It's an s_ hit! (S_ Rock reviews)

Discuss upcoming, current, and previous song fights.
PipeFist
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Post by PipeFist »

HeuristicsInc wrote:if you're doing tts and the words don't come out right, feel free to change a few letters, add syllables or whatever, and you can make the program pronounce them better. e.g. an old song i put "clee shays" into the thing and it sounded way better than the correct spelling.
spoons: use the "quote" button.
-bill
Yeah, I had tried that, by adding an "a" but it didn't seem to work right, so I removed it. However, it did work for the word "Rock." But yeah, thanks. This is the first time I've messed with text to speech stuff, and really only like the third or fourth electronic song I've ever done, so I'm still figuring out Reason and how to do things. And perhaps obviously I need work on my mastering skills.
a bebop a rebop
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Post by a bebop a rebop »

eclectic spoons - This wouldn't be so bad if not for the fact that your vocals keep falling off the rhythm train.

Fourth Grade Gladiators - I find it really awkward that you elements of a poppy dancy sort of song (drums and bass) and they're completely covered up by scary things. Goddammit, I have the flu, you fucker, don't do this shit to my ears. I'm sorry, I have to skip, and I have to throw up. These things may or may not be related to your song.

King Arthur - This sounds like the shell of a song. It's painfully skinny, your voice is just overpowering everything. Also, something about it is making me dizzy. Like the volume keeps jumping up and down... is this what is referred to when people say the compression on a song is "pumping"? I don't know. I like your voice though.

Luke Henley - Rhythmically this song feels a little stumble-drunk in places... really it feels stumble-drunk in most ways. Love that chord progression, and great vocal melody. Yeah, that cut-and-paste is a bit harsh, but I love the ending. Really nice.

Melvin - Jesus Christ, you are good at what you do. Your lyrics ("asshat", "deeply smelled me"?) don't quite match up to the measured perfection of everything else in the song.

MCMMPD - Rawkin', eh? This is pretty funny, although that loop feels kinda awkward. Like what you're doing lyrically.

Wes - My ass is so sweaty? This is pretty cool, and painfully oversexed. Cool little sax-y synth loop.

Wreckdom - You guys are SILLY. Nothing wrong with that, it's just that this song is kinda boring. It'd be nice to see you guys do more serious-type stuff more often, like last week's (awesome) song.

Voting for Luke. GOOD JOB GUYS.
PipeFist
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Post by PipeFist »

Just got some DSL, so here are some reviews.

eclecticsp00ns

This is weirdly good. A little repetitive. I don't know what else to say...

Fourth Grade Gladiators

Reminds me a bit of Shaye St. John(which I was just watching.) Slightly Beck-ish vocs. Just as weird as the eclectic spoons one. I like the female vocs. I like this. If you don't know what Shaye St. John is, you should <a href="http://www.shayesaintjohn.com/Movies1B.html">check it out.</a>

Other than the song going on for a little too long, it's entertaining in a frightening way.

King Arthur

Ah, my ears...that's better. Some nice Eric Clapton style vocals. At least, Eric Clapton on the Me and Mr. Johnson CD. If you haven't heard that stuff, check it out. The mastering could use a little more....punch. The distorted backup guitar should be a little louder. And obviously you need some real drums. This is good, though. Great song structure. Right now, I'm considering this for my vote.

Luke Henley

Nice guitar pickin'. I also enjoy the backup vocals. It sounds like you were recording the guitar and vocals at the same time. If that's the case, you should do them separately. The backup vocs sound better than the lead. Making me think of Marcy Playground, for some reason. Damn, this is pretty good. Certainly a contender. I especially enjoy the layering of more and more "oh's" each time. You should've put some percussion in around the 2 minute mark when the song picks up pace. Even some banging on your guitar with your knuckles would've been cool.

Melvin

Alright, I definitely see the Weezer connection people keep talking about. Luckily, I'm a fan of them, so this is very enjoyable. You pulled if off really well. Heh, we keep starting out wanting to do a Weezer song, and going off on crazy tangents, and never actually achieve that sound. But yeah, this is very good. Only thing I'd recommend is maybe bringing the vocs a little more to the front.

MightyMouse PuddingDelicious

This makes me think of some Five Iron Frenzy songs. Specifically one on I think either their newest album or the one just before it. I think it's the second to newest. Whichever one has a yellow disc. It's kind of amusing, but the production hurts it a lot. The background music sounds REALLY compressed, and I think it really hurts the song. Also the vocals aren't so hot. But it sounds like something that you could do really awesome live. I really like the concept. I liked the end.

S____ Wes

My song. Take it at face value.

Wreckdom

Definitely awesome. Oh god, AC/DC vocs. WONDERFUL. This is quite enjoyable.

This is a tough fight to call. I will dwell on it.
melvin
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Post by melvin »

Eclectic Spoons: Vocals are pretty far off time, but the backing track isn’t half bad, in a futuristic honky-tonk kind of way. Unfortunately, timing issues kind of end up killing the song.

Fourth Grade Gladiators: Wow, this hurts my ears without any pay back.

