You're Just Standing In (I'm Outstanding Reviews)

[erik]

It's official... I'm awesome.

Now, reviews.

[No Horse Town]

Wow, almost all of them are good! This is the best fight I've been witness to. It's... (sigh) outstanding.

[Æpplês&vØdkã]

The Styop Quoons Experience - The style of the track is really cool. Self-referential commentary on the song structure. Reminds me of stuff by this guy from Knoxville named Hector Quirko. Except the lyrics completely detract from the song. It's non-sensical rambling crammed with constant references to balls. I don't like that. No mas.

Abominominous - Not very much high end here, and everything sounds just a little bit gushy. I dig the metallic edge though, delightfully all over the place. The crazy ambient sounds in the background add an interesting touch. Kind of lo-fi, methinks. It's songfight, and is usually that way. Musically very solid here. Ooh, digging the drum break. Exquisite there. I'm certainly not used to hearing instrumentals on here, and its a nice touch. I suppose I could get the relation to the theme though. You're outstanding?

Sven Mullet - The way that the vocals are mixed with the effects and all is kind of nauseating. I have a little bit of trouble focusing on what exactly the words are. With a completely different recording and mastering, I might really like this song. This reminds me of an upside-down cake that's been put upsidedown. Technically, everything's in its right place, but it just doesn't seem right. I really like the music break after the vocals stop a little after halfway through. Doesn't really do much for me otherwise though.

Enter it in the art show - Muffled. Where is the treble? Hmm. The song doesn't actually sound that bad at all, I just think that this sounds kind of like it was recorded from inside of a uterus. Except instead of a microphone there's a baby. And the microphone doesn't get messed up by extreme moisture. I guess I kind of like the song though. Doesn't stand out to me.

The Weakest Suit - Kind of reminds me of 1998 for reasons I can't explain. Back in the days when businesses were just beginning to start adding .com to the end of everything that could possibly be dot-commed, the U.S. President was screwing an intern, and kids everywhere were obcessed with this new game called Pokemon. Wait, they still are. Actually, I still enjoy pokemon kind of. Everything sounds kind of flat, and theres something about the way that the vocals sound that just kind of irks me. Pass.

i'll be back

[Smalltown Mike]

I wish that Stopwatcher track had cleaner vocals, because I find the fuzz distracting. But cool that Shaq O'Neill submitted a track. I think he's the most famous fighter we've had yet. Cough.

[Märk]

Sven Mullet - Stuff about bad vox and mixing

Yeah, I know, right? I'm outstanding at recording a perfectly good song, then ruining it by singing on it. And then I try to fix it in the mix. And then I realise it's 3 am, I have to work at 6, and I can't go back and fix anything, so I just submit it anyway. Maybe I'll do a remix and post it somewhere. T4TR.

[edit] I just listened to my song again with fresh ears... holy god this is terrible

[City of Dis]

here are the thoughts from Level 6:

City of Dis - It sounds like you're gonna injure the speakers. Or that you may have already injured a microphone... I like the way it sounds, though. Very odd.

Shaq Diesel - Very nice. Excellent beat. Good flow. Perfect levels.

Four Zombies and a Clown - Hmmm. Good music. However, people (I would wager) will gripe about the 'interpretation of the title'. I think it's perfectly fine. And the length is exactly right for this piece.

Ill Cricket Crew - Very good play between the vox and b-b-beat! I enjoyed this.

The Styop Quoons Experience - This is absolutely the most awesome thing Anthony Daniels has ever done. Nice '8-bit' melody there. Oh, shit... even better pianism. Self-reference (bridge) is FUCKING GREAT, GODDAMMIT!!! The Funk has overwhelmed me as well, my friend.

Nigel Clements - This is ok. Sorta. I understand that the vocals are off on purpose (right?). I enjoy the odd idiophone bit. Yeah, this song is ok.

Brainpipe - You like Mike Patton, don't you?

Pathetic Octothorpe - I want candy, too. But this is still shit. A [g]un, a [k]nife, a scrap of [w]ire: Please choose one now _?

No Horse Town - Wow. Good and poppy. Well played dark movements. Kinda... funny? Nice.

