Silence blaring for (A 9/11 Every Day reviews)

[Pigfarmer Jr]

Let's fill up the space with reviews.

[Pigfarmer Jr]

Lyric thread: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=12008

[Lunkhead]

Songs posted!

[mholland]

Wow, just listened to add's entry, and IMO it's perfect. Really creative take, perfect message, and perfectly executed in the Guthrie/Guthrie/Dylan tradition of talking blues. No matter what else I hear in this fight, you've got at least one of my votes.

[gizo]

Yep - on first listen there's a couple of definite votes for ActDeaD and Lunkhead.

But there's a lot of quality in this fight - well done.

[genecawley]

add - Evoking early Dylan at his [its?] best, this is a wonderful performance, full of wit and charm. A perfect talking blues to boot. Fantastic job!

AMERIKKKA THE GREAT - Catchy, but not really my thing. Love the message. Nice production too.

Balls To Monte - A simple ditty, I was going for as catchy as I could. Not bad, but I still think my mixes sound not as full as I’d like [any suggestions welcome].

Berkeley Social Scene - Nice to have you back. Love the chorus and the production. The lyrics are excellent as well. Not a bad thing to say about this one, even the solo’s great.

Blind Mime Ensemble - I like the Kraftwerk-meets Nine Inch Nails kinda vibe here. The synth counter melodies are particularly good.

Brother Baker - Well performed with good production. I like how the lyrics interact with the sampled rally quotes. A damn good anthem.

Brown Word and the Big Whine - Really good arrangement and performance. Love the guitar work. More like a mantra than a song, but it’s a great mantra.

The Def Author - This wouldn’t be Glenn Case, would it? Really like this either way. Great lyrics, arrangement and production. What more can I say? It’s fantastic!

Escapegoat - Really like the lyrics here, and I like robot recitations of the lyrics. It really brings out the drama in this.

Giraffes For Wings - You really have a way with a song, and I love how the organ comes in with the second verse, also the chimes are a great touch. Really good lyrics. Great job overall.

IRC USM - “The only thing you’re free to do is D.I.E.” I really like that. You pretty much sum up the situation in this country at the moment. Great guitar work and performance as well.

Lichen Throat - Hey, you sound an awful lot like Escapegoat [you probably get that a lot]. Again, great lyrics and arrangement.

Lunkhead - LOVE these keyboards. This is one of the best I’ve heard so far. You totally captured the scrolling the web like a rat hoping for a food pellet thing. Overall fantastic.

MetroBoyz - Another good talking blues. It’s also nice to have a song with a bit of humor in it [however dark], though I’m sure it ain’t easy given the subject matter. Great job!

Night Sky - Love the clarinet and sax on this. Particularly good lyrics, maybe your best yet. Not crazy about the bullhorn vocals, but the rest is great.

The Pannacotta Army - Another solid one from you guys. The arrangement and performance is as perfect as can be. Maybe turn the bass up just a tad. That’s about the only critique I can muster. Terrific stuff!

PANOPLY - Another cool talking blues. The sloppiness here works in the song’s favor. Guitar work is wonderful. Love the feel of this.

Pigfarmer Jr - I’ve said it before, but you just keep getting better. Especially in terms of vocals, lyrics and production, this may be your best yet. Great job.

Robyn Mackenzie - You’re another one who always seems to deliver the goods. This is just great! You somehow always manage to keep things simple without being the least bit predictable.

The Sewer People - Hello! Never heard you before, but this is great stuff. LOVE the harmonies on the chorus. Another possible vote.

ShoehornTC - Not exactly a talking blues, but this has a nice, folky charm to it. Great song.

Sly Eli - This is another great one. You people are seriously pissing me off now! Not familiar with your stuff, but I really like the simple rhythm and arrangement. Totally charming, solid song.

Stacking Theory - Another good one. Particularly like the guitar and drum sound here. I really like the echoing lyrical lines in the verses as well.

Vom Vorton - Damn! Yet another genuinely charming, great song. I am getting SICK of this! I really like the positive lyrical spin on the subject matter.



Wow. I have quite a few potential choices right now. This won’t be easy. Great job, everyone!

[robynmackenzie]

Sly Eli - I really like the percussion and the laid-back strumming. The lyrics are really well done, and I like the direction the bridge takes the song in. Nice.

Vom Vorton - This belongs in an indie film about a nerd who works in IT who falls in love with a manic pixie dream girl who's a florist. Or something like that.

