Might as well... JUMP! (Fell Out of the Sky Reviews)

[Bell Green]

Bell Green - Oasis B-Side. Which is no insult in itself. I am just never convinced that any of yorus ongs (that I have heard) are in any way personal. Probably my hang-up ...

j$

I believe you've hit the nail on the head here and it was exactly what I was thinking when I was writing it on Saturday afternoon. It is very much "manufactured" rather than felt or created and in that sense I would not consider it art but craft. I'm almost frightened at putting myself into my songs and often wonder if I should choose another medium through which to express myself. Anyway, before I start to drift off-topic, I thought it was interesting that you picked up on that.

Have the day off tomorrow so I'll do some reviews.

[deshead]

I mean it's a really good voice, but it's just not suited to country, nu- or otherwise.

Weird, I think Sarah's voice was made for this style. I guess I'm biased ... Is there any way you can describe why it doesn't fit, or is this just a gut feeling thing?

[j$]

Um, i think my initial reaction was the purity of it, in that folk way, made it sound a little clean and un-twangy for the country. I don't think it complimented the song particularly (nor did it detract from it though) - I would love to hear her sing a 'sweet sir galahad' type number where it really acted as the root to the song rather than sitting atop it as it does here...

I appreciate that this doesn't really make sense, so I guess it's a gut reaction. Certainly I formed that opinion within about 30 seconds so i can't say it was particularly considered. I just heard the voice and thought 'that would make a really good folk voice' ...

j$

[Edge of LA]

15-16 Puzzle - beautiful composition. I'd like more production put into this song.

Abecedarian - OK.. nice melody. Nice Groooove.... is that a ukelele? Oh, its a mandolin. That's a nice touch.

Andre Was Here at Midnight - I don't like this one.

Ants (Invisible) - Neat loungy start. Love it, jazzy... but still needs to go somewhere.

Bell Green - Nice song. Not into the whiney lyrics.

Bewells - also a nice mellow song. Hearing a baritone voice on songs is rare these days. You did a nice job.

Carol Cleveland Sings - OMG! (again). What was Josh's script... {blah blah winner="CCS"} I really enjoyed this one. Always original.

Deshead - It's nice to hear a woman's voice on SF. This is a beautiful song.

Eddiebangs - I can't listen to this at work. I'll try it at home and review later.

Hostess Mostess - Nice vocals. The beginning sounds very empty to me... I like it when the guitar comes in stronger.

Jordan - starts off cool... but guitar is muddy and low in the mix. This getts too repetitive. Needs a change... oh, there it is at 1:22 (Finally). Ok, too long. too repetitive. still too long. still repetitive. The ending is very stuttery-stammery. Still a nice song, it just needs the excess trimmed off.

Lemon Songs - vocals please. I like the middle eastern tone/feel of the song.

The Likely Lads - Kewl rockin song. The vocals come off a little harsh in the beginning.

Macher Liechty - rumble-bass. Synth is nice. The vocal tone is too low for this rumble-bass. Should use more tonal contrast. or inflections. like at 2:16.

Max the Cat - Awesome! So the music is perfectly sublte so that the lyrics stand out. The lyrics kept drawing me further into the song. I see this song sung by Elmo on Sesame Street, or perhaps, a Broadway show can be built around this song!

Motor Monkeys -Too muddy to grab my attention.

PiGPEN - much better inflections and rythmic phrasing than the first time I heard you (Piece of my Heat). Could use more background instrumentation to carry the rap. Still sounds "lazy", though. Stronger vocals with more conviction could help.

Scott Faris - This song belongs on the score of some Indy Film. It's a nice build up and fake-out at 1:03. It sounds tinny at 1:28 when the rest of the instruments come in. More bass, please. I like the use of your guitar "theme".

State Shirt - sooooooooo much 80's goodness here. Who the hell does this sound like? Pet Shop Boys. I really enjoy this song.

