CD Review competition: could land you more than a £50 voucher
Each month we select a winner for a £50 voucher as a thank you to all of you people who submit reviews.
Your CD review entries may be a passport to success and not just a prize winner! Each month we select a winner for a £50 voucher as a thank you to all of you people who submit reviews. Enter your reviews before December 31st and you will be considered for this month's £50 Amazon voucher. Not only could your entry secure you a prize; your name appearing alongside your review on site provides permanent evidence of your hobby of enjoying and critiquing music, which just might be a passport to that next dream job or promotion that you apply for.
November's winner was Alex Thomas – with 'Hinder Take it to the Limit'. Alex can you send us a new email because you have not responded to our email confirmation – check your junk folder just in case? It is important that the email address you submit is correct because we send the prize electronically and want to ensure that it does not disappear into the ether and you receive it, in order you can spend it on your favourite CD's or other items.
Many of the users of
www.find-cd.co.uk just want to put a line or two to describe a CD they love or hate, and that is absolutely great – keep them coming!
In addition, we think we should reward those of the review contributors who make an effort to produce a quality review. We read every entry and nominate a winner of the best review, and its author receives a £50 voucher.
Entering the CD review competition is really simple:
Select the title you would like to review and type in the review field. Within a day or two you should see your unique review appear at the bottom of the book product page with your name attached.
Each review is moderated for plagiarism!
How to write an interesting album review
- Be really familiar with the music. Play the CD several times over – initially in a relaxed atmosphere. Consider each time you listen how the music makes you feel – as all good art, it should make you feel something!
- If you are unfamiliar with the artist or band - research the background/previous work and performances of the artist.
- Listen again in a more objective and critical manner and with pen and paper to hand.
Now you are ready to start writing:
- Start with facts about the musicians/artist/band rather than your opinion. This can include the type/genre of the music, previous albums, song inspirations, the instruments played and by whom.
- Describe specifically some of the tracks that have particular appeal, being careful to use language to create an image and feel about the music. Is it dramatic and powerful, frequently changing in tempo and intensity, or perhaps simple and lyrical, with little more than a voice and simple guitar rhythm and gentle drum beat? Think about why you enjoy particular aspects and dislike others.
- Give a judgement about the work. What attitudes are conveyed in the music? How are the lyrics? What is memorable/ poignant/shocking etc? Be sure to stick to the CD you are reviewing and not overly compare with previous work.
- Expand on these themes with perhaps comparisons to other work by the artists or by similar musicians.
- Summarize in the final paragraph your overall impression.
Play the album again - Are your opinions fair? Are there any technically outstanding features of the performance? Does a certain sound, voice or instrument make the music particularly absorbing, captivating or stimulating. Does it make you want to dance, sing or relax?
- Add in your final thoughts to your first draft.
- Edit your work for spelling, punctuation and grammar, making sure that you do not use unnecessary words.
So what are you waiting for...?