Berkeley Social Scene - Really solid musically but the vocals are bothering me. Awkward delivery that does not fit with the instrumentation. The two elements remain at odds with each other which is a shame as I do really dig the groove.
Cookie Blue - I like the arrangement alot, and the recording style goes great with the song style. Hey, I dig the sax, that's fun. This is good one, the change ups are very similiar to one another, but with this tempo, energy and length, that's of really no consequence. Vote.
Dollar Bill & The Inkpoints - I like the chorus a lot, but the verses feel a little crammed in, if I was to make a suggestion, it would be to do some editing with multiple takes so you're not catching your breath and falling behind a half step trying to get everything in there. It's ok, I don't love or hate it.
Economy Biscuits - This I really like. With a strong opening I always worry as soon as the vocals come in it's gonna tank, but your vox works great, dig the effects on it. Love the drop outs, It's a short song and with every transition you offer something new and interesting. Vote.
J.A.N. - There's only one thing bugging me about this song, and it's that when the vocals swell emotionally it sounds like you're doing a repressed scream, like when conversationally you want to describe screaming something without actually screaming. Just scream, let it out. Don't hold back. I really like the instrumentation and lyrics. Creepy. You know I like creepy.
J Temp 13 - Starts out strong, like the change up, then it's done. I guess you only had two thoughts this week.
Kraken Lives - Beautifully bizarre. I was on board as soon as I heard that accoustic guitar with swift brush snare. Really like the kids vocals, can't understand a word but I still like it. I like the adult vocal accompanying the kid, but when the adult vox goes solo it's not as cool. The change up is half delightfully weird, half groove killing. Over all I like it, even though I don't like songs about star wars.
Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
-
Geoff WreckdoM
- Goldman
- Posts: 543
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 12:13 pm
- Instruments: Theremin
- Recording Method: Pabst Blue Ribbon
- Location: Awestin, TX
- Contact:
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
"perhaps the most offensive and disturbing image I've ever heard in a song" - Hans Gruber
-
JonPorobil
- Ibárruri
- Posts: 5682
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 11:45 am
- Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Accordion, Bass, lots of VSTs
- Recording Method: Cubase 10.5
- Submitting as: Jon Eric, Jon Porobil, others
- Pronouns: He/Him
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Contact:
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
Reviews written during first listen, on crappy earbuds on my lunch break at work.
Berkeley Social Scene
The opening groove is inoffensive, if a bit bland. I don't think the lead vocal matches the rest of the song - it's a bit strained, whereas the rest of the musicianship feels practiced and easy. I always hesitate when suggesting that someone use a different vocalist, because people have often suggested that to me, and it's more useful to talk about how to make the vocals better than to suggest that someone not sing at all... Maybe this would have benefited from more rehearsal. Maybe there's some kind of studio wizardry that will make these vocals sound more at home in this song.
Economy Biscuits
Nice punk vibe. It's not my genre, but I think you pulled it off well. Maybe ease up on the vocal distortion just a tad, to make the lyrics intelligible? Or maybe there's some other way to solve that particular problem, like leaving some extra space for the vocals in the mix. Mixing vocals has been one of my bugbears historically, so I'm not exactly the person you want advice from on this topic, but something needs to be done here. Anyway, I like your ending.
Kraken Lives
Are these lyrics about Star Wars? [checks in the lyrics archive] Yep. Okay, good to know I'm not crazy. I'm not sure why the first verse vocal sounds like "Push th'Little Daisies." That's a distracting gimmick. The guitar playing is great throughout here, and I love how the guitar interplays with the drums. Honestly, by the time this is over, I'm more puzzled than anything.
New Image
I think the filters are a bit much here; I feel like I'm listening to this from a couple of rooms away. I would love to hear a remix of this with louder, crisper instruments. I think I criticized your vocals pretty harshly last fight. Either you got better or I'm getting used to it, because this feels like an improvement. I still think you're near the top of your range, and that you could probably turn in better vocal performances if you didn't do that so much, but the delivery sounds more confident and assured this week.
ShotPounder
This is very similar to what you turned in last fight. It's alright for what it is, I guess. I'm not overly impressed by shredding guitars and screaming vocals in and of themselves.
The Midweeklings
Is this a collaboration involving King Arthur? I like the wordplay in the chorus, but otherwise the lyrics kind of annoy me. The self-name-check doesn't work for me, and I don't really sympathize with or care about your protagonist. Musically, this is a solid groove. I like how you compensate for the drum machine's shortfalls with the strategic placement of a tambourine. Nice guitar technique. Probably my favorite so far.
WreckdoM
I applaud your weird approach to this title. Is the "hate these cans" line meant to make us think of The Jerk? Because I'm having a hard time thinking of anything else. This kind of feels like WreckdoM-by-numbers to me - there's a dirty guitar groove, some obscure samples, the speak-sing lyrical delivery, the funk-style theramin... I know you guys have the market cornered on "weird," but this time I feel like you're only being weird in the same ways you've always been. Maybe I'm just not in the right mood to appreciate this right now. That happens sometimes.
Cookie Blue
The four-chord progression and the electric piano combination evoke "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" to me. That's kind of a double-edged sword, since I like that song, but yours pales in comparison to it. It's difficult to pull off a complicated vocal cadence like you're using in this song, but I think it mostly works. Your vocals are great, but I'd still like to hear a bit more oomph behind them (and maybe a bit of reverb to give your voice that "big" feeling you get from professionally-produced songs). Also, though I don't think this is the right place to do a Poetry 101 session, I think you might benefit from an honest endeavor to make your lyrics less generic, more evocative, and more memorable. I think we have a thread about the theory behind lyric writing, somewhere in the "Help & How To" section. I'll dig around and maybe resurrect it.
Slickitude
I like the dense rhymes. Everything scans pretty well and makes sense. The vocals are also delivered with confidence and mixed with clarity. Although it's over in just over a minute, I think this is a fully complete entry here, and it's my favorite so far. Vote!
J Temp 13
Nice groove. Are you the same person or people behind the Slickitude entry? I like this, maybe not quite as much as Slickitude's. Can't think of anything critical to say about it, it's just a minute of solid funk groove then it's gone. Ok.
Dollar Bill & The Inkpoints
I haven't heard every Dollar Bill song ever, but I'm pretty sure this is my favorite of the songs I've heard from this collaboration. I like how Johnny's voice feels so alone among the synths. I like that sweeping synth that hits every so often that sounds like a jet engine. The arrangement is baroque without ever feeling like it's "too much." I like the momentum this gets from its own time signature and tempo. Voted!