Edge of LA - responses to others comments:
j$: I am limited to the sparse drum loops on Garage Band. I did some cut & pasting to add a little variety. I suppose they're good enough if you still had doubts at the end. I'll have to buy JamPack3.
15-16: Gosh darnit... thanks for pointing out Dramarama. I love that song. I wish I had more time to think of a more creative chorus for this song and maybe develop it a little further.
nicegeoff: "cheesy"- I plead the 5th. "Catchy" - I'm glad theres still a hook in there somewhere.

[diode]

This is my favorite state shirt song yet. He should be famous. Really good songwriting and cool keyboard part. Those of you who are complaining about the "overproduction" are just jealous.

[erik]

This is my favorite state shirt song yet. He should be famous. Really good songwriting and cool keyboard part. Those of you who are complaining about the "overproduction" are just jealous.

And whoever complains about the ignorance of your post is clearly just jealous of your powers of logical thinking.

[diode]

Wow. I must have hit a sore spot for you. Sorry to offend.

This is my favorite state shirt song yet. He should be famous. Really good songwriting and cool keyboard part. Those of you who are complaining about the "overproduction" are just jealous.

And whoever complains about the ignorance of your post is clearly just jealous of your powers of logical thinking.

[jack]

i interpreted it as a backwards compliment.

[erik]

It's not a sore spot, and I'm not offended. I just think that when people use the phrase "you're just jealous", they end up looking stupid for not being able to acknowledge that there might be any other reason for disliking something, other than disliking it out of spite.

[stateshirt]

Just be glad I didn't add that French Horn part I was dreaming up.

[tonetripper]

I'm jealous just thinking about it.....

[mico saudad]

First Round of Reviews:

Deshead: The production quality of this is among the best in songfight. The singing (both male and female parts) is spectacular. I’m a huge sucker for well done harmonies and this totally broke me. The only thing I would redo are the drum breaks near the end, they came off a little rough in this take. It’s a little hard to catch the verse lyrics. No one me like you do?

Carol Cleveland Sings: The orchestration in this is great. When you hit the notes you’re an unstoppable SF juggernaut (e.g. Run Faster minus last note), and even though this one felt a little off I still find myself disproportionately appreciative of your singing style. Creative and entertaining as always.

State Shirt: This starts off atmospheric but the drums instantly give it drive. 1:10+ is wonderful. My only suggestion is this: is it possible to do the verses without losing quite so much of the projection that you obviously have at moments like 1:10 and 2:25. It sounds like you kind of go inward a little.

[EightLeggedOedipus]

Things I have time to review:

Ants Invisible
+++ My second listen, and you know what? This is pretty damn cool. +++
/// The out of the sky line seemed discordant the first time, but now I'm alright with it. Unexpected mode change from first half to hyper half ///
--- Now I've got to go back through the archiveds and find this other stufdf you've done, because I think I owe at least one of your 30 seocnd songs anothe rlisten. More work for me, the music fan. ---

Carol Clevelanmd Sings
+++ This has a really driving beat, and awesome dynamics. +++
--- I miss the vocals from Back From Brazil and RUn Faster. I'm thinking you've become more complacent on these vocal takes. We also need to get some different sound out of that guitar. ---
/// Interesting sound coming out of that part around 1:39 ///

Deshead
+++ Great production. Well written song. Nice harmonies. I liek how your backing vocals are clear, but don't overwhelm Sarah's very sweet upfront voice. +++
--- The lyrical content does put this in the Women's Alternative Festival Circuit which is not my bag of tea. ---
/// With somethign just a little more daring we could get more into the vein of some awesome artists like Suzanne Vega or the Cradigans. Not sure what it would take, but probably a more vivid bit of imagery and soem drum breaks or a little funky keyboard accent ///

Eddie Bangs
+++ Nice funky track. I like the alternating clean / distorted vocal. Definitely an AIC memory popping up pn the chorus. Good thing. +++
--- Guitar tone, man. Probably some tuning issues on the guitar too. SOund sliek one string is fucked. But the 5-watt max-gain practice amp is not doing it for me. ---

