Ms Winters, white courtesy phone (Cheer Up Shelley reviews)

[Rabid Garfunkel]

I love the smell of songfight in the morning... smells like reviews!

rice Henry and the Transformers
Extreme panning of the two opposite sounding guitars is kinda annoying. Drums sound weird, like the snare is another cymbal or something. Slap some 'verb on your vox or boost the levels or something, they're sitting on their hands in the back of the studio.

Chuck the Bear
I like the miking of the drums. Nice and dirty. The higher range vocal isn't doing it for me. Nice mellow song, though the main vox are a little lost in the mix. Dig the Mary Shelley action. Oh hey, it's still going. That was an interesting sort of break (that ended around 3:40).

The Drunken English Majors
One mike, too close to the guitar, that the two-odd of you are singing into? Kinda nice, though this morning listening to folky stuff is making me want to stick a fork in my eye. It's not you, it's me.

Oh, and to tell the truth, DeNiro's Monster was the closest to the Monster in the book, heh. But you knew that.

John, Penny and Harriet
This is pleasantly insane. Still don't know why I'm enjoying it.

Masters of Grip
Mix and the backing vox are less than fresh. If you're cranking everything up to eleven, pump the vox to at least 12, eh? Gary? Who the hell's Gary? The lyrics get kind of obscured by the bass and the kick relentlessly on the 1-2-3-4.

MISS
Well, it's 1:05 at least. Was this recorded via telephone? The whispery vox might have more effect if the keys/thing wasn't so damned prominent in the mix.

Rabid Garfunkel
Hey j$, dialing back on the bass when eq-ing the vox DOES make it sit in the mix better! Thanks for posting that tip (whenever it was that you did). Glad there were other semibiographical Mary Shelley songs. Wanted to do that, but ripping off her words fit the tone better. Game on!

Roymond
The music is awesome. The almost falsetto-ish (and the falsetto) harmony vox line doesn't do it for me. That's my only bitch (and a personal preference one, at that). This is f-ing solid, damnit. Nice. Vote.

Squirrel Damage
Drums feel like they're dragging the beat a little. It's stretching my brain out like Silly Putty. The keys fills/mini-solos sound like afterthoughts, the way they're back there in the mix. Hey, 2:38, that doubled effect/thingy was pretty cool.

Favs: Roy, me, Caravan Ray

[Caravan Ray]

Caravan Ray
This is pleasantly insane. Still don't know why I'm enjoying it.

looks like it's time for me to change my signature quote!


BTW

my reviews will be coming this arvo

[roymond]

Shelley reviews - I don't grade on a level scale, so don't freak.

<b>MISS</b>
I love the intimacy here. The resonate gutter bass, the glistening backing vocals, the understated alarm. (7)

<b>Brice Henry and the Transformers</b>
Is this Marcus? Hey, I gotta Jetta. And those Subway munchies. Huh. I like the chords here and there. And that start of the lead rocks. I thought I'd hate this but I don't. (4)

<b>Squirrel Damage</b>
Sort of a Cars thing here, so I'll get into my college head. Like the vocals and the bridge/chorus. Nice hook. Sounds all over compressed, but has an even mix. Cute harmony guitars. (6)

<b>Roymond</b>
Beginning needs some other element to intrigue the listener. Perhaps background conversation. Drum track sounds incomplete. Lyrics pretty much abstract, must have a message but if it's about the struggle to balance the spiritual and the earthly worlds it's lost on this listener, even if it is based on Erik's comments in the God thread. Nice solo section, but the spacey keyboards sort of lose the changes and don't support the bass enough. Also, could have cut 8 from the non-sung verse after the solo. Nice ending though. Otherwise everything's pretty much exactly how I'd do it. (unrated)

<b>Chuck the Bear</b>
Nice jivin' groove. Classic dude vocals, love that. Shit those loose toms are awesome! And the splash cymbal. Lyrics a bit superficial. But the video and jelly line is cool. The break and its backing vocals rules. Out of tune harmonium is OK. Those toms rule. I often wish there were serious lyrics behind your stuff. Or at least I wish I got it. The break out is a bit incongruous, but it rejoins the song well. This is good! ( 8 )