Paco del Stinko
Speaking of jet engines... Whoa, that's an awesome bass line! You got a giggle out of me with the "I don't know what's wrong with you, but you sure have bad taste" line. Overall, the lyrics are okay, but it's unfortunate that there was nothing else as overtly funny as that. They seem humorous, but they also sit kind of awkwardly in the melody.
J.A.N.
Are there semitones in this? Niveous' voice seems to have a really hard time finding the melody, and it might have something to do with the pitchy video-game-from-Hell synth array behind him. Things don't seem to line up quite right. It's quite discomforting to listen to, which may have been intentional, but the discord here isn't doing much for me.
Somethin' Strange
I had my finger hanging over the skip button throughout almost this whole song, but I couldn't bring myself to hit it. We get a lot of mediocre rap in this community (and I've been an occasional offender, too), but this won me over. You've got great flow; I just wish you had something to say. These lyrics sounds pretty, but upon close examination they don't say anything new or interesting. Nor do they say "Shot Down" anywhere... it's not required that you use the title in your lyrics, but when you don't, you're going to get some people (like me) asking about the relevance to the title. Was this written for the competition? We had a "Space Cadet" title, like ten years ago.
Step Aside
Ah, the familiar acoustic power chords of an emo anthem. This kind of stuff was my jam when I was sixteen. It's not really doing much for me at the moment. You've got a nice voice. It's entirely possible that I'll like something from you in the future, but this isn't it.
Tall Walkers
You raised a fuss about people using your real name last week, but then you went and submitted another song with your real name in the tag. What's up with that? Your delivery has a lot of soul. I'd like to see the lyrics and vocals a little tighter, because they kind of ramble here. But I also realize that tampering with the formula might remove what makes this special. Perhaps instead you could work on better amp simulators for your lead guitar? It sounds pretty dry, and changing the guitar's tone won't necessarily remove the emotion from your performance. I'm on the fence about whether to vote for this. I'm leaning towards yes... Yeah, okay, you get a vote.
Berkeley Social Scene
The opening groove is inoffensive, if a bit bland. I don't think the lead vocal matches the rest of the song - it's a bit strained, whereas the rest of the musicianship feels practiced and easy. I always hesitate when suggesting that someone use a different vocalist, because people have often suggested that to me, and it's more useful to talk about how to make the vocals better than to suggest that someone not sing at all... Maybe this would have benefited from more rehearsal. Maybe there's some kind of studio wizardry that will make these vocals sound more at home in this song.
Economy Biscuits
Nice punk vibe. It's not my genre, but I think you pulled it off well. Maybe ease up on the vocal distortion just a tad, to make the lyrics intelligible? Or maybe there's some other way to solve that particular problem, like leaving some extra space for the vocals in the mix. Mixing vocals has been one of my bugbears historically, so I'm not exactly the person you want advice from on this topic, but something needs to be done here. Anyway, I like your ending.
Kraken Lives
Are these lyrics about Star Wars? [checks in the lyrics archive] Yep. Okay, good to know I'm not crazy. I'm not sure why the first verse vocal sounds like "Push th'Little Daisies." That's a distracting gimmick. The guitar playing is great throughout here, and I love how the guitar interplays with the drums. Honestly, by the time this is over, I'm more puzzled than anything.
New Image
I think the filters are a bit much here; I feel like I'm listening to this from a couple of rooms away. I would love to hear a remix of this with louder, crisper instruments. I think I criticized your vocals pretty harshly last fight. Either you got better or I'm getting used to it, because this feels like an improvement. I still think you're near the top of your range, and that you could probably turn in better vocal performances if you didn't do that so much, but the delivery sounds more confident and assured this week.
ShotPounder
This is very similar to what you turned in last fight. It's alright for what it is, I guess. I'm not overly impressed by shredding guitars and screaming vocals in and of themselves.
The Midweeklings
Is this a collaboration involving King Arthur? I like the wordplay in the chorus, but otherwise the lyrics kind of annoy me. The self-name-check doesn't work for me, and I don't really sympathize with or care about your protagonist. Musically, this is a solid groove. I like how you compensate for the drum machine's shortfalls with the strategic placement of a tambourine. Nice guitar technique. Probably my favorite so far.
WreckdoM
I applaud your weird approach to this title. Is the "hate these cans" line meant to make us think of The Jerk? Because I'm having a hard time thinking of anything else. This kind of feels like WreckdoM-by-numbers to me - there's a dirty guitar groove, some obscure samples, the speak-sing lyrical delivery, the funk-style theramin... I know you guys have the market cornered on "weird," but this time I feel like you're only being weird in the same ways you've always been. Maybe I'm just not in the right mood to appreciate this right now. That happens sometimes.
Cookie Blue
The four-chord progression and the electric piano combination evoke "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" to me. That's kind of a double-edged sword, since I like that song, but yours pales in comparison to it. It's difficult to pull off a complicated vocal cadence like you're using in this song, but I think it mostly works. Your vocals are great, but I'd still like to hear a bit more oomph behind them (and maybe a bit of reverb to give your voice that "big" feeling you get from professionally-produced songs). Also, though I don't think this is the right place to do a Poetry 101 session, I think you might benefit from an honest endeavor to make your lyrics less generic, more evocative, and more memorable. I think we have a thread about the theory behind lyric writing, somewhere in the "Help & How To" section. I'll dig around and maybe resurrect it.
Slickitude
I like the dense rhymes. Everything scans pretty well and makes sense. The vocals are also delivered with confidence and mixed with clarity. Although it's over in just over a minute, I think this is a fully complete entry here, and it's my favorite so far. Vote!
J Temp 13
Nice groove. Are you the same person or people behind the Slickitude entry? I like this, maybe not quite as much as Slickitude's. Can't think of anything critical to say about it, it's just a minute of solid funk groove then it's gone. Ok.
Dollar Bill & The Inkpoints
I haven't heard every Dollar Bill song ever, but I'm pretty sure this is my favorite of the songs I've heard from this collaboration. I like how Johnny's voice feels so alone among the synths. I like that sweeping synth that hits every so often that sounds like a jet engine. The arrangement is baroque without ever feeling like it's "too much." I like the momentum this gets from its own time signature and tempo. Voted!
Paco del Stinko
Speaking of jet engines... Whoa, that's an awesome bass line! You got a giggle out of me with the "I don't know what's wrong with you, but you sure have bad taste" line. Overall, the lyrics are okay, but it's unfortunate that there was nothing else as overtly funny as that. They seem humorous, but they also sit kind of awkwardly in the melody.
J.A.N.