Hostess Mostess
+++ I think for me thsi is your best since I voted on your "Les Anchois." I may be worng about that title, but I think that's the one you won. +++
/// Is that 7/4 ? Yeah, the beat could bear a lot of variation and a little more low end, but the odd meter forgives a lot///

Pigpen
+++ Wow, I'm groovin' right off the intro +++
---OK, OK, but it could have been a great interlude for an artist with a gripping flow, unlike yourself sir. ---

Stateshirt
--- This is weird and a little too 80s ---
+++ But then you set the tone, it is 1983. And in 1983 this kicked ass!!! Hard not to point out U2 and then Joy Division. But it's cool. I like what happens with the bass and then the 16th note hihats to 1/4 note open hats / crash. Cool. Good singing. Ooh, wow, and then a special present at 3:00 . Rock on. +++

[jack]

the bewells
i'll bet your style gets a good dissin but i kind of like this. the vox aren't great but ok in a bryan ferry sort of way. the mix is a bit ragged too but more ragged endearing than ragged annoying. the arrangement gets pretty repetitious and i hate chorused guitars like you use. the lyrics seem sort of cheesy. it's like christian rock.

deshead
i think the girl vocals work really good here, but the mix is really lacking in the low end, the bass seems lost in the mix and she sings in a pretty high register (as do you), your playing is heavy on the treble, and the kick drum is barely noticeable. very solid production. the synth pad build up and drop out works well too. reminds me of sarah mclachlan.

lemon songs
can't really critique the lyrics as i can't really understand what you're saying. real percussion is always a good thing. the guitar riff gets kind of old. sorry, this isn't doing much for me.

motor monkeys
he. that intro made me think GWAR. then the rest of the song came in and it REALLY makes me think of GWAR. yes sir. i like this alot. the talky rap stuff could be better, but the singing is pretty good all ozzy like. good groove too.

abecedarian
hey, your mandolin sounds pretty good. i like this. the drums are a bit off in spots. this could really use some harmony vocals in the non singing sections to sort of support the mandolin stuff. the guitar is mixed really low too. nice. i like this alot too.

andre was here at midnight
well, all i can say is you are fucking weird.

1516 puzzle
good lyrics, great arrangement, meh production. i guess i don't understand why you only decided to use 2 tracks on this song. it's fully arranged well, and with a busy arrangement like this, i think it could really benefit from a fuller production, even if it's just claps and slaps and oohs and ahhs. i think you and CCS have alot of similarities artistically, only their production is so much better. not that your production is bad as it's not, and maybe this is exactly what you were going for, it's just that this sort of song could be so much better with more than just a guy and guitar/vox and 1 guitar production.

scott faris
wow, that had to be the most gratuitous, self serving guitar intro i've ever heard. and it even sound like it was just a loop! hahahaha. deja friggin vu. 2 for 2. my advice, cut the song in half. take the 2 halves. write some words for both halves. add a change to each one. then you'll have not one but 2 songs!

liechty
that krush beat box is almost as lame as that bass. some of the flow is ok, mostly when it's doubled up. i like the scratches.

jordan yaruss
i think i reviewed you on somesongs so you can read it over there.

hostess mostess
i think i read in the other thread about you experimenting with MIDI drums and that's pretty much the weak spot here. i wish you might have used them more sparingly, like dropping them in and out around the different parts of the arrangement for dynamic effect. everything else is pretty killer (vox, guitar, lyrics, idea...)

state shirt
love the state shirt. sounds a bit too compressed mastering wise (except for the vocals, which sound awesome)

edge of LA
this sounds pretty good too. well played and produced. very poppy and hooky. i have this CD tribute to roky erikson, and this sounds like something he would have written. nice job

max the cat
the tremelo pan is making me dizzy, but i think it's cool all the little stuff you have going on behind it. the vox i'm not feeling it. but for originality, you make get the vote. well done.

