Nur Ein VIII Round Two "I Don't Want An Answer To That"

[BoffoYux]

We're in. Interesting trip to get it in, but we're here for the party!

[Alvis]

Yes, you can all relax now; BYD is in. Whew! Next round is on us.

[furrypedro]

I'm expecting good things this round. Proper eliminations. Fighting talk. Good tunes. Let's 'ave it.
Good luck all!

Nur Ein!!!!!!!!(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

[Ross]

What a weekend. 50th anniversary of my high school celebrated with an alumni concert. Rehearsals all day Saturday and rehearsals Sunday morning with a concert Sunday afternoon. Now driving home. 150 high school kids and 77 alumni dating all the way back to class of 74. It was awesome. Glad I got my file done before I left.... Whether it's any good or not... We'll let the judges decide.

Nur Ein!!

[Caravan Ray]

So - did anyone else enter into this weeks Songfight as well, using this weeks title? I sorta thought that's what the judges were trying to encourage, because the front page says:

You got to be kind
Look at all those votes! Tuners Union racks up their fourth win while everyone is out playing Nur Ein.

...and J$ has quoted this weeks title about half a dozen times in this thread.

Do I get extra points?

[JonPorobil]

So - did anyone else enter into this weeks Songfight as well, using this weeks title?

Believe it or not, that didn't even occur to me. At least, not until long after I'd already finished my lyrics. Then I remembered that you used to do that every round!
Advantage: Tydon Docks!

I used "So Aggravating," because this happens to be the 10th anniversary of that title, which was my first ever Song Fight, and my first-ever attempt at home recording. I also used "I Am Tempted" because I kind of forgot it was a title until after I'd written my lyrics.

I also squeaked way closer to the deadline than I did for the first two rounds. I only just mailed it in a minute ago. But I did mail it in, so...

NUR EIN!!

[Niveous]

Jon, I don't see yours in the mailbox.

[JonPorobil]

Jon, I don't see yours in the mailbox.

It's in my "sent" folder.
Trying again...

And I just sent a third one with a link instead of an attachment.

[Niveous]

There we go.

20/20.

[BoffoYux]

There we go.

20/20.

Allright! Everyone's in - it's a battle for a change!

[Caravan Ray]

Then I remembered that you used to do that every round!

I have only done a double title once before in Nur Ein - No One Else/Sugar Shaker from Nur Ein II:


But I have done it a few times for other side fights - Circle of Titles etc...
I find writing to 2 titles a very useful way of getting ideas.

[Manhattan Glutton]

WreckdoM deserves a second immune round for this.

[JonPorobil]

WreckdoM deserves a second immune round for this.

WreckdoM always do their best work when they're immune. Weird, huh? They definitely had the most creative application of the challenge.

[Tubba Gutz]

I'm supposed to be filling out paperwork, and so here are reviews instead.

Balance Lost - I appreciate your trying out new sounds, but I think I prefer your more "typical" sound. Maybe I just don't like music that sounds happy. I guess that's a personal thing. Actually by the end of this I feel a lot better, and am bouncing along to it. That's called growth. I like it!

Boffo Yux Dudes - I like this more than your entries for the previous two rounds. It just sounds more earnest. I like the harmonies a lot, the vocal delivery in general. Just a good, pretty simple rocking' song.

Carlo Bruno Jr. - I really like the guitar in this. I love the way the sound kind of explodes. I like the chorus quite a bit. My favorite entry of yours so far, just very satisfying all around.

Cavedwellers - Exotica, loungy vibe, without any of the negative connotations that sometimes carries. I really love the tight instrumentation on this, it's kind of like a power pop jazz song. Great singing and playing. In a live setting, I would be the one in the front of the stage dancing my ass off.

Chokehold Princess - I love a sincerely delivered song with a strong melody. You just don't really get that a lot these days. I really love this, the way it builds and the emotions it evokes. Great job. Would have been cool to hear a big finish with lots of different cool instrumentation, but it doesn't need it.

Dani House - Borders on being a "style parody" of The Magnetic Fields, which is actually pretty impressive. But I mean, it sounds SO much like them that it's difficult for me to put the comparison out of my mind. Lyrically, this doesn't suit my tastes but the song is pretty good.

