ambient train ambient industry - by robots, about robots, for robots.
ben krieger - heh... "attention all planets of the solar federation, we have assumed control..". the echo on the vocals sounds like it would have been too expensive for somebody recording music in your basement with your keyboard in 1988, so it kills the illusion that the rest of the instruments have built up. i like all the singing except the word "California" which I can only assume is a deliberate reference to the phantom planet song.
dynamic rythm device - a finger snapping (if I knew how to snap my fingers) paranoid good time. funny because its true.
embers of autumn - are you really old enough to have watched "Challenge of the Superfriends" when you were a kid? that has nothing to do with the song, mostly just wondering about the average age of songfighters.
flvxxvm florvm - i admit i spent very, very little time on this. no, the guitars are not a loop; they're repetitive because i only wrote two riffs and just played them over and over again.
howling monkeys - that chord progression is very Beatles-y. i'm almost convinced it is a Beatles song. then again, entire genres have been founded on individual Beatles songs. are these vocals auto-tuned? I'm still learning how to "hear" things like autotune and the loudness war.
iron kids of canada - your song is tagged as being by "Milo II". are these real weather reports or did you make them from scratch?
king arthur - i agree with whoever said that a combination between you and Steve Durand would be unstoppable. one of the more accurate musical descriptions of Las Vegas.
lord of oats - man there's a lot of 80's synth music this time around. is it because that sort of things is really popular right now, or because it was the easiest thing for everybody to throw together in 4 days?
mc crapalot - "atmospheric" production, more than most. is that keyboard at the beginning sampled from somewhere? it sounds familiar.
melvin - is this what it sounds like when you sing "really badly off-key"?
my new machine - needs more instruments. IMO electric guitar rarely holds its own against a drum machine, except during solos. if you don't have a bass, fake one by pitch shifting a guitar. maybe some keyboards.
paco del stinko - finally, some hard rock. the lead vocals should stick more towards that deep Iggy Pop sound you cultivate in a few places, its much more distinctive than the generic mock-metal stuff in the rest of the song. great crunchy guitars.
pompeii - this fight seems to have saved all the rock for the later parts of the alphabet. hi-larious screaming.
ross durand - excellent. like Gordon Lightfoot and his backup band circa 1975 backing up Leonard Cohen circa 1983. if I saw these lyrics on paper I'd think it was a joke, probably, but you sing it so convingly it sounds like you believe in those spirits.
those meddling kids - it's good but I can't really think of much to say about it.
weakest suit - one of the other reviewers said something about not liking the way acoustic guitars sound live. i think i can see what they mean. although maybe i wouldn't mind if it was doing something more than just strumming.
They Control the Reviews (Weather)
-
jeff robertson
- Orwell
- Posts: 809
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:29 pm
- Instruments: guitar, bass, programming
- Recording Method: Reaper, Audacity
- Submitting as: FLVXXVM FLORVM, Jeff Robertson and the Neo-Candylanders
- Pronouns: he/him
- Location: Illinoiss
-
EmbersOfAutumn
- Goldman
- Posts: 501
- Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:40 am
- Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
- Recording Method: Adobe Audition
- Submitting as: Embers of Autumn
- Location: Macclenny, Florida
- Contact:
Actually no, I was born a good 11 years after the series originally started. (I believe, I think it started around 1973, birth year 1984). I'm gonna do some reviews today and was gonna mention it in my review, but Here's where I got the idea. Honestly, when the fight first came out, I was re-reading the following pages, which as you can see gave me the inspiration for the song.jeff robertson wrote:
embers of autumn - are you really old enough to have watched "Challenge of the Superfriends" when you were a kid? that has nothing to do with the song, mostly just wondering about the average age of songfighters.
"Out of all I've learned in Life,
You always keep your friends close to your heart,
cause they'll help you if you're falling down..."
- The Ataris - Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, B, A, Start
You always keep your friends close to your heart,
cause they'll help you if you're falling down..."
- The Ataris - Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, B, A, Start
-
EmbersOfAutumn
- Goldman
- Posts: 501
- Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:40 am
- Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
- Recording Method: Adobe Audition
- Submitting as: Embers of Autumn
- Location: Macclenny, Florida
- Contact:
They Control the Weather Reviews:
Ambient Train, Ambient Industry
I am… Ironman. … Wilma? Fred Flintstone is using Microsoft SAM it would seem. Psychedelic thing just isn’t doing it for me, sorry
1 of 10
Ben Krieger
Heh, yeah. Very nice. The keyboards catch me really good mostly because of what I was listening to before I started the reviews (video game midi files). The organ was a nice choice on the instrument for this style. This would have been very radio-worthy in the 80’s. A couple of slight refinements probably could have been done in the mixing stage, but otherwise, not bad at all. Perhaps even just a tad short.
