Anthem."
Lyrics aside, let us take a dive into the raging torrent of the music itself. Think of the hardest, loudest, and fasted band you have ever heard. Multiply it a hundred-fold. NOw your have a general idea of the essence of Slipknot. On top of, under, and on all sides of Cory's nonstop painful screaming are the three drummers, two guitarists, bassist, DJ, and media sampler. Yes, you read right. NIne members including Cory. Throughout the ceaseless, ultra-rapid drum loops are threaded searingly quick guitar riffs. When they hit, THEY HIT! Anyway, I'm not sure if the bassist is a finger player or uses a pick, but he also burns up the strings at light speed. The DJ and media samples are also nice touches to the crunch.
The whole CD is not completely fast-paced if that is what your are wondering about. There's such a cutting speed contrast with slow songs such as: Gently," "Skin Ticket," and "Iowa." These few are at a much slower tempo mostly, but that doesn't mean that they aren't still teeth grinding compositions.
These guys really live up to what they say in "I am Hated." NO one can compare to this masked nontet from Iowa, U.S.A. The drop-tuned heavy artillery of Slipknot beats out, by far, "all the mediocre sacred cows [they] spawned."
Students enjoy this assignment because they get to write about their music and they get to share their opinions about that music. How many times do you hear students talking about their favorite music? Arguing about it?
Adam completed this assignment successfully for many reasons.
Most importantly, he became involved in the assignment and enjoyed it.
This assignment channels that enthusiasm into a well-crafted piece of writing.
You can see this in the way he creatively tackels his introduction.
"They're back! And, God help us, they have evolved!" engages the
reader and establishes a compelling tone. He plays with language,
creating descriptive phrases that capture the music, such as "ceaseless,
ultra-rapid drum loops are threaded searingly quick guitar riffs."
He addresses the past history of the band without writing a biography.
The conclusion is subtle: he makes it clear that the album is worthy
of purchase, without blatantly saying so.
Rolling Stone Magazine Music Reviews
Yahoo! Launch
Contains music reviews for all types of music.
Students can research albums, groups, etc.
CDNOW
Choose a type of music, then scroll down to select "All
Reviews."