DJ Ranger Den - The first line is clunky to me, and I sort of got into a mood like I was just going to cross my arms and not like this song. But luckily I let it worm its way in, because this is a song that rewards the listener for their patience and focus. I hope you appreciate your talent to write songs that carry the listener through with a sort of propulsion while also allowing a mood to set in that feels dreamlike and relaxed. This is a song in which to luxuriate, a song to explore. Beautifully done.

Frankie Big Face - This just doesn't grab me lyrically or musically. It's not bad, it just leaves me sort of cold.

Governing Dynamics - I generally love this style of music, big Archers of Loaf fan etc., but there's an urgency missing here to me. It's difficult to find a point of entry into the song. I recognize the pieces that are there, but they aren't put together in a way that excites me. It's just kind of too clean and smoothed over when I feel like it should be loose and ragged. Like you and your guitar are crying out as the ship goes down. I wish you didn't sound so comfortable, I guess.

Inflatable Vegetables - A real step up. Although fairly simple, I find this an easy song to get into. It has kind of a familiar vibe, old sounds put together anew. Vocally I would have liked to hear it belted out a bit more. That would have put it over the top.

Jon Eric - Just doesn't hit the mark for me. I wish I had something more useful to say about it, but it just sounds sort of detached to me.

Ken Mahru - I don't find this very interesting. Another case of well-executed, but unexciting.

Manhattan Glutton - Oh man, that chorus. I love that the sort of boogie feel of the verse is kept through the chorus while it takes on a more urgent, fist-pumping tone. All around, I like this a lot. Lyrically I get a bit lost in the verses, but it doesn't matter because of that rockin' chorus.

Merisan - A lot of groovin' going on here. I'm generally wound up pretty tightly, and generally hate "good vibes," but this has undeniable charm and appeal. Not something I would normally put on, but a really good song. Pop music that's still interesting and centered on good musicianship.

Paco del Stinko - I like the chord changes in this. It doesn't hold my attention much, though, and so when it does an interesting little change it does bring me back in. Maybe that's a genius move, I don't know. I think maybe I just think this song is "okay."

Ross Durand - I'm not just a big doom-and-gloom kind of guy, but I think this might just be a bit too bouncy and bubbly for my tastes. The guitar is very cool, though, love that kind of country-fried Devo sound.

Sky Pup - The talking is distracting. Moreso than the pseudo metal voice telling me to insert my finger, somehow. I like the guitar parts that sound like they're on codeine, but I really do not like the lyrics.

The Tydon Docks - Always appreciate the snotty rocking vibes you put down. This is no different, and you even got some Beach Boys surf harmonies fit in there this time. Next time I want it dirtier and brattier. Good stuff.

WreckdoM - A little too dada for me, perhaps. I do like songs about how much the singer of the song is not to be fucked with, though. So, that part was cool. Pretty fun.

[WreckdoMelle]

Ross were you a band kid? Which instrument?

Also, thanks for your encouraging words last round and so far this round.

You like us... You really like us * wipes tear *

Gonna give these tunes a listen later on and add my two cents (and possibly King Colon's wildly outspoken utterings).

Nur ein!

[frankie big face]

Frankie Big Face - This just doesn't grab me lyrically or musically. It's not bad, it just leaves me sort of cold.

Clearly, you just aren't in touch with the struggles faced by My Little Ponies, the First Generation (obvs).

[Tubba Gutz]

That is true, I need help!

[Manhattan Glutton]

This is Frank.

Brony4_Vendor[1].jpg (234.62 KiB) Viewed 1695 times

[frankie big face]

I've put on a bit of weight since then.

[Caravan Ray]

Frankie Big Face - This just doesn't grab me lyrically or musically. It's not bad, it just leaves me sort of cold.

Clearly, you just aren't in touch with the struggles faced by My Little Ponies, the First Generation (obvs).

First Generation!?!?! As you completely insane!?!?
MLP didn't hit its straps unil Generation Three.


Pinkie Pie could kick Lickity-Splits arse.


I'll get Caravan Harriet to review your song. She is the expert.

[furrypedro]

My pointless opinions.

WreckdoM: Great fun. Rocking, and I like the way it switches styles between sections. Love the lyrics, the stupider the better.

Tydon Docks: I like the upbeat shoutiness of it but it's weird cos it seems like it want to be a punk song but it's bit skiffle-ish. The payoff at the end is my favourite bit.