pigpen
yo holmes, pitch shift is your friend. make you sound less white yo.

the likely lads
i'm really liking the groove you have going. it's the full on band sound, it's got moments of rough around the edges but everyone stays pretty much tight and in the pocket, and that bass player is the shiznit. singing's pretty solid too. nice.

eddie bangs
more wacky panning. you know eddie, i have a confession to make. when i made my GOM choices, i was really hoping you were gonna get my zappa request (why does it hurt when i pee) cause you just have something about your style that always makes me think of the best of what i loved about zappa. this is awesome. man, i love that chorus. this is rich with hookiness, nice fat wah lead taken to gratuitous masturbatory levels. and that chorus is so infectious. i'll be singing it for days.

carol cleveland sings
do you know how to do a bad song?

ants invisible
now you just need a premise for the pilot of "girl fell out of the sky". you have a theme song.

bell green
pretty straight forward arrangement. it's well done but not much really stands out for me. it's that a real rhodes?

so, this was a pretty good fight overall.

awesome list: eddie bangs, state shirt
very good list: CCS, deshead, motor monkeys

both state and eddie are well deserving of the vote. mine's going to eddie.

[Future Boy]

Selective Reviews:

15-16 Puzzle : This is an awesome song, man. You really need a full band.

Ants (Invisible) : Hey, I actually liked this one. Is this (the new moniker) your response to having only a week to write a song? I want the old JoS back.

Carol Cleveland Sings : Another chart topper. Man I love your shit. Did you sell your soul to the devil to be able to be this consistent with the music you write?

Deshead : Ugh, pop-country with auto-tune. No, no, and no!

Eddiebangs : I like this more than a lot of your stuff. But not enough to download it.

Hostess Mostess : I got hung up on the snare roll sound.

Jordan Yaruss : What, no synths!? You make me sad!

Max the Cat : You realize this belongs in a musical, right? It's got Sondheim all over it.

PiGPEN : Basically, you just need a good producer.

Stateshirt : Hey, way to combine U2 and Radiohead into some kind of bizarre, deformed pop-rock-radio love child. It's a well executed, I mean conceived, love child, in any event.

My vote goes to 15-16 Puzzle because, uh, he wrote the best song.

[Spud]

My vote goes to 15-16 Puzzle because, uh, he wrote the best song.

Bravo, Future Boy. If only we were all such purists.

[erik]

My vote goes to 15-16 Puzzle because, uh, he wrote the best song.

yay! thanks

[/does a little dance]

[Edge of LA]

15-16, I woke up singing your song. But I voted for myself.

[tonetripper]

1516 - This is a well written song with the tempo changes but I feel this song could have benefited from being worked on a bit more in the production arena. 8)

Abecedarian - I like the mandolin in this or is that a capoed guitar, but as a song for the title it didn't get my vote.

Andre was here at Midnight - The tuning just gets to me after a while, so I skipped it.

Ants (Invisible) - This is ultra cool in it's short and sweetness it might get my vote. 8)

Bell Green - I'm not crazy about the tuning on the vocals as they don't add to the personality and the production of the song would have been better served if the vocals were less dry.

The BeWells - The beige aspect of your entries is a little over-whelming and this makes no exception. Like a bad out take from a long lost Simple Mind's record.

CCS - Dynamic heaven and I can't help but think that sometimes there is this undeniable ELO comparison to your music. 8)

Deshead - Great sounding track especially with the female vox combined with your harmonies. 8)

Eddie Bangs - The harmonies are great, but what I don't like is how far back the wah guitar is in the mix. 8)

Edge of LA - From the beginning I knew I was gonna skip it and I did.

Hostess Mostess - "High-e-I" is a little pitchy at points which hurt it at points but I like where a lot of it goes. 8)

Lemon Songs - 2.5 to keep it alive!

