I had a plan for Newduereview in the year. It was to review unsigned independent bands to provide them exposure and credibility. I wanted to be able to share my knowledge of music composition with the world, and in the process help new original music find an audience.
There is one big glaring problem with music in the 21st century, there is too much of it. Every year the scope of music broadens. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to break through the layers of noise. As a result, many artists don’t make it. My goal is to help remove that barrier of exposure and allow new original music to be heard. Consider me a cleaner. I help clear the space so new music can come to the surface.
Holiday Revelation
During the holidays I had a revelation. While I was playing cards with my dad we got to talking about content ideas for the new year. He suggested that I should tell the truth. He said I should make a series that speaks only the truth. The idea was unformed and vague, but there was something to it. When I got back home I realized I could do that through music review.
I have the chance to give an honest account of the music while at the same time providing deep insight through my personal music experience.
The Norm Isn’t Good Enough
Often music reviews help support a live show or promote a new release. Their purpose is for promotion. These reviews tell you very little about the music. Usually, it tells you who the band is, what kind of music it is, where to get it, where to see them, and something extra. Not very often do I see a music review that gives an account of anything deeper than the above mentioned.
Rarely do I find a review that talks about the cultural impact of the artists and their music. Nor do I see a review that talks about where the music fits in history. There are almost no reviews that talk about the hard ideas of music composition and the challenges that come with it.
Why deny your audience of these delicious ideas. There is a lot you can talk about with a single piece of music. Why not dive in and get messy with it. The people who read about music are smarter than you think, and they can handle difficult concepts if you allow them to.
Know that I am problematizing general music reviews to develop my position on it. You should know there are still many music critics that do exceptional work. I only want to do the same.
The New Due Music Review
I already spoke about doing music reviews objectively and without emotion. Removing yourself from the review and looking at the facts is a good way to do it. This is not the way I am going to review music. Master Musicians learn the rules of music only to break them. I will do the same. I will enter the music and report on everything I hear, see, touch and feel. Nothing is outside of the purview of the new due music review.
The name newduereview was appropriated. The name now means something more than what the appropriation suggests. It means that I am apart of the review. I will show you my subjective point of view for the music as well as an objective look.
By reviewing the music I become apart of it. This is what I mean by a new due review. My review will be an artistic statement.
I plan to be as truthful and honest as I can without affecting the product I am working with. My dad was right. We do need honesty, but it needs to be done right. This isn’t a free pass to bury music. This is a free pass to investigate every part of the music and tell you why it is the way it is.
A new due review for music will allow me to show you the unusual way I see the world. I am kind of a strange guy, and I have weird ideas. I am sure you can relate in some way. I see the world differently. When I look at an orca at a distance I see a T-Rex holding a lollipop in its mouth that’s too big for its face. My friend saw a dolphin in the distance. People can look at the same object and see two different things.
@badboybrentjosephs Went for a walk in coquitlam the other day. They decorate the lakes walk way with incredible lights #christmaslights #nightwalk
♬ original sound – badboybrentjosephs
When I report back on the music, you will be sure to know that it is my unique vision of what the music is. Some may disagree, and that will be the point. You should disagree when you feel it is right. But it won’t make us right or wrong. It will only develop a broader view of the music, and that will be the point.