Gret it right the first time (Failure and Regret Reviews)

[Leaf]

I am not really a leaf.


I am the real Glenn Case.


And I already reviewed this fight!!

[erik]

Here are reviews for these songs, for this is the review thread:

Abecedarian: Whoa, for like one or two words, I thought this song was in German, whew... This song is pretty cool. awwwwww, why's the accordion keep cutting out. It sounds very pretty, and I wish that it had been introduced earlier, like around 0:45, just something to fill out the empty space. I like the harmonies too, and think that they could have been introduced earlier too. This song could have gone on for like another minute, minute and a half and I wouldn't have felt it was wearing out its welcome. This is a nice song.

Deshead: I wanna hear your voice really belt out like an angry drunken jilted lover. I hear what feels like your voice holding back when it gets into the higher registers. You have a very nice tone, but the vocals lack alot of dynamics or range of energy. Obviously, you can't go balls-out for the whole song, but a few MC5 "Kick out the Jams" moments would really help. The same thing with the solo guitar, it feels like it's holding back at times. This song's chorus reminds me a bit of that one song from "Toys", called... ummm... "Closing of the Year". I really really like that song, and I think this song is a good one too.

Diathetic Obfuscation: Man, that's a little too much of the "Hit Me Baby One More Time" on the intro there. I mean, I like that song, but I don't need to hear it anymore. Oh, I don't like the "Schoolhouse Rock" breakdown in the middle, it really sounds like I'm about to learn about how to turn an adjective into an adverb. The spoken part goes on way too long. Overall, I am not a fan of your voice, I think that this song would probably be better if someone else was singing it. As it is, this song is okay, but it's not doing anything for me.

Hillbilly: The lines are so short that there's no real room to stretch out your voice, so all the twang gets bunched up and it grates on my ears. Too much twang for me. Maybe if you spoke-sung it more, but probably no. Don't understand why you put the "n-word" in your song. This song is okay, but really not my thing.

Hip Cola featuring Tonetripper: Weird, here's another song which is reminiscent of the "Toys" soundtrack. I hear shades of "The Mirror Song" by Steve and Yolanda. Nothing overt or obvious, just kind of the 80's beat and the deadpanniness of the vox. I like this song as background music, it's got a laidback groove to it.

Lonbobby: Man, what soap opera theme are you ripping in the beginning... Is it "Bold and the Beautiful"? I think it might be. The autotune or vocoder or whatever, I don't care for that. Nor do I care for the harmonica breakdown. Overall, this is well recorded, it just sounds lifeless and long and is not holding my attention. I don't care for this song.

NS: I'm falling asleep. Get to the thing, whatever the thing is. There's gotta be a thing. Not vocals necessarily, but a thing. This is very pretty sounding, but there's nothing to make me want to keep listening. Gawd, okay 2:00 and there's SOMEthing. It took way too long to get there. I understand that slowness is part of this piece, but it feelstoo empty for too long. I think this is a great use of the title, it really feels like failure and regret to me, but then with a dust off your boots feel at the end. I just wish it wasn't so empty for so long. This song is okay.

Queso de Papa: "Swwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet Home Alabaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaama L-rd I'm coming home to you" wait This is very nicely recorded and all, I'm just not a big fan of jam-style funky white boy folk music. Unless it has a badass chorus like 100 times during the song, which I never heard. This song is not for me.

Red Balloon: Man, the brushes sound like ass. It's too much and too off. It would have sounded better without them. This song is nice enough for a simple singalong song, and I really like your voice. As it's arranged, it kind of feels too long, move the guitar solo up one verse so that it's around the 2:00 mark. This song, I like it.

Songfight Orchestra: This is very nice sounding. I would like to hear it as a longer piece. Not too much terribly longer, but if this was allowed to expand a bit more, with repetition of some of the themes, that would really be cool. (I know it's for the 30 second thingfest, but this could be expanded to be a fully great song in its own right.) As it is, I think this song is okay, because it feels like it's a sample of a longer song, one that I would like to hear in its entireity.

