Let’s channel your rebellion into some sharp irreverent writing about albums that too often pass for “classics.” Aim your sights higher than the schlock that is all too easy to sniff out from the ever present heap of corporate cut-outs. For this writing, I want you to target an entire album that has unjustly earned unconditional love from the establishment. Your criticism will boot this album from its entrenched perch in popular music’s hall of champions. As Jim DeRogatis states from the preface of his book Kill Your Idols:
…each writer addresses an allegedly “great” album that he or she despises. If we want to be high-minded about it, we can call it a spirited assault on a pantheon that has been foisted upon us, or a defiant rejection of the hegemonic view of rock history espoused by the critics who preceded us….A savage but well –considered critique of a piece of art that you love gets your blood flowing. The point isn’t necessarily to change your thinking about a work you adore, but to prod you to consider anew why you admire that work.
Stage I: Group Formation/ Album Selection
For this longer writing, you will be forming writing circles by which you will draft and edit each other’s writing. Through constructive dialogue, you will push each other to find the best expression. By Wednesday you will have secured a copy of the album (library, youtube playlist, etc). Start listening and taking notes. Every observation may be the seed for creative expression once you start writing.
We are not looking for low-hanging fruit like Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, or Justin Bieber. The album must meet one of the following criteria:
Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of all time.
Pitchfork's Highest Rated Albums of 2010 and beyondAV Club Best of 2010 and worst.
Paste Magazines Albums of the Decade
Or convince me of its “greatness” (Glee/ Paramore)
Monday/ Tuesday-
A) Select your album. Group limit 3.
B) Find three positive reviews of the album. Do not print the first review you find. Find a review that attempts to place the album in some sort of context (political. cultural, genre, etc). Start in ProQuest for reviews by professional writers. Print the best.
C) For Wednesday- Write a full –page explanation why you are selecting this album. This might be an attempt to remember your first nagging itch about the fuss of the album and why you can’t hear the “brilliance.”