<b>Rabid Garfunkel</b>
Great guitar swipes, and I'm up for a story. I read somewhere you based this on literary sources. I'll trust you. Doesn't appeal to me whatsoever, but the treatment is very cool. I do sort of like the deadpan presentation. Nice mix, yes. That sick carnival organ on 2 and 4!! I don't really know how to rate this. Good job, though. (7)

<b>The Drunken English Majors</b>
Pretty strummin and tight backing vocals. Not into the "your ugly ..." line, and it repeats a lot. Too much. But I like the "bla bla bla" line. That should repeat more. This is pretty and beautifully played but not very interesting. The guitar is a bit too forward in the very nice mix. (6)

<b>Masters of Grip</b>
Nice intro, I like that guitar tone. Is this supposed to be uplifting? I guess so, but things are pretty out vocally. The music is great, I like the lazy drums and the lead breaks. Vocals aren't that bad, actually except for the chorus. Which is maybe a shame. Very Eno + Cale (wins points). Nice outro! (6)

<b>John, Penny and Harriet</b>
This is fun. I sometimes wonder about the Sex Pistols going midi. I like the phone voice and the backing guitar lines there. (4)

I think most of these would gain by compressing/limiting much less! Keep your levels down and limit only to catch the few escape spikes. More dynamics can tell a deeper tale.

<b>I'm thinking the Bear vote</b> but Rabid and Grip are fun ear candies. Thanks!

[roymond]

Roymond: Intro has me interested. Music is excellent! Vocals are excellent! Whole song is ... do I need to say it again?... I think I do, this is excellent.

Vote: Roymond stands out after a second listen.

I hope it still stands out. thanks! It's nice to hit a nerve now and again. Or once, even. I am starting to feel like I'm catching the sonic wave I left behind many years ago.

[Caravan Ray]

I think most of these would gain by compressing/limiting much less! Keep your levels down and limit only to catch the few escape spikes. More dynamics can tell a deeper tale.

Do you mean record everything at low volume and then normalise as the last step of the process?

Should I reduce levels by reducing the level on the computer mic input? Or should I leave that up and reduce the levels in my recording software?


and BTW:

you said:

I like the phone voice

that was just an experiment in trying to use a guitar distortion pedal as a microphone pre-amp - I thought it sounded good. I hadn't thought of it as a "phone voice" - but now you mention it - it's exactly the type of line the singer would shout down a phone at 'Shelley' - so now I'm going to pretend that I did it on purpose

[roymond]

I think most of these would gain by compressing/limiting much less! Keep your levels down and limit only to catch the few escape spikes. More dynamics can tell a deeper tale.

Do you mean record everything at low volume and then normalise as the last step of the process?

Record so you get strong signals per track, but then mix down so your master out is still under the red without limiting. Don't compress on the master, just individual tracks where desired (bass for punch, drums for crispness, etc.).

[Caravan Ray]

MISS
Nice. Good vocal work. Too short perhaps – a bit more variation may have helped

Brice Henry and the Transformers
Obviously I’ve got nothing against fuzzy guitars and crappy recording – but I can’t forgive out-of-tune singing, unless it’s done for good reason. I don’t like this.

Squirrel Damage
Don’t like this much. Tune not real interesting and the vocals sound a bit off key. Chorus isn’t bad

Roymond
Very classy sound. Your stuff always intrigues me – I must make the effort one day to check out the Roymond back catalogue. Pretty good in a Bowie-esque sort of way.

Chuck the Bear
Good. Nice ragged feel – but still a tight groove. Good vocals.

Rabid Garfunkel
I like this. The vocals are good. Enjoyable – but perhaps a chorus would have improved it.

The Drunken English Majors
Nice geetar – but that’s about all. Really don’t like this song much – lyrics turning me off and the melody and chord progressions not that interesting.

Masters of Grip
Once again, MOG reminds me very strongly of The Triffids. Are you a fan? The lead vocal and song structure just screams ‘David McComb’. This is a good song which is let down badly by the backing vocals

Caravan Ray
I really like this! True, the production is awful – even by my not particularly high standards – but I think it’s got good energy, and I love how the chorus came out. This is one of the very few fights where I can honestly say that I enjoyed my song more than all the others.


Summary:
MoG was god but flawed, Roymond, Rabid Garfunkel and MISS were enjoyable – but I’ll vote for Chuck the Bear

[Stevie Windsor]

Rabid Garfunkel

Great guitar effect throughout, not so sure about the synth sounds though. Best bit by far is the rise around 1.45

John, Penny & Harriet

Rather mono production and a slightly derranged feel about it but on second hearing this really grows on me, great chorus. One of the few songs here that could do with going on a bit longer.

