Album Review

You can choose the album but it must be released after AUGUST 1, 2021. The album also has to be outside of your musical tastes. (or at least pretend its outside of your tastes)

Required Content

• Introduction: This section has an exciting opening hook and clearly sets up the import and relevance of record and focus for review. Please address why you chose this album. (1 paragraphs)
  • Album Review: Address how this album is outside your taste.
• Frame/Context for Record: This section discusses the artist and their known body of work. This section must include an outside source (cited correctly): a previous review of the artists pre-existing work. Please do not include a review of the record youre reviewing, but a review over one of their earlier records. This review should help you reflect on the artists relevance in todays musical world, while also providing a comparative frame for their new record. (2-3 paragraphs)
• Personal Spin on the Record: This is your take on the record. You should try to reflect back on the meanings and goals of the record, and what you find successful (or unsuccessful). What do you like about the record? What tracks stand out to you? How do these tracks support your take on the record? You should have a detailed discussion of at least two tracks, where you describe their sound and how they support your take on the record. Your discussion of each track should contain 2-3 specific, appropriate music elements. You must also incorporate at least two elements that Ratliff discusses throughout his book, referencing our textbook, Every Song Ever, at least twice specifically in your review. You should have two elements TOTAL and two quotes TOTAL (likely one quote from each associated element’s chapter)! 
• Final Thoughts: This section discusses the meaning/power of the album in todays cultural context by comparing it to other poets/ musicians and considers where you see that artist going. How does this record stack up? (2-3 paragraphs)
• Media: You must include at least 4-5 pieces of media to enhance your review. This media could be album artwork, images of the artist, links to songs/music videos that resonate with your review, etc. Please carefully caption all artwork with a simple title of the image and source. You can include the media throughout your review, or just include it all at the end. The media will not count towards your page length. If media cause your essay to extend over 4 pages, dont worry.
• 3-4 Pages in length