How to write Good Critiquebrainz Reviews: Difference between revisions
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==Introduction== |
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[https://critiquebrainz.org/ CritiqueBrainz] is a repository for Creative Commons licensed music reviews where you can read what other people have written about an album or event and write your own [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Review review]! Writing a review is an easy task but writing a good one is little difficult. This article covers the points regarding how to write a good review on [https://critiquebrainz.org/ CritiqueBrainz]. |
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==General guidelines before writing a review== |
==General guidelines before writing a review== |
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* |
*Read some good reviews! |
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*: |
*:You can find lots of great reviews on [https://critiquebrainz.org/review/4f0845ae-5418-4d42-8b2e-f9d49aac7fba CritiqueBrainz], or search the web. |
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* |
*Write in a comfortable voice. |
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*: |
*:A good review probably won't sound like an academic paper, and probably won't sound like a Youtube comment, but it should sound like ''you''. |
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*: |
*:Reviews don't need to be in English. If you're more comfortable in another language, go for it. Choose a language in which you can express your emotions/thoughts freely. |
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===Writing a well formatted review=== |
===Writing a well formatted review=== |
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The editor in the review column follows [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markdown Markdown] so you |
The editor in the review column follows [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markdown Markdown] so you may always beautify your review using the formatting styles because a well formatted article/review makes it readable and it becomes a little easier to understand what you have written. You can use the following [http://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/syntax link] to learn markdown. |
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==Writing the |
==Writing the Review== |
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Here are some tips for getting started as a reviewer :- |
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*Writing '''short''' description - Give your review a '''short context''' as to what you are reviewing. |
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===What should you keep in mind while writing the review=== |
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*'''Follow your thinking/feelings''' - A good reviewer is one who always reviews a particular thing based on what '''one feels''' rather than what others. |
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*Good reviews are '''neither too short nor too long''' - It's better neither to make your reviews too short nor too long. Try to make it something which gives the readers a clear image as to how the work is and at the same time it doesn't bore them. |
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*'''Don't mention only factual data''' in your review - Sometimes people mention only factual data in reviews which makes the review a press release, not a good review. |
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==More tips for specific review types== |
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You should always keep in mind about persons who have not heard the album or who have not attended the event and they want to listen the songs in the album or music played in the event but before that they want to know more about it . |
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The reader's mind is full of questions try that your review answers some or all of them. |
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In addition to the general tips given above, here are some specific tips for each review type which might help you to strengthen your review :- |
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| ⚫ | |||
* Describing the instrumental arrangement - Mentioning about the rhythmic effects, describing the variety of instruments used in the song and how were the digital effects etc. |
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| ⚫ | |||
*You may tell about lyrics and the recording quality - |
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*:Lyrics is what makes a song/album meaningful. You can always write about how were the lyrics? Was it meaningful? Did it match the music? |
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*:Recording quality matters a lot. If it's good it's good but if it's bad it will flop the whole album. It's always better to note these things and mention about it in your review. |
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*Be clear with your conclusion - If it's a must hear album give it some direction. It's always good to mention the genre of the music. You may try to compare it with some other album which has been already released having the same genre which will give the readers an idea as to what they can expect. |
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===Event Reviews=== |
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*You can write a '''little, very short info''' about the song/album like it's singers, genre release date in the beginning of your review. |
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*What did you like in the song? Which moment you loved the most ? The song or it's tune reminded you of which incident? |
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*We're the lyrics good? We're they meaningful or did they mean nothing? We're the lyrics poetic? or Did the lyrics suited the tune? |
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*What things you disliked in the song? Were there some awkward moments or moments where you felt the singer is going of off the note? |
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*Which type of people will like the song? People of which music taste will love it? and will the music will touch their hearts? |
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*How was the singer's vocals? Were they distinct and strong? or Were they nasally? |
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*Did the recording was proper? or were there any problem? |
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*You can also write about the artist(s) too , that how was their work? What type of genre are they popular in? Did they went something out of the way or genre as per their past works? or they did it the same? |
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*Do the songs fit together to form a "whole"? If so then how? |
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*Describe the event place - Event reviews are enhanced by description of the event venue as to how big was it? Was it sufficient for the crowd? or How well the band/artist sound in it? |
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*Writing about the music played there - You may describe which songs were played in the event. Which were your favourite songs played, you can write about the staging of the band. Were there any things which you didn't like? If yes, then why? |
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*Special moments, effects and surprises - Often there are special moments in every event, you may describe such moments that took place. You may also write about special guests(if any) also any special effects in the event which caught everyone's attention. |
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*Writing about Event atmosphere - You may always describe about the crowd, how well the artists/band were able to entertain the crowd? Was the crowd exciting or was it a monotonous atmosphere? |
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===Place Review=== |
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====Live performance (event) reviews==== |
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*Description about the location - You may describe where the place is located, whether it's located in the heart of the city or is it located on the periphery. |
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*Writing about the architecture - If it's a musical stadium people want to know about how many people can the place occupy, how well the artist sounds in each corner of the place etc.<br /> |
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* What was the "size" of the show? Where was the event? Who was the artist? |
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:{{note}} Try to be '''honest''' while reviewing, simply don't follow the trend. Review the album as to what you felt. And try to follow active voice. |
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* What was the style and energy level? Ballads? Dance-able pop? Head-banging and a mosh pit? Challenging contemporary "classical"? |
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* Was there any notable interaction between the artist(s) and the audience? |
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* Were the songs mostly new material? Old favorites? Were there any interesting covers or guest appearances? |
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* Were there any surprising choices made? New arrangements of familiar tunes? Unreleased material performed for the first time? A wide range of styles performed? |
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* Did the artist(s) seem comfortable and relaxed? Energized by the crowd's reaction? Maybe they were having an "off" night, or seemed to be [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=phone+it+in "phoning it in"]? |
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* Overall, how was the show received by the audience? |
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===Summing up the review as a whole=== |
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*At last , You can sum up your review by writing that did the release match up to your expectations by the artist(s)? Were they well in the release keeping in mind to their previous works? Would you like to look further for more releases in the particular genre by the artist?If yes/no then why? |
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==Common mistakes people do while writing reviews== |
==Common mistakes people do while writing reviews== |
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*Writing long reviews that lack specific details. |
*Writing '''long reviews that lack specific details.''' |
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*Forgetting to check the factual information in the review after |
*'''Forgetting to check the factual information''' in the review after completing the writing process. |
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* |
*'''Overlooking proofreading''' the review after finishing it. |
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*'''Mistakes such as punctuation, typo errors, capitalization etc.''' |
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*'''Writing in slangs''' - Try to write in proper English (or whatever language you prefer). It's better '''not to write reviews in slangs.''' |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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You can read some reviews from these sites before writing your own :- |
You can read some reviews from these sites before writing your own :- |
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===A few great review sites=== |
===A few great review sites=== |
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* |
*[http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/ pitchfork.com] |
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*[http://exclaim.ca/music/reviews exclaim.ca] |
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* |
*[http://www.nme.com/reviews nme.com] |
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{{HowtoBox}} |
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[[Category:How To]] |
[[Category:How To]] |
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Latest revision as of 12:19, 26 August 2022
General guidelines before writing a review
- Read some good reviews!