Sven Mullet - Good (and at first confusing) use of 6/4. Thinking it was going on too long, 'til the bit about "a million" and "here and now". Well done.

Stopwatcher - Honestly, you should send a demo to Jared Leto. I bet he'd do an album with you. The whole "T-minus" bit is corny as hell, but you break it down very well all the same. I like the beat on the last chorus. Favorite part of the song. That and the last note.

sunshine jackson and the temple of the righteous beach party - Voice bugs the crap out of me from the first note. Distractingly so. This song completely cripples my ability to think properly. I'm seriously contemplating stopping it before it finishes, but I have an ethic to maintain...

Melvin - I feel the vocals could be better served with a different style. But that's just me. Decent pop chorus. I like the second verse, except where you pronounce 'retard' like 'ritard'. Oh, well... The solo's alright. Kinda Weezer-y, overall.

Flvxxvm Florvm - The album Paranoid by Black Sabbath was 'originally' going to be entitled War Pigs, thus the sword-wielding pig on the cover. The song "Paranoid" was recorded as a filler track. To the band's surprise, the record label retitled the album and used the song as the single.

Enter It In The Art Show - I liked the riff until the rhythm guitar came in. It murders the appeal of the "guitar-in-a-can" tone. And then it goes on for too long. There are vocals in this song. 'Problem' doesn't have 3 syllables. I feel this song shouldn't really have 3 syllables, either...

PiGPEN - Lyrical delivery isn't really phrased poetically, at all. Boring.

Rone Rivendale - This is SWEET. *tear* Now, if you retune your guitar, you can play the same thing, but it will BE A DIFFERENT SONG!!! Isn't that awesome!

The Weakest Suit - I like the drive of this song, but not really much else. It isn't bad, though. Actually, I kinda like the delivery of the title. That, and the drive. Though, I feel it's a bit long.

Abominominous - This is good, but begs the question: Did you write this based on the title, or did you just tack the title onto something that you had already written? I have ABSOLUTELY no qualms with instrumentals, and I mean no accusation. But, I'd be interested in the answer...

That is all.

[Trip]

Styop Awesome. Rad robotic hubris. What can i say, i dig.

Diesel Power Holy shit! Really! What do you use for your production? Tight, smooth early 90's socal feel. If you slipped this piece in a mix of some pharcyde, de la, and tribe i'd never bat an eye. That good. Better that anything shaq's ever actually done musically.

Ill crew interesting and funny. Only thing is, sounds like you got a couple of cats rhyming, but I can't tell. The voices are quite similar. b-b-b-baby was fantastic!

No Horse Town love the lyrics. very minimal. Total pop gold on the chorus. And the end! awesome.

[Phil. Redmon.]

Diesel Power Holy shit! Really! What do you use for your production? Tight, smooth early 90's socal feel. If you slipped this piece in a mix of some pharcyde, de la, and tribe i'd never bat an eye. That good. Better that anything shaq's ever actually done musically.

Ha, joke's on you. Some clown sent in a Shaq song. Nobody caught it. Google it on up and you'll see, in fact, that this is exactly as good as anything shaq has done musically.

Abominominous - This is good, but begs the question: Did you write this based on the title, or did you just tack the title onto something that you had already written? I have ABSOLUTELY no qualms with instrumentals, and I mean no accusation. But, I'd be interested in the answer...

Yeah, man, that's all friday and saturday right there. Written for the title, etc. Thanks for noticing it is good.

[jeff robertson]

Ha, joke's on you. Some clown sent in a Shaq song. Nobody caught it. Google it on up and you'll see, in fact, that this is exactly as good as anything shaq has done musically.

I assumed it was the fightmasters messing with us all.

[phetal]

Only one review needs to be done...


Shaq Diesel -
yes, yes you ARE

[No Horse Town]

Weirdly, when held up against a lot of modern rappers, Shaq isn't half-bad. I know, he had 15 years.. instead of a week or so.. to submit this, but I think we should all vote for him anyway. Let's not stop at the voting, either; we should focus this entire thread on the Shaq song. Are ya with me, brothers?! That "pump up my Shaq Shoe" line is hee-larious... no, Shaq-a-docius! (I checked out some of his other stuff: it's mediocre in quality but hella funny. Basketballems! Extra-tallems! He has like 4 other albums, too. I can't wait!)

