Sammy Kablam (Reviews: Threatening to Some)

[king_arthur]

Yeah, well, they are. To some. Me, for one.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Monkey Business would love a thread like this.

[Billy's Little Trip]

One day later I'm realizing that this thread is for the Threatening reviews, not to bitch about Sammy, right?

.....I don't think Spud knows this and is waiting for a Threatening To Some review thread.

[king_arthur]

Ah, you figured out what I did there, huh?

I dunno, Spud is really, really smart. I think he has his own reasons for waiting and it will all become clear to some of us in time...

Charles (KA)

[hillbilly]

Catchy lil tune, Amazon Woman. Yen Sing

[Billy's Little Trip]

Yen Sing sounds like KA with out a Grateful Dead vibe?

Den, you and Minty sound great. But I have a fever for more Uke.

[AnomalyJ]

awesome..had some kick back time this morning thought I would enjoy some lovely tunage...

Berkeley Social Scene - I think the thing that standout most for my ear is this awesome rhythm, I love the guitars, all the elements work really well right to the end. As far as the vocals, not catchy, but okay. I like the high tone and the attitude in the lead vocals. Overall, I most certainly like the music.

King Arthur - massively groovy, catchy, strange and cool. Guitar is my fav instrument and you guys bring the heat on this site, love it love it. It even has this blues element to it, the story line is great, vocals clear and bright. 60 years of crazy, huh??? Well it's was well worth it and a fav for me. Good job.

Ebola-Cide- there was a time when I would play Mario Bros until I had no feeling in my butt or my thumbs...so it was interesting to hear this... I like the sample of the game sounds, maybe a little over played in the song.
The lyrical content go's well with the game, but the theme just didn't tie well for me in the chorus. Sort of a beastie boy
feel to it.

Lord of Oats - Hmmm...first I think the storyline and words are cunningly stinging and funny, the chorus is actually great, "so let's hear it for the haters.....!!! The thing I think that falls flat is the music, I think it needs
more intensity, though the military drum line is good, it need more of a war cry element, a rebellious driving rhythm,
something that says 'I'm about to shake this joint up". I would love to hear this remixed, wish I had something more
than words, sadly I have no production skills. Still this is one of my fav's for it's current elements and for the potential for greatness, if only in my little mind. Good job.

Yen Sing Mot - well from me and my fellow Amazon women- thank you...It takes a special type of man to appreciate Amazon women so hats off to you! Amazon women usually inspire men to greatness, you must have a super chick there, congrats! And since I'm a sucker for a guy singing to his girl, you have an unfair advantage on me. The lyrics are cute and intriguing and the chorus is very catchy, my fav line is "cute as a bug and strong as a tree"..I need to get that on a t-shirt or something.... I liked everything about this tune, an all around great song. thank you.

[Lunkhead]

Welcome back Reist! (At least, that really sounds like him in Dolphins In Pain.)

[RangerDenni]

Yen Sing sounds like KA with out a Grateful Dead vibe?

Den, you and Minty sound great. But I have a fever for more Uke.

the world could ALWAYS stand more uke. true fact.

[chocolatechips]

My standout picks:

bgm - really nice contrast between verse & chorus. I'm not totally sold on the sounds of the verse because they sound a bit canned, not much personality. But the chorus is pretty awesome. Love the harmonies. The way the acoustic guitar comes in there and the synthy stuff from the verse is still there in the background to tie it all together. I like the lyrics.

Dandy Hen - nice vocals. pretty inviting melody (although it goes on a bit there a couple of times... could use some editing - but the best parts are great.) i like the piano. the production is good, clean & clear. I don't think I personally like it as much as the bgm track - but I think it could fit a soundtrack possibly ... I hear an audience for it.

Dolphins in Pain - this has a real cool vibe and is well performed. no complaints really. it reminds me of a group called Joy Zipper.

Evils That Never Came - this has a Radiohead thing going on (The Bends era) very impressive performance & recording.

Hostess Mostess - it doesn't blow me away like last week's entry but in a lot of ways I think it's more commercially effective (as much as I loved last week's it was a bit awkward rhythmically.) this is a bit "soft" for my taste (usually) but man - it's really well done. there's some real good stuff this week.

*** that's all for now... I may add some more (have to listen to the rest.)

[KingGinger]

BGM-Ya got my vote. Really catchy chorus. Love the synth bass in the verses and the layering in the chorus.