The Likely Lads - The swagger of the vocal is wonderful in this, but the mix could have been tweaked a bit more and this could have been written for the title Heroin and had the same effect.

Liechty - Oh good; rap with a pitch-shifter...... skip.

Max the Cat - This is a cool story, especially combined with the pitch-shifted performance, and it gives me the feeling for the title more than any other song in this fight. 8)

Motor Monkeys - Dark and brooding until the chorussy vocal comes in and then I hate it.

Pig Pen - Like a blatant rip-off of Digable Planets cept not nearly as good.

Scott Faris - It's like a Steve Vai wannabe guitar tune, but hey, good use of the title in the main melody line.

StateShirt - Jealous or not the bottom end is a little strong in the mix, also a little overly-compressed like on FM radio, and sounds like a song I've heard a bunch of times before, but that doesn't discount my need for this style of music at times, just not sure it has it for the title. 8)

Tough decision. Between Max the Cat, Deshead and CCS for the title. There was a certain insincerity to the CCS entry. I loved Max the Cat's translation of the title, but I think Deshead took it. The vocals and parts were just so well produced.

;p

[drë]

MOTOR MONKEYS GETS MY VOTE.

<b>15/16pz</b> -songfight average
I usually like your lyrics and song structure, but has anybody ever tell you, “You sound like weird Al “when singing… the song gets better towers the end with the multiple emo vocals, but with just one guitar track, it lacks music.


<b>ABC</b> - above SF! Average
Telling people what your song is about, within the first 5 seconds! Its like telling you the ending of a good movie you have never seen.. Like the panning, at times is like two completely different songs playing in each of my ears, (in a good way) as both of the guitar tracks compliment each other well. Vocals are somewhat Decemberist…
I though you were from the states, but you have a bit of a British ascent, I specialty notice in that SF radio show you did a couple of weeks ago.

<b>Ants Inv</b> - jim’s Average
Like the jazzy feel to this. A bit short thought, just like this review.

<b>Bell Green</b> - within top 5 – KEEPER
Really like the whole lazy fell to this. With the organs\guitar and lazy vocals melody.
i prefer to hear this song with 1 well done vocal track, and dubing in important parts, instead of just dubing the entire song, either way I like this, could of use a bit more change tho, best song I’d heard from Bell Green yet.

<b>Bewells</b> just a bit above SF average
I have never really liked David bowie… and this sounds too much like a cover song.
Don’t get me wrong, the vocals are good and song is well done, just not my cup of tea.

<B>CCS</b> within top 5- KEEPER
this is bit more alternative that your usual stuff… just a bit more edgy, than your usual 185BPM carrousel music(which I like). Probably cause this has more guitars than keyboards.. I prefer your older songs though.

<b>deshead</b> within top 7 - KEEPER
Nice song, the girl sounds like % and you sound like an American and not a Canadian.
The song seems to be a bit long, but that’s mostly cause am not in the mood to listen to something like this, right now. Maybe some other day I’d like it more.

<b>eddie Bangs</b> within top 5 – KEEPER
Let their be rock, and rock was made. You got some STP thing going on here.
Wish the main vocals were a deeper, their a bit high pitch for this rhythm I think.
Like always drums are excellent.

<b>edge of LA</b> above SF! Average
The vocals on this are too loud! You pretty much white wash the cool guitar riff in the back and most of the musical rhythm. You got a good song here, just mixing problems (that’s ok, I don’t expect you to mix especially for my headphones) if it sounds good to you, hey let it be. Oh yeah, the tambourine is a bit loud as well.

<b>Hotess Mostess</b> TOP 2 – KEEPER
man is this nice.
Are you a TONIC fan?
This sounds like it belongs in their lemon parade album.
Even your vocals sound a lot like emerson’s. and lyrics are right up his alley.
The only thing, that bugs me a bit is that stupid midi drum roll.. everything else A OK.
Oh, did I mentions I use to be a huge TONIC fan. Defiantly keeper.