King Arthur: This starts off sounding like the theme song to a 70’s cop show. The vibe changes once the vocals kick in. Now it sounds more like the work of a “matureâ€
hi!
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Post by furrypedro »

just gonna try and rush through some reviews here

the spoons: I actually quite liked that keyboard riff from the start, the first few chord changes were cool. the rest suffers from classic spoons syndrome (ie, it's a bit silly).

4th grade gladiators: cool in a way cos it's got a totally different vibe from your last track. lots of this is pretty unlistenable (and I'm all for feedback and fuzzy swirls most of the time). Weird stuff though, reminds me of MBV crossed with Beat happenning or something.

King Arthur: this'll be the 1st time I review a KA song, you are one of those people who I read more about than actually hear. From this I can understand why you've got a following. This is fun and pretty well executed. Sounds like some dodgy tape compression on the track though, all the bits keep fluctuating in volume. Not my thing, but it's still groovy and with some mix love it's solid. nice

Luke: Sounds like one of your more accessible ones. I'm really enjoying the chords and the aahs. Best take on the title this week, but that's just cos I like stupid long titles (unless it's Red sparowes). I skipped it but only cos I wanna get through these and I know I'm gonna d/l it.

Melv: Ok, so Luke played it safe, will Melvin? need I ask? Your ability to churn out songs of this calibre is quite impressive, and I don't mean the whole arrangement which (as you know) is pretty formulaic, rather the fact that every song has excellent lyrics and melodies which tend not to sound rehashed. Your backing vox are the best. This song is not your best but hey.

Mighty Mouse and Pudding Delicious: This makes some strange listening. It's really incoherent, The drums are lo-fi (which is fine) but too quiet, and all over the place. The vox sound so much clearer than the guitars that it makes them sound really detached. Good lyrics, this is fun in places but I don't wanna listen again.

s Wes: my attention was immediately grabbed by the samples, which although amusing, put me off as my brain automatically thought "novelty track". The track here is pretty cool though, solid beats, interesting things going on with the synths and you switch it up a bit. Thanks for reminding me at the end that your arse is sweaty too. all round pretty good.

Wreckdom: nice chicken noises

I want Mr Henley to touch me in my special place
HeuristicsInc
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Post by HeuristicsInc »

favorites: melvin, luke, kart
pretty good: frosty, s_wes

this is the best luke henley song ever...
frosty's is funny.
~
~
~
i voted for melvin, but it coulda been luke too. funny thing, that.
-bill
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a bebop a rebop
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Post by a bebop a rebop »

Confuckingratulations, Luke. Took ya long enough, eh?
THIS IS NO JOKE
j$
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Post by j$ »

Hey Luke, you owe me one. I was going to vote for Melvin but then didn't. Congratulations on your first amongst equals :)
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Post by WeaselSlayer »

Fuck. There goes my street cred.
melvin
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Post by melvin »

j$ wrote:I was going to vote for Melvin but then didn't.
...thus maintaining the delicate balance of the universe.

Thanks to everyone who voted for me!

And condolences to Luke.
hi!
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furrypedro
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Post by furrypedro »

WeaselSlayer wrote:Fuck.
Haha
that makes me considerably indier than thou :P
stueym
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Post by stueym »

WeaselSlayer wrote:Fuck. There goes my street cred.
Congratulations Luke....now Bjam will have to change the posters for Songfight Wayne to reflect your newfound superstar status LOL

Melvin always a pleasure and well done.
"You know, I rather like this God fellow. Very theatrical, you know. Pestilence here, a plague there. Omnipotence ... gotta get me some of that."
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Post by Reist »

Yeah Melvin. What can I say? You rock. Good job to you too Luke.
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Märk
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Post by Märk »

Congrats, Luke and Melvin. But especially Luke, whose song I liked the best this week. In fact, I even tried to do some hiss reduction on it so I can enjoy more.
* this is not a disclaimer
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Post by WeaselSlayer »

I guess there's merit to the "improvise and record a song haphazardly in 15 minutes" method after all. BITCHES. Bweeeeeowwwwww.
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Post by j$ »

1,000 monkies ...
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rone rivendale
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Post by rone rivendale »

Yay, my vote counted. Without it, Melvin would be 2nd place.

THE POWER! OMG!!!!1111
From spoken word to actual singing, I can screw up any style with style. :D
The Anchors
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Post by The Anchors »

Damn, sorry my vote didn't help you out Wreckdom.
PipeFist
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Post by PipeFist »

Furrypedro wrote: s Wes: my attention was immediately grabbed by the samples, which although amusing, put me off as my brain automatically thought "novelty track".
Exactly.
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Post by Geoff WreckdoM »

The Anchors wrote:Damn, sorry my vote didn't help you out Wreckdom.
Not at all sir, I thank you for your vote. 11 is a good deal of votes and I was happy for the turnout, but even just one vote is still awesome as that's one person I know we reached and dug it, and that means a lot to me. Thanks!!!
"perhaps the most offensive and disturbing image I've ever heard in a song" - Hans Gruber
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