TA-DA that is what I have to say

[Edge of LA]

Good listening here:

Abecedarian: Slow start. What language is that at the ende? "latin"? It was an awesome surprise at the end.

Deshead: Another moving song. Great production.

Diathetic Obfuscation: not that into this song.

Hillbilly: ok. I will not address the "N" thing (at least not now)

Hip Cola featuring Tonetripper: I like this song. Very ambient. Oh, I also loved the lyrics. I almost put an automatic vote to this song just for the lyrics before the songs were posted. But I knew that wouldn't be fair.

Lonbobby: Groovy song. I like the harmonica.

NS: Mixed way too low. I have no other opinion to add.

Queso de Papa: I like this song also. Nice and percussive. I enjoyed the breakdown at the end.

Red Balloon: I liked listening to this song. It's just "there". The vocals screaching for the high notes made me laugh.

Songfight Orchestra: Nice and sweet. Just a matter of personal taste, I don't care for the vocal tones. I usually associate cleaner voices for that type of harmonies. Just a matter of my taste.

Hmmmm, who to vote for???? Des, The Hip Cola, or Lonbobby.

[mico saudad]

What language is that at the ende? "latin"?...awesome surprise at the end

From Mozart's Requiem:

Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis, voca me cum benedictis

"When the accursed have been given over to the bitter flames, call me among the blessed"

Except in the case of Mozart's requiem the voice actually believes that they are to be counted among the blessed. It has an unassailable purity to it. In this song it's more pleading. As if they are not sure where they will end up. Sort of like the characters on Lost.

But while it is not clear to them, we certainly see that absolution is within their reach (as long as they overcome themselves). Hopefully that will be the awesome surprise at the end of the show.

[SaxManRunning!]

From Mozart's Requiem:

Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis, voca me cum benedictis

"When the accursed have been given over to the bitter flames, call me among the blessed"

Except in the case of Mozart's requiem the voice actually believes that they are to be counted among the blessed. It has an unassailable purity to it. In this song it's more pleading. As if they are not sure where they will end up. Sort of like the characters on Lost.

But while it is not clear to them, we certainly see that absolution is within their reach (as long as they overcome themselves). Hopefully that will be the awesome surprise at the end of the show.

I just watched Amadeous in my german class, is it for real the whole story they threw into the production of that song? intence if it is.

Nice songs this week, but I'd vote for the art if possible, it is an awesome follow-up from another great fight.

[thehipcola]

diatheticcobfuscation
I like the tightness of the intro music. I'm not drawn to the tonal quality of your voice, but I think you could improve how it sits in the mix by rolling off alot of low end to fit the mix better. I think this is not a bad song. Fav bit is the tightness of the main groove. Would like to hear some more balls in the song generally. It sounds ok on pc speakers, and thin on my studio "monitors".

TheHipCola feat. my man TT
I Was kind of rushed on this, so basically I think it needs more. Too short, but that's what the music was saying to me at that time. Big thank you to Tonetripper for a great bass track. Bit of a departure for me, was trying to go for something sonically soothing and lush to play for my beautiful 2 week old daughter. I didn't want any edges in this piece. Criticisms I have would be the ending, lack of another verse, and the empty transition in the middle. I just couldn't find what was needed there. Thanks to everyone for the super reviews and comments, they're appreciated. Have babies! They will blow your mind.

Queso de Papa
I like the acoustic guitar sound and performance in this. Nice and tight, great sounds. Needs more kik. The bass is rockin' too, but too, it's buried. Maybe this mix is a tad crispy in the highs...I like the groove you've got goin' on though...I find myself boppin my head. I do not dig the breakdown ending...it's a cop out. I know I faded mine, also a cop out, but you had a great groove there... great grooves deserve inspired endings.

The Red Balloon
The best thing is the main vocals, which have a bit of character. But the rest is pretty meh...c'mon guys...maybe try practicing.

Abecederian
I'm not a big fan of guy n' guitar, but I find your voice to be pretty powerful in this track, and that draws me in. The squeezeboxy thing is a nice touch. I like this song quite a bit. Great harmonies toward the end. I like that. Nice work...earns a trip through the archives to see what other gems you've got.

