No Spoilers

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

One reason I don't read music reviews much: if there's something really good in a record - a lyric or moment or inflection or bit of 'punctum', whatever you like - it's tempting as a reviewer to write about that. (Right?)

But then doesn't that moment lose its impact for the person who listens having read? Or - worse maybe - gets too much emphasis or impact?

Should reviews come with spoiler warnings? Should reviewers avoid quoting particularly great lines? How do you feel when a particularly good writer infiltrates your hearing of a song?

Comments

[thenipper.livejournal.com]

Only partially relevant - in the sense that critical highlighting could be classified as metadata - but have you read this (http://www.cityofsound.com/blog/2006/01/new_musical_exp.html) lengthy, slightly fusty, but worthwhile essay on technology and music?

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

oh bah i really MUST finish my ahem chef d'oeuvre (then ppl will cite me and not eisenberg) (or possibly not)