Cowell's Beach Bikini Alert (one beautiful summer reviews)

blake walker · Post by **blake walker** » Thu May 19, 2005 6:47 pm

i hate to be a bitch, and i appreciate the reviews i got, but could reviewers PLEASE stop comparing anything electronic to "nintendo"? it's getting really, REALLY old. for examples of how old and unoriginal these reviews are getting, check out every single review ryan hardigan got for "mad city," and also everything i've done in the past.

j$ · Post by j$ » Thu May 19, 2005 7:32 pm

If you make it, they will compare.

jack · Post by **jack** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:34 pm

and if you complain about it, they are bound to do it more.

blake walker · Post by **blake walker** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:59 pm

jack wrote:and if you complain about it, they are bound to do it more.

really? because that would be SO clever. that would really show me.

erik · Post by **erik** » Thu May 19, 2005 8:14 pm

Maybe the music that gets called nintendoesque over and over again actually sounds like music used in old side-scrollers. People here don't think that all electronic music sounds the same. I don't remember Futureboy ever being called "nintendoesque", although I haven't read every comment ever. It's not being applied across the board to all electronic musicians.

Post by jb » Thu May 19, 2005 8:41 pm

Songs that use a preponderance of either General MIDI, Casio, or other "retro" samples/patches, or something similar, will often be compared to old videogame music because those sounds and those games are inextricably connected for many of us. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. But if you intend to continue using those sound banks and such comparisons aggravate you-- resign yourself to an existence of aggravation.

Personally, I dig that bleepybloopy retro videogame sound, and I kind of dig the Blake Walker song, although I wish you had added some reverb or something to the vocals to make them sound more in the same vein as the music.

JB

blake walker · Post by **blake walker** » Thu May 19, 2005 9:49 pm

i think for next time i'm gonna INTENTIONALLY make it sound like NES, so the comparisons will be more accurate, and my other stuff will seem less video gamey by contrast.

drë · Post by **drë** » Thu May 19, 2005 11:20 pm

Blake Walker
A bit poppy for my taste. Well done though. B-

Gareth Duncan
Sounds like a bar band. Enjoyed the instrumental break , the rest of the some seemed a little like… blah blah blah blah… like the bass too. C+

The Meannes - download
WTF?? Am still trying grasp this song …
...

.....
....
WTF??

This is actually a good thing, as I can not put my finger on it. Should off been longer.
Good timing. B

Deshead – possible vote - download
Really like the intro, reminds me of the Cure’s “someday”, and off course you can’t go wrong with that voice. Once the song gets going, at times it gets slightly muddy with too many instruments playing around. Once again like pretty in all of your songs, the chorus starts off with “ahhhh” holding that Crescendo.. also you should be able to fade out a bit more on your vocals dubs, when that second voice comes in it throws me off, beside thats for people that can’t sing(like me) that need to do all that vocal layering.(or at least make it more subtle in the mix). This belongs in a WB TV series soundtrack or something. A+

Matthan Minster – possible vote - download
Nice effect with the panning, oohh the vocals are good, not great, but good and soft.
The vocal melody is very well done, as it has a floating feel to it. The only thing that gets me is that annoying whining lead guitar that comes and it goes. It just doesn’t belong in the song, at least not the FX on it, as the arpeggios are actually fine. Lyrics are good and emmo. B+

Manhattan Glutton
This does very little for me. I do like the talking part actually, it remind me of Matthew good (the guy in my avatar with the 2 naked chicks) when he goes off into his cynical rants right in the middle of a good song.. you got the ranting part right. C

Baron Von Smith - possible vote - download
The mix sounds better in my speaker than in my headphones, really love this song while listening through the speakers(practically had my vote), but now through the headphones, a lot of the mix imperfections are showing up. still a super song. The drums are great , the keyboard too, that distorted guitar might be a bit too loud, and the vocals are a bit burry.
The break “you were crazy” part with the bass and drum is probably the best part. Record this song with actual instruments get rid of the midi (if that’s what some of the instruments are), use a pop filter for the vocals, find a Cello/violin player, do a better mix, and sell this damn thing. A.
Looking forward to more of your songs.

Double Team Techno Dream
Uh, the chick’s voice sounds familiar, ohh their goes, its ken ruining this girl’s song.
Let the girl sing, Ken. Well produced, well written, decent lyrics, well performed, but this song doesn’t really do anything for me.. But the girl sings like and angle. B

x-tokyo-river-god - download
You are quickly becoming the experimental king around here. This is wicked.
The vocals are somewhat harsh (pitchy) mostly in the beginning, as the song caries along the listener gets used to it. A low deep voice might have been more appropriate for this.
I usually don’t care nor listen to the lyrics that much, but you got me with this one,
Also this one out all the songs in here, provoked the most emotions.. B

Ants (Invisible) - possible vote - download
Love how classical this is..(been listening to a lot of classical music lately).
Also love the minimalist approach with the instruments.
It really does sound like you had an entire church choir doing a classical rendition of a mamas and papas song. This is great. A+

My vote is between Ants, Matthan, and barons smiths,
L- Barons smiths needs to improve his mix. Out.
L – Matthan minister is great, but the fx on the guitar gets to me AND
W – Ants has create a perfect song.. nice going JIM.

Jim of Seattle · Post by **Jim of Seattle** » Fri May 20, 2005 4:57 am

Blake, take the reviews for how they are meant. They are giving you their impression of the song, and if that's the association they make, so be it.

