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Good first 0:20, intriguing. The vocals are cool, kind of an unusual style. The backing track is a little bit monotonous for my taste, wish some of the elements from the guitar solo came in sooner. Ending was too abrupt for my taste, too. But cool track overall.
Balance Lost
Another strong intro, don't like the verse as much. Nice clean stereo field. Lots of going on, makes it a little hard to hear the lyrics at times. Solo is more dissonant than my taste, would have like a sweeter resolution. There is a lot to like here. What's the song about? It's leaving me a little empty.
Berkeley Social Scene
There must be something wrong with my system or the file, because I hear nothing. The track correctly lists as 2:27 long, but I hear no sound when it plays.
Big Matt Hyatt and his Rusty Red Riders
Comedy gold. Well, bronze at least.
Boffo Yux Dudes
Lot of interesting lyrical ideas (although can't endorse the use of "caboose"). Vocals are inconsistent, mix is very soft. The whole thing is just a little slow to me. I wonder what would happen if the drums and tempo were both cranked up a bunch. By 2:30 I was definitely losing interest.
Caravan Ray
Nice hook, nice mix right away. I like the meter and timing of the verse. Chorus isn't as much fun to me. There's just a great groove that runs through this whole track. I like the cold restart at 1:40.
Chiron Return
Piano sounds thin, but I like the performance. Vocals are hard to hear, especially in the chorus I can't make out the lyrics. But the performance seems really fantastic, especially the first verse. Strong emotion coming through, which I appreciate. After the break 2:42, the vocals are a lot easier to hear. I think it maybe the overactive drum part that's drowning them out elsewhere. By 3:20 it's starting to seem a little long. The precision in the vocals seems like it's slipping by 3:50, now it's turning me off. On my monitors, the music sounds all bunched up in the middle of the sound field. It's like the vocals and all the instruments are all sitting on top of each other right in front of me. I think this track has a lot of potential, with some more mixing and editing, it could be a solid pop song.
c.layne
I like the vocal texture right away. Mixes really well with the understated guitar. Louder guitar part sounds good, although maybe slightly out of tune? Sleepy vibe, I keep expecting a faster or more intense contrasting section. By 2:40 I'm starting to get fatigued. The guitar solo rescues me, though. That part sounds great, especially right when it comes in. Falters a bit right at 3:20. Really like the returning chorus at 3:40.
Codpeace
OK, let's go. Hardcore start. Not my favorite genre, but well executed. I don't think the vocals live up to the quality of the guitar parts, or the seriousness of the sound. Oh, gross. Nevermind.
DJ Ranger Den
Spooky. Feels like background music for an artsy film noir.
Flvxxvm Florvm
Catchy start, tapping toes already. Keep waiting for the song to start. As an instrumental, this is good. I like the different sections with slightly different themes, could be the overture to something cool.
Foobar
This is me. Had to split my 24 hrs over two days, so not sure that counts for the optional challenge. Still I was glad to try something up tempo and I like how this one turned out. Can't wait to hear what others think. I'd love advice for how to prevent the vocals from taking on that scratchy quality. I tried a lot of different things, but everything seemed to make it worse.
Frontalittle Squad
Reminds me of "I'll Form the Head" a bit. Vocals are too soft, though, so it's hard to hear all the lyrics on my monitors. I like the drop out at 2:10, would like more of that.
Glad Baggage
Classic sound. I gotta learn how to do that. Anyway, back to your song. I can't find a level to listen where I can make out the vocals comfortably. Either they are too soft or the main guitar part is painfully loud. No idea what this song is about, but seems like you're having a rocking good time.
glennny
LOL feels like there's no way to have come up with these lyrics unless you've lived through it. Funny. I guess it's kind of derivative and too aware of itself. Other than that, I like it. Especially the little jazz breaks. Kind of wish it ended at the awesome trumpet solo. Overall, very enjoyable.
The Grammys
Free drugs? I don't understand, but nice guitar sound and performance.
grock
You're dangerous with digital tools. This is great all around. I really love the repeating motif and the bass groove. Vocal parts are great, could be a tad louder, as they get a bit washed out as the track gets louder. Love the contrasting sections. Very menacing vibe. Good separation between the guitar parts, too. Love it, worth a second listen. Hope you'll post lyrics.
The Hand Formula
Tiny echoes of the opening bits of The Wall, and I kept expecting the big reveal that never came.
HIJ$KM
Another track that reads as blank to me (although still a 2:26 length mp3 file). Anyone seen a bug like that before?
Hoblit
Like the retro 80s feel. If the Police had a cameo, it wouldn't seem strange. Lost me at the loud part, though. It's not that I don't like the idea of it, it's just so muddy that I can't hear any of the parts anymore. The second loud section is clearer. Not sure if that's just that I'm used to it or if it's mixed differently. Vocals are more wobbly here, too. I like the "nothing ever goes as it's supposed to" bit a lot.
James Owens
If you use the Napalm clip, you really have to live up to that expectation. Let's see... OK, I like this a lot, but I want more punch. More monster drums, maybe a little faster tempo too. I'm not sure what to suggest, but I think this could use more energy. The vocals sound great, and I like the song itself. Each section is strong, too. It's just a little mellow for the lyrics. I keep feeling like the song it going to break through this appetizer at any moment. Even the cool little outtro last few seconds could be way way way amped up and I think it would be really great. There's a good song in here somewhere, but where's the Apocalypse?
Jim Tyrrell and the Summiteers
Choral was unexpected. This is cool. Great 40 second buildup. Applause from me, too. I am trying to work out the chords and melody for this, sounds like A harmonic minor. Is that possible?
Ken's Super Duper Band 'n Stuff
Another MP3 that plays without sound for me (length 1:44).
