This Fight We'll Say... (This Week We'll See reviews)

[Caravan Ray]

Give Our Regards (and so on):
You win my prestigious award this week for "Best Mixed Vocals"; the lead, left-panned backing vocals, and guitars are mixed very well; the right-panned backing vocals are a little quiet, perhaps, in the bridge; I know they're only backing lyrics and you have two other vocal tracks playing over it, but even listening for them, I couldn't make the lyrics out. The bass is perhaps a tiny bit too quiet for my tastes, as it's fun to listen to.

Finally, your drums are just terrible. Sorry. They're way too quiet, so much so that - aside from the cymbals - they're almost inaudible. The snare just lacks any punch, which is a necessity in punk-rock tracks like this. The kick has a lot of beater/attack, but nothing else, which makes it sound hollow and weak. When using sequenced drums, you really want to take the extra time to play around with the velocities of each snare and hi-hat trigger: it can make the track sound a lot more realistic and can help alleviate the 'machine gun effect,' which is especially noticeable in your snare fills/rolls.

Thanks. They are excellent comments.

I always have problem with bass - because I mix in headphones. Yeah...I know...I shouldn't

Good to know I my vox and gtr are OK - I have spent a lot of time trying to improve that in my recording over the past year or so.

Now to start work on that drum stuff. The drums are a complete dark art to me. Generally - I don't touch them at all - that is just how they come out of the AppleloopTM box, then they get an Ozone preset put over them with everything else. Time I gave them a bit more attention. Thanks again.

[g_rock]

might indeed minimize this operator's fatigue and discomfort.

That's probably made it less clear, right?

j$

No i get it. Thanks for the feedback man.

[g_rock]

I was immensely bored by the plug-and-chug i-i-V4/2-V7 that was played almost entirely without reprieve.

With the exception of the midi piano (*ahem*), the mixing on this track is very good. And I absolutely love the guitar part.

thanks for the feedback. Really appreciate it.
There really isnt any mixing it just through the pa as I play with a looper and record pre-pa. The setup is also why I get occasional feedback. As for the lazy piano part it is just a function of what the song is built around on the looper.

[ILB]

Intentionally Left Blank:
Right off the bat, your mix is very... lacking in bass. The drums sound washed-out and weak; there's no oomph in the kick, and there's so much reverb on the snare and toms that it sounds like it's my next door neighbor playing in his garage. The acoustic guitar dominates the left channel, but it isn't balanced out by anything else: meaning that the whole mix, for most of the track; is very left-heavy; the vocals are, comparatively, very quiet.

I feel that the verses would sound better with only one vocal track, rather than two: the timing is a little sloppy, and makes some of the words a little hard to make out. If you want to keep the double tracked vocals, at least in the chorus, then there should be some more harmonic interplay between them (counterpoint for you Bach fans); you don't need to go to The Beach Boys/The Beatles-level of vocal harmonies, but at the moment it's just octaves.

The strongest point of your entry, by far, is the outro, where you have reversed guitars playing over a mini guitar solo. This part I really enjoyed. (I enjoyed the whole song, but the guitar playing at the end was where it really shone.)

Thanks for the feedback! The mix was late at night and there just wasn't anything to do about that. I started a new job last week and I can't do all nighters anymore

The acoustic is overbearing and drowns out the rest, throwing it off balance as you noted. I sort of liked the heavy reverbed drums but perhaps it needs to be notched back a bit. We're recording in a rehearsal studio and the noise off their board is tremendous, so I kept the drums down a bit. But I'm fighting buzzes and other crap so much I may lug my own board in this week. Eventually I'll buy an eight channel interface and have each drum mic and guitar on their own channel in Logic (dreams are coming true these days, so why not?)

The vocals are triple tracked, actually, for most of the song. Again, I needed to cover various limitations but it does loose punch and such. I will be trying to fix my lyric and vocal disabilities over the next few fights. Hopefully Sanjaya will contribute to the therapy.

Reversed guitars? Oh yeah, reverse gate on the Frippish thing. I had to listen to remind myself what happens there. I left the solo sort of messy where the drums break down and then it comes together in the last 8. Again...following the drums' lead

[ILB]

G Rock - I think something corrupted the files when I downloaded them, so I'll review you again. Sorry for the diss and confusion.

[Caravan Ray]

Berkeley Social Scene

Who is BSS?!? I thought it had something to do with Ken and Sam. This is dull music with a crap singer.Whoever you are - fuck off and stop it.