8 of 10
Dynamic Rhythm Device
There’s a song this sounds remarkably close to… I can’t think of the name of it, but the chorus goes “And don’t forget who’s taking you home...” ‘Save the Last Dance for me’… that’s it. Well, that is, it reminded me of it until about half way through when, apparently suffering from a semi-seizure, you broke continuity.
It’s catchy, but redundant and, as mentioned above, suspiciously stolen. 3 of 10
Embers of Autumn
Mine. As mentioned above, I got the idea reading some reviews about a cheesy 70’s TV show—You all should definitely check it out when you get some time. Absolutely hilarious. In answer to one review, yes, that is me doing the piano runs. I have a teeny-bit better vocal control this time around, but the guitar is a tad out of tune. I did a nice layering on the guitar to give it some depth, using power chords on the strum and a matching open chord on each beat. Verse 2’s superheroes, in case anyone is wondering—Superman, Green Lantern, the Flash, and Batman, respectively.
Flvxxvm Florvm
I like the music. It’s not perfect, but it’s a good bit better than I could do. CB Radio vocals aren’t usually a selling point for me… this song included. It’s short, but so was the time for this project, so leeway is given for that. I think it’s good.
5 of 10
Howling Monkeys
Good intro. I like this song, and the harmonizing on vocals was well done. I would have liked another verse or something to break the ending monotony, but I’m very impressed with the song.
8 of 10
Iron Kids of America
Slow delay on the notes on the intro are cool. Very few songs that include an actual weather report in the song. Especially one where the vocals are run through an android reverb distortion track. The music has redemption value, especially when the second track kicks in at 1:30. I would have kept the report to the first 30 seconds and added a verse of lyrics or something after it. That would have rocked a little more. Still, good music. Second kick in at 2:15, very nice.
5 of 10
King Arthur
Oooooo, Oooooo. Seems like it needed some of those in the back ground. Got kind of a texmex-ska-surf rock feel going on here—not really quite sure where to put the genre. I have to admit, though a boring white male, it makes me want to do some dancing. Good quality recording too; that’s just something I have a problem with myself. This… this actually sounds like it goes with those “Welcome to Vegas” commercials on TV.
8 of 10
Lord of Oats
It’s been mentioned in other reviews, but the electronic feel is starting to wear a little thin… They’re all starting to blend in a little bit, ya know. A plus to you, though, is that you actually have lyrics and singing. (So far just you and Ben.) Well done, sir. Breakdown at 1:30 was pretty cool.
6 of 10
MC Crapalot
I guess I shouldn’t have had the highest expectations from someone named “Crapalot”. The music is decent, the vocals are… disembodied at best. A major headache at worst. I’ll give you a couple of points for the work done on the music.
2 of 10
Melvin
What? Actual rock music? I can always count of you, Melvin. As many of the projects this week, mine included, a little refinement needed, but mostly because of the short week. My opinion: keep the guitar licks, they rock, but redo the vocal tracks, especially the background one. They can be just a tad better. Very nice song.
9 of 10
My New Time Machine
I actually like that uneven rhythm on the intro. Vocals should have been mixed a little better I think, but, as above, understood for the week. I would hope that everyone here can redo their songs with a little extra time to make those last minute tweaks. This song has potential; the vocal track is a little off-putting. Also, the short guitar lick at 1:40 was a little off time. It also needs something to break it from monotony.
5 of 10
Paco Del Stinko
The music is very nice, hard rock teetering on the line of a slow metal. The vocals match the genre, but I guess it’s just not me. I think I just need some coffee—it’s still early. And the electronic music was putting me to sleep……
6 of 10
Pompeii
And…. There’s that headache again. Thank you. Please do not sign up for any Axl Rose impersonating contests any time soon. The lyrics are clever, I certainly give that to you. But the zerg rush that you just performed on my eardrums won’t allow me to give you too much credit for it.
4 of 10 (for the music, nice riffs)
Ross Durand
THANK YOU ROSS! (Soft music) The mixing wasn’t too bad, but the vocals kinda fluctuate between loud and soft a little too extremely. It’s a catchy little ditty--I believe that’s the correct term. I like the lick at 2:10. I think it’s a really nice song.
7 of 10
Those Meddling Kids
That’s a catchy intro, muy mucho. You’re another one of those bands that I look forward to hearing when I see that you’ve entered something. Is that a mandolin at 1:15? I really like this song a lot. I think the vocals needed to have gotten a little louder when that mandolin (?) came in on a regular basis though. Another mixing thing that probably there just wasn’t enough time for.
9 of 10
Weakest Suit
A little better mixing job would make this sound really nice. This song is very catchy. Some strings or perhaps some piano would make a nice added background sound. I like this one.
