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We have been running this column every Saturday for the better part of two months, but so far we have yet to any multi-part features. That all changes today, as MindEqualBlown editor Joe Ballard shares the first of his two-part series on common errors aspiring writing professionals need to avoid. We have yet to feature Joe in our Blogger Spotlight series, but we have worked with him for a number of years and know him to be one of the brightest minds in alternative music today.
An Introduction:
You know that classic phrase “it’s a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it”? I feel like that’s how a lot of people think of us editors. After all, part of our job is to clean up writers’ articles and make them shiny and spotless before they get published. However, even the professionals can’t catch all the mistakes 100% of the time, and this is why I’m here today – to show writers and aspiring journalists five of the most common errors I see in music-related articles and how you can successfully avoid them in the future. 
1) That vs. Who
This is the single most common mistake you will see in any publishing format, whether on a website, a national magazine or a bestselling novel. It happens everywhere, both in writing and speech. Luckily, there’s a simple way to differentiate between the two:
“That” is used when referencing a place or an object. “Who” is used when referencing a person.
Example 1: Cities was the album that took Anberlin’s popularity to a whole new level.
Example 2: Dustin Kensrue is the kind of lyricist who writes his words like poetry.
Easy enough, right? However, it becomes complicated when referring to, say, a band name. What is a band, exactly? Should it be referenced as an object or a group of people? Actually, both ways can be correct, depending on the usage. Let’s take a look:
Example 1: Saosin, who reunited with their original vocalist Anthony Green, will be performing at this year’s Skate and Surf Festival.
Example 2: The band that I’m really looking forward to seeing in concert is Tonight Alive.
If you use the band’s name in the sentence, use “who”. If you use the collective noun “band” then it should be “that”.
2) It’s vs. Its
Another one of the most common mistakes seen in all forms of writing, yet a very simple one to rectify. If you are ever unsure whether to use “it’s” or “its”, speak the sentence out loud. If you can say “it is” and the sentence makes sense, include the apostrophe. If “it is/it was/it has” doesn’t work, then “its” is the word you need.
Example 1: The only thing I dislike about Neon Trees’ album Habits is its short length.
Example 2: It’s been a long wait for the new Pharrell Williams album. Did it live up to its hype?
3) Past tense vs. Present tense
Tense usage in music articles can be a tricky issue, and some of the rules are likely different according to each individual publication. Here, we’re going to look at a couple of rules that are (or should be) universally accepted by every publication, specifically for album reviews.
A. When discussing individual songs, always use the present tense.
Example: The opening guitar riffs of “The Ocean” immediately set the tone for what’s to come, showcasing the group’s expanded sound as well as Jenna McDougall’s range as she shows off her lower tones in the verses but reaches sky-high in the bridge.
This applies whether you’re discussing the new Taking Back Sunday song or an Elvis Presley hit. Whether it’s a brand new review or a retro review, always use present tense verbs to explain a song.
B. When discussing the band or the album as a whole, vary the tense as needed but make sure you stay consistent.
This is where a lot of writers get tripped up, especially when writing retro reviews of albums from previous decades. Let’s use the classic Beatles album Rubber Soul as an example of how you can vary the verb tense within a single paragraph:
I have always loved the song “In My Life”, and the unique sped-up piano at the bridge still gives me chills to this day. The Beatles did a terrific job with the entire album, which still inspires music listeners nearly 50 years after its release.
The same principle largely applies to current albums as well – vary the verb tense as needed, particularly in the intro paragraph – but generally you want to stay in the present tense for the rest of the way.
