The Songfight Smiths Review Thread

[melvin]

You sir are win.

Thanks Hobs! Overall, I liked your cover and the Hell Yeahs! best, but Paco deserves extra special guitar props.

[Paco Del Stinko]

Thanks for the comments, everybody. You're all too kind. I'll say again that I really enjoyed all the tunes here, what a strong showing!

[Albatross]

Hey, I said I'd do reviews, didn't I? I guess I'd better do 'em.

One thing I'll say right off the bat is how all of y'all seemed to make natural-sounding selections. You all picked songs that seem to fit your individual styles, and nobody seemed out of their element on any of these. So, well done in that regard. In fact, overall, this really is one of the strongest projects I've seen on Songfight, top to bottom.

Cock
Probably the only time I'll type that word in boldface without coming across as an infantile twerp. Anyway, really dig the vocals on this. I also like how you seemed to take a prototypical 80s band and made them sound more, well, 80s. And I don't mean that in a bad way at all, if this had sounded more like DeRetch Mode or Erasure, then I might have a problem, 'cause I was never into the whole "synth pop" thing. But there a synthy sensibility here that a lot of stuff from that era didn't have. So, good on 'ya.

Cynthia Size and the sp00n
Some people may have said that this whole TTS thing was a bit too gimmicky, but I don't really have a problem with it. Hell, I should be so lucky as to have some machine do my singing for me. However, as others have stated, I'd like for Ms. Size to me a bit more intelligible. And while I agree with Hoblit's sentiment to some extent about your lack of faithfulness to the original, I will say that this is more faithful than a few of your previous covers have been. When I hear the E go up to the A and then the B, I recognize that instantly. And I kinda liked the quirky chorus section.

Hoblit
This project needed at least one balls-out, garage-style send-up, and you delivered. Going back and forth between the ska feel and the distorted mayhem was a nice touch. Good length. Quick and dirty, there's not much I'd change here.

Hell Yeahs
Really glad to see you get your entry in. I think I could listen to Heather sing for hours on end. Although I wonder, was that register a little low for you? It seemed like a bit of a struggle to get the words out, but I could be hearing it wrong. I always appreciate how well you double your vocals, are those separate takes? If they are, then well done. It's good when people sing their parts consistently enough to pull that off, I don't trust myself enough to even try that.

Johnny Cashpoint
My sister voted for you. I have such a supportive family. Anyway, I had never heard the original before, but I absolutely love it now. As to your own version, that Radio Free Europe ukelele or whatever, great choice. Those trancey keys are another. In fact, there a a lot of good choices here. There's nothing that sounds like it doesn't belong.

Jack Shite
I had no idea you were such an adept keyboardist. I always like those more classic sounding keyboard patches, I should try to get some myself. I always get a kick out of the casual beachcomber vibe you often bring to your songs, your last GoM entry was like that too. Vocal performance seems to fit in nicely, although I'd bring it and its FX a wee bit down and roll off the low end some. (Pfft, look at me, giving vocal mixing advice. As if.)

Jim Tyrrell
You're probably the one Songfight artist I would pick to cover this. Not only are you a good match for this song, but the song is a good match for you. I think what Jack said about Hoblit's song also applies here, if you haven't added this to your live repertoire, you should. That piano is loverly. Is that all you or is that a live take from a full band? I've always thought this song was too short, I'd have liked to see you extend it a bit. That's not your fault, of course, but it would have been an excuse for more of that piano!

Melvin
In all honesty, this is one of my absolute least favorite Smiths songs. Having said that, it's still a good candidate for the whole laid-back Dread Zeppelin thing you've got going. A nice interpretation, yet still very faithful. Dig those effecty bits at the end. If I have one minor criticism at all, it's that I'd like to hear the whole ensemble (and the bass in particular) play with a little more of a reggaeish triplet feel instead of a straight eighth-note feel. ONE-e-and TWO-e-and THREE-e-and FOUR-e-and, and not so much ONE-and TWO-and THREE-and FOUR-and. I know grooves like that are tough to do consistently - I have real trouble with them on bass and on drums especially.

Paco del Stinko
Dead Man Wah-King! I'm one of those idiots who wants more wah. I'll admit I've always been a huge Paco fan, and this does not disappoint. One thing I've always dug about your stuff is that you do bass tracks that I can not only really hear but also sound terrific. So many people seem to do bass tracks merely as a formality, but I appreciate the attention you seem to give them. I will say that this one doesn't seem to have quite the mid-heavy growl you usually have, but you may have made a conscious choice to take it out and that's fine. Great shreddifying as usual.

Porky's Vertical Anaconda
I guess Ray knows more than three chords after all. Or is that all Paco? In any case, the very beginning of this reminded me of one of the MIDI sequences from Duke Nukem 3D. I have no idea why I felt compelled to mention that. Anyway, holy crap, that reverb and/or delay effected guitar is PERFECT. Absolute dead on, both on the playing end and the sound itself. You either found a really good tab or have an amazing ear. And if you found a good guitar tab online then I salute you. Most of them are garbage. This song also seems like a good match for Ray's singing style and range, although hearing him tackle one of Morrissey's more falsetto-heavy songs would have been a treat. Really well done, a definite vote contender.

and

Albatross
I got totally lazy with the equalization process. Never again. In fact, there's one lesson I took from this - always allow for a second mixing day. It seems like no matter how long I spend on a mixdown that first day, I still find a crapload of things wrong with it the second day. Maybe my brain and ears are just fried by the end of that first day that I miss things I shouldn't miss. Eh, live and learn.