Shaqfully yours,
NHT

(and no, it wasn't me)

[Spud]

A certain entry has been removed from the fight.

[No Horse Town]

ok, I had some stupid rule where I wasn't gonna review fights I'm in,
but what the hell, I'm drunk, and I really love this fight, so fuckit!:

Sunshine Jackson whatever: this is wonderful. "singing ooh-ah-ooh-ah"-oh! I fuckin' love this. STANDING IN THE RAIN!!!! (sob sob) It's so gloriously sissy. Supply-demanding, that's a cheap one, I love it. Beautiful. I wish I was your bridey-didey-oh. Not really. I love my girlfriend. But I love this too.

Pathetic Octothorpe: you coulda done more with it, but this is really fun. You must have had even more fun recording it. Braaaaaiiiiinnnnn.... mhm. It's not that good really, but fun for what it is.

Flxvvm Florvm: damn, I've liked everything I've heard from Flxxvm Florvm. The vocals are a little sloppy, but what the fuck do I care about that?! It adds character. I danced to this song. Fun fun fun.

Rone Rivendale: you're right man, you will get better. You've got bigger balls than Mr. Quoons. Technically, this is pretty bad, and you know it, but it's hella cute. By the way, there is nothing wrong with computerized guitar, but I'm glad you're glad about th'real thing.

Pigpen: Ahhhh, this is groovy. The voice needs some work, I wish I was singing this. Wait, I am. But not on the recording - I should be. This needs me on the vocals. Big ol' me. Yeah. The music is great and unpretentious.

Brainpipe: oh yeah, so awesomely dirty, I'm glad you're singing it low. I could try to criticize the music, but honestly, I think it's perfect. Ends just in time. Super cool.

Nigel Clements: this Jesus Christ thing is off-putting, but you have a weird take on it that makes it all cool. I love your fucking voice (tho I love the Cynthia stuff more). I think it kinda drags a little in parts... but it always picks back up. Which totally works with the song.

No Horse Town (me!): I dunno. I really like it, but usually y'all don't. Let's see what happens. I had to rush the lyrics/singing at the end becuz of partyin'-at-my-house issues. After a few listens, I don't care, I think it works OK. I put a lot of work into the music, if not the singing... oh well. I think it's pretty awesome. I know the production's not ideal, but I'm rather proud of my composition on this one, and I might vote for me.

City Of Dis: I enjoy this, but you are destroying my eardrums, man. I think you shoulda made those vocals quieter. I can barely hear the weird-ass music. This needs a better mix more than any song of mine ever did. I dunno, I still like it (but, great job!..), but you only have yourself to blame for other people not "getting it". Sorry.

Abominominous: super fun. It would be really hard to pick this apart, so I won't try (I am lazy). But yeah, it was a fun thrashy time. Since I can't vote for Shaq anymore, I might vote for this.

Four Zombies and a Clown: that static is horrible, like, horrible, like, it hurts. (I started listening through headphones like th'rest of you fuckers!) I like the guitar riff, and I like the length, but I think you shoulda done more with it.

Sven Mullet: The endlessly repeating 1st verse thing is perfect, everything I love. AHHHHHHHH, and the instrumental stuff after it just makes it better. I guess technically you coulda recorded the vocals a little better.. (cleaner? maybe, I dunno..) but in the end that doesn't really matter. Possible/probable vote-a-roo.

Styop Quoons: damn, I wish I wouldn't die from sucking on your balls, because they sound mighty tasty. I really like the whimsical piano solo. The very nice bridge. You ARE funky, Mr. Quoons. I think you submitted one song before this...? I seem to remember I didn't like it. I'll have to go back and figure out why. Cuz this is awesome.

Stopwatcher: a little modern-emo for my tastes, but you do it really well. I like this better than Nine Inch Nails (well, I don't really like Nine Inch Nails, but, yeah, there's some similarity..) I wish it didn't repeat so many times. But it's pretty good.