Are there semitones in this? Niveous' voice seems to have a really hard time finding the melody, and it might have something to do with the pitchy video-game-from-Hell synth array behind him. Things don't seem to line up quite right. It's quite discomforting to listen to, which may have been intentional, but the discord here isn't doing much for me.
Somethin' Strange
I had my finger hanging over the skip button throughout almost this whole song, but I couldn't bring myself to hit it. We get a lot of mediocre rap in this community (and I've been an occasional offender, too), but this won me over. You've got great flow; I just wish you had something to say. These lyrics sounds pretty, but upon close examination they don't say anything new or interesting. Nor do they say "Shot Down" anywhere... it's not required that you use the title in your lyrics, but when you don't, you're going to get some people (like me) asking about the relevance to the title. Was this written for the competition? We had a "Space Cadet" title, like ten years ago.
Step Aside
Ah, the familiar acoustic power chords of an emo anthem. This kind of stuff was my jam when I was sixteen. It's not really doing much for me at the moment. You've got a nice voice. It's entirely possible that I'll like something from you in the future, but this isn't it.
Tall Walkers
You raised a fuss about people using your real name last week, but then you went and submitted another song with your real name in the tag. What's up with that? Your delivery has a lot of soul. I'd like to see the lyrics and vocals a little tighter, because they kind of ramble here. But I also realize that tampering with the formula might remove what makes this special. Perhaps instead you could work on better amp simulators for your lead guitar? It sounds pretty dry, and changing the guitar's tone won't necessarily remove the emotion from your performance. I'm on the fence about whether to vote for this. I'm leaning towards yes... Yeah, okay, you get a vote.
Last edited by JonPorobil on Mon Mar 24, 2014 4:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
-
likewised
- A New Player
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:46 pm
- Instruments: guitar, drums, keys
- Submitting as: Sasha P
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
Aw, I don't know if I would call it "raising a fuss" - but I wound up finding the source of the problem after I had already submitted for this fight, so I just ignorantly repeated the error. Thanks for the review (and the vote! holy cow)Generic wrote: Sasha Pedro
You raised a fuss about people using your real name last week, but then you went and submitted another song with your real name in the tag. What's up with that?
-
JonPorobil
- Ibárruri
- Posts: 5682
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 11:45 am
- Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Accordion, Bass, lots of VSTs
- Recording Method: Cubase 10.5
- Submitting as: Jon Eric, Jon Porobil, others
- Pronouns: He/Him
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Contact:
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
Yeah, sure thing. I like what you're doing, even as I quibble about the particulars.
I've also gone and edited your stage name into my review. I had a difficult time looking it up when my phone would only display the info from the ID3 tag (and, in a major "duh" moment, it didn't even occur to me to just load up the songfight.org front page to check).
I've also gone and edited your stage name into my review. I had a difficult time looking it up when my phone would only display the info from the ID3 tag (and, in a major "duh" moment, it didn't even occur to me to just load up the songfight.org front page to check).
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
-
Lunkhead
- Rosselli
- Posts: 8474
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 12:14 pm
- Instruments: many
- Recording Method: cubase/mac/tascam4x4
- Submitting as: Berkeley Social Scene
- Pronouns: he/him
- Location: Central Oregon
- Contact:
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
Here are my reviews, or more like stream of consciousness while listening along. I don't often have a lot of constructive feedback to provide, and I encounter some genre bias with many of these songs.
Berkeley Social Scene
I like the groove of this song a lot. Glen is the mastermind behind this song. He used some nice simple rocking drum loops to set the mood. The original scratch vocals were over auto tuned, but I think these final vocals may be a bit under auto tuned. All I did was play bass, which was fun.
Cookie Blue
I like the lo-fi aspect of this. The singer is doing a good job, but I'm not really sure I enjoy their voice. Maybe it's a bit too nasally or something. Sax solo, that's unexpected. It's a bit repetitive but since it's only two minutes that doesn't bother me too much. Not bad.
Dollar Bill & the Inkpoints
I like the backing tracks. It feels sometimes like you're trying to fit in so many syllables of lyrics that you're having to phrase things a bit unnaturally. I'm curious how you record your vocals. The singing is fine for the song but the recording quality isn't great. You probably don't give a shit about that, though. Overall an OK song for me.
The Economy Biscuits
RAWK. This is pretty straight to the genre of this kind of rock, but it still works for me. That solo is weak, you need to bust into some real face melting after the first phrase, and maybe continue to shred though the final chorus, to keep up the rock level. OK overall.
J TEMP 13
Funky bass. Hm, the second part is a bit odd. Nice drum loops. It's so short, I could have stood to listen to another different part maybe. OK for a short ditty.
J.A.N.
Niv is definitely evoking NIN a little bit for me in the first verse. The "thousand yard stare" part is really dying to be screamed out properly, instead of quiet faux-screaming. I wish there was more syncopation in the verses. Some of the synth lines sound painfully square and robotic to me, but maybe that's intentional. I wish there were some sort of melodic line responding to each line of the choruses.
The Kraken Lives
I hate to be a jerk, but, I'm not into Django's singing, sorry. I can't really understand what he's saying, for one. Nice drum loops. Wow, crazy bridge part, I remember you mentioning that. I guess I like a bunch of the parts, but they don't necessarily feel like a coherent "song" to me, more like a movement in a larger work, like a rock opera or concept album or something.
The Midweeklings
This is a case where the lo-fi-ness isn't really charming me. I'm listening on headphones, so it sounds very very mono to me. Some panning of something would be nice. I like the woman singer, I feel like she's got some soul in her voice. The funky three chord jam under the whole thing gets a little repetitive for me after a couple minutes though.
New Image
Your drums seem a bit too spastic to me. Your main guitar is so thin sounding, it's like it's barely there. Your bass doesn't have much body to it. I feel like your melodies are a bit monotonous, like they hang out on one note for most of each line. You're really going for it though, which I appreciate.
Paco del Stinko
Very ominous beginning. I was hoping for serious dirge rock. Things turn kind of funky and off kilter though. Whoa, rocking the fretless bass, nice playing there. I like the soloing of course. I kind of wish your drums were louder and your guitars were a bit quieter. Something about the reverb on the vocals make them feel like they're not sitting with everything else as well as they could. I wish there were an extended rock out section that went full out crazy loud for a while. It feels like there are a lot of stop/start-y parts and it keeps changing parts rapidly. I can't really settle in to it very well.
Shotpounder
Is this Klownhole? Sounds like Klownhole.
Slickitude
Punky, ska-y, and stuff. You probably achieved what you set out to, but, it's not really something I'm into, sorry.
somethin strange
I'm not really enjoying the beats or the rhymes, probably genre bias.
