Billboard (June 20th), Country’s best frenemy, Rob Tannenbaum
The article ‘Country’s best frenemy’ which I will be analyzing,to develop my skills in language analysis, is an album review. It is written in third person and is focused on Kacey Musgraves new album ‘Pageant material’.The structure of this article (which is an album review), has a very conversational feel which makes the text flow more and therefore makes it more approachable for the audience.
The album review consists of three columns of text, which are made easy for the audience to view, the text isn’t cluttered and there is a good amount of text which ensures the audience become entertained and bored. The presence of the journalist in this article is less visible during the first column of text and the start of the second, this allows for the journalist and audience to educate themselves about the artist whose album is about to be reviewed. Once the journalist of this album review has educated the audience on Kacey Musgrave’s part in the country music world, their journalistic presence becomes more apparent. For example, near the middle of column two the journalist begins to voice their own opinion on the new album which is being reviewed, ‘This is an even better album then her last, with more consistency and variety. After this personal opinion more appear later on too ‘Although the social commentary songs will draw the most attention, she doesn’t need rebukes to make an impression’. Personal pronouns are not used in this article by the journalist, therefore, the presence is subtle in order to allow the reader to openly connect and focus on the information. Even though the presence is subtle it still has a big effect on the reader as the journalist is able to build a character profile in our minds of what this artist is like and what their album is like. This makes the audience want to know more and will encourage them so listen if they haven’t already. There is a short introduction in this article which introduces country music to the audience and helps the audience pay attention to the genre of this album review. ‘The southern adage- “don’t get above your raisin”, memorialized as a song title by Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs in 1951, has long been a guideline for country artists’. There is also a short conclusion which gives a short summary to the audience of the album ‘It’s easy enough to love Pageant Material if you don’t agree with Musgraves’ views on social issues, but let’s be honest: it helps if you do.
The journalist of this article uses words which give the audience an impression of the artist and style of music being displayed. For example, the journalist uses adjectives to inform the reader and give them an impression of the artists music the journalist describes the stars 2013 debut as ‘gloriously provocative’. In this article the tone and register of the text is very well spoken e.g the use of words such as ‘thematically’, with a couple small phrases upholding a jokey manor. For instance ‘blown raspberries at’ and the phrase ‘It’s just a pick up truck shy of being bro country’. This language fits in with the vibe you get of the artist- intelligent and witty. I wouldn’t say that the writing feels very conventional to the genre, although country music and ideals are spoken about a lot. The wording just seems a little too professional and serious, and the two small jokes don’t do much to lessen the seriousness. The quotes that are used in this article are mainly references to the songs, such as “Merry go round’ and ‘biscuits’, however there is one quotation which is taken from when the artist was interviewed by a reporter ‘Her strategy, she told a reporter was to scare off the people who are going to be scared off’. The quotations of the song titles and lyrics are used to reference to songs by the artist in the reviewed album and other singles. The last quotation has been used by the journalist to build a character profile for the audience to access and highlight the artists personality. As a result of reading this article the reader will experience an overall summary of the music produced by this artist, and also the character of this artist and their aim of the music produced. The style of writing which is conversational yet professional will entertain the reader and the factual information and knowledge into tracks of the artist will educate them.
Overall, the journalist of this article represents the star and the album and music of the artist as controversial and daring, the artist is displayed as having distinct and rebellious social views. This presents her very individual and different, which makes her stand out more as an artist in the industry. She pokes fun at fundamental views and challenges them through her music and words, and ‘scares off those who are going to be scared off’.