My song this week is being compared to Pet Sounds over & over, and I've heard that album maybe three times in my life, 10 years ago, and it made no impression on me whatsoever. But it's still valuable information. The very fact that Nintendo keeps getting mentioned is also valuable. It tells you the a LOT of people are getting that impression. Especially if you weren't intending it to sound like what it's being compared to, which in this case neither of us were.

thehipcola · Post by **thehipcola** » Fri May 20, 2005 4:59 am

quick listening standouts: Ants (Invisible), Deshead. You guys really brought your A games this week, didn't you? Nice!

reviews to come later

boltoph · Post by **boltoph** » Fri May 20, 2005 9:22 am

Matthan Minster if you're reading this is, there anywhere I can hear you wailing or singing with angst? I am serious and only mean it as a sincere compliment when I say I want to hear you rip some nasty vocals. Man, I am dying to hear you belt something out, full-voice.

Matthan · Post by **Matthan** » Fri May 20, 2005 10:06 am

boltoph wrote: is, there anywhere I can hear you wailing or singing with angst?

have you heard the end of my entry for "angry all over"? i think that it is the highest, most "toadies-ish" i have ever recorded any vocals.

as for wailing, i don't think i have any songs like that, but i can send you some non songfight stuff of my band's. it is definately different than my summer jam songfight style.

i used to cover blind melon's "Change" all the time. i love that song.

jack · Post by **jack** » Fri May 20, 2005 10:15 am

Matthan wrote:
i used to cover blind melon's "Change" all the time. i love that song.

i would love to hear your version of this. if you have it posted, could you give me a link?

boltoph · Post by **boltoph** » Fri May 20, 2005 10:19 am

Matthan wrote:"angry all over"

Yeah, I dig it. The "Threw it all away" - so sweet. I dig the parts where you're really screaming, you've got quite a range. I'd be interested in hearing more, definitely. And ditto Jack. Blind Melon is one of my all around, favorite bands, i love EVERYTHING they did (with Shannon) Thanks man!

Matthan · Post by **Matthan** » Fri May 20, 2005 10:31 am

jack wrote:
Matthan wrote:
i used to cover blind melon's "Change" all the time. i love that song.
i would love to hear your version of this. if you have it posted, could you give me a link?

i haven't ever recorded it. but maybe i will sometime soon. if so i will let you know.

-matthan

Matthan · Post by **Matthan** » Fri May 20, 2005 10:43 am

Replies:

baronvonsmith
---thanks a lot

deshead
how's Matthan pronounced? Is the 't' hard or soft? And does the last syllable rhyme with "man" or "mon"?
---the 'tth' is hard like mother and the last syllable rhymes with "man"

erikb
Matthan Minster: This is nice background music, too. I would put this on if I was cooking for a cute girl.
---i hope i can help you set the mood.

Dan-O from Five-O
there's one of those tinny sounding thin ass distorted guitars. It's brief but it does detract a little.
---man, i love the way those distorted harmonics came out. honestly they came out exactly like i heard them in my head.

boltoph
That synth in the intro
---it is guitar. Thanks for the compliments

Future Boy
Matthan Minster -Do you like Pinback? (points off for the 80s dist guitar after the first chorus, oh there it is again!)
---YES. i love pinback. They are damn amazing. the association is a great compliment in my book. you don't like the harmonics either. dang. i love them.

nyjm
---thanks

j$
Matthan Minster - Well, I'm glad for you, having a beautiful girl and all. Bully for you. Do we have to a song about it? Urk. Nothing constructive to add, so I'll just be quiet.
---...

jack
---thanks

dre
that annoying whining lead guitar that comes and it goes. It just doesn’t belong in the song, at least not the FX on it
---again, i love this guitar part.

maybe i will try and review this week.
if i can peel myself away from listening to this ween record on repeat.

thanks everbody.

-matthan

boltoph · Post by **boltoph** » Fri May 20, 2005 10:53 am

Matthan wrote:...ween record...

I hope it's "The Mollusk"...one of my favs...I'm still interested in hearing more of the screaming vocals like at the end of "Angry..." if you can point me in any direction, but no worries if not. Rock!

jack · Post by **jack** » Fri May 20, 2005 10:55 am

boltoph wrote:
Matthan wrote:...ween record...
I hope it's "The Mollusk"...one of my favs...I'm still interested in hearing more of the screaming vocals the the end of "Angry..." if you can point me in any direction, but no worries if not. Rock!

got any covers of "buenos tardes amigos"?

boltoph · Post by **boltoph** » Fri May 20, 2005 11:00 am

jack wrote:
boltoph wrote:
Matthan wrote:...ween record...
I hope it's "The Mollusk"...one of my favs...I'm still interested in hearing more of the screaming vocals the the end of "Angry..." if you can point me in any direction, but no worries if not. Rock!
got any covers of "buenos tardes amigos"?

hehe, nay, but...might being doing one for "Waving My Dick in the Wind"

.....actually my real fav off the Mollusk is "Buckingham Green". What a sweet return to the Pink Floyd "Meddle" days, with a twist of the Final Cut or the Wall.

Matthan · Post by **Matthan** » Fri May 20, 2005 11:26 am

jack wrote:
boltoph wrote:
Matthan wrote:...ween record...
I hope it's "The Mollusk"...one of my favs...I'm still interested in hearing more of the screaming vocals the the end of "Angry..." if you can point me in any direction, but no worries if not. Rock!
got any covers of "buenos tardes amigos"?

i used to cover that song in highschool and i have some sweet video of it!!!

it is so hilarious. i need one of those vhs tape a/d converters to put it all on my computer.

thehipcola · Post by **thehipcola** » Fri May 20, 2005 11:27 am

Ween's The Mollusk may be their finest all around work. Ween is awesome.

jack · Post by **jack** » Fri May 20, 2005 11:33 am

having witnessed live, i can say unequivocally that Ween knows how to RTFO.