genres. |
r & b
jazz |
indie rock
pop/melodic |
pop/electronic
alt rock |
how do I evaluate music?Scroll down for a quick overview of the musical elements I try to factor into all of my album reviews. |
PRODUCTION / INSTRUMENTALS
To give you some insight into my frame of reference when it comes to music production, I'd like to tell you that I played musical instruments since I was 9 years old and my boyfriend is currently a music producer and songwriter (mostly working on James Royo's team). In my life thus far, I have been a background performer, a lead musician, a songwriter, and a co-producer/composer. I have so much respect for the production and musicianship it takes to craft a good album—or even just one good song—because I know what it entails. So I consider every element of the music behind the vocals: the sounds chosen, the rhythm, the pacing, the tempo, the panning, the mixing, the mastering. Every little piece has been carefully implemented, so I try to just as carefully analyze those elements. VOCAL TALENT
Having been a musician most of my life, I do believe I have an ear for talent. I respect, and want to support, musicians and artists who have the skill behind the image. Hence, vocal talent (among the other instruments at play) is extremely important to me as a listener. This may not be an end-all-be-all rule, but if you don't have the ability to sing a recorded song just as well live, I probably won't rate your music very highly. CAPTIVATION
This is my term for how catchy a song or sound is. But to me, it's more than that. Most catchy tunes are pop in genre or jingles designed to stick in your head for eternity. Instead, I try to evaluate how compelling a sound is—in other words, how captivating the melody and surrounding sounds are to me as a listener. COHESION
A lot of music artists nowadays focus more on creating hit singles than on creating a cohesive album that tells a story or creates an experience. But the albums I grow most attached to are the ones that are well-rounded packages of songs. Whether they make me feel something consistent, tell me one grander story, or simply explore different facets of an idea, I look at albums as more than just playlists and assess them accordingly. |