Step Aside
I like the intro. I think I'd like the vocals more if they had less reverb on them. Maybe less reverb on everything. Nice harmonies in the chorus. Oof, big "plosive" on "please", use a pop screen/wind filter dude. I like when the other backup vocals come in. This has a lot of things going on that are well done and that I like but I'm not really getting into the vocal delivery, it's a bit melodramatic for me sometimes. Ow, when the electrics come in at the end things get way too loud relative to how they had been. This is maybe also a bit long and drawn out. And could use some drums when the big rock out moments happen.
Tall Walkers
It's nice that you overdubbed a lead guitar track, it keeps things a bit more interesting. Still though about half way through this starts to drag. Maybe the tempo is just too slow or something. Also, fyi, unless you're using a mic built in to a phone or laptop or computer, using a mic on your acoustic guitar will very probably sound way better than plugging the acoustic in.
WreckdoM
Is that a "The Jerk" reference in the first verse? If so, that is really awesome. You're cracking me up with the sound effects. It's really silly and goofy but effective for me for some reason. I think it goes on a bit longer than the jokes really justify, but fun for a while.
Berkeley Social Scene
I like the groove of this song a lot. Glen is the mastermind behind this song. He used some nice simple rocking drum loops to set the mood. The original scratch vocals were over auto tuned, but I think these final vocals may be a bit under auto tuned. All I did was play bass, which was fun.
Cookie Blue
I like the lo-fi aspect of this. The singer is doing a good job, but I'm not really sure I enjoy their voice. Maybe it's a bit too nasally or something. Sax solo, that's unexpected. It's a bit repetitive but since it's only two minutes that doesn't bother me too much. Not bad.
Dollar Bill & the Inkpoints
I like the backing tracks. It feels sometimes like you're trying to fit in so many syllables of lyrics that you're having to phrase things a bit unnaturally. I'm curious how you record your vocals. The singing is fine for the song but the recording quality isn't great. You probably don't give a shit about that, though. Overall an OK song for me.
The Economy Biscuits
RAWK. This is pretty straight to the genre of this kind of rock, but it still works for me. That solo is weak, you need to bust into some real face melting after the first phrase, and maybe continue to shred though the final chorus, to keep up the rock level. OK overall.
J TEMP 13
Funky bass. Hm, the second part is a bit odd. Nice drum loops. It's so short, I could have stood to listen to another different part maybe. OK for a short ditty.
J.A.N.
Niv is definitely evoking NIN a little bit for me in the first verse. The "thousand yard stare" part is really dying to be screamed out properly, instead of quiet faux-screaming. I wish there was more syncopation in the verses. Some of the synth lines sound painfully square and robotic to me, but maybe that's intentional. I wish there were some sort of melodic line responding to each line of the choruses.
The Kraken Lives
I hate to be a jerk, but, I'm not into Django's singing, sorry. I can't really understand what he's saying, for one. Nice drum loops. Wow, crazy bridge part, I remember you mentioning that. I guess I like a bunch of the parts, but they don't necessarily feel like a coherent "song" to me, more like a movement in a larger work, like a rock opera or concept album or something.
The Midweeklings
This is a case where the lo-fi-ness isn't really charming me. I'm listening on headphones, so it sounds very very mono to me. Some panning of something would be nice. I like the woman singer, I feel like she's got some soul in her voice. The funky three chord jam under the whole thing gets a little repetitive for me after a couple minutes though.
New Image
Your drums seem a bit too spastic to me. Your main guitar is so thin sounding, it's like it's barely there. Your bass doesn't have much body to it. I feel like your melodies are a bit monotonous, like they hang out on one note for most of each line. You're really going for it though, which I appreciate.
Paco del Stinko
Very ominous beginning. I was hoping for serious dirge rock. Things turn kind of funky and off kilter though. Whoa, rocking the fretless bass, nice playing there. I like the soloing of course. I kind of wish your drums were louder and your guitars were a bit quieter. Something about the reverb on the vocals make them feel like they're not sitting with everything else as well as they could. I wish there were an extended rock out section that went full out crazy loud for a while. It feels like there are a lot of stop/start-y parts and it keeps changing parts rapidly. I can't really settle in to it very well.
Shotpounder
Is this Klownhole? Sounds like Klownhole.
Slickitude
Punky, ska-y, and stuff. You probably achieved what you set out to, but, it's not really something I'm into, sorry.
somethin strange
I'm not really enjoying the beats or the rhymes, probably genre bias.
Step Aside
I like the intro. I think I'd like the vocals more if they had less reverb on them. Maybe less reverb on everything. Nice harmonies in the chorus. Oof, big "plosive" on "please", use a pop screen/wind filter dude. I like when the other backup vocals come in. This has a lot of things going on that are well done and that I like but I'm not really getting into the vocal delivery, it's a bit melodramatic for me sometimes. Ow, when the electrics come in at the end things get way too loud relative to how they had been. This is maybe also a bit long and drawn out. And could use some drums when the big rock out moments happen.
Tall Walkers
It's nice that you overdubbed a lead guitar track, it keeps things a bit more interesting. Still though about half way through this starts to drag. Maybe the tempo is just too slow or something. Also, fyi, unless you're using a mic built in to a phone or laptop or computer, using a mic on your acoustic guitar will very probably sound way better than plugging the acoustic in.
WreckdoM
Is that a "The Jerk" reference in the first verse? If so, that is really awesome. You're cracking me up with the sound effects. It's really silly and goofy but effective for me for some reason. I think it goes on a bit longer than the jokes really justify, but fun for a while.
-
j$
- Ibárruri
- Posts: 5374
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 11:33 am
- Instruments: Bass, keyboards, singin', guitar
- Submitting as: Johnny Cashpoint
- Location: London, Engerllaaannnddd
- Contact:
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
Fairly straight-forward to answer - on the same beat-up headset microphone I've been using since at least 2005 (I don't wear it Madonna-stylee. I prop it up on the desk in front of me - though one of the arms is broken now, so I have to be careful not to get too carried away vocal-styling, or sound levels get a bit wobbly-y) while clutching my pop shield like it's a lollipop (I don't have anywhere appropriate to clip it). I actually have more 'advanced' equipment but I don't like my voice when I hear it recorded through them.Lunkhead wrote: Dollar Bill & the Inkpoints I'm curious how you record your vocals. The singing is fine for the song but the recording quality isn't great. You probably don't give a shit about that, though.