Give Our Regards To The Earth's Core
This is me. I am a fucking genius.


TRJones
Your are more genius than me.

This is the only song worth voting for this week.
Shame the vox sound a little hollow in my headphones
Otherwise...awesome.

Banana Dan
Fuck off


grock
There is a lot good about this. You are from my school of guitar playing! I like that!! And echo!! I am liking this more and more. Stop mumbling. I want to love this - but I can't if you mumble. I like this a lot - because it sounds a bit like me - but I am a better singer than you are. Let's get together and take over the world! Good work.

Intentionally Left Bank
I am excited by your beehives. The song...not so much.


Hortus Ortus
I dunno - I just didn't like it.
The groove is cool. the vocals are boring as bat shit.
Sounds like my embarrassing uncle singing along to a drum machine.

Tyler Zahnke
No. Fuck off.

Foobar
No. Weird accents and cheesy lyrics that did not evolve into a joke. Why bother?

Vote for TRJones and Grock. And GORTTEC

[Hoblit]

The Tydon Docks: (Give Our Regards To The Earth's Core) You're getting my vote this week. This is an excellent tune. It's full of energy and it even inspired my Come Out entry to a degree. I love the lyrics and the execution of this song. I don't know what else to say but that it really gets me into it. Lot of fun stuff going on here. Good vocals and while the guitar isn't blistering, it is still punky. I know part of my love for this piece is the gang vocals. I've always been a sucker for gang vocals. Great work!

Grock: I like yours pretty good too. I like the creepy vibe in the music matched by the mysterious vocals. Good song in a pretty good production. Just wanted to let you know.

Foobar: You did a good job and I do like the crunchy guitar bits in there. In the stabs and when they ring out as well. This is a quality entry and I really dig that sweet echo vibe. It says 'good night' for me.

Berkley: I like parts of this, especially the vocals. But it's also the vocals that I don't like. I think this a really good unfinished song. I know that time limits might have gotten you on this one. I just wanted to chime in that I heard potential in this.

Hortusortus: I hear a good song down there. I'm looking forward to hearing more from you. You seem to have a really good voice and a nice handle on that slow funk. Reminds me of the 70's but with all of the modern style. I think the vocals are strong enough to be mixed a little higher but it stands on its own pretty good anyway. I like that guitar quite a bit.

ILB: This is pretty good. I like how off the wall it is. There is a voice in there that sounds familiar to me outside of your own. I might be out of the loop but it sounds a little like that Blind Mime fella'. This is a really good freaky song and again reminds me of Zappa.

I was not in this fight so I didn't feel obligated to comment on every song. I'll leave it at that. Thank you to everyone who participated though, that is what makes this whole thing great.

[BananaDan]

Banana Dan
Fuck off

You, sir, have a filthy mouth. What happened to the happy, go lucky attitude: "Fun, Fun, Fun in the Sun, Sun, Sun?"

I'm sorry to disappoint, but I can not take your advice; I will have a fresh, new tune you can hate next week!

[g_rock]

G Rock - I think something corrupted the files when I downloaded them, so I'll review you again. Sorry for the diss and confusion.

No Worries man
The feedback is why I'm here, good or bad, so whenever you get to it.

[g_rock]

TRJones are you just one dude or are you a band?
If you ever want some drums put down over your stuff id love to give it a try.
Really like your feel for music. Some here are really critical of your work but its the best Ive heard here...
g rock

[JakeDeLorey]

So out of loop. I'm back from Brazil, and I'm back from Barn Parties in Quebec. Time to get back on the review train, and eventually back on the composition train. Reviews first though.

Banana DanNice enough, but no vote when there are no lyrics to associate it to this weeks title. Theres not enough going on in this tune to keep my interest peaked. Would make some great Stock audio though.

Berkeley Social SceneFirst thing that comes to my head is muddy. The highs of the keyboard break it up a bit though. This doesnt strike me a BSS typical high quality recording. The Chord progression doesnt work for me. seems all over the place. All the pieces are there, but this was a tough one for me.

FoobarGood overall sound. I would approach the "kick in" a little differently. It could have been more distinct, but the drums sort of break up what could have been a good change of dynamics. Distorted Guitar is a smidge thing, and could stand to be double tracked or have a bit of stereo delay added to thiken it up a bit. Overall not a bad tune, just lacking a bit on the dynamics. Thye are there, I just feel they could be highlighted a bit differently.