Giraffes For Wings - The glockenspiel is a nice touch. Reminds me of the 90's for some reason. Good job on the rapid-fire vocals.

AMERIKKKA THE GREAT - I really enjoy how you've basically turned "weak white racist republicans" into part of the percussion in the background. A fun chant with a clear message.

MetroBoyz - I'd like to hear that lead guitar a little more up front. A bit Tom Waits-y. This has a cool classic rock vibe to it that I dig.

Berkeley Social Scene - Oooh, love that chorus. I want to hear the vocals a little louder. Rockin' solo!

Brown Word and the Big Whine - This is different than what I'm used to from you. Reminds me of the soundtrack from "The God Who Wasn't There." Cool synths.

Lichen Throat - Nice chill beat, and I like the instrumentation. Vivid imagery in the lyrics. I think this my favorite of yours.

The Pannacotta Army - I'm a sucker for unique chord progressions, and this delivers. Well done as always.

The Sewer People - Oh man, this is right up my alley. I wanna yell along to this at a live concert. Really enjoyed this one.

Escapegoat - Interesting blend of spoken-word and singing. Almost performance art. Very poetic.

Balls to Monte - I like the classic sound you've got going on here. Another one with some super cool chord progressions. Liked this one a lot.

Stacking Theory - This has dreamy, late night at the bar vibes. I like the doubled guitar lead.

Brother Baker - As much as I hate Trump's voice, it certainly drives home the message of the song. Interesting how you built the song around the audio clips. Great harmonies.

add - Woody Guthrie vibes here. The lyrics tell a somber story despite the major chords. Nice take on the optional challenge.

IRC USM - This reminds me of going to Hot Topic in the early 2000s. The vocals are really well delivered with just the right amount of aggression. Would have liked it to be a little longer.

Robyn Mackenzie - Of course I thought about some changes I'd like to make right after I submitted, but overall I'm happy with how this one turned out. Definitely planning to fix it up and release it out into the wild.

PANOPLY - This is another one that has a classic rock feel to it, which I really enjoy. Nice guitar work.

Lunkhead - This had me hooked instantly with that arpeggio. A good reminder to stop doomscrolling and connect with the world in a positive way. The harmonies are killer.

The Def Author - This is great. Really creative rhyming and a strong, in-your-face message. Well done.

Pigfarmer Jr - This is solid all over. Really strong lyrics and vocals. Nice take on the title without actually using it in the song.

Night Sky - Very catchy opening riff. I think the vocals could be backed off a little, but other than that this is nicely done.

Blind Mime Ensemble - Blippy, glitchy, and chill all at the same time. Interesting structure.

ShoehornTC - I like the simplicity of this. Has a very folky feel. Nice job.

[slyeli]

Here are my reviews, hopefully I've not missed anybody out:

add - I like the hammer-on in the guitar playing. Love the harmonic interludes, really nice touch. Could do with a sung chorus (or an instrumental solo) to give the song a bit more melody and to break up the spoken word parts.

AMERIKKKA THE GREAT - Coming straight after the add spoken word song the chanting in this had maximum impact. This feels like a piece that would work well in a film, building the tension before something apocalyptic happens. The ending needs work, it just seemed to peter out rather than ending with the same impact as the intro had.

Balls To Monte - The intro has a real Me & Bobby McGee feel to it which I like. If it was me I'd mix your vocal higher, I had to dig out the lyrics to understand what you were saying. I'm loving the chorus. Nice ending too building things up with trumpets and organ. I just listened to it a 2nd time. Great band name too.

Berkeley Social Scene - I'm loving the guitars in this, particularly the one that solos. The other instruments could do with roughing up a bit so they sit better with the guitar tone. The vocal seems a bit laid back for this style of song, I'd like a bit more aggression. It's a good song it just needs a bit more attitude.

Blind Mime Ensemble - I like how the sweeter sound of the slowed down section contrasts with the run away, shambling feel of the verse. There's some nice atmospheric sounds in the background that help to give it a sinister edge. I'm not sure what the song is about but listening to it makes me nervous.

Brother Baker - I wasn't really sold on this song until it got to the cool outro. The change of pace with the piano playing and ring-a-roses chant is a nice piece of work. The early parts of the song put me in two minds, on the one hand it seems tongue-in-cheek but on the other parts of it seem serious. That's not a bad thing but it didn't sit quite right with me at first.