<b>Jordan Yaruss</b> a bit above SF! Average - KEEPER
happy and poppy. This is nice, and well done, as it makes me want to sing along and bop my head around, just not my cup of tea. Good song tho, keep I up.

<b>lemon Songs</b> SF! Average
man, I though this was a Niveous song, but if you hadn’t introduce yourself noob, I would still think this was Niveous with the bongos, and minimum guitar parts and soft vocals. Overall, wish you had build upon that Arabic melody you were going with, and gone into something loud and dramatic.. but is pretty much the same mood across the entire song.

<b>likely lads</b> you done better
were you going for a clash sound?
Well your British and play music so I guess that’s half the battle.
Like some of your others songs better. Nothing really sticks out with this one with the exception of the clash comparison.


<b>liechty and friend</b> above your average
call me square, but I have never really been into this type of music. A combination of DJ/rap/dance and techno ? some of it is cool, I mostly enjoy the rapping.

<b>max the cat</b> TOP 5 – KEEPER
this sounds just like the audio story books for kids, that I use to listen to when little. Very well done, specially with heavy panning. Very creative. Cool how you have the talent to go from your usual acoustic spoken words country music to something like this, talk about range.

<b>motor monkeys</b> TOP 1 – KEEPER – VOTE.
Man, I must of listen to this like 50 times the other day while working on what could possibly become the new spell checker for this message board. I think I had it in loop for over 2 hours.. it just has really cool dynamics, and all kinds of stuff is going on. the vocals have a lot of persona, and the singing is hip, also that driven bass line is cool, plus lets not forget that you mention The Cure.
Can I dance to this song now?


<b>Pigpen</b> songfight average
the flow on the rapping is cool, but I think you must have been having too much fun, as this song its twice the length it should be.


<b>scott faris</b> TOP 7 – KEEPER
Under songfight standards there’s some awesome guitar arrangements here.
But sadly there no lyrics. Which is ok as it makes the song that much better.

is this Dan-O from Five-O ? as it has the same cool feel as the song he did for
the guitar symphony fight.

<b>state shirt</b> TOP 3 – KEEPER
Pretty cool song, but it sound like you had trouble in the mixing department. it sounds muddy when the bass is playing.

[PiGPEN]

Pig Pen - Like a blatant rip-off of Digable Planets cept not nearly as good.

WORD. Dont know who that is but i guess that makes the insult even better eh
Im not proud of the retarded *airquote*introspective*airquote* lyrics but i think i did a really good job with the music (and when i finally get round to buying my own keys it'll be even better).

Also i keep seeing again and again that my delivery is lazy....well i AM lazy and i dont go nuts on a track like DMX or The Vines or whatever.
And if i started putting in an effort people might mistake me for giving a shit about stuff...or maybe im so great with my delivery it sounds as if it took me no effort at all *wink*

[Poor June]

Pig Pen - Like a blatant rip-off of Digable Planets cept not nearly as good.

WORD. Dont know who that is but i guess that makes the insult even better eh
Im not proud of the retarded *airquote*introspective*airquote* lyrics but i think i did a really good job with the music (and when i finally get round to buying my own keys it'll be even better).

Also i keep seeing again and again that my delivery is lazy....well i AM lazy and i dont go nuts on a track like DMX or The Vines or whatever.
And if i started putting in an effort people might mistake me for giving a shit about stuff...or maybe im so great with my delivery it sounds as if it took me no effort at all *wink*

honestly think if you tried a little stronger on phrasing... you'd have some killer stuff...
but yea your laziness shows through... and the words lack conviction or any real motives...
they just lay flat on the beats... while the flow is good... it just seems like dead weight...
you need to sound more alive... like you give a shit about what you're saying... and give it some strength... i think it'd bring your stuff up a lot... because you aren't a bad writer... and the music is pretty decent...