Evaluate or review a “classic” album, though for these purposes we’ll consider anything from 2010 or earlier to be “classic.”
As far as models go, I recommend spending a lot of time reading Pitchfork’s Sunday Review series, where they go back to review classic albums otherwise not in their catalog (search Pitchfork Sunday Review for the homepage, or see our Forum 2 for the link). You’ll find a wide range of approaches and styles, but your goal is to create something that could reasonably fit within this series.
In your review, be sure to do the things that successful reviews do (we will discuss this in the discussion forums). Consider the music within the artist’s discography; how the music relates to various genres and sub-genres; the various contexts into which the music was released; the lyrics; the instrumentation; the production; and anything related to the particular form (song, songs, album, video, concert) of the work you’re analyzing.
Because this is a review of a classic album, be sure to demonstrate a clear understanding of the world into which the album was released and the impact it had on music of the time. Do secondary research to provide you with information but also to understand the critical consensus about and commercial response to the album. Cite that research appropriately, though a particular number of sources is not required for this project.
Readers believe review-writers not because they agree with their opinions on the album – we believe them because their opinions are grounded in insights and analysis that go beyond surface-level liking or disliking.
As with any piece of web writing, in addition to doing the things listed in the paragraph above, it must be entertaining and insightful.
