User:Rezter/sandbox

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hail_to_the_Thief&oldid=497171008

With your aims to get this article FA status, I am going to tailor my review with the best advice I can give you to prepare the article for the FAC process. However, this does not mean I am going to treat this GA review as if it was for a FAC because that would be unfair.

General layout

I think generally that the article features a lot of great information but that the overall layout and flow of the article needs a lot of work. I think with a bit of swapping information around and putting it in the "right place" then you could have a really strong article.

Here's my suggestion for how you could structure it

Production

Writing and recording

(The band's plans for the album, initial writing, rehearsing and work shopping)

"Work on material for Radiohead's sixth studio album Hail to the Thief began as early as [date]. Songs such as [x] where originally written during the joint recording sessions of Kid A and Amnesiac..." Potentially talk about why they weren't used on those albums (if possible) Then this would be a good opportunity to briefly talk about how they wanted to make a different album to their previous 2... have more of a "spontaneous" sound and why. Then talk about how some of the new material was debuted while the band were on tour in 2001. Then.. "In early 2002, songwriter Thom Yorke sent his bandmates CDs containing demos of material he was working on for the band's sixth album"... then talk about the May and June rehearsals... then how they used touring in the Summer to "focus group" the material with their fans.

(Recording)

"In September 2002, Radiohead and producer Nigel Godrich entered Ocean Way Recording studios in Hollywood, California, to begin recording the album. The band had worked with Godrich previously in [date] when he produced their album... [blah blah]. The majority of Hail to the Thief was recorded in two weeks, speaking about the brief recording process [x] said..." Then..."As originally intended, the recording process was very different.. [talk about how they computers but it was more 'live' orientated" Then at the end of the paragraph... "In late 2002 and early 2003, some additional recording and mixing was done at the band's home studio...."

(Interview CD???)

I see you using this as a reference a lot and it looks like a great source but it's not mentioned in the article at all. I think it would benefit from some discussion of when it was produced and brief description of what it is and why the band produced it. Like:

"In [date] following the completion of the album Radiohead decided to produce an Interview CD which contains... because.... blah blah"

Artwork

This should be a subsection of production

Promotion

Singles, touring, releases? This is a good section to talk about how the band promoted the album. Things like singles, touring, release dates for the album. Also....perfect section for the paragraph about the album leaking online.

Reissues

This should be a sub-section for Promotion

Musical styles

General talk about what the album sounds like and why.... progression from their previous albums and things like that.

Lyrical themes

Talk about Thom Yorke "struggling to find a title for the album" and all that "Title and alternative titles" section then the general themes of the album and everything.

Reception

Talk about the critical reception... professional reviews.

Commercial reception? If the album or it's singles charted in several charts then please talk about it. Compare it to their previous work.

Band regrets

Thanks for this, man. Where do you think the stuff about the tracks should go? Popcornduff (talk) 16:19, 17 June 2012 (UTC)