[Ebola-Cide00]

Anomalyj- yeah some reason I wanted to do a song on mario or Darth vader, and it stuck so I said screw it and it was kinda a hard one but fun. That's really all this is for to me, I like the feed back, it helps me with my hobby.

[RangerDenni]

My "OHGEEZ-these-are-LONG-andProlly have-SPELLING-ERRORS" REVIEWS!
(so that I will DO them. cuz this is GONNA happen this time. ulp. you shall soon see, that my reviews make as much sense as my lyrics and piano parts - and be relieved I don't do this each time)

DOLPHINS IN PAIN: this is interesting. i feel like it started in the middle of a song. this is not a bad thing. the chord progression and the mix is so interesting and the sway and rhythm of the words FORCED me into the words. Believable. I LIKE this. Lollipop for you!

BUBBLE PIPE MEDIA: i refuse to say this reminds me of anything because I do not want to facepalm again Today. when the warbly fellow comes in it's clearly different, altho not something i might choosechoose. It IS well done and I would do the Robot to it at a party if drinks were procured. And then perhaps talk about how I had a crush on your snare sound or something, in the fdrink-sly forum…

PACO DEL STINKO: i never really know what to say to you. in a nur ein review i once neglected to put out i said "you will certainly wipe the floor with me." This is because you continuously produce quality. yeah, you're strange. i Do Not care. it's clever. that's clearly your wet hill, and those are clearly your beans. Also, if one is going to keep playing their guitar in a soloishish fashion, it should be done this way because you are clearly Ruler of that. another where you handle your vocal well.

SPACEPUB: from the beginning your band name is believable because I feel like I'm in a space pub. vocals arriving have not helped matters. this belongs in roll credits of a show about crazy people. put me very much into an atmosphere.

LORD OF OATS: i wanted to argue against the haters. not participate on behalf of them. just to be cantankerous. tempo change intrigued me and your sound is cool and dancey. after embarrassing myself with the bubblepipeRobot i would continue defiling my reputation to your track with my cool moves. by the end i was fantasizing about your voice doing musical theater or something. still quite danceable.

BERKELEY SOCIAL SCENE: always interesting progression. nice fitting percussiveness in all the right places, loudyloud chords on the guitars, vocals a bit … sporadic? Don't know what I mean by that quite. maybe i couldn't find the hook easily. yeah. the progression was the catchy thing, not the hook. the wall of HRHRONGA overpowered me. Lead sound nice and shazamsy! I would watch this live and bounceybounce around up at the front. Good end, so yeah!

THE CHADDERANDOM ABYSS: Goodness! I cannot find your context for this. When you hit the stops though and come back in after a PLACED silence I think - perhaps you have chosen this particular sound to convey a point. Your vocal is VERY DISTORTED and I found myself shaken by it. I am nonetheless intrigued. I listened again and realize that I have used that chord in precisely this way to create discomfort. At the end your vocal is not distorted as much. Are you messing with me? I didn't get the words and will go read them. I do not know if I am overanalyzing you here. Or if I have offended. This is clearly off the beaten path.

J@M35 & DEJECTED MOTIVES: I am very glad I was not listening to this in the darkness. Or while….cooking. It's freaky. This should be in a club but I would not dance to it and would stare sullenly and vampirically across the room hoping for some kind of relief from your strange madness. Are you singing "braaaaaiiinnns?" {will look at lyrics}. Kind of beat-tish throb I haven't been able to achieve, so possible to achieve satisfaction during nookie in club bathroom during. You get points for that. Too much info, so moving along.

HOSTESS MOSTESS: catchy! NICE instrumentation. that is a damn tasty organ and some clever frickkin lyrics and another nifty kit in a different way than the BSS drum sound is nifty. you guys are Tight but Casual and i want to wear flip-flops to this. You took a risk there with that "plaaayy" but it paid off. Background vocals not at all annoying, but perhaps could have been. i don't know. it's cute. Wished there coulda been a fade out.

DANDY HEN: a review of the experience.
i liked this the minute i heard it. was hard to sing without crying for personal reasons but don't let that pickle your reviews if you are reading this. Still, a powerful song is a powerful song and you wrote one of those before in nur ein 5, minty, that i distinctly remember. The arrangement was effective and we were efficient and you were really just delightful in dealing with me… spacey and disorganized as usual! The song is gripping and my husband was also quite impressed.