And thanks to all who gave feedback. Again, here's a slightly updated version. Changes are subtle, but I think it's a wee bit more cohesive, and the bass sounds a little better. Oh, and anyone who wants to hear the original can hear it here.

Don't know who gets the vote, but I will vote before the deadline.

[j$]

Deadline for voting tonight, 12pm your time. I will update the page with votes some time tomorrow morning, my time. (well it will be after 8am but other than that, who knows?) It's hell-a-close so if you haven't already, plunge those votes web-ward.

(NB if you have said you're voting for someone in reviews thread but haven't voted on the site page - I can't count votes only placed here as with only IP addresses to work from it's impossble to tell if you have voted on the page as well. There is an instance of one person not getting any votes so far despite it saying in the reviews that they would be receiving it. So please be sure to make your vote count by doing it in the correct place. Ta!)

j$

[j$]

PS to the idiot block-voting for Melvin, you are going to have to be WAYYYYY more clever than that to get it past me. A vote is a vote - personal opinion doesn't come into it. And he's doing just fine without your assistance.

Please desist, otherwise should he win, he's only gonna wonder if the fine people of SF really love him, or whether just one not-so-fine person does.

I know you who are, I won't embarrass you but really, there are better uses of my time than block-deleting multiple votes from the same IP address.

j$

[Caravan Ray]

Lucky Melvin!

Damn, I wish I had a stalker.

[ujnhunter]

Lucky Melvin!

Damn, I wish I had a stalker.

for someone who lists their penis as their main instrument, i'm surprised you don't have a stalker...

[jimtyrrell]

You ever pull that guy's finger? Ain't nobody sneakin' up behind him, that's for sure.

PS: I finally listened to that, CR. It's embarassing how long I laughed at it.

[j$]

Sorry for delays in results, guys and gals. You would not believe the day I've had etc etc

Check out the results here: http://www.johnnycashpoint.com/smithsresults

Thanks to everyone who took part. A smart little sidefight and no mistake!

j$

[jack]

hm, i voted for PVA and they show no votes.

[Albatross]

hm, i voted for PVA and they show no votes.

Ditto.

[ujnhunter]

hrmm... I also voted for PVA...

[jimtyrrell]

And where are all my votes for Melvin?

I'M KIDDING I'M JUST KIDDING 8)

I voted for Paco. It's the one I enjoy most after many listens. The whole collection makes for a damn fine CD. One of the better sidefights I can remember.

[Caravan Ray]

hm, i voted for PVA and they show no votes.

Ditto.

hrmm... I also voted for PVA...

Thanks for the votes. I'll let my legal team know.
We're still deciding if we can call a Royal Comission into Sidefight Corruption over this - or if because of the international nature of the issue, it will actually need to go before the UN Security Council.

[Caravan Ray]

I voted for Paco. It's the one I enjoy most after many listens..

And I voted for Paco - that makes his 2.

Did no-one else vote for Paco? I thought j$ said he was going to?

[j$]

[Edit: A whole bunch of drunken whinin' camp that does me no favours, especially after the embarrassing discovery of two post later!]

j$

[jack]

all i said was that i voted and my vote seemingly did not show up. i never questioned your integrity, so i really don't understand the attitude seemingly directed at those that questioned why their votes didn't appear. if you can attest with 100% certainty that the voting mechanism is not flawed in some way, i don't know what to say. i think i'm smart enough to know how to click a button next to a name and click "submit". i'd hope to get the benefit of the doubt there, especially in light of the fact that others seemed to have the same problem.

whatever. i got no votes but i never complained about that. your effort was appreciated johnny cashpoint.

[j$]

Ah, damn, here was I rushing back to delete the drunken post I just made, and jack is too fast ...

ermmmm, VAST apologies to CR & PdS, seems due to sloppy copying and pasting at the page design stage, PVA's votes showed up in my e-mail as 'Melvin' votes. Having just double-checked, no-one else was affected by this ... Oh Gawd, I am so sorry to both Melvin and to PVA ....

doesn't effect the outcome, except Hell Yeahs would have won by a landslide ... if people want to re-vote over the weekend, I will adjust the results page come monday ... damn, I am unfit to host a side-fight and no mistake ....

I will never post drunk and bolshy again. Until next time ...

j$

[Paco Del Stinko]

Thanks for the votes, everybody, and thanks for hosting J$: no apology necessary. And of course, congrats to the Hell Yeahs. Regardless of whatevers, it was a heap of good songs, and a delight to listen to.

[Caravan Ray]

ermmmm, VAST apologies to CR & PdS, seems due to sloppy copying and pasting at the page design stage, PVA's votes showed up in my e-mail as 'Melvin' votes.

does that mean I do have a stalker?!?!:shock:

But rest assured - no aspersions were being cast and your work is highly valued. It just seemed a shame to have a fancy website if the voting stuff wasn't working properly.

So does that mean that PdS's votes were kosher? I will admit, I am not very good at the "click box and press send" thing - so, I don't know if you can tell if a vote came from Australia or not - but if it didn't - then Paco can add one more unofficial one to his tally

[j$]

The PdS vote is kosher, as are all bar PVA. Dunno what happened there, CR.

[Lord of Oats]

I also voted for Paco.