7 of 10
Concluding Thoughts
I’m pretty sure I never wanna hear the phrase “They Control The Weather” again. There were some reallllllly good songs though: Everything I gave an 8 or above to, I had to listen to at least 3 or 4 times until I decided who I was going to vote for. Wish I could vote for all of them, honestly (all of the 8-and-aboves). I think I’m gonna have to put it in to the Scooby Crew, i.e. “Those Meddling Kids”
Good Fight All.
Ambient Train, Ambient Industry
I am… Ironman. … Wilma? Fred Flintstone is using Microsoft SAM it would seem. Psychedelic thing just isn’t doing it for me, sorry
1 of 10
Ben Krieger
Heh, yeah. Very nice. The keyboards catch me really good mostly because of what I was listening to before I started the reviews (video game midi files). The organ was a nice choice on the instrument for this style. This would have been very radio-worthy in the 80’s. A couple of slight refinements probably could have been done in the mixing stage, but otherwise, not bad at all. Perhaps even just a tad short.
8 of 10
Dynamic Rhythm Device
There’s a song this sounds remarkably close to… I can’t think of the name of it, but the chorus goes “And don’t forget who’s taking you home...” ‘Save the Last Dance for me’… that’s it. Well, that is, it reminded me of it until about half way through when, apparently suffering from a semi-seizure, you broke continuity.
It’s catchy, but redundant and, as mentioned above, suspiciously stolen. 3 of 10
Embers of Autumn
Mine. As mentioned above, I got the idea reading some reviews about a cheesy 70’s TV show—You all should definitely check it out when you get some time. Absolutely hilarious. In answer to one review, yes, that is me doing the piano runs. I have a teeny-bit better vocal control this time around, but the guitar is a tad out of tune. I did a nice layering on the guitar to give it some depth, using power chords on the strum and a matching open chord on each beat. Verse 2’s superheroes, in case anyone is wondering—Superman, Green Lantern, the Flash, and Batman, respectively.
Flvxxvm Florvm
I like the music. It’s not perfect, but it’s a good bit better than I could do. CB Radio vocals aren’t usually a selling point for me… this song included. It’s short, but so was the time for this project, so leeway is given for that. I think it’s good.
5 of 10
Howling Monkeys
Good intro. I like this song, and the harmonizing on vocals was well done. I would have liked another verse or something to break the ending monotony, but I’m very impressed with the song.
8 of 10
Iron Kids of America
Slow delay on the notes on the intro are cool. Very few songs that include an actual weather report in the song. Especially one where the vocals are run through an android reverb distortion track. The music has redemption value, especially when the second track kicks in at 1:30. I would have kept the report to the first 30 seconds and added a verse of lyrics or something after it. That would have rocked a little more. Still, good music. Second kick in at 2:15, very nice.
5 of 10
King Arthur
Oooooo, Oooooo. Seems like it needed some of those in the back ground. Got kind of a texmex-ska-surf rock feel going on here—not really quite sure where to put the genre. I have to admit, though a boring white male, it makes me want to do some dancing. Good quality recording too; that’s just something I have a problem with myself. This… this actually sounds like it goes with those “Welcome to Vegas” commercials on TV.
8 of 10
Lord of Oats
It’s been mentioned in other reviews, but the electronic feel is starting to wear a little thin… They’re all starting to blend in a little bit, ya know. A plus to you, though, is that you actually have lyrics and singing. (So far just you and Ben.) Well done, sir. Breakdown at 1:30 was pretty cool.
6 of 10
MC Crapalot
I guess I shouldn’t have had the highest expectations from someone named “Crapalot”. The music is decent, the vocals are… disembodied at best. A major headache at worst. I’ll give you a couple of points for the work done on the music.
2 of 10
Melvin
What? Actual rock music? I can always count of you, Melvin. As many of the projects this week, mine included, a little refinement needed, but mostly because of the short week. My opinion: keep the guitar licks, they rock, but redo the vocal tracks, especially the background one. They can be just a tad better. Very nice song.
9 of 10
My New Time Machine
I actually like that uneven rhythm on the intro. Vocals should have been mixed a little better I think, but, as above, understood for the week. I would hope that everyone here can redo their songs with a little extra time to make those last minute tweaks. This song has potential; the vocal track is a little off-putting. Also, the short guitar lick at 1:40 was a little off time. It also needs something to break it from monotony.
5 of 10
Paco Del Stinko
The music is very nice, hard rock teetering on the line of a slow metal. The vocals match the genre, but I guess it’s just not me. I think I just need some coffee—it’s still early. And the electronic music was putting me to sleep……
6 of 10
Pompeii
And…. There’s that headache again. Thank you. Please do not sign up for any Axl Rose impersonating contests any time soon. The lyrics are clever, I certainly give that to you. But the zerg rush that you just performed on my eardrums won’t allow me to give you too much credit for it.
