Before Reading: A Music Review
Before Reading: A Music Review
Before Reading: A Music Review
A music review
Learn how to write an album review.
Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.
Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–h) with the vocabulary (1–8).
Vocabulary Definitions
1. …… catchy a. moving quickly
2. …… a melody b. easy to like and remember
3. …… bitterness c. a song or tune
4. …… fast-paced d. the feeling of being angry at the world
5. …… fundamental e. to feel inspired by something, making you act or
6. …… chart-topping behave like it
7. …… to channel something f. a basic part of life
8. …… die-hard g. strongly or fanatically devoted
h. selling the most copies of a song or album in a
particular week
Tips
1. The first paragraph should be a general introduction to what you’re reviewing. Include the
title, artist, and an interesting fact about its success or how it was made.
2. The main body of the review needs detailed observations. Use specific vocabulary (e.g.
lyrics, fast-paced, catchy melodies) to comment on particular songs and parts of the music.
3. It is also important to give context. Link the music to the artist’s life, or what inspired them,
and the political or social context of the album.
4. Try to make the review interesting and relevant to the reader. You can relate the artist’s
work to real-life experience (yours or that of people in general).
5. Use compound adjectives (e.g. fast-paced, foot-tapping, best-selling) to make your writing
highly descriptive.
6. Finish off with a summary of why this album/concert, etc. is important.
Tasks
Task 1
Match the word halves to make compound adjectives and complete the sentences.
Task 2
Put the words and phrases in order to make sentences.
2. stories of the dark side powerhouse classics the catchy rock melodies
of the American dream. are Behind that drive these
3. whose life is ruined when he loses his job. people in a small town tells the story
The song Glory Days, for looking back at when they were young of a young man
while Downbound Train example, is about
4. that the artist hadn’t become a star. real people he knew might have had
It’s not hard to imagine is channelling if he and the life he
5. best-selling album artists, chart-topping, stadium-filling new music in his late 60s.
many other and remains Springsteen is still releasing at the top of his game
Unlike
6. our most fundamental stories who tells us those stories are as relevant today
and, when you listen to Born in the USA, as they ever were. about ourselves
This is a man
1. The song didn’t have the commercial success of her ……………………………… first single.
2. ……………………………… other artists, she can still fill stadiums.
3. It’s clear the singer is ……………………………… memories of her youth.
4. The public dispute between the two artists has led to lasting ……………………………… on both
sides.
5. The songs carry emotional ……………………………… .
6. Advertising companies like using ……………………………… songs in adverts so they stay in your
head.
Discussion
What’s your favourite album of all time?