Music Review Analysis

Here I have analysed a review in the Sunday Times about up and coming singer Clare Maguire

Questions before reading the article:

1.       What do you think is the relevance of the term ‘Talikn’ Topshop Blues’?

-          I think the term ‘Talkin’ Topshop Blues’ suggests that the article could have a double meaning  with the ‘blues’ signifying both a musical genre and a the sad feeling of blues.

2.       How many columns are there?

-          There are three columns

3.       How many images?

-          There is one picture

4.       What connotations does the image give of the artist and the contents of the article?

-          A gothic feel, due to the colours, suggests maybe an indie/ alternative genre

5.       What are your initial impressions of this music feature?

-          Lots of text for someone interested in reading about music, Provides information. Ratio of text to image is high. – could be broken up with sound bites/ images/ subheadings

Questions after reading the article:

1.       What techniques does the writer use in the first sentence to engage the reader?

-          Interesting typography in the big C

2.       The writer predicts how successful Clare will become by comparing her approaching success to that of Florence Welch and Ellie Goulding.

3.       What does ‘Ubiquity’ mean?

-          I think that the word means status, as in the girl with the striking voice who achieves mainstream recognition. - Present

4.       What if the focus of paragraph one?

-          Paragraph one focuses on the new album from Clare Maguire and features summaries of songs on the album, and her singing ability – evidence that this is about music.

5.       What technique features in Maguire’s quote in paragraph two?

-          Clare Maguire lists the elements in her album, repetition.

6.       In paragraph two, how is Maguire made to sound like an average person?

-          The description of her cold shows that she is like an average person who suffers from colds.

7.       What is the focus of paragraph three?

-          The focus of paragraph three is Clare’s style and who in the music industry she is similar too, how she is representing herself, and how her image implies what to expect vocally.

8.       What do you think is exaggerated in paragraph three?

-          Exaggerated bluesy genre of her music.

9.       In paragraph five, what point is made about Maguire’s relationship with music?

-          Her feelings of apartness, how she deals with pain and sorrow- music is therapy.

10.   How many artists are mentioned in paragraph six?

-          8

11.    On what tone does the article end?

-          It ends on a positive tone, with one of expectation.

12.   Which current artist is Clare Maguire most similar too?

-          Florence Welch, Ellie Goulding.

NME Music Review

1.       What features about the concert are highlighted in the review?

-          The atmosphere is featured ‘ the lights dim and the excess begins’, as well as the appearance of Axl, ‘ elegantly worn loose fitting jeans, a leather button down shirt and a giant silver cross that shows off his chest’. The songs played are highlighted, which shows that the journalist knows a lot about the band.

2.       Describe the style of language used in the review.

-          The language used in the review is quite informal and young, as the journalist uses swearing and phrases such as ‘totally puts out’.

3.       What previous knowledge about the band is expected of the reader?

-          The reader should know that Axl has been ‘botoxing’ his face, and know about the ‘originals we all secretly love’.

4.       How do you know that the journalist is into the band?

-          It is obvious that the journalist is into the band because she says at the end of the review that ‘the songs are so epic and transcendent and undeniable’.

5.       What assumptions does the journalist make about the reader – comment on how she addresses the reader in the review?

-          The journalist assumes that the reader is already knowledgeable about the ‘botox’ issue, as she refers to it as if she were discussing the issue with a friend.

6.       Does the review link to the music publication’s identity and target readership? Explain your answer.

-          I think that the review does link to NME’s identity and target readership because of the language and also the in depth knowledge conveyed through the review, which reflects the publication’s image of a wide musical knowledge.

7.       How does the review suggest that there could possibly be an audience of different age –ranges? What pleasures do you think that different age fans of Guns N Roses would experience at a gig?

-          I think that although both older and younger fans would appreciate all aspects of the gig experience, those who are older might appreciate the ‘originals’, as they might remember the first time they heard the song, or when it was first released.

8.       What other possible music publications would review this concert?

-          Kerrang!, Q magazine