EVILS THAT NEVER CAME: effective opening. i am paying attention. oh geez. i like this a LOT. oh … i LOVE this. i am not sure what to say. this is the kind of music i think in. i will stop gushing. AMAZING! you even had a hunk of silence at the end. we are obviously musical twins. (just ignore me, i swear i am not drunk)
it does go on a bit… but… who am i kidding it's E P I C! (fangirl)

BGM: GREAT opening line. I am downloading this immediately because of the words. great delivery. not at all like me but even with your different style you got your point across in an interesting chord progression. This is one of those perfect songs that one might look for at the squinky times; you know, when you need to hear a song on which you might project your stupid crap. and the end? PERFECT! perhaps later on i will listen with a more critical ear, but for now you get a cupcake.

KING ARTHUR: that tone is GREAT! then the mix comes in and the context sounds very original and ODDLY set-up to me. This is an ensemble sound I would pause to hear. Am starting to fear I have lost my ability to criticize. Okay.. The toms are a little thundering to me. I was going to take away the gratuitous guitar hall pass i let Paco have in my Review Hallway, but then you hit that modulation all smooth so yeah. i think the end is gonna make or break it……. ooo. cookie for you. Oh crud. I really didn't pay that much attention to the lyrics cuz your voice is really intriguing. I go back and read again. (i'd smile AGAIN here, but I am not Allowed to. hrrumph)

ANOMALY JONEZ + YESHINTAE: I feel like I am being dragged through the graveyard of last years Christmas. I am not too sure about the groove. Vocal is the kind of vocal I strive for, all smokey and soulful. the otherside and green grass and all that. beautiful vibrato and sorta cool orchestra pad hits or whatever helped get me through the creepy clown repetition, which you could have used more effectively by varying it or putting it in more strategically. if i dream about clowns later i have only you guys to blame and i expect your vocalist to save me.

BLACK RUSSIAN FUTURISTS: good mix in the way the BSS have a good tight ensemble sound. when I use them for comparison it's really a compliment you see. also nice and tight is th...whoa….!

"THERE'S the line." ahem.

{fidget.} yes. um. okay then. nervous, guilty laughter.. i started REALLY paying attention to the lyrics at that. i am easily distracted by the other tabs i had open. hey, i was trying to write your damn review OKAY?! I was trying to be CLEVER! for YOU!? GEEZ!!!!
REWIND: these lyrics are wonderful. i just got back from a blogging convention.
#irony #youbethejudge #flyingsouthfortheWIN #mirth #idownloadedthis …snappy and sexy though. Nice delivery. F'reel!

BILLY AND THE PSYCHOTICS: a review of the experience.
another hard melody to sing. this was a rough week for me, singstery-wise. Two range-y tunes and other singing work elsewhere made me croakcroaky (poor me…)! i was not sure what to do with this song. BLT is a very clever lyricist regardless of what he is writing about, but he really is a great writer-writer I have noticed. I hope I did this justice because I have really liked it the whole time it has been in the back-n-forth. BLT pulls off the arrangement with usual aplomb and Paco kills it in his guitarist way. Also as far as writing, I am enjoying having to stay in a structure. We are growing up a little bit - perhaps. Is that good? Will we stay crunchy in milk? who knows these things?

YEN SING MOT: you totally have the vocal for this which is perfect. this fits like a comfy sweater or the Right Dog in the correct truck. Lyrics.. DAMN clever. the bass is really doing it for me. something about the mix is bugging me. i don't know what it is. maybe not the mix? i think it's the voicing of the accordion chords sometimes (particularly in the bridge) - that's really nit-picky, i realize. this is very well crafted.

EBOLA-CIDE: the game noises are well arranged in and you obviously know what you are doing because you use them in an interesting and musical way. I am hearing something in the mix that sounds distorted. it could be the way two sounds are combining so i'll leave it be. sometimes your little asides "shit," "yeah."… etc. seem thrown in during times when there is not enough … space - because the rhymes are so tight it almost doesn't need an insertion in each gap? i don't know. this is just me saying something i feel musically. this is Quite Well Done and I'm surprised I can think of much to say, actually.

ps. if this is a hobby you are dang good at it. {insert illegal smiley face here cheezepleeze}

****************
Well, I did it. On the first day. I am going to go eat a candy bar and drink something with sugar and caffeine. Because this was hard. And long. I blame the fact that I end the review on that note on the Black Russian Futurists- and remain

Yours Truly,
DJ Ranger Den

[hillbilly]

Ranger Den, if you dont put a shirt on, i wount be able to enter next week. That may be a good thing though.