Deshead
This rocks. You have a great rock voice man..wow. Great production, though I think the toms have too much compression happening. But otherwise great sounds, great mix. Good solid song...it's for sure Canadian sounding, and that makes me smile. Good job, very possible vote. LOVE the female voice...very nice touch!

SFO
great harmonies...nice work.

Hillbilly
yah, can't get around the lyrics..song is ok.

NS
the trouble with a slow start like that is that for me, it has to get pretty impressive along the line to make me stay or listen again. So far, we ain't there yet. It strikes me that this would make a nice inbetweener on a lullabye CD for my baby. But it's not doing alot as a song in the Failure and Regret fight. so, nice baby-lude.

Lonbobby
Love the harmonica break. This is probably my favourite Lonbobby track..must be the pop-sensibility. There are some minor shifts musically that the melody doesn't follow or vice-versa, some timing issues with the keys, but I like the vocoder. LIke the bass sound. The resolve from the harmonica to the verse is brilliant and works well each time. It's reminds of some other hit pop song. Bad ending, but a good tune.

well, my fav's in this fight are:

Deshead, Abecederian, Lonbobby and me. Mine doesn't count though due to an incredible new baby bias. However, wouldn't have mattered, as Deshead's track really impressed me this week and he takes the vote hands down.

[Eric Y.]

abecedarian - your guitar sounds great. the vocals are a lot different than your standard style, not saying that's a good or a bad thing, just different. this sounds like an impromptu acoustic performance by a band who's being interviewed at a radio station.

deshead - starts out kinda promising sounding, but then your voice is just a bit too "adult contemporary" or whatever it's called to really fit in with the music. i dig the drums a bunch.

diathetic obfuscation - it's been fun watching you people guessing about this all week. but as anybody who really pays attention (which obviously niveous does) would know, this is obscurity on music and me on vocals. i agree with whoever it was that said the vocals are too loud -- usually the complaint is the opposite of that, and i guess i overcompensated a bit. i actually like the first verse (the singing part) -- one of the only times i've ever been okay with hearing myself singing. the rest of it (the spoken word) was because i sort of ran out of time as far as writing lyrics -- i'd had a lyrical idea all laid out mentally but the words were just not coming to me, so i ended up quoting a few passages by oscar wilde that kinda related to what i was talking about. i'm not quite so pleased with how the spoken part turned out sounding.

hillbilly - the guitar is pretty. the vocals don't sound so great at the beginning. the backing parts sound like they were recorded by jack shite (as far as effects and panning and stuff is concerned). okok it's not just at the beginning, i just plain don't like the vocals. and the complaint about that particular lyric has been run into the ground so i won't bring it up again. but booooooo for that.

hip cola feat. tone tripper - the vocals start out kinda deadpan and dull, but then they speed up a little bit and HELLO savage garden

lonbobby - thumbs down on the synthesised vocals. waaaaay down. the music's alright but doesn't really make up for it.

ns - can just barely hear the chimes over the hum from the pc fan. and that's all you've got? apparently "ns" stands for "no substance"?

queso de papa - this could really use a change in instrumentation or feel or something at some point because it's a bit too much of the same thing. but it all sounds pretty decent... particularly the percussion parts are really repetitive. at least until the very end. but for a sonic freak-out, it doesn't get very freaky.

red balloon - guitar starts out pretty cool, but what's up with these vocals? blah!

songfight orchestra - not very orchestral, is it? i haven't heard any of the prior entries though, so i wasn't sure what to expect. nicely done.

wow, i really have no clue who to vote for... i think generally speaking this fight was pretty much a failure, and i regret spending time listening to it. there are obvious exceptions to this, of course, but nobody really stands out all that much.

[Verbatim]

Abecedarian - I really like the intro - vocals are a little loud but well-written, although I wasn't fond of the end of the song or the "it's too late" part.

Deshead - Awesome drum and guitar intro. Your voice seems very gruff this week; I like that. I also liked how you used the title - very interesting.