It's not a "punk ideal" - I do give a shit - not about sounding 'good quality' but as a strong believer in music as a great way of communicating ideas, if bad technique is turning people off then I'm letting the songs down, for what they're worth. That said, there are enough collabs/studio demos out there where I've recorded on boss equipment that somehow end up sounding less appealing. It's the voice not the equipment
Damn, I called you out on reviewing, and now I look super-dumb having sat around recording a new album (with the high concept that all vocals are recorded on my phone - ha!) instead of doing my own. Better put that right, asap ...
-
JonPorobil
- Ibárruri
- Posts: 5682
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 11:45 am
- Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Accordion, Bass, lots of VSTs
- Recording Method: Cubase 10.5
- Submitting as: Jon Eric, Jon Porobil, others
- Pronouns: He/Him
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Contact:
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
I recall when you were new at this, every song you turned in had the same "telephone" filter on the vocals. If memory serves, it turned out that this wasn't an aesthetic decision on your part, but rather you hadn't figured out how to turn that filter off. Your vocals and your recording technique have both gotten better over time... And yet sometimes (especially on this week's Dollar Bill entry, in which the isolation of the vocals from the music added significantly to the song's mood), I still miss the "phoned-in" Johnny voice. It was part of your distinctive charm.j$ wrote:Fairly straight-forward to answer - on the same beat-up headset microphone I've been using since at least 2005 (I don't wear it Madonna-stylee. I prop it up on the desk in front of me - though one of the arms is broken now, so I have to be careful not to get too carried away vocal-styling, or sound levels get a bit wobbly-y) while clutching my pop shield like it's a lollipop (I don't have anywhere appropriate to clip it). I actually have more 'advanced' equipment but I don't like my voice when I hear it recorded through them.Lunkhead wrote: Dollar Bill & the Inkpoints I'm curious how you record your vocals. The singing is fine for the song but the recording quality isn't great. You probably don't give a shit about that, though.
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
-
j$
- Ibárruri
- Posts: 5374
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 11:33 am
- Instruments: Bass, keyboards, singin', guitar
- Submitting as: Johnny Cashpoint
- Location: London, Engerllaaannnddd
- Contact:
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
W.A.I.L. I.A.A.C. If I have to go through once more removing smilies ... if my review seems unduly harsh know I was probably saying it with a smile on my face and indicating with the smiley that JB, WHO IS THE MAN APPARENTLY, HAS FORCED ME TO REMOVE. Smiley.
Berkeley Social Scene
The riff is a bit commonplace? In that it sounds like something I've heard elsewhere without being able to say where, exactly - which may be a compliment. Not sure about the vocal/s is/are comfortable with the song this time out. I like the lead guitar work a lot. I like the cute little key change at the end! Not much else to say, which is a review in itself?
Cookie Blue
"Like a ghost of an alien, I keep walking around"? What the HELL does that actually mean? Are dead aliens well known for perambulation? Liking the reed (?) or is it a trumpet? Break, and the phrasing is great. Obviously the same for the vocal. Weirdly it leaves me thinking of Nirvana unplugged. Is that a good thing this season? I lose track. POINTEDLY TYPED SMILEY (see top line of review).
Dollar Bill & the Inkpoints
That would be Bill and me. I will explain the "See I told you, Bill" in-joke once the voting is all over, I just don't want to bias anyone's review of the song. Basically, lyrically Bill's idea, I just fleshed it out and am happy with how it came out. We were going for Brian Eno 3/4 - halfway through the recording I realised I had no idea what that meant, so guessed POINTEDLY TYPED SMILEY (see top line of review).
The Economy Biscuits
Love it - The Melvins would be proud to have written this. "ow ow ow owowowow" is my favourite moment.
J.A.N.
In the future, all music will sound like 90's NIN Actually we were aiming for 8-bit Crystal Castles. I have to say, I think this is End-of-Level Boss good. FTR, I oscillated over including/not including the pitchshifted BVs in the chorus for an age (it wasn't Niveous' great vocal lacked anything, I'm just all about the chorus), and then unilaterally decided to leave them in the final mix. So if you hate 'em, that's my fault entirely.
J TEMP 13
I love the bassline tremendously. The guitar is mixed a little loud for the mood you are trying to emulate, in my opinion. And then it's over. Feels like a brilliant exercise rather than a song, to me.
The Kraken Lives
I hate Star Wars songs as much as I love Star Wars. We have had this discussion last Nur Ein, Glennny. It's pretty much impossible for me to say anything else, for fear a six year old may see what I wrote! Overall, It's adorable, and I love/hate the big instrumental prog-out. Don't think I can vote it because I just can't shake off the "novelty" dust (kids! singing about star wars! To a prog backing!) but that's probably me. No to that big crash at the end.
The Midweeklings
Jim? Sounds like Jim. "Moves like Jaeger" is funny. I also like those keyboards under the second verse, and the play on "shot down". By the by, does one "throw a shot down" rather than "Down a shot" - it doesn't matter ... You lose points for YOLO. By the time of the solo (EDIT:It occurs to me YOLO would have been a brilliant shout just before/ to introduce the SOLO. I so word-funny) - I am praying for the pleasantness to end, and then it does, only on a horrible extended note. A parson's egg.
New Image
I love the verses. Stop referencing me, though POINTEDLY TYPED SMILEY (see top line of review). The more obviously 80's influenced choruses do less for me. That's some vibrato on the chorus high notes - not good or bad, just sayin'. You're hitting the notes, for sure. I keep waiting for something to happen - I know that sounds mean, I think it's an arrangement thing - those Foreigners / Psychedelic Furs / whoever knew how to make a chorus "go big" and I think this song would benefit from that ... otherwise, I like ..
Paco del Stinko
Yay literal-interpretation-of-title-using-SFX moment! POINTEDLY TYPED SMILEY (see top line of review). Love that wiggly bassline, as usual. Not so keen on the 'dramatic' vocal performance as much. That said it could be the DKs in one of their "we're not just political punk" moments, only with a lot less anger seeping through to prove they were only joshin' all along! A pleasant, good listen.
Shotpounder
As last week, I love it. Unlike last week I not giving you a steenkin' vote. Why? As much as I appreciate a high concept, it's beginning to sound like you're phoning it in, doing a song for the sake of doing a song, rather than having anything to say. Probably just me, and massively unfair, but hey I've always been massively harsh but unfair.
Slickitude
Are you 'really' sick of the Beatles? Also don't steal lines from the Clash unlike you're going to carry off their passion. That said, I like this, despite being a moan about music, which veers dangerously close to meta for my tastes. What the hell, I like this, have a vote.
somethin strange
You don't sound like a space cadet to me. Love the backing track. Lyrically to me is a bit unfulfilling, though the flow is good and there are some cute lines. Yeah stop saying "space cadet" - that song was YEARS ago. And also "Never nominated is not about what they select" - actually, that's exactly what nomination is about. Just sayin'. There's a lot here I like - it's a little too long, but the lack of interest in the "game" of SF makes me not want to like it.