Level Nivelo
Production issues aside, I like the song. Starts to fall apart around 1:35.
The Magnetic Letters
LOL. I shouldn't like this, but I do. More history lessons like this, please.
Micah Sommersmith
I like the intro. Melancholy and direct. Well mixed, performed, and composed. I have nothing to add except I enjoyed it immensely.
New Image
Vocals are strong and clear. I'm not in love with the guitar parts, but that may just be a style thing. The bridge section around 1:30 doesn't work for me. I think the vocals just don't stay as strong. I wish I had something more helpful to say, but I'm not sure what to suggest. This doesn't float my boat but I can see how someone else might like it.
Niveous
Dark and sinister. Vocals fade in and out for me, I think the synth part maybe what's fighting with it, at least on my monitors.
Paco del Stinko
Musical theater. This could be an opening number on broadway. I don't know what else to say, packs plenty of sonic punch, fun to listen to.
Political Suicide
Intro feels very familiar, but I can't quite place the reference. Lots of bass ringing in my room; not sure if that's my setup or the recording. It forces me to turn it down more than I'd like. Guitar solo sounds like it's being played through a kazoo. I'm sort of getting the idea behind the lyrics, but the details are kind of confusing.
Rio Mondo
Lots of good stuff in here. I have to admit I wish it was just warm up for a "real song" using that material instead of a descent into silliness. But what's there is pretty funny.
Ross Durand
Epic use of the word puce. Nice simple straightforward chord progression, good energy, good buildup. Worth a second listen. Guitar solo sounds a little thin, compared the guitar tone throughout the rest of the track. Unlike most of the other tracks this week, the vocals are crystal clear and crisp so I can make out every word. But I'm still not sure I get the lyrics. It's definitely a lot of fun, I just wish I could figure out a little more. Still, great song.
Ryan Dawson
Sad and very beautiful. I hope nothing like this has actually happened to you. Everything is just a tad quiet, I wish the levels were a little higher, especially for the backing parts like the piano (if indeed that's what it is, I can't quite tell). This is a thoroughly enjoyable song, well performed and written. I hope you re-record it and ditch the phrase "art bomb" because this song deserves better than this challenge, IMHO.
Schlimminy Cricket
Of all the tracks so far, this has the clearest, thickest vocals. Well done. Space kazoo sounds great, too. Good song, another one I wish I could unpack a little more. What is the art bomb? I'm dying to know. Simple chords rocking back and forth, very soothing. Like.
Scott Gesser
I like the stripped down arrangement. Everything is nicely separated and each hit and note is interesting. At least until 1:30, anyway. The lo-fi vocals are pretty distracting, but it does kind of go with the vibe. There's just not enough here to keep my interest past about 2:00. If I wasn't reviewing, I'd have stopped. I really like the verse and the prechorus, but the chorus is a let down to me. Somehow there's not that much emotional impact. I am trying to be more specific or make some kind of suggestion, but I don't have anything to offer. My favorite parts are the xylophone octaves in the verse and the simple alternating bass hits in the prechorus (after "secretive" and "spots" etc).
tentillum
Ready for the song to start around 1:00. This would be a great lead in or intro, but is that all there is? OK, going with instrumental. There's actually a surprising amount of storytelling you've been able to pack in with each section.
Tokyo Expressway
I like the opening, high energy and promises a lot of fun. I like the minor transition at 0:30 too. Now my expectations are getting higher and higher. Kind of falls down a bit right around 0:45 and again around 1:00. The guitar performance is slightly inconsistent, and the horn was cool the way it was mixed at first, but now I'm just having trouble hearing it. I'm now resigned to an all-instrumental track, which is too bad because I think the first 30 seconds was a great lead-in to a classic rock type song. Now it feels like an introduction repeated over and over again with hard-to-make out sound effects in the background. I like the new riff at 2:30, would have liked to hear that sooner to break up the monotony. And not to be rude, but some of the bomb sound effects sound like to me like a toilet flushing. Unless that's the effect you're going for...
Tyler Zahnke
Electronica ren faire. Good idea. The lead instrument (not sure what is) sounds kind of thin to me, compared to the lush texture behind. When the piano kicks in I had a Legend of Zelda moment. This could easily be a cut scene from a game like that. I was with you through 1:10, but now it just seems kind of all over the place. My ears are actually starting to hurt, I am not exaggerating for effect. There's something about all those sounds bunching up in the same frequencies that I am finding phyiscally painful. I am determined to stay through to the end, but I can't say I am having a very good time. I did laugh at the "shave and a haircut" ending.
Wages
The intro confused me. The "radio voice" was quite hard to hear compared to the guitar, and it seemed at moments like there was another guitar poking in and dropping out but I am not sure what I was hearing. Once the song gets going, it's good. I like the multiple voices at the chorus. Good guitar tone, too. Is one of the voices not in sync with the others? Or is that an echo effect? There are a lot of little distractions in this song that are confusing me. I'm realizing that now I haven't really heard the song because I'm so focused on figuring on what's going on. What's the song about? I can only make out some of the phrases, like "middle of the temple" but others are just too hard to distinguish. I like the loooooong saaaaaaay towards the end. Overall, a confusing but mostly enjoyable three minutes.
WreckdoM
This is just not up my alley. It's kind of in a no-mans-land between straight rock (in which case it is too dark and dissonant) and a Nick Cave "red right hand" kind of track (in which case it is too mellow and laid back). Does that make any sense? I almost had to turn it off at 2:20, but decided to persevere for the sake of the review. In terms of production, it feels on my monitors like the whole band is standing at exactly the same spot just slightly left of center - drums and vocals and everything. I think it'd help to have some separation. The drums sound like they were well performed but the sound is like they are in a warehouse next door to the band - way way way far away. At least that how it sounds to me.