Hillbilly - You work like a what!? Obviously not enough, on this song.

Hip Cola Feat. Tone Tripper - This sounds a little like that Savage Garden song, oddly enough about "cherry cola" - apparently you people like cola.

Lonbobby - Pretty piano, yeah but I don't like the vocals.

ns - Oh no is this one of those really quiet songs again... ZZZZZ please tell me there are words. Yeah, you suck.

Queso de Papa - Guitar's really good. Overall a nice song, just kinda forgetable. Hate the ending.

Red Balloon - I'm getting a very bad Violent Femmes vibe going on here. Please learn to sing.

Songfight Orchestra - Gotta love Glenn. You saved this fight for me, nice job even if it's really short.

[WeaselSlayer]

Red Balloon - ... Please learn to sing.

Christ people can be uppity. Don't talk about things you don't know anything about. Such as my musical background.

Love,
Luke from The Red Balloon

[fluffy]

People only have your singing to judge your singing by.

[deshead]

Thanks for the reviews and kind words. Here's my two bits':

but then your voice is just a bit too "adult contemporary"

Ow!

Spiritually this is decended from Irish immigrants added to the instrumentation of Toad the Wet Sprocket ... and a voice that is distinctly American

Heh, you simultaneously described the essence of Canadian folk rock, and half my CD collection.

This is so Canadian sounding! Makes me think of the Highlands bar they tore down in Cambridge...

Or the old Spadina Hotel ... <sigh> ... People used to care about Lowest of the Low.

I'm starting to realize your protagonist is always Kevin Costner. I hate Costner roles.

Hahahaha. If I bothered with a sig, this would now be it.

What's in your set-up?

Sonar, a US-224, and a bunch of SM58s.


Abecedarian: I usually like abrupt endings that emphasize the closing lyric (the canonical example being Wilco's She's A Jar). Something about this ending doesn't work, though. It's like you pulled the fader down, rather than let everything hang out there for a sec so we could think about. No matter, everything else sits really well. Your voice is awesome, and perfect for the song. "It's too la-aa-aa-aa-ate" was the part of this fight still stuck in my head after the first run-through. Nice job.

Diathetic Obfuscation: Your voice is really dry (it would sound better dropped back in the mix, with some reverb,) and the instrument tracks are too quiet, especially the guitar. But that said, this song is ... really interesting. I've listened to it half a dozen times, and expect to do the same again.

Hillbilly: The production on your entries keeps getting better. The mic'd guitar sounds perfect. This is a great take on the title, and I think you really nailed it with the chorus. (Here's a good thread on DIY pop screens, might help you tame those plosives a bit.)

Lonbobby: Self-referential lyrics always make me cringe. But you make up for that with the awesome Fatboy Slim breaks and changes. In the end, I like this song a lot, and it would have gotten my vote if not for Redcar-1.

ns: .

Queso de Papa: Sweet drivin' music. The production is spot-on, and the break-down at the end is superb. I think you're right about the outro, though. The song would be a bit snappier if it ended sooner.

The Hip Cola feat. Tone Tripper: I didn't get Savage Garden from this so much as Men Without Hats. (I mean that favourably, if it's possible.) This is easily my favorite track of the fight. The production is flawless, and I like that you didn't squash the sound to make it louder. Let the song breathe!!
(Whether you made this song for yourself or Mackenzie, what a profoundly moving way to capture memories. Pictures and videos are static and observer-focused, but you put yourself into a piece art, something timeless and alive and personal. You can play it for your daughter in 15 years and she'll connect with you, and the guy you are today. Deep.)

The Red Balloon: Bonus points for giving me summer-at-the-cottage nostalgia. Negative bonus point for giving me four minutes of it.

Songfight Orchestra: Glenn Freakin' Case. I'd just finished listening to SMiLE when I heard this. What a perfect segue into the fight. (Yes, I'm comparing you to Brian Wilson.)


Some good tracks, but THC/TT get my vote.