Step Aside
Contrary to unpopular opinion, I didn't hate this in the first ten seconds - it took me twenty POINTEDLY TYPED SMILEY (see top line of review). Seriously we are in the dreaded "Not my bag" territory - I will endeavour to say things about it only that I like. The vocal/s work very well with each other - it's really well recorded and mixed ... ah fuck it, sorry, "I haven't slept for fucking days"? Is that the best use of a perfectly good swearword? "I can see the sunlight of tomorrow / I can see it now baby" UGH! Clunky! "That heavy metal ship's arriving"???? Did you actually just sing that? Is this a joke? Oh god, not making ANY claims for my lyricism, and I feel so bad pulling anyone up on the words, but otherwise, it's a perfectly serviceable bit of tuneage ... I can't, I just can't ... so sorry
Tall Walkers
Pretty, a little over-'sensitive' for me, but maybe that's because I don't have the chops to pull such off. Weirdly for a short song, it felt over-long. I think that's just the sad, slow mood you're going for and I'm not engaging with.
WreckdoM
Hey, it's called 'shot down' then you're going to need shot FX to make the point, right? POINTEDLY TYPED SMILEY (see top line of review). Going to sound weird coming from me, but I would suggest taking the vocals down in the mix slightly here - I think the "song" is a little lost under the as-per arch "performance" and it sounds like it's better than merely "backing track". Camp as tits, though, as-per, and therefore it is supah.
Berkeley Social Scene
The riff is a bit commonplace? In that it sounds like something I've heard elsewhere without being able to say where, exactly - which may be a compliment. Not sure about the vocal/s is/are comfortable with the song this time out. I like the lead guitar work a lot. I like the cute little key change at the end! Not much else to say, which is a review in itself?
Cookie Blue
"Like a ghost of an alien, I keep walking around"? What the HELL does that actually mean? Are dead aliens well known for perambulation? Liking the reed (?) or is it a trumpet? Break, and the phrasing is great. Obviously the same for the vocal. Weirdly it leaves me thinking of Nirvana unplugged. Is that a good thing this season? I lose track. POINTEDLY TYPED SMILEY (see top line of review).
Dollar Bill & the Inkpoints
That would be Bill and me. I will explain the "See I told you, Bill" in-joke once the voting is all over, I just don't want to bias anyone's review of the song. Basically, lyrically Bill's idea, I just fleshed it out and am happy with how it came out. We were going for Brian Eno 3/4 - halfway through the recording I realised I had no idea what that meant, so guessed POINTEDLY TYPED SMILEY (see top line of review).
The Economy Biscuits
Love it - The Melvins would be proud to have written this. "ow ow ow owowowow" is my favourite moment.
J.A.N.
In the future, all music will sound like 90's NIN
Actually we were aiming for 8-bit Crystal Castles. I have to say, I think this is End-of-Level Boss good. FTR, I oscillated over including/not including the pitchshifted BVs in the chorus for an age (it wasn't Niveous' great vocal lacked anything, I'm just all about the chorus), and then unilaterally decided to leave them in the final mix. So if you hate 'em, that's my fault entirely.J TEMP 13
I love the bassline tremendously. The guitar is mixed a little loud for the mood you are trying to emulate, in my opinion. And then it's over. Feels like a brilliant exercise rather than a song, to me.
The Kraken Lives
I hate Star Wars songs as much as I love Star Wars. We have had this discussion last Nur Ein, Glennny. It's pretty much impossible for me to say anything else, for fear a six year old may see what I wrote! Overall, It's adorable, and I love/hate the big instrumental prog-out. Don't think I can vote it because I just can't shake off the "novelty" dust (kids! singing about star wars! To a prog backing!) but that's probably me. No to that big crash at the end.
The Midweeklings
Jim? Sounds like Jim. "Moves like Jaeger" is funny. I also like those keyboards under the second verse, and the play on "shot down". By the by, does one "throw a shot down" rather than "Down a shot" - it doesn't matter ... You lose points for YOLO. By the time of the solo (EDIT:It occurs to me YOLO would have been a brilliant shout just before/ to introduce the SOLO. I so word-funny) - I am praying for the pleasantness to end, and then it does, only on a horrible extended note. A parson's egg.
New Image
I love the verses. Stop referencing me, though POINTEDLY TYPED SMILEY (see top line of review). The more obviously 80's influenced choruses do less for me. That's some vibrato on the chorus high notes - not good or bad, just sayin'. You're hitting the notes, for sure. I keep waiting for something to happen - I know that sounds mean, I think it's an arrangement thing - those Foreigners / Psychedelic Furs / whoever knew how to make a chorus "go big" and I think this song would benefit from that ... otherwise, I like ..
Paco del Stinko
Yay literal-interpretation-of-title-using-SFX moment! POINTEDLY TYPED SMILEY (see top line of review). Love that wiggly bassline, as usual. Not so keen on the 'dramatic' vocal performance as much. That said it could be the DKs in one of their "we're not just political punk" moments, only with a lot less anger seeping through to prove they were only joshin' all along! A pleasant, good listen.
Shotpounder
As last week, I love it. Unlike last week I not giving you a steenkin' vote. Why? As much as I appreciate a high concept, it's beginning to sound like you're phoning it in, doing a song for the sake of doing a song, rather than having anything to say. Probably just me, and massively unfair, but hey I've always been massively harsh but unfair.
Slickitude
Are you 'really' sick of the Beatles? Also don't steal lines from the Clash unlike you're going to carry off their passion. That said, I like this, despite being a moan about music, which veers dangerously close to meta for my tastes. What the hell, I like this, have a vote.
somethin strange
You don't sound like a space cadet to me. Love the backing track. Lyrically to me is a bit unfulfilling, though the flow is good and there are some cute lines. Yeah stop saying "space cadet" - that song was YEARS ago. And also "Never nominated is not about what they select" - actually, that's exactly what nomination is about. Just sayin'. There's a lot here I like - it's a little too long, but the lack of interest in the "game" of SF makes me not want to like it.