4 of 10 (for the music, nice riffs)
Ross Durand
THANK YOU ROSS! (Soft music) The mixing wasn’t too bad, but the vocals kinda fluctuate between loud and soft a little too extremely. It’s a catchy little ditty--I believe that’s the correct term. I like the lick at 2:10. I think it’s a really nice song.
7 of 10
Those Meddling Kids
That’s a catchy intro, muy mucho. You’re another one of those bands that I look forward to hearing when I see that you’ve entered something. Is that a mandolin at 1:15? I really like this song a lot. I think the vocals needed to have gotten a little louder when that mandolin (?) came in on a regular basis though. Another mixing thing that probably there just wasn’t enough time for.
9 of 10
Weakest Suit
A little better mixing job would make this sound really nice. This song is very catchy. Some strings or perhaps some piano would make a nice added background sound. I like this one.
7 of 10
Concluding Thoughts
I’m pretty sure I never wanna hear the phrase “They Control The Weather” again. There were some reallllllly good songs though: Everything I gave an 8 or above to, I had to listen to at least 3 or 4 times until I decided who I was going to vote for. Wish I could vote for all of them, honestly (all of the 8-and-aboves). I think I’m gonna have to put it in to the Scooby Crew, i.e. “Those Meddling Kids”
Good Fight All.
"Out of all I've learned in Life,
You always keep your friends close to your heart,
cause they'll help you if you're falling down..."
- The Ataris - Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, B, A, Start
You always keep your friends close to your heart,
cause they'll help you if you're falling down..."
- The Ataris - Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, B, A, Start
-
howling monkey
- A New Player
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:59 am
dang, I didn't know these boards were even here. Sorry for not throwin in my two cents on everybody's stuff. I will in the future. Thanks for the compliments, all. BTW, to the dude who was wondering about pitch correction: no pitch correction (although it really could've used some) and as for the loudness war, I'm trying to do everything I can to not maximize everything. I love acoustic music and REAL dynamics. Now excuse me while I go run my drum machine through the L2.
What am I doing? I think I just crapped my pants.
it's a sampled piano... but not sampled from another song...jeff robertson wrote: mc crapalot - "atmospheric" production, more than most. is that keyboard at the beginning sampled from somewhere? it sounds familiar.
it's a garageband piano sample... i just typed out all the music in my song on the keyboard... so nothing in the song is a loop... it is all individually hit on the keyboard
"You haven't been really bad in a long time." - jim of seattle
<a href="http://www.soundclick.com/bands/5/poorj ... htm">music page</a>
<a href="http://www.soundclick.com/bands/5/poorj ... htm">music page</a>
yea i like the lyricsfürrypedro wrote:lyrics are in the archive... and those are lil' ukelele parts.Poor June wrote:thosemeddlingkids: i can't understand all the lyrics... but i'd like to read 'em... dig the lil' mandolin parts...
"You haven't been really bad in a long time." - jim of seattle
<a href="http://www.soundclick.com/bands/5/poorj ... htm">music page</a>
<a href="http://www.soundclick.com/bands/5/poorj ... htm">music page</a>
-
milothefultz
- A New Player
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2007 12:12 pm
- Instruments: Bass, Voice, Keyboards, Guitar, Drums
- Recording Method: ZOOM H4n -> Reaper
- Submitting as: Whatever I feel like, dammit.
-
Lord of Oats
- Niemöller
- Posts: 1194
- Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:35 pm
- Location: Gainesville, Florida
-
jeff robertson
- Orwell
- Posts: 809
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:29 pm
- Instruments: guitar, bass, programming
- Recording Method: Reaper, Audacity
- Submitting as: FLVXXVM FLORVM, Jeff Robertson and the Neo-Candylanders
- Pronouns: he/him
- Location: Illinoiss
-
milothefultz
- A New Player
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2007 12:12 pm
- Instruments: Bass, Voice, Keyboards, Guitar, Drums
- Recording Method: ZOOM H4n -> Reaper
- Submitting as: Whatever I feel like, dammit.
-
Lord of Oats
- Niemöller
- Posts: 1194
- Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:35 pm
- Location: Gainesville, Florida
-
Lord of Oats
- Niemöller
- Posts: 1194
- Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:35 pm
- Location: Gainesville, Florida
-
fluffy
- Eisenhower
- Posts: 11196
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:56 am
- Instruments: sometimes
- Recording Method: Logic Pro X
- Submitting as: Sockpuppet
- Pronouns: she/they
- Location: Seattle-ish
- Contact:
Re: They Control the Reviews (Weather)
Coming in rather late just to say that the Iron Kids track sounds like it's a missing GLaDOS song. I'm making a note here.