[thehipcola]

Des,

I haven't thought of Lowest of the Low in soooo long, but reading you name them in your response brought back a couple of albums worth of awesome memories! Thanks! What a great Toronto gem they were.

And thanks for the great review!

[jb]

The Hip Cola feat. Tone Tripper: I didn't get Savage Garden from this so much as Men Without Hats. (I mean that favourably, if it's possible.)

This comment made me listen to the song. Dunno if I agree, but I love Men Without Hats. At 1:13 when the synth comes in I can hear it the comparison a little more. It's definitely a nice, layered song. I think I'd compare it more to Tears for Fears than Men Without Hats.

I like.

Oh man it just ended! WAY too short! WTF!

[Gazelles]

1. Abecedarian
2. The Hip Cola feat. Tone Tripper
3. Lonbobby
4. Queso de Papa

[Eric Y.]

Red Balloon - ... Please learn to sing.

Christ people can be uppity. Don't talk about things you don't know anything about. Such as my musical background.

i'm pretty sure no mention was made of your musical background.
but perhaps it would have been more accurate and politically correct to say "you sound like you don't know how to sing. please learn how, or if you already know, please make good use of this knowledge!"

[erik]

Christ people can be uppity.

You, however, can be uppity.

Christ.

[mico saudad]

It's like you pulled the fader down, rather than let everything hang out there for a sec so we could think about.

Yeah you're totally right. My dog barked at the end and I didn't have time to do another take so I had to fade out quick, but in a rush I did it wrong and it came out sounding abrupt and short. Spot on.

[HeuristicsInc]

1: sforch, deshead, lonbobby
2: hipcola, diathobs, abec, queso

i voted for deshead!
-bill

[tonetripper]

Abecedarian - Sounds like an attempted take for the Lost sidefight but certainly has nice feel and I dig the tone of the voice.

Deshead - There is something very east coast about this tune that gives me the impression of contemplation atop some rock staring out at a tumultuous cloud formation with the sun blasting in behind the edges of the ocean and mostly because she's just there.

Diathetic Obfuscation - Kind of like shoe gazing blackness with hair dye staining my forehead in anticipation of the poison vial that she offered me in the washroom 'noir' that read "TRY ME".

Hillbilly - The fact that the hick side of this music has such a blues feel (hypocrasy's a bitch) and slightly (and I use the word generously) redeems itself of the 'n' word with the line that "you got to treat people right" does not necessitate, in my opinion, the need to use a racial slur to accentuate your song's disposition through some form of possible sarcastic contradiction through the title and your online persona and with that belittles the message whether in character or not.

TheTripCola - The growth that is something that comes from inside can never feel as though it has to justify it's presence in the face of adversity but grows stronger with each movement to the truth of what's good and what's not, especially with a pop like you and the bass kind of rocks beyatch!!!!

Lonbobby - Got to love a harmonica as redemption from all that could have been but didn't, so with that I'd say it's time to move on.

ns - Sounds like a continuation of Lonbobby's tune with the intent to soothe a baby with the chimes overhead of the crib.

Queso de Papa - The drum groove is bang on with that overdrive bass and I love the steely string sounds of the acoustics and them vocals got some nice sultry energy.

The Red Balloon - Sounds like a drunken long lost recording of the Violent Femmes in their early years.

songfightorchestra - The pitchiness is sometimes a little unnerving but the length lets me let it go and the more I've listened to it I've learned to love the mistakes that are and look back and wonder what all the fuss was about.

So my favourites of the fight were Queso de Papa for the sheer joy of a livish feel, TheHipTripper for utter sincerity, Deshead for production and Abecedarian for interest. My vote goes to TheHipCola cuz it's hard to knock such sincere sentiment and the message is there in the title. Queso de Papa got second with Deshead coming in third.

[thehipcola]

A hearty slap on the back, Canuck-style (which means while holding a pint of your fav. "real" beer and not spilling it..) to Deshead for well-earned victory! Nice work!

[Lonbobby]

I am king of coming in third!

Congrats to Deshead!

[deshead]

Thanks very much, guys. (The FM's comment cracks me up. First class meta-irony.)