Step Aside
Contrary to unpopular opinion, I didn't hate this in the first ten seconds - it took me twenty POINTEDLY TYPED SMILEY (see top line of review). Seriously we are in the dreaded "Not my bag" territory - I will endeavour to say things about it only that I like. The vocal/s work very well with each other - it's really well recorded and mixed ... ah fuck it, sorry, "I haven't slept for fucking days"? Is that the best use of a perfectly good swearword? "I can see the sunlight of tomorrow / I can see it now baby" UGH! Clunky! "That heavy metal ship's arriving"???? Did you actually just sing that? Is this a joke? Oh god, not making ANY claims for my lyricism, and I feel so bad pulling anyone up on the words, but otherwise, it's a perfectly serviceable bit of tuneage ... I can't, I just can't ... so sorry
Tall Walkers
Pretty, a little over-'sensitive' for me, but maybe that's because I don't have the chops to pull such off. Weirdly for a short song, it felt over-long. I think that's just the sad, slow mood you're going for and I'm not engaging with.
WreckdoM
Hey, it's called 'shot down' then you're going to need shot FX to make the point, right? POINTEDLY TYPED SMILEY (see top line of review). Going to sound weird coming from me, but I would suggest taking the vocals down in the mix slightly here - I think the "song" is a little lost under the as-per arch "performance" and it sounds like it's better than merely "backing track". Camp as tits, though, as-per, and therefore it is supah.
Last edited by j$ on Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:32 pm, edited 2 times in total.
-
j$
- Ibárruri
- Posts: 5374
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 11:33 am
- Instruments: Bass, keyboards, singin', guitar
- Submitting as: Johnny Cashpoint
- Location: London, Engerllaaannnddd
- Contact:
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
If you're referring to the period I think you are, I was recording on a cassette player and putting it back into the computer via line-in afterwards! I couldn't afford anything else. That was all I had. and I agree, it had a certain charm, when it worked. Lucky my new album is a total throwback to those "good ol' days" - entirely recorded on my phone - and therefore called "Phoned In" - keep watching the faux analogue skiesGeneric wrote:I recall when you were new at this, every song you turned in had the same "telephone" filter on the vocals. If memory serves, it turned out that this wasn't an aesthetic decision on your part, but rather you hadn't figured out how to turn that filter off ...j$ wrote:Fairly straight-forward to answer ....Lunkhead wrote: Dollar Bill & the Inkpoints I'm curious how you record your vocals. The singing is fine for the song but the recording quality isn't great. You probably don't give a shit about that, though.
-
Geoff WreckdoM
- Goldman
- Posts: 543
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 12:13 pm
- Instruments: Theremin
- Recording Method: Pabst Blue Ribbon
- Location: Awestin, TX
- Contact:
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
The Midweeklings - I like your band name. I really like the female vocals. The male vocals are ok, it's a nice contrast but I definitely have a favorite of the two. You're both belting it out and I wish the song had a little more oomph to it. It's easy vibe, kinda outdoor music fest feel to it, that's just not a genre I'm wild about, and with this vocal dynamic, you could've done something a lot more compelling.
New Image - Your vocals are too much for me. Your hollering every line the same way to the same height. When your at the top of your emotional power the whole song, and it all sounds the same, the result is exhausting to listen to.
Paco Del Stinko - I really like the instrumentation, everything's got a super fun effect on it and the play between the guitar and bass is neat. Bass is really cool. Also like what you're doing with your vocals. Once again I'm voting for Paco, but I do think this would've benefited from being slightly shorter.
Shotpounder - I like it right away. I think I'll vote for this too. That is some grade A screaming. Shredding is pretty cool too.
Slickitude - Great lyrics and delivery, ambitious but you pulled it off. I like the energy of this a lot. Vote.
Somehtin Strange - Did you submit a song you already wrote called Space Cadet? It's not bad, it's not great though. The rap loses some clarity when everyone is rapping at once, due to the distortion on the vox. It sounds cool but try to figure out how it can work together. The rapping chops are pretty good, I like the music too, it's fun. You know, I think I shall refrain from voting, because I don't think you wrote this for the fight.
Step Aside - Going to have to try to suppress my genre bias here. This is a long song. As I mentioned in the review for New Image, this is just a bit too non stop in your face vocals. Sometimes I like non stop in your face, but this is all about some really in your face emotional stuff and that's just not for me. Your overdoing it. It's also really long.
Tall Walkers - Whoa, what's with all the female vocalists I don't recognize? What a refreshing change from the usual sausage party. I do really like the vocals on this one too, it's a nice performance. I'm not especially drawn into the song though, it more less keeps the same note throughout. Inoffensive, but not especially memorable.
New Image - Your vocals are too much for me. Your hollering every line the same way to the same height. When your at the top of your emotional power the whole song, and it all sounds the same, the result is exhausting to listen to.
Paco Del Stinko - I really like the instrumentation, everything's got a super fun effect on it and the play between the guitar and bass is neat. Bass is really cool. Also like what you're doing with your vocals. Once again I'm voting for Paco, but I do think this would've benefited from being slightly shorter.
Shotpounder - I like it right away. I think I'll vote for this too. That is some grade A screaming. Shredding is pretty cool too.
Slickitude - Great lyrics and delivery, ambitious but you pulled it off. I like the energy of this a lot. Vote.
Somehtin Strange - Did you submit a song you already wrote called Space Cadet? It's not bad, it's not great though. The rap loses some clarity when everyone is rapping at once, due to the distortion on the vox. It sounds cool but try to figure out how it can work together. The rapping chops are pretty good, I like the music too, it's fun. You know, I think I shall refrain from voting, because I don't think you wrote this for the fight.
Step Aside - Going to have to try to suppress my genre bias here. This is a long song. As I mentioned in the review for New Image, this is just a bit too non stop in your face vocals. Sometimes I like non stop in your face, but this is all about some really in your face emotional stuff and that's just not for me. Your overdoing it. It's also really long.
Tall Walkers - Whoa, what's with all the female vocalists I don't recognize? What a refreshing change from the usual sausage party. I do really like the vocals on this one too, it's a nice performance. I'm not especially drawn into the song though, it more less keeps the same note throughout. Inoffensive, but not especially memorable.
"perhaps the most offensive and disturbing image I've ever heard in a song" - Hans Gruber
-
HeuristicsInc
- Ibárruri
- Posts: 5350
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 6:14 pm
- Instruments: Synths
- Recording Method: Windows computer, Acid, Synths etc.
- Submitting as: Heuristics Inc. (duh) + collabs
- Pronouns: he/him
- Location: Maryland USA
- Contact:
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
JAN - i think you guys should try the eq notch thing where you cut the other sounds where the vocals are loudest because i’m having trouble making out the words. that said, i still dig this a lot. niv singing? excellent vocal. enjoying all the synths and how the sounds work together, just wishing they sat in the mix better.