Brown Word and the Big Whine - This has the feel of a nightmare dream sequence in a film. I like the plinky plonky sounds in the background and the almost screamed ahhhs, they add a lot of the character to the song. I'm not so keen on the lead guitar echoing the vocal melody. I think the parts of the song without that are stronger.

The Def Author - Nice synth stabs. I'm liking this. The vocals are nicely mixed and show off your flow well. The chorus is good too. This is a well put together song, it all seems to jell in just the right way.

Escapegoat - You've done a good job of putting across a sense of foreboding and creeping malaise. The only bit that doesn't quite work for me is the vocal over the higher synth part, something about it doesn't sit right for me.

Giraffes for Wings - The rhythm of this reminds me a little of Save Tonight by Eagle Eye Cherry. It has a nice forward momentum that keeps pushing the song forward. This is a fun song that bounces along in a pleasant way.

IRC USM - That guitar riff has Led Zepplin all over it. It sounds immense. There also a cool Beastie Boys feel to the vocals. I'm liking this one, good work.

Lichen Throat - You have a Nick Cave tone to your voice that I like. It fits nicely with the distant sounding rhythm guitar. This songs got a drone like quality that's quite hypnotic.

Lunkhead - I feel like I should be listening to this in a sleazy lounge bar. I like the chilled out vibe. Nice work.

MetroBoyz - This is a very bassy mix. It gives the song a swampy vibe that fits well with the rough vocals. A deep down and dirty song.

Night Sky - I'm liking how all the instrumentation fits together in this. The saxophone runs are particularly nice. The effect on the vocal spoils it a little for me. The vocals seem to be separated from the rest of the band and it feels a bit disjointed.

The Pannacotta Army - This recording has a slick funky feel to it. The little synth effects are really nice. A well put together song.

PANOPLY - This gets plus points for the natural conversational style you've managed to get with the vocals whilst still getting them to fit in with the rest of the band. Cool soaring solo too.

Pigfarmer Jr - I'm getting a Hotel California vibe from this. It has a world-weary, seen it all before feel that I like.

Robyn Mackenzie - The backing vocals are really sweet, they really make the song. I'm liking this song, especially the vocal melody and the guitar tone on the solos. Good work.

The Sewer People - I'm getting hints of The Offspring from this one. It's got a really catchy chorus. The siren sound adds another dimension that lifts the song, it's very atmospheric.

ShoehornTC - I dig the folky guitar sound so this sits well with me. The organ sounds in the background and the hammering-on guitar add a lot to the song. I'm liking this one. The abrupt stop at the end spoils it a bit.

Stacking Theory - The almost whispered vocals on this are a nice touch. They give it a dreamy ethereal quality. The guitar work is good too. The whole thing fits together nicely.

Vom Vorton - I like that you've taken the lyrics in a different direction to everyone else. 9 out of 11 is a clever take on the title. The song has a bit of an Eels feel to it that I like.

[genecawley]

Balls To Monte - The intro has a real Me & Bobby McGee feel to it which I like. If it was me I'd mix your vocal higher, I had to dig out the lyrics to understand what you were saying. I'm loving the chorus. Nice ending too building things up with trumpets and organ. I just listened to it a 2nd time. Great band name too.

Thanks for the compliment. The first mix I did had the vocals WAY too loud and I just overcompensated with the second one. Really liked your song too.

[slyeli]

Sly Eli - This is another great one. You people are seriously pissing me off now! Not familiar with your stuff, but I really like the simple rhythm and arrangement. Totally charming, solid song.

Thanks for the kind words. It's been about 5 years since I did any song recording and it was a bit of a different experience for me. I always used to record songs linearly on the guitar but this time I got a copy of Ableton Live and built the whole thing up in sections. I still don't really know how to use the thing but I managed to get something I'm happy with out of it.

Sly Eli - I really like the percussion and the laid-back strumming. The lyrics are really well done, and I like the direction the bridge takes the song in. Nice.

Thanks. I tried to do something different with the bridge. Normally all the melodies I come up with are always in key but this time I tried adding some out of key notes (Bb and F#) and it seemed to work OK. At least that's what I think I did, my music theory isn't great.

[blindmime]

SONGFIGHT

Lichen Throat - I like the post-industrial pop germanic devokraft. Keeps it interesting with the counter guitar (or whatever it is). Vocal works well with this for me the more times I repeat.

