How to Make an Album Review 

What is an album review? An album review is a review of a body of work in this case it’s an artist’s or group’s music put together that carries a specific theme. Album reviews are opinion pieces but here are steps to create your own album review like a highly revered review site ‘Pitchfork’, “Listen to the music until you are sick of it, Research the music, identify a focus for your review, Identify the genre, and Note the specifics of the instruments.” (Delvin) An album review can be different depending on genre as well, for example, you wouldn’t review country music the way you would rap/hip pop or hardcore rock the substance within the songs is too different to use the same thought process for them all. Below are some genres and steps to review albums within these genres: 

• Pop: The catchy melodies, upbeat rhythms, and relatable lyrics that define pop music. When evaluating pop albums, take note of the vocal delivery, the level of production, and the overall catchiness of the songs. Think about whether the album contributes anything new to the pop genre or if it sounds cloned from other performers. 

• Rock: The musical genre of rock encompasses a variety of subgenres, such as metal, alternative rock, and classic rock. Consider the instrumentation, the caliber of the lyrics, and the intensity of the performance when evaluating a rock album. Inspect the album to see if it successfully captures the essence of rock music and if it presents anything novel or innovative. 

• Hip-hop and rap are musical genres that place a strong emphasis on lyrics and rhythm. Consider the artist’s flow, the caliber of the beats, and the profundity of the lyrics when evaluating a hip-hop or rap album. Think about whether the album breaks with established tropes and cliches or offers a novel take on the genre. 

• Electronic: The production and sound design of electronic music are heavily emphasized. When evaluating an electronic album, consider the depth of the beats and textures, the caliber of the production, and the mood the music conveys. Think about whether the album contributes anything fresh or distinctive to the electronic subgenre. 

• Country: Storytelling and its ties to traditional folk music define country music. Consider the strength of the songwriting, the artist’s voice’s authenticity, and the instrumentation when evaluating a country album. Examine whether the album successfully captures the essence of country music and if it introduces any fresh sounds. 

• Jazz: Jazz is a style that places a strong emphasis on musical skill and improvisation. Consider the level of musicianship, the inventiveness of the improvisations, and the overall cohesiveness of the performance when evaluating a jazz album. Assess the album’s ability to capture the essence of jazz music and whether it presents anything particularly special or novel. 

• Classical: The composition and orchestration are the main points of classical music. Examine the compositional quality, the musicianship, and the overall emotional impact of a classical album before giving it a review. Inspect the album to see if it successfully captures the essence of classical music and if it brings anything fresh or original to the genre. 

• Folk: Folk music is distinguished by its storytelling abilities and historical connection to traditional music. Consider the strength of the songwriting, the artist’s voice’s authenticity, and the instrumentation when evaluating a folk album. Examine whether the album succeeds in capturing the essence of folk music and whether it contributes anything novel to the genre. 

In general, it’s crucial to consider both the context and history of the genre as well as the artist’s own distinctive viewpoint and contribution to it when evaluating music albums. To write a thorough and insightful review, consider the level of songwriting, musicianship, production, and overall emotional impact of the music. People generally do album reviews to understand and express their opinions towards an artist’s work but more importantly, Album reviews benefit 3 parties, the artist, the reviewer, and the audience because the artist gains exposure, the reviewer can receive revenue from appreciating the art and the viewers/audience receive a point of view that’s new and refreshing to them about the album that they could agree or differ with.