JT13 - classic sound. this is fun. short and sweet.
kraken - your kid does a lot more complex vocal stylings than mine… the vocals sound in a very different place than the music. and the instrumental break is a bit lot of break in that it is also very different. i’m not sure if it feels entirely cohesive. but it’s cool. points for theme. biggs is the bomb.
mdwk - good duet. digging the solo delay. excellent vocal effect there. oh, is this the tyrrell/new girl combo? great.
newimage - i feel like this vocal needs more nuance, like every line is shouted the same way. it’s tiring. it’s got my feet tapping, though.
paco - i love the theatricality of the vocals. you do that well. nice bass around 1:30. then the bass at 1:50… yeah, i basically love the basses.
shotp - s’ok. but i feel like i’ve more or less heard this song before.
slick - hmm… what’s wrong with the beatles? or did you mean beetles? i listened to it twice.
sstrange - interesting synths. i like what’s going on with the additional sounds around :45. space cadet is repeated too much. i think the backing track lacks in dynamics a bit. have some more bits change throughout.
step - nivr bovsl. um. i mean, nice vocal. this is a nice effort and well put together, but it’s not really grabbing me.
tallwalkers - vocal needs to be more up front, it’s hard to hear you and sounds kind of muddy. good vocal though. i’d like to hear it more.
wreck - i think the pistol sounds are really making the song, along with that bit of theremin. although bb’s would not, uh, make that sort of sound. but that’s okay. it’s good.
bss - i like that change around :50. good drum fills. the vocals aren’t grabbing me right on this one. good song, but not quite a vote. cool ending.
cookie - heh, so called solo. i like what’s going on with the vocals. and the martial drums. nice combination. i think i’ll vote for it.
dbti - this is j$ and me. my original song idea was inspired by snoopy. j$ does a good job of making sense of my very very rough lyrical sketches. stay tuned for our next song, “another hetero attraction.” i’m especially pleased with my dive-bombing synth sound. i think it sounds a lot like a plane.
economy - heh, good vocal effect/styling @ :55. digging the bass. odd ending. pretty good.
favorites: jan, jt13, kraken, mdwk, paco, wreck, cookie, dbti
JT13 - classic sound. this is fun. short and sweet.
kraken - your kid does a lot more complex vocal stylings than mine… the vocals sound in a very different place than the music. and the instrumental break is a bit lot of break in that it is also very different. i’m not sure if it feels entirely cohesive. but it’s cool. points for theme. biggs is the bomb.
mdwk - good duet. digging the solo delay. excellent vocal effect there. oh, is this the tyrrell/new girl combo? great.
newimage - i feel like this vocal needs more nuance, like every line is shouted the same way. it’s tiring. it’s got my feet tapping, though.
paco - i love the theatricality of the vocals. you do that well. nice bass around 1:30. then the bass at 1:50… yeah, i basically love the basses.
shotp - s’ok. but i feel like i’ve more or less heard this song before.
slick - hmm… what’s wrong with the beatles? or did you mean beetles? i listened to it twice.
sstrange - interesting synths. i like what’s going on with the additional sounds around :45. space cadet is repeated too much. i think the backing track lacks in dynamics a bit. have some more bits change throughout.
step - nivr bovsl. um. i mean, nice vocal. this is a nice effort and well put together, but it’s not really grabbing me.
tallwalkers - vocal needs to be more up front, it’s hard to hear you and sounds kind of muddy. good vocal though. i’d like to hear it more.
wreck - i think the pistol sounds are really making the song, along with that bit of theremin. although bb’s would not, uh, make that sort of sound. but that’s okay. it’s good.
bss - i like that change around :50. good drum fills. the vocals aren’t grabbing me right on this one. good song, but not quite a vote. cool ending.
cookie - heh, so called solo. i like what’s going on with the vocals. and the martial drums. nice combination. i think i’ll vote for it.
dbti - this is j$ and me. my original song idea was inspired by snoopy. j$ does a good job of making sense of my very very rough lyrical sketches. stay tuned for our next song, “another hetero attraction.” i’m especially pleased with my dive-bombing synth sound. i think it sounds a lot like a plane.
economy - heh, good vocal effect/styling @ :55. digging the bass. odd ending. pretty good.
favorites: jan, jt13, kraken, mdwk, paco, wreck, cookie, dbti
152612141617123326211316121416172329292119162316331829382412351416132117152332252921
http://heuristicsinc.com
Liner Notes
SF Lyric Ideas
http://heuristicsinc.com
Liner Notes
SF Lyric Ideas
-
JonPorobil
- Ibárruri
- Posts: 5682
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 11:45 am
- Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Accordion, Bass, lots of VSTs
- Recording Method: Cubase 10.5
- Submitting as: Jon Eric, Jon Porobil, others
- Pronouns: He/Him
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Contact:
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
Ah, I mis-remembered the problem. But yes, I'm sure we're thinking about the same time period and the same recording limitation on the vocals.j$ wrote: If you're referring to the period I think you are, I was recording on a cassette player and putting it back into the computer via line-in afterwards! I couldn't afford anything else. That was all I had. and I agree, it had a certain charm, when it worked. Lucky my new album is a total throwback to those "good ol' days" - entirely recorded on my phone - and therefore called "Phoned In" - keep watching the faux analogue skies
It really does. Great work with that effect.HeuristicsInc wrote: dbti - i’m especially pleased with my dive-bombing synth sound. i think it sounds a lot like a plane.
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
-
HeuristicsInc
- Ibárruri
- Posts: 5350
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 6:14 pm
- Instruments: Synths
- Recording Method: Windows computer, Acid, Synths etc.
- Submitting as: Heuristics Inc. (duh) + collabs
- Pronouns: he/him
- Location: Maryland USA
- Contact:
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
thanks!
-bill
-bill
152612141617123326211316121416172329292119162316331829382412351416132117152332252921
http://heuristicsinc.com
Liner Notes
SF Lyric Ideas
http://heuristicsinc.com
Liner Notes
SF Lyric Ideas
-
josh
- Attlee
- Posts: 329
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:43 pm
- Instruments: Guitar, Bass, Kazoo, Vocals, Keys
- Recording Method: Reaper, 4-Track Cassette
- Submitting as: Zack Facco
- Location: Cambridge, MA
- Contact:
Re: Bad Pick Up Lines (Shot Down Reviews)
While I voted for Paco Del Stinko (cool track, I like the goofy vocal vibe), I gotta say, "Moves like Jäger" was by far my favorite line. Although a close second is a misheard line from Kraken's chorus. Ah, are we allowed to post slightly off colored stuff, cause I'd love to share my interpretation. Haha.