My review of 'L.A. (Light Album)'

[Ovi]

Hello, everybody. Here's my first real review of an album. I want honest opinions and maybe some pieces of advice if anybody is willing to read it.

http://tangledupinmusic.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/album-review-the-beach-boys-l-a-light-album/

[Mike's Beard]

I liked it. Writing reviews is SO much harder than it looks. I tried reviewing albums I've bought on amazon and on here and can only do it if I write the tracklisiting out and then write a comment next to each song. If I try to just write in a straight paragraph approach I fail everytime.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

It's a decent review, and i largely agree with your points (although i'd personally be less kind towards HCTN), however some of your grammar is a little off (there's an occasional absent comma here and there) and you seem to have completely misunderstood the context in which to use the phrase 'second to none'.

You write:
''Brian, the sole reason for buying Beach Boys albums, was a wreck at the time and his participation here is almost second to none”.

If his participation was in fact 'second to none' than presumably it would mean he'd been heavily involved, whereas you meant the opposite, i.e. that he wasn't involved much. So i'd reword that sentence. Otherwise, good stuff.

[Ovi]

It's a decent review, and i largely agree with your points (although i'd personally be less kind towards HCTN), however some of your grammar is a little off (there's an occasional absent comma here and there) and you seem to have completely misunderstood the context in which to use the phrase 'second to none'.

You write:
''Brian, the sole reason for buying Beach Boys albums, was a wreck at the time and his participation here is almost second to none”.

If his participation was in fact 'second to none' than presumably it would mean he'd been heavily involved, whereas you meant the opposite, i.e. that he wasn't involved much. So i'd reword that sentence. Otherwise, good stuff.

Thanks for the remarks. I read it once again and tried to correct some things.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Ooh, and you've spelt 'unreleased' wrongly. Pedantic i know, but presumably if you're wanting to have these reviews read online you want to make sure they're all tickety-boo, right?

[Ovi]

Ooh, and you've spelt 'unreleased' wrongly. Pedantic i know, but presumably if you're wanting to have these reviews read online you want to make sure they're all tickety-boo, right?

Thanks again!

[Ovi]

I liked it. Writing reviews is SO much harder than it looks. I tried reviewing albums I've bought on amazon and on here and can only do it if I write the tracklisiting out and then write a comment next to each song. If I try to just write in a straight paragraph approach I fail everytime.

Thanks for taking the time to read it.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I agree with most of what you wrote, except that you gave it 8 stars. That's a pretty good rating. With the critical points that you made (correctly I believe), and I know I'm quibbling a bit, the end result might've/should've been a 6-7 star rating.

[Summertime Blooz]

You forgot Complaint # 6- L.A. has really only two excellent tracks, Good Timin' and Baby Blue; the rest are only adequate.

[Cabinessenceking]

You forgot Complaint # 6- L.A. has really only two excellent tracks, Good Timin' and Baby Blue; the rest are only adequate.

I think Good Timin' was a little overdone by adding harmonies absolutely everywhere. The harmonies in the chorus woulda been enought. The added harmonies during the verses is an example of excessive production and that sometimes 'less is more'. Hear the backing track with Carl's lead alone and you'll see what I mean.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

I believe Jon Stebbins mentioned that Dennis helped Al arrange (or produce?) Lady Lynda.

[EgoHanger1966]

I think your article is well written and I especially like the way you formatted it. I agree with almost none of it, but it was a great read and I look forward to more from you! 

[adamghost]

It's really quite good for a first go...I've seen far worse on real websites.  I particularly like that you have an engaging style that draws the reader in.  One could quibble with writing style but I think it's more important to have some personality.

And, I happen to agree with your assessment of the album, too. 

[Ovi]

Shall give my 50 cents to this review. Firstly, those few introductory words such as "drugs", "dramas" seem to me rather eye-attacking. If replace them with their more polite synonyms, it'd be much better imo. Or not to mention it at all because it isn't related to music. Also, quoting possible informal dialogs between the bandmates is out of place there, I think. Other than that, I liked your review. It's not loaded with speech cliches, isn't banal. Very unusually structured, i.e. consists of segments - Complaint #1, #2 etc. After all, it's your 1st review, not mentioning it is quite of a task to write it on your own. Btw, I agree about your "Here Comes The Night" point: vocally it is really a strong composition. And to Complaint #4 I'd add that Lady Lynda was also produced by Al himself. Anyhow, thanks for sharing this with us, Sail On, Brian, & good luck in other reviews! 

I respect your opinion and I thank you for sharing it, but I'd rather just leave the review the way it is. Drugs and conflicts played a huge role in The Beach Boys history and influenced their music (and albums), so why not mention them? Thanks a lot though, for taking the time to read it.

I think your article is well written and I especially like the way you formatted it. I agree with almost none of it, but it was a great read and I look forward to more from you! 

It's really quite good for a first go...I've seen far worse on real websites.  I particularly like that you have an engaging style that draws the reader in.  One could quibble with writing style but I think it's more important to have some personality.

And, I happen to agree with your assessment of the album, too. 

Thanks a lot to both of you.

[Ovi]

How's it going, fellow smiley smilers? In yet another attempt at shameless self-promotion, I thought you might find interest in my new blog post containing my thoughts on Mike Love (mostly defending him). Here it is, entitled "Mike Love: Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?":

http://tangledupinmusic.wordpress.com/2013/12/24/mike-love-thumbs-up-or-thumbs-down/

Any kind of feedback is appreciated, be it either in this thread or directly on the blog's comment section.

Oh, and Happy Holidays everybody!

[Andrew G. Doe]

"Consensus of" means it's his consensus, i.e., that Mike thinks he's an asshole. Try "consensus concerning". Also, the "partially true" accusations are nothing of the sort, rather your opinion... and again, way too many commas in questionable places. That aside, passable.

[Ovi]

"Consensus of" means it's his consensus, i.e., that Mike thinks he's an asshole. Try "consensus concerning". Also, the "partially true" accusations are nothing of the sort, rather your opinion... and again, way too many commas in questionable places. That aside, passable.

Thanks for taking the time. Modified a few things.