Sly Eli - I love the pads and when you take it into the chorus, man, this is awesome. I loved this track.

add - I like the conversational vocal. I mean, it's really conversational, stretching those bounds and playing with it. Nice. Brilliant addition of Dylan's harmonica. Also a bit in the vein of Johnny Cash country blues.

MetroBoyz - Got that George Thorogood badness going down. I like the greasy lead runs and rhythm stabs. What the hey. Haha, Love it.

Night Sky - The can vocal against sax runs is very cool. Very impressive!

Giraffes For Wings - I love a whole lot about this track. The fast pace builds to a wonderfully orchestrated crescendo. Understated harmonies are paired perfectly and just the right time. At first I wasn't sure about the towers analogy, but you made it work. I'm finding new things during repeated listens.

Brother Baker - Wow! This is great. Frighteningly great. The posies refrain. The harmony on the Russia, Russia, Russia. Lots of scary good stuff.

PANALOPY - Another strong entry, this time pushing counter to the grain. I hope that was unintentionally innocent. Loved the lead breaks and how the rhythm pockets a great feel.

Robyn Mackenzie - Immediately after listening to this I searched for more and added the Wild Heart album to my library. This track is sublime. I love the vocals. The chorus is beautiful. What a hook. Very special.

Def Author - Flaming narcissist. Great line. Another solid track. Strong melodic vocal chorus against outstanding rap verses. Great work, man.

Pigfarmer Jr - Cold enough... That's interesting. Cool lead guitar line between sections. Leaving the title unspoken is very effective.

Vom Vorton - I like the whole Smiths vibe and the lift in the chorus swell is perfect. Also this was a welcoome change away from the theme for a moment. I'll take it.

Berkeley Social Scene - Heavy right out of gate -- cool! Love the rhythm. The doubled vocal and harmonies and great. Bass break! Solo is hot. Great stuff!

Escapegoat - That breathy gothic filter-cut vocal is eerie. Like the strings. Spoken word bot offsets well. Adds another range to this fight. Well done.

Blind Mime Ensemble - me

The Pannacotta Army - keyboards are cool, vocals cool. Oh, wow, that first break. Second verse adds some really nice synth lines. Really good. I like the understated vibe. And I just noticed the guitar - love it. I really like this one.

The Sewer People - who's the terrorist -- great line and hook. Love the frantic vocal. Lots of energy. Thick riff. Great bridge leading to the siren break. Another great track.

Brown Word and the Big Whine - Immediately like the synth saws. Wow! That's an awesome vocal chorus. Love the unusual harmonies and melody. Very fantastic.

IRC USM - Great riff. Strong nods to Rage and Beasties and others, nailing that tribute. Love it.

AMERIKKA THE GREAT - Heavy looped chanted bootstep march. I can feel this one sptting into the megaphone. Salute.

Balls to Monte - Excellent lyric. Love how this leads into the chorus climax. All the world's insanity indeed.

Stacking Theory - Reminds me of VU and Psychocandy. Love everything about this one. Great lyric. Laid back and euphoric. Wonderful bridge. Man, this is a great track!

ShoehornTC - "The stupid things we say" is probably the smartest thing that can be said. Seemed to certainly culminate in recent events. Another great lyric. Another cool track.

Lunkhead - Love the arrangement. Perfectly blended. Ooh, nice vocal. The melody is stellar; crazy good. Revolving. Jeez, this is way way goodness to my ears.

[rkennett]

PANALOPY - Another strong entry, this time pushing counter to the grain. I hope that was unintentionally innocent.

blindmime, I don't know what you are saying. what do you mean?

[robynmackenzie]

Robyn Mackenzie - Immediately after listening to this I searched for more and added the Wild Heart album to my library. This track is sublime. I love the vocals. The chorus is beautiful. What a hook. Very special.

Well gawrsh, thanks!

[Lunkhead]

IRC USM nailing that Rage Against the Machine vibe. Love it!

[Mike Lamb]

IRC USM - This reminds me of going to Hot Topic in the early 2000s. The vocals are really well delivered with just the right amount of aggression. Would have liked it to be a little longer.

I'm really not entirely sure how to take this Hot Topic comment!

[blindmime]

PANALOPY - Another strong entry, this time pushing counter to the grain. I hope that was unintentionally innocent.

blindmime, I don't know what you are saying. what do you mean?

Sorry. Strike the last sentence. It was from a different review. My brain's a little rusty.