[Reist]

Welcome back Reist! (At least, that really sounds like him in Dolphins In Pain.)

Thanks!

My vote goes to BGM. Your vocals are awesome, and the layered chorus is insanely catchy. Close second is Evils That Never Came for great chord choices and an awesome atmosphere. Third favorite is Paco; I absolutely love the groove in the instrumental breaks.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Oh, hey Andrew. Long time. Nice to see you are still making good music. I like the new style.

[RangerDenni]

Ranger Den, if you dont put a shirt on, i wount be able to enter next week. That may be a good thing though.

should i change my naked artist woman? i just got that this was probably about that! i believe it's been mentioned before, but i have spent silly amounts of time in liberal arts department environments so this is normal-ish-ness to me to flash about in this Fashion.
It's 'The Broken Column' by Frida Kahlo
a larger photo of it, with a small explanation. (http://www.theartwolf.com/self-portrait ... rtrait.htm)

[hillbilly]

Please dont change a thing

[RangerDenni]

Please dont change a thing

i hope that you enter this fight.

[Reist]

Oh, hey Andrew. Long time. Nice to see you are still making good music. I like the new style.

Thanks BLT. The new style's more of a side project. I've got an album's worth of DIP tunes pretty much ready to go, but my motivation has been really poor lately, so who knows if they'll actually see the light of day.

[Paco Del Stinko]

A few folks doubled up here, though in collabo form, it appears: Denise, J$, and even me! Anyway, quick comments that I'll be glad to elaborate on if you need me to.

Anomaly Jonez + Yeshintae - This starts out like a Christmas tune. Doesn't matter, that quickly evaporates into a late night urban groove. The vocals are well performed and delivered, if often a bit buried in the mix. I'd still like to hear you cut loose more. Maybe during a bridge or distinct chorus section, which seem to be missing. Not that they're required, but might be nice.

Berkeley Social Scene - Somehow this reminds me of the Smiths at the start. Must be the picked chord patterns. It disappears when Martin rocks it out. The bridge is good as well, although I thought the vocal part was leading to a different lead section. The ending feels a little tagged on. Still, I like the darker tone and mood of this compared to some of your others, although it's far from doom'n gloomy.

bgm - This is great. All the melodies work and only get better and more infectious as the song progresses. The chorus, especially, is fab and when it expands later in the song, is beautiful. I like the synth work and old school drum machine. I'm sure this song would work with a different configuration of instruments, but these sell it well. Fantastic, and if it doesn't win the fight (!) it should be a vote away in 2nd.

Billy and the Psychotics - Billy Ray Vaughan, ladies and gentlemen! Bordering on a ballad, but not quite there, it sways as much as it rocks, lighter in hand. The biggest surprise here is the broken heart/love themes instead of naughty sex. Great vocal by both, Denise sounding at ease and confident, nice to hear Chris in the fold, could almost come up a smidge in the mix, but good where he is. I feel like the 3rd wheel, doing the lead, but glad to be aboard.

Black Russian Futurists - This is great, lyrically. The music is fine but just supporting cast for the great commentary. Gee, I get pissed seeing people texting while driving, walking, at a dinner table, etc., but in bed? Like, totally OMG! I can not imagine this scenario in my liffe and hope that it's a work of fiction. Funny how this opens a window into something so personal, but it's a much broader commentary. Super lyrics as well, tongue in cheek and otherwise.

Bubble Pipe Media - This is a little stiffly delivered, vocally. I think switching voices during the chorus is a good idea, but to that voice? I can't tell if it's supposed to be silly or not. Yeah, I can say so, I am master of the goofy, shouldn't be singing voice. Ha! I like the synth work, especially the big swoops that come in midway and the higher parts underneath the higher chorus vocal. The ending feels a little sudden and I think this song maybe suffers from being a bit rushed or under-realized, conceptually.

The Chadderandom Abyss - How 'bout that hi-hat? Woo! Nice and disjointed, it doesn't feel good in any way, but makes for a bit of bad taste in the middle of the fight. Good length, though, and the best part is that you sound like...you. That's a good thing.