The Weakest Suit: I thought you said you were doing the acoustic thing again?... oh, I get it, you were joking. Weirdly, the vocals remind me of Ben Weasel. That's prolly not a very apt comparison, but hey, I'm honest. I like all the parts. I love on the "take me to court" part, how you do the exact opposite of the expected guitar solo. Fuck guitar solos, if you don't need one! This is outstanding. You should do more songs like this. I liked most of your "G&G" stuff, but I like this more.

Enter It In The Art Show: OK, that first part would really bug me if it wasn't so raw. The low-finess of this is breaking my heart. Maybe I'm just drunk (true) but I love this. That fast lyrical part with "what it is that compels me, I know it's unhealthy" is superb. Your falsetto stuff is so good and cute. I don't like the "man, I'm such a jerk" thing, tho. Kinda breaks the groove. That may have been what you were going for, but I don't think it works. Otherwise, this was really pretty and somehow transcended a genre I usually hate.

Ill Cricket Crew: I don't really like the beastie boys. But parts of this are funny. Kinda sounds like "killing in the name of" when the title part comes in. The kid is cute. Songfighters, stop using kids to make songs cute! Yes, the b-b-b thing is the best part. I think overall it's OK.

Melvin: I love that shrill noise thing during the verse. This is my favorite Melvin so far. The chorus reminds me of "today" by the pumpkins. That's a very good thing. I'm not sure about the acoustic ending. I think maybe you shoulda taken it in the opposite direction. Still, this is really good.

I'm gonna vote for Sven Mullet or maybe Aboninominous or maybe maybe myself. Not sure yet. Excellent fight. You're all outstandishing.

[Nigel (spOOn) Clements]

Abominominous - Just a totally excellent instrumental, can't really get the connection to the title, but the track is 'outstanding' in many respects and it may just be as simple as that.... got a bit bored by 1:45 but good work nonetheless!

Brainpipe - Good creepy 80's bass intro, creepy vocals are a bit set back for my liking, but the main vocal line is much better, I guess the two voices work well together, nice simple instrumentation with some excellent fills, best bit is the robot echo attached to the creepy voice.

City of Dis - Cool angry stance would work better if the vocal line was broken up into two voices as Brainpipe above, the short length works well.

Enter It In The Art Show - Vocals need to stand out a little more, they sound a little frightened, this track has a very sub-weezer feel, I'd like to hear a meatier bass line, sounds a little thin in places! Lyrics passed me by completely.

Flvxxvm Florvm - Quite a decent little rocker, though I have to say I find the effect on the vocal to be really annoying, yes it's gives the track that extra something, but it's also rather distracting too.

Four Zombies and a Clown - If this was longer and dropped into some heavy trance dance track I'd vote for it, but this makes an excellent intro, shame there's no actual song attached.

Melvin - Really got a cool 'New Wave' vibe going the Melvin, not too sure on the weezer-esque choruses, but the beep beep verses are really cool, best so far though and current vote holder!

Nigel Clements - Through my ear buds and through my headphones, this doesn't sound that bad, a bit floaty a bit trippy, (instrumentally the idea was to give the impression that heaven was a bit like an acid trip), vocally I think I'm occassionally in tune, or at least somewhere near.... s'okay!

No Horse Town - Oooh that intro needs a piercing "ahhhh", bring those vocals up a touch, you've got some excellent lyrics here, but they're a little smothered, track's got a sub-pixies feel, which is always a good path to follow.

Pathetic Octothorpe - Funny a F**k 'specially the chorus section, with the trademark Octothorpe anti-harmonies! Terrific lyrics, quite possibly a vote!

PigPen - This has a slightly heavy 'Human League' feel, seriously try to sing the vocals in a 'Phil Oakey' way and you'll see what I mean, as it is the vocals are a little lightweight for the track, not altogether bad though!

Rone Rivendale - It's definately an improvement Rone, and as an example of your intent, it works well, as a song, maybe not so much, I'll treat this as a message and say well done, upstrokes would be the next obvious enhancement!

Shaquille O' Neal - Song removed... feh!

Stopwatcher - Yeah this is very good, though rather 'generic' and a touch repetative, maybe goes round once too many times.