Give Our Regards To The Earth's CoreLove the band name, oooooh wait. That voice sounds like Caravan Ray. Without my cheat sheet I'm going to say it is another one of his alias' or colaboration. Regardless. Really dig this tune. A more then appropriate vocal approach to this song. Great lyrics. Would love to hear a smidge more on the Gang vocal approach, also a bit more on the guitar. looking for a bit more oomph for this classic punk tune. VOTE

grock This is an earworm. The guitar hook is right up my ally, and when that extra sonic fidelity comes in at the 1:36 mark, I get a the goose pimples. The Vocals are low in the mix, and get lost, but the staedy beat with that guitar hook stays as hookalicious as can be. The solo starts off strong, but has a few wonks that could have been fixed up. Very Nice submission. VOTE

Hortus OrtusEverything seems a bit quiet in this mix. Its a riff rocker, but I find it drags a bit. Maybe pick up the tempo just a bit. To groggy. Decent vocals, and nice to hear the back up singers. Thin and chuggy though. Concept is there though, well constructed tune, all the elements are there. Just a bit of work on the production.

Intentionally Left Bank Like the sound of this mix. Not really my style of tune, but everything is chisled out nicely sonically. Its like Progressive Folk. SHort and interesting. Possible vote if it had set a little nicer on my musical pallet.

TRJonesstarting off like a Jones tune. You have a distinct style to say the least. The Lyrics dont really sit nice in this tune, seems rushed or just thrown in. Like your stuff, but this one could flow nicer for me.

Tyler Zahnke8) not a vote, but a smile. I feel like I'm listening to The Dead Milkmen.

[mc3p0]

Toothache makes work.. out of everything, so I listened through twice and reviewed in no particular order:
Berkley Social Scene - inventive, creative use of punky vocals.
Give Our Regards To The Earth's Core - "fat coppers ain't as fast as us" Haha, awkward Droogressive rock.
TRJones - well-spoken. I like the idea of over-processing your vocals. The guitar crashes over that bassline is hypnotic.
Banana Dan - trap drum set with that patent 80's rising synth is sweet creamy nostalgia like green chili macaroni.
grock - you and TRJones are in-synch regarding themes. The gorgeous vocals are a too quiet in the mix.
bIntentionally Left Blank - rocking chums! Quite a contender.
Hortus Ortus - daytime jam dripping up my Julian Lennon.
Tyler Zahnke - I'm guessing here, but you're merely one showtune short of a Songfight Bollywood concept "film", correct?:]
Foobar - I like the dreamy part against your purposefully de-tuned vocals breakfast POW!

[Caravan Ray]

Excellent.

I have just won my first ever fight.

"Caravan Ray" remains win free after 65 entries.
But now G.O.R.T.T.E.C is 1 from 5!

[Hoblit]

Excellent.

I have just won my first ever fight.

"Caravan Ray" remains win free after 65 entries.
But now G.O.R.T.T.E.C is 1 from 5!

PR is everything!

[Billy's Little Trip]

I have just won my first ever fight.

Congrats! And I'm surprised it's only your first, you tend to make pretty great music.

[Hoblit]

I have just won my first ever fight.

Congrats! And I'm surprised it's only your first, you tend to make pretty great music.

I've only won ONE fight and it was my first. While it was a pretty good fight, I think I got a lot of support from (inadvertent) 'friend flooding'.

The only other time I won a fight, was with the help of Leaf, a drummer who collaborated with me. We entered as Leablit.

It's a total crap shoot!

We are definitely not in it to win it, we stay to play!

[Caravan Ray]

Give Our Regards To The Earth's Core - "fat coppers ain't as fast as us" Haha, awkward Droogressive rock.

"Droogressive"?!?

Is that a Clockwork Orange reference? If so - well done. Very appropriate.

[RangerDenni]

GORTTEC/CRay

yay! Congrats

[g_rock]

Hey good job Caravan Ray!
Your song was done well and easy to like.
From what ive heard, your songs usually come out sounding polished (more so than most).

[mc3p0]

Give Our Regards To The Earth's Core - "fat coppers ain't as fast as us" Haha, awkward Droogressive rock.

"Droogressive"?!?

Is that a Clockwork Orange reference? If so - well done. Very appropriate.

I figured it's what the Droogs might listen to at a blanket picnic while violating dairy products. Your accent and lyrics seem very chipper yet malcontent, especially compared to entry like grock's suicide note.:] This fight has a lot of variety, and so many approaches, productions, and cool vocalists, and making the lyrics into melody it's only a matter of time until Simon Cowell figures a way to profit from this mass of musical energy.

Excellent win!