Dandy Hen- Very nice. What a lovely vocal performance and tasteful instrumental support and arrangement. I love the dynamics, especially after "just in love for now" and back into the last part. I must be old, though, because I shake my head at 17 year olds thnking they're not kids. A rare exception, that would be. Maybe in some war torn African nation. And not because I'm threatened, thank you. Regardless, lovely tune and perspective. More from this team, thank you!

Dolphins in Pain - I'm glad you were called out on the boards, Andrew, it would have driven me nuts if I couldn't figure out who that voice belonged to. Anyway, good tune with a tasty hook, the extended, slow trill downwards. I like the two voices as one, I'm sure the gal has been before as well, no? Your voices mix nicely, it'd be fun to hear you two push it further next time, more daring. I like the progressions here and the lead is tasty as well.

Ebola-Cide - This is pretty well done, some chuckles lyrically. I never played Mario to any great extent, but am familiar enough with it to get (most of) what you're saying. The music samples are very well done and support the lyrics appropriately. A lot seems to happen in a short amount of time, glad it's short, as this would get tiring if too long. Good work.

Evils That Never Came - Radiohead comparisons aside, this is a very strong tune, dark and moody. The arrangement is excellent and quietly complex. Tears of muddy/bloody water is a great line. But boy, is this somber. A good thing, in doses, and it makes anything sunny feel welcome. Comment, not criticism, there. Very good, expert work. Maybe next time something on the flipside of the coin?

Hostess Mostess - Cute story, family friendly, lite but not shallow. I like the instrumentation, although it's lacking bottom end. I like the progression and Beatle-esque la-las are tasty and appropriate. The genuine child and dog sounds at the end work nicely as well. Good tune, easy going, if not a towering home run.

J@M35 & Dejected Motives - This is a good demonstration of computer based recording, a lot of visual aid in manipulating sound, no doubt. Samples,stretched out voices, loops, etc. Probably an accomplishment as far as putting something togther goes, but not a very good song. Sounds good and clear, sonically.

King Arthur - I like this a lot although I'm not a fan of referring to your own song during your own song. Doesn't matter though, it rocks at a nice tempo, has good chord structure and wonderful trilly leads. Knopfler-ish, but all you. I like how you're talking to your shrink, but "a mental illness is a terrible thing to waste" is only a play on words, I hope. Good tune, a stronger entry for you, and sets up nicely for lead trade-offs if ever done live with another guitarist.

Lord of Oats - Glad yer back, Oatsey! This is upbeat and fun, with a nice, near nasty dis of posuers and whoevers. I like the bridge although I was hearing something zooming up high in my head. A nip, time/length wise, and concetrate the hooks into a smaller pace, and this would pack a bigger punch. Some supporting vocals would be welcome as well, sweeten up your voice, as fine as it is. Just a wee bit of sugar. Love the high note on home! Keep'em coming.

Paco del Stinko - Extra sloppy, this week. Kind of typical progressions from me, as well. I reckon some could say I did too much wankery, but it was fun to do. The leads are through my old 70's Fender Champ. The song is a typical black/white angle I've done a million times. Cheap.

Spacepub - A bit loose and sloppy, it feels like it was done or should be listened to after getting home from the pubs. I'd love to hear some dubby analog delay trip me out and make me woozy. Still, a light mood comes through on this although the lyrics aren't all cheery, even if I'm not bright enough to get all of the meaning. Good collab, though.

Yen Sing Mot - This is fun and gets deserved points for the Amazon woman, although I'm sure some will cringe at it. The Amazon theme could make this appear as though the song was written prior to the title and you lucked into it having the threatening lines in your song. I hope this isn't the case. Regardless, fun little tune, well played and performed, it doesn't overstay its welcome. Good bass lines, too.

[bubblepipemedia]

My favorites are easily BGM and Evils That Never Came, followed by Paco and Billy.

BPM - pure catchy tune goodness with a great quirky sensibility that brought me in immediately. The mix separation needs a little work and I can hear it hitting the limiter pretty hard at point.

Evils That Never Came - terrific. Your piece requires a bit more patience, but it's chords, effects, and well everything is just well done. My only criticism might be that I'd like to hear a more stereo drum kit with a good room presence filling in the field.

As Paco pointed out, my piece was a bit rushed. I had writers block and just wanted to get SOMETHING out of my brain. So I settled. I also wanted to try a new voice mix idea, but I think I had them a tad too loud in the end. Oh well.