Tubba Gutz: It's songs like this that remind me why you're my favourite lyricist on SF. There's a great song here but it lacks any kind of production value, it would almost be better without the hi-hats. They don't really add anything.

Sky Pup: Weird. The guitar doesn't have enough going on to justify it being the only instrument you use other than the drums and vocals. The vocals are frequently annoying. The drums sound good though.

Ross: Chorus is pretty catchy. The rest of the song is a bit meat and potatoes.

Paco: The jangly guitars in the chorus are fantastic and I love the chord that you end on. My favourite line is the "frothing with rabies" bit.

Merisan: I like the "Son of a Preacher Man" guitar lick in the intro. Nice enough, the harmonies are good.

Manhattan Glutton: I dig this. I can appreciate the lyrics, I should stop boring people with science facts (but learning is fun!). I like the sardonic lyrical delivery and then when the chorus kicks in the song really goes into overdrive. The backing vocals are very shiny. Your line about the pencil reminded me of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L6Dpq5kY_A

Ken: Well recorded and the song is quite good but it doesn't excite me much. It definitely deserves to qualify for the next round but I can't see myself ever listening to it for pleasure after this round, sadly. I need more of a hook.

Jon Eric: This is okay, but it's the middle section that I love, you go almost Tom Petty-style with the build up. It's worth it just for that.

Inflatable Vegetables: So you decided to go for another 3/4 track this round, interesting. I'm impressed at your ability to turn on a completely different style each round and this is perfectly competent. This suffers in the same way alot of these songs do in that they're professional sounding enough but there's nothing memorable. Even if I thought the song was amazing the danger of me singing this to myself in the car or the shower (for example) is pretty much zero.

Governing Dynamics: See Ken's review - applies to this too. This is too long also. On a few more listens the first 15 seconds is cool but the song doesn't do anything after that. Blew your load in the intro, just like George Duke http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEibygqqLZc

Frankie Big Face: I enjoyed this. Cool tune and I like the synths/stylophone that you added. The fact that it's about My Little Pony makes me like it even more, I never would have got the reference myself (he says) but the concept coupled with the sincerity of the delivery is hilarious.

DJ Ranger Den: I really love the piano line in this, it's beautiful. Not sure how I feel about the vocal - I hate criticising vocals cos it's your voice, there's not much you can do to change it, but there's a bit of a C&W style drawl that I'm not too keen on. It's not too heavy so it doesn't spoil my enjoyment of the song. It's not out of tune or anything and the melody's nice.

Dani House: This was totally unexpected. This has the twin virtues of the totally random, quirky and almost Magnetic Fields-ish arrangement which I love, and also just being a nice little tune. The sweet piano sound with all the wibbly bits is cool, and you don't let the weirdness overwhelm the song. The only thing I'm not sure about is the really low voice under the main vocal - I think I would have preferred a simple doubling, but I dunno. Either way, really nice job. One of my faves.

Chokehold Princess: I love this song. Considering it's so simply arranged it's very engaging. First time I listened to this I immediately wanted to learn to play it for myself. Great tune, great lyrics. I also didn't notice the slaps(?) percussion until about the 3rd listen, cool.

Cavedwellers: Nice flute intro. This is weird cos it's very well put together and I like the directions the song goes in, but none of the melodies or lyrics really strike a chord with me. The titles (both of the song and old Songfight titles) seem to stick out like sore thumbs - all of the other lyrics pass me by without grabbing my attention. I was kind of worried that it was a bit too long but I don't mind that so much. Good effort.

Carlo Bruno Jr: This sounds great. Guitars and drums are fantastic. Chorus is huge, very distinctive chord changes. Nice work.

Boffo Yux Dudes: I think this is your best song this Nur Ein. My 2 main criticisms are that some of the harmonies are off-key, and the song does everything it's gonna do in the first 45 seconds, the verses/structure/arrangement don't develop in any way over the course of the song.

[Geoff WreckdoM]

WreckdoM deserves a second immune round for this.

WreckdoM always do their best work when they're immune. Weird, huh? They definitely had the most creative application of the challenge.

Thanks Guys! I think it's best not to skip immunity, keep the creative juices flowing. Also playing it safe just in case the judge's impressions of your music is cumulative.