I started writing reviews probably about one and half a year ago. I originally just wrote simple track-by-track reviews or quick overviews when it came to games. My review of Rush's 'Vapor Trails' was my first more descriptive and thought out review, and was much easier to write then the track-by-track reviews. I felt it was easier to write because it's hard to say much about every song on an album, and reading track-by-track reviews aren't as interesting as other reviews are for me.

 

So honing my English skills has been a great side effect (which I also use effectively in my job writing business correspondence with US suppliers). But like both of the Guys above, I primarely write reviews because it´s a great way to force yourself to really listen and dissect a release. If you´re going to write something about an album, I like the idea that you can´t just give it a shallow listen. You have to dig in. Not that all albums need 10 spins before I can write something about them, but I´ve found a way to listen and write reviews, that I think does most releases some kind of Justice.

 

...and although it´s always a bit embarrasing to admit, there is of course also a primal "see me/hear me" thing going on. Everyone writing reviews and posting them on a site like MMA of course loves it when other people read their reviews, as as mentioned above loves comments.

To Unitorn,

Yeah people value different in their life and so also in music. It's kind of interesting to understand different opinions and different people! Do you want to talk about what is the most important thing for you in music?

To UMUR,

Haha, what did you do to improve your writing? I document some good sentences from others on a book and when I'm writing reviews, I'll steal some. Hopefully I can form my own beautiful sentences someday.

 

 

http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3640&title=review-etiquette-and-rationale" rel="nofollow - http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3640&title=review-etiquette-and-rationale  

 

http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10412&KW=write+review&PID=118821&title=reviewers-block#118821" rel="nofollow - http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10412&KW=write+review&PID=118821&title=reviewers-block#118821

 

I don't know if I really look for anything in music. I have always loved the Phrygian Scale, which is most known for it's middle-eastern sound. A notable song I can think of featuring it is Dream Theater's 'Home'. I don't really look for it though, if a song I happen to like has it then awesome. One thing I do like is creativity, I don't like it when bands blatantly copy another. The main thing I look for in music though is really just anything that bring me enjoyment. 

I care most about the creativity too! And yes, the ideas must be authentic and original. I've never into Dream Theater tho. They are more technical than creative for me.

Here are the review guidelines that I always remember:

- Has to be in English

- Be polite, don't insult people for having different opinions or insult the band

- Profanity is okay as long as it's not used insultingly. Stuff like 'This song kicks ass' is okay, 'This is a piece of shit' is not.

Although this was not the best thing I've ever written it did inspire me to continue to where I am today. After awhile I started to branch out and I discovered Prog Archives, a site that Khaliq had told me about. Because I loved music so much and many of the bands that appeared on the site were of my taste, I started to share my thoughts of music on there. 

Some time passed until I discovered the MMA, a site where I could expound on a whole other subset of music, and even participate in the community and add bands. That's where I am today really, and I'm hoping I can do even more with my writing in the future. 

Sorry for the overlong sermon. Perhaps I should have just kept it more concise.   

I prefer writing over talking, tho. Cause no one will interrupt me, u know? no matter what I type. Down with the system! Kill all llamas! Oswald didn't kill Kennedy! Obama is an atheist!.. See? No one.

I also used to do them for my own amusement when I lived in South Korea, sticking them on Amazon just for something to do. I got up to about 2000 in their reviewer rankings, then they changed the way it's judged, so I'm now about 3,000,000. Posted a heap on Metal Archives, and two now defunct sites- Sonic Death and BlastWave.

Haven't written a review as such for about 5 years, but I've been offline for the last 8.

 

I write them for fun, to give my two cents and to recommend to others