Styop Quoons Experience - Fabulously freaky f**ked up fun!

Sunshine Jackson and the Temple of Righteous Beach Party - Great song, that's probably gonna get overlooked because of the production/execution as it doesn't have the meat that others do, but this is really very good!

Sven Mullet - As is this! vocals are a bit 'slurred' and difficult to catch completely, but musically this is 'jingle jangle creep city' just the right amount of shift-ability coupled with that slightly sinister edge, if M. Night Shyamalan wrote music it'd sound not dissimilar to this!

Weakest Suit - Falls into the dame category as Sunshine Jackson without the 'poppy' edge, it's good if a little floaty, and it tries very hard to approach 'Stone Roses' country without getting too close!

[Ross]

I have been remiss - So I will review and vote.

30 second screening reviews - if you pass that I’ll listen more

Melvin - this and Nur Ein!? - you piss me off. Your voice and style match so good - I always envy those that can find that pairing. Teh song is ehh - but it seems to be just what it meant to be - really good.

Pathetic Octothorpe - nice tribute to Bo diddley - extra points right there. how is this different than the presumably not pathetic octothorpe? Song only ok - moving on.

ICC - sounds like an amusing spoof of something I don’t care about.

Fluxxum etc... 30 seconds over

Stopwatcher - this better go up one more notch.very good!

Clubs - ooh, for these guitars you should be double tracking vox. some nice stuff but a little boring

Brainpipe - 30 second are over

Sven - pretty neat and out of the box - but a bit too much of the same after awhile - thanks for shredding - that’s what I was hoping for - do you ever do guest solos?

PiGPEN - cool - to bad you’ll get so much grief for your voice. If WreckdoM treated the same song they’d get rave reviews. Good job.

FZ&AC - 30 seconds are over.

City of Dis - 30 seconds are over. (is this oats?)

Enter it... - nice demo. too bad the recording is lacking so much. Nice writing. good song!

nigel - wow - that name as an artist - cool. nice track - your tunes still lose me. glad to hear you do this, though.

No Horse town - vox way to buried - 30 second have passed “goin to state?”

SQ experience - 30 seconds are over

Sunshine jackson, etc.... - ooh, tune the geetar. ahh the pun approach. I’m sure someone else has already told you to get a pop screen - nice tune instincts, nice voice.

Abom - what - abominominous? emerging from post -Ein hiatus? Wicked!!! Instrumental too long. oh, I see it is an instrumental - I buy it for the title - I just ke songs with lyrics better for this competition.

Rone - does everyone emerge when the Ein is on. I don’t like self conscious songs. practice without the tape running.

I think I’ll vote Stopwatcher.

It was kind f a drive-by - but I hope it is better than nothing.

[Spud]

how is this different than the presumably not pathetic octothorpe?

You may have noticed that there is a SongFight! contributor by the name of The Pathetic Wannabees. Believe it or not, that is Mad Dog's other band. When we collaborate on an entry, we use the name "Pathetic Octothorpe". This particular entry features one purebred PW - Jeffrey B. Williams, one purebred Octo - yours truly, and one mutt - Mad Dog.

Hope this clears that up. SPUD

presumably?

[Nigel (spOOn) Clements]

Going to have to go back over this one, think I missed the Ill Cricket Crew!?! give me a shout if I missed anybody else!!

[rone rivendale]

Ross, I'm not sure how I 'emerged' post Ein for this fight. I was in last week's fight as well. Even got a vote.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Rone: this isn't computerized guitar like normal, it's real live bad guitar playing.

[Ross]

Ross, I'm not sure how I 'emerged' post Ein for this fight. I was in last week's fight as well. Even got a vote.

I didn't say "post ein" and nur ein was going last week, too.

[Märk]

do you ever do guest solos?

Sure! PM me if you want some guitaring.

[Nigel (spOOn) Clements]

Ill Cricket Crew - Where is that cowbell line from?, s'really annoying that I can't place it, I remember you crickets from some of my early fights back in late '05 and I'm pleased that you still take your silly rap stance, somewhere left of the bloodhound gang! enjoyable track with all the right elements, strong enough to win? outside maybe!