by PlainSongs » Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:46 pm
Thanks all for your interesting opinions! Here's the accurate valley-o-meter measurements:
Adam Adamant - This does indeed seem to be a song about not so very much at all (though not quite), which I find a little disappointing. However it's fun and pleasant to listen to. It's like you're from the future where non-synth instruments have been banned. That doesn't mean the end of good music, clearly. It's fairly minimal but I tend to like that. Quite in the valley, with spacetime distortion.
Cutie Pies - I'm not initially thrilled by that synth but it gets smoothed over soon by the other tracks. Nice voices. It's kind of new wavy but with a more house-like beat. That results in less dynamics than I might have preferred, but overall this is pretty good. Halfway down the valley, on the slopes where flowers grow among the ash.
Donkeypunch - Starts out neat. (Reminding of 'She's So Heavy'.) Good voice and good lyrics! Seems cleanly mixed. The drumming seems off at times but that may be intentional. Uplifiting it ain't but it's quality to me, has melody, punch, and style. Good songwriting. Well down in the valley, hope you get out.
Flvxxvm Florvm - The voice and instrumentation work well here. It's not terribly dynamic but then it's not very long and it's not meant to cause excitement but a more desolate feeling (I suppose). Nice sketch, then. Well down in Death Valley.
Give Our Regards To The Earth's Core - I quite like your energetic bongo-like rhythms so that's neat. The surfy lead guitar is sweet too. I think someone else said the vocals and the rest are an odd combination and I'd have to agree. I mostly like that, though. Bobbing in some valley with a lava stream.
Glennwood - Nothing wrong with it, well made, but a bit too generically sweet for me, it could be the soundtrack to a cheesy part of some family film. I'm hovering at the cheese-to-heart transition point though. Hm. I like you intention, but I'd have thrown in a slight pinch of excentricity. Where you do the break around 3mins, maybe something to indicate that the song wasn't finished would be a good idea. Halfway down the valley at an idyllic spot.
The Hand Formula - Pretty cryptic lyrics so I had to listen twice (they remain cryptic), which I did happily. Simple songwriting, good songwriting. What's that instrument, some organ? Pity about the hiss, it's vaguely charming but it's not! Quite in the valley, simply.
i.p. - I was blown away by your Walking The Border, so my expectations may be too high. This is really well done but it misses the nice bop and panache of that other song. A bit heavy-handed, that bass, and the vocals seem somehow disconnected from it. It's sure good but still a bit disappointed :/ Halfway down the valley, under a heavy cloud.
Johnny Cashpoint - The guitar drowns the vocals a bit... Not bad really but it could use a bit of a kick, the tinny beat is a little too steady, the guitar a bit too consistent, the vocals a bit too flat (but then you found mine too unflat, right? :) The synth gives some nice touches but it's not given much room. On the valley slopes, hovering.
The Kruegen - Downloading then, but a lower bitrate would stream better. I find this interesting to listen to (specially where the dub and singing starts), even if it's quite directionless, and unfortunately, unfinished! Up on the slopes, stopped short by a boulder after a promising but short slide.
MC Eric B - This is pretty fun, I like the slow groove and the touches of lounge brass. A lot of "in the valley" repetition maybe. The +-spoken bits are good, the sparse more ambitious singing less so, sorry. It's a fun tune though. I wasn't aware of that pronunciation of 'niche'. Quite in the valley, where the good-natured dwell.
Melvin - I like the nature sounds. Quite like this one, for it's of your more quirky side; the (to my ears) whiny drums and rhythm guitar are still there but they're alright and there's quite a bit of other stuff going on too! I like the oh oh oh. Yeah not sure about the message about Love etc, but hey. Good song. Halfway down the valley, smiling.
noah mclaughlin - Ca fait plaisir d'entendre un peu de français dans Songfight :) Je devrais faire du même... Ben je n'aime pas trop les psaumes en général, mais c'est un joli texte tout de même. Et bravo pour la mélodie, ça fait relaxant et noble. J'aime les instruments et la voix est bonne, peut-être un petit peu (plus) de reverb sur elle serait bien. Prononciation claire avec quelques bizarreries. Aprécié! Carrément dans la vallée.
Osharenistas - Interesting lyrics even if a bit disconnected for this litteral mind. Good playing. The melody... reminds me of something. 'High Society' by Enon. Not quite the same but there's some kinship with your song. And theirs is a bit more interesting, yours more repetitive. Perhaps you're unlucky I got to compare. Good song overall! Quite in the valley, in Japan.
PiGPEN - Yeah that synth is mixed too loud, it's distracting and after a while pretty irritating. Seems alright otherwise though. See it's a lot better when I just listen with the right can (less synth). Nice layers even if it still drags on a bit what with the dreariness. Nearly halfway down the valley, stuck in something loud.
Plain Songs for Doves & Tigers - Perhaps you ran out of time again and screwed up the mix, with the vocals too loud and some weird artefact on the violin? Probably. No meter reading available.
Rone Rivendale - Hm well. It made me smile but I can't think of much else to say :/ Next time articulate a bit more, I needed the posted lyrics. Up on the slopes, needs some oxygen.
The 'Scow - That's a voice with character. Charming but the tune is really pretty slow and a bit boring. Tired right now and this sure doesn't wake me up, nor chill me out either really. Can't quite put my finger on it, because the individual elements of this song are good. Hm. Maybe it's more of a groove that is missing? Halfway down the valley, hanging.
Signboy - This does wake me up. Very nice trip-hop sort of vocals in more of a rock tune. Whee nice solo there. Okay, memorable. I'd like this on an album with a quite different, far quieter song after it. Well down in the valley, close to the riverbank.
SomeGuyCalledNoel - Neat guitar. Guitars? It's pretty but I can't make out the lyrics too well, maybe it's me being tired but maybe it would've helped if you'd separated the guitar and vocals more, frequency- and pan-wise. Nice in a Nick Drake sort of way but could use some cleaning. Quite in the valley, but foggy meter reading.
The Weakest Suit - This is a nice experiment; not sure if your voice is best suited for the dumbfungirl impersonation though, would be something else with an exagerrated female voice. Pretty good composing though. Halfway down the valley and sliding down.
William L Tripowtski and the Tripowtski Players - It reminds me of the Ninja Turtles (middle aged, maybe). It's got that vibe. That's not necessarily all positive, but this makes me happy and dancy, nice way to end the fight. I love the variation in this tune, just right there. Well down in the valley, where the party is.