(B)Rice Henry & the Transformers

Again slightly derranged, but not in such a good way. Cool guitar tone on the over extended solo.

MISS

Nondescript, no real tune or anything interesting in the mix to catch the attention.

The Drunken English Majors

Good guitar playing although it could take a break from the relentless strumming once in a while, but in the end it leaves me a bit cold.

Chuck The Bear

Probably the best produced so far, nothing really to say against it, except possibly the drum sound. Its all well done but like the previous song just feels to lack something for me.

MOG

Thanx to Johnny Cashpoint for backing vocals and bass, Its annoying how you only hear the problems in the mix after youve sent it out but I think we've come up with a good end of year song. I can sort of hear what Caravan Ray says about sounding like the Triffids, particuarly Mr Balham's vocals.

Roymond

Wow, this is by far the standout song on here for me. Bowiesque but distinctive in its own right. From start to end, it doesn't make a single wrong move. Keeper.

Squirrel Damage

Not the best I've heard from these guys but still good enough to place top 3 in my list


Top Three

1. Roymond
2. John, Penny & Harriet
3. Squirrel Damage

[j$]

Masters of Grip
This is a good song which is let down badly by the backing vocals

I would like to point out that the backing vocals are perfectly in tune with the backing track, as are the lead vocals, just not with each other.

j$

[jack]

Masters of Grip
This is a good song which is let down badly by the backing vocals

I would like to point out that the backing vocals are perfectly in tune with the backing track, as are the lead vocals, just not with each other.

j$

a=b. b=c. but a does not equal c?

damned british logic

[j$]

Haha - yep. the best thing about fuzzy logic is it's very hard to dispute it. *ahem*

[Caravan Ray]

Masters of Grip
This is a good song which is let down badly by the backing vocals

I would like to point out that the backing vocals are perfectly in tune with the backing track, as are the lead vocals, just not with each other.

j$

a=b. b=c. but a does not equal c?

damned british logic

That's probably right - I don't thing the backing vox are out of tune - they just don't work. Like Joe Strummer, I think J$ voice can work well as a lead instrument, but can be grating in other circumstances. Leave it to the coloured girls to go "do do do do do do do..."

[j$]

Like Joe Strummer, I think J$ voice can work well as a lead instrument, but can be grating in other circumstances. Leave it to the coloured girls to go "do do do do do do do..."

If I had a box of coloured girls, I would let them out at every opportunity ....

[Eric Y.]

thanks j$ ... now i'm picturing you having a female version of the blue-man group as slaves in your closet or something...

[j$]

thanks j$ ... now i'm picturing you having a female version of the blue-man group as slaves in your closet or something...

I wondered what that scratching noise was ....

J$

[Andy Balham]

Brice Henry and the Transformers
Some of the vocals don’t quite get there but they’re mostly okay. I like the mention of the Vetta. The backing gets a little monotonous and the lead is most welcome and pretty good and starts to give it a Stooges feel. It’s a bit long considering the lack of dynamic changes within it.

Chuck the Bear
Enjoyable verse and I like the little stops in the chorus, but it still lacks the catchiness to make it a really good one. I appreciate the change after the first chorus and the instrumental. You’re packing quite a lot into a little time here and that’s to be applauded, as are the harmonies.

The Drunken English Majors
The start reminds me of ‘Suspicious Minds’, the overall sound reminds me of 80’s Indie. It’s good without really grabbing me.

John, Penny and Harriet
I’m finding it hard to make out the words and the backing’s not doing a lot for me. Reminds me of low quality PWEI. The chorus has got a certain hook though

Masters of Grip (Us)
We got a little carried away here and wrote in four different choruses, two key changes and attempted harmonies beyond our ability. But hey, you don’t learn to ride a bike without falling off. I look forward to doing an out of season live version.

MISS
Not too much to comment on here. What there is pleasant enough and it doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Rabid Garfunkel
Good horror opening and use of the word obstinate. The atmosphere in building well, but will it go anywhere? Almost, but there was no big musical payoff.

