In modern music, it is common for musical groups to draw from two or more genres to develop a unique character of their own. Calling a band ’eclectic’ is a decent start if they’re playing in many different genres. Try to keep your genre tags limited to one or two however; anything more and you’ll just end up confusing whomever you’re talking to. The Beatles, for instance, incorporate many styles, but they’re best seen as pop. Led Zeppelin could be considered anything from progressive to blues or metal, but they’re arguably best pegged as bluesy hard rock. For example, you might say: “Deathspell Omega’s “Obombration” is an interesting song for the band. It has the atmosphere of orthodox black metal, but the instruments used are largely orchestral, making it sound like very dark classical music. "
For example, you might say: “Pink Floyd’s “Dogs” tells a story of dogs being aggressive in their nature, but it’s also a cynical commentary on the ‘dog eat dog’ mentality in modern society. This cynical undertone has a big effect on the song’s atmosphere. "
The ‘key’ of a song refers to the chords and set of notes it predominantly uses. A ‘minor key’, for instance, tends to sound inherently sad, while a ‘major key’ is often uplifting. [3] X Expert Source Tanisha HallVocal Coach Expert Interview. 27 March 2020. Tempo refers to the speed of the music or the pace of the beat.
For example: “Miles Davis’ In A Silent Way is a wonderful album, and I think a good part of it is owed to the fact that Chick Corea and John McLaughlin (among others) took part in it. If you listen close, you can hear their personalities mingling in with Davis’ own. "
Listening with headphones is usually the preferable mode of listening intently; it helps to block out all external sound, and you’ll be able to pick details out of the mix more clearly.
Music reviews are also found in print form. Newspapers will often include them alongside film reviews. You can also buy music books that will focus specifically on a band, scene or genre.
For example: If the music is sad, you might visualize rain or images of death and loss. If the music is upbeat, you might think of a car racing down a highway. If the music is gentle, it may bring to mind the image of kittens nestling in a handknit blanket. No interpretation is wrong; if you are sincerely getting an image in your head because of the music, it must be for a good reason.
For a metaphor, you might say: Deathspell Omega’s Paracletus is an absolute whirlwind of calculated madness. For a simile, you might say: Anton Bruckner’s first symphony sounds like going to an evening gala at the height of 19th-century Prussia.
For example: “Dream Theater’s “A Change of Seasons” reminds me quite a bit of Yes’ “Close to the Edge” in terms of its sprawling design, but it’s obviously quite a bit darker and heavier in comparison. "