- You can find lots of great reviews on CritiqueBrainz, or search the web.
- Write in a comfortable voice.
- A good review probably won't sound like an academic paper, and probably won't sound like a Youtube comment, but it should sound like you.
- Reviews don't need to be in English. If you're more comfortable in another language, go for it. Choose a language in which you can express your emotions/thoughts freely.
Writing a well formatted review
The editor in the review column follows Markdown so you may always beautify your review using the formatting styles because a well formatted article/review makes it readable and it becomes a little easier to understand what you have written. You can use the following link to learn markdown.
Writing the Review
Here are some tips for getting started as a reviewer :-
- Writing short description - Give your review a short context as to what you are reviewing.
- Follow your thinking/feelings - A good reviewer is one who always reviews a particular thing based on what one feels rather than what others.
- Good reviews are neither too short nor too long - It's better neither to make your reviews too short nor too long. Try to make it something which gives the readers a clear image as to how the work is and at the same time it doesn't bore them.
- Don't mention only factual data in your review - Sometimes people mention only factual data in reviews which makes the review a press release, not a good review.
More tips for specific review types
In addition to the general tips given above, here are some specific tips for each review type which might help you to strengthen your review :-
Album Reviews
- Describing the instrumental arrangement - Mentioning about the rhythmic effects, describing the variety of instruments used in the song and how were the digital effects etc.
- You may tell about lyrics and the recording quality -
- Lyrics is what makes a song/album meaningful. You can always write about how were the lyrics? Was it meaningful? Did it match the music?
- Recording quality matters a lot. If it's good it's good but if it's bad it will flop the whole album. It's always better to note these things and mention about it in your review.
- Be clear with your conclusion - If it's a must hear album give it some direction. It's always good to mention the genre of the music. You may try to compare it with some other album which has been already released having the same genre which will give the readers an idea as to what they can expect.
Event Reviews
- Describe the event place - Event reviews are enhanced by description of the event venue as to how big was it? Was it sufficient for the crowd? or How well the band/artist sound in it?
- Writing about the music played there - You may describe which songs were played in the event. Which were your favourite songs played, you can write about the staging of the band. Were there any things which you didn't like? If yes, then why?
- Special moments, effects and surprises - Often there are special moments in every event, you may describe such moments that took place. You may also write about special guests(if any) also any special effects in the event which caught everyone's attention.
- Writing about Event atmosphere - You may always describe about the crowd, how well the artists/band were able to entertain the crowd? Was the crowd exciting or was it a monotonous atmosphere?
Place Review
- Description about the location - You may describe where the place is located, whether it's located in the heart of the city or is it located on the periphery.
- Writing about the architecture - If it's a musical stadium people want to know about how many people can the place occupy, how well the artist sounds in each corner of the place etc.
Note: Try to be honest while reviewing, simply don't follow the trend. Review the album as to what you felt. And try to follow active voice.
Common mistakes people do while writing reviews
- Writing long reviews that lack specific details.
- Forgetting to check the factual information in the review after completing the writing process.
- Overlooking proofreading the review after finishing it.
- Mistakes such as punctuation, typo errors, capitalization etc.
- Writing in slangs - Try to write in proper English (or whatever language you prefer). It's better not to write reviews in slangs.
External links
You can read some reviews from these sites before writing your own :-
A few great review sites
| How-To Pages | |
|---|---|
| Introductory Guides | Beginners' Guide · Creating an Account · Editing · Voting · Writing Edit Notes |
| Basic How-Tos | Adding an Artist · Adding Relationships · Using the Relationship Editor · Using Artist Credits · Adding a Release · Works · Events · Places · Series · Instruments · Areas |
| Specific How-Tos | Merging Releases · Merging Recordings · Removing Entities · Adding Cover Art · Identifying Labels · Splitting Artists · Adding Standalone Recordings · Adding Disc IDs · Cancelling Edits · Searching for Edits · Reporting a User · Reporting an Issue · Working with AcoustIDs · Tagging Files with Picard |