Roymond
Ambitious opening to go for a minute with no vocal. I think you get away with it, as there’s a lot of interesting sounds going on. There’s some lovely high harmonies going on in the background. The most impressive song so far, sound-wise, by a long way.

Squirrel Damage
At last, a real sing-a-long chorus. The verse is not standing out, but there’s some nice stuff going on in the backing. Nice one to finish on.

In honour of Mary Shelley my favourite is a monster constructed of the variety of Chuck the Bear, the sound of Roymond and the chorus from Squirrel Damage.

[roymond]

Roymond
Ambitious opening to go for a minute with no vocal. I think you get away with it, as there’s a lot of interesting sounds going on.

Glad you liked it. It's sad when someone has to defend a minute without vocals.

This isn't for you, Andy, but lots of people have said things like that and I feel it's especially sad for such a group of indie-creed musicians, that we'ld be so locked into the 3 minute radio format. As cool as we want to be we're suckered into the same impatience and intolerance for music that does anything different than the commercial pop we supposedly dislike so much. While it is hard to listen to rants we don't like, I think I and others do a pretty good job of exploring sound-scapes and expanded structures, and I think it behooves music lovers to indulge the songwriter who dares to go there.

[j$]

Hmmm there's a slight difference between people having pop attention spans and musicians dragging things out for the sake of 'gravitas'/despite not having anything very interesting to say. This doesn't apply in this case, roymond (I voted for you) but too often musicians (here and elsewhere) take far far too long getting to the point. Sometimes the point takes time to reach, but that's far outweighed by the indulgences.

Also that doesn't really take into account the format - listen to a bunch of songs that you have few preconceptions about, and write informed reviews about them, in your spare time. I think that should always be remembered when reading other people's reviews. There's no 'incentive' to treat each one with the fullest attention.

[roymond]

too often musicians (here and elsewhere) take far far too long getting to the point.

I don't expect to win many fans here by saying that sometimes "the journey is the destiny". While I don't share their particular tastes, Deadheads, I think, understand this.

listen to a bunch of songs that you have few preconceptions about, and write informed reviews about them, in your spare time. There's no 'incentive' to treat each one with the fullest attention.

A very good recommendation, and an even better observation.

[Eric Y.]

disclaimer: don't bother reading the following reviews because none of them are helpful and i think i'm just in a bad mood or something.

brice henry and the transformers - the right channel guitar is a bit too warm and fuzzy and the left channel guitar is a bit too cold and strummy and the vocals are a bit too emotionless. cool solo.
chuck the bear - i like the guitars and singing better here, though there's not a lot of emotion either but the whole song is more laid-back so it works. nice build in intensity towards the end, and the [edit: melodica] part is awesome.
john, penny and harriet - the vocals are a lil bit too buried in the mix to really be understood, particularly as quickly as they're delivered. the chorus sounds like it's probably pretty cool but again it's tough to decipher.
masters of grip - the guitar parts sound great, but the vocals sound really disinterested. man, why does nobody sound like they care about what they are singing about today?
miss - the melody is nicely understated, the bass playing rather cool. wish it lasted a bit longer.
rabid garfunkel - something about ripping off music from andrew lloyd weber just screams "poetic justice" to me. cool organ and spooky noises, the spoken vocals sound cool too.
roymond - the part with the guitars and stuff before the vocals come in is cool but i think it builds to that part a little too slowly. i like the chord progression and instrumentation here, but i'm not really wild about the vocals in places. the backing parts on the chorus sound neat.
squirrel damage - i wasn't paying real close attention to the lyrics but they seem a bit dull to me. and yet again, the vocals leave something to be desired in terms of enthusiasm or emotion.
the drunk english majors - great guitar and vocals, and the lyrics seem alright too. (wow i am just all about the specific, constructive, helpful reviews tonight.)

a lot of this can probably be blamed on me being tired and distracted by thinking about other stuff at the moment, so don't take anything i say personally. for the most part i found this fight to be kind of a disappointment to listen to, since nothing here really excited me at all.

drunk english majors, rabid garfunkel, miss, chuck the bear, and roymond are my "top five" list, in some kind of order.

[HeuristicsInc]

1: squirrels, roymond, caravan, rabid g, chuck
2: miss, drunken, grip

my top 3 are rabid, chuck, and roymond...
voted for roymond!
-bill

[Hoblit]

strange

both review threads I voted for the same person the last person to post voted for.

wtg roymond