SOMESONGS - ROUND SIX

[Mr. Orange]

I mean, in the long run, the organ and drums experiment is probably a bit of a failure

Gah, can't resist picking this fight. An experiment is not a failure or a success. It's a learning opportunity, and I've learned lessons about my process, about Song Fight, about these judge panel competitions, and about how people react to something that's even a little unexpected.

No fight here to pick! It's just how one interprets 'failure' or 'success'; or even one's own understanding of the word 'Experiment' - by definition as I understand it, it can be either of the two. From that there internet - "experiment - a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact." -to put it another way, who are you writing these songs for? Yourself, or "for the klds", to paraphrase the old addage?)? Because one musician's opinion is not necessarily the same as one listener's take on the songs that musician writes. They're both impressions, equal in weight.

So no fight to be or being picked because it's just an expressed opinion. As always, please feel free to dismiss all or any of my opinions if you would like; but let's not with the semantics angle. Now got to go cash those bountiful judging cheques before they get rescinded, right?

[Jefff]

From that there internet - "experiment - a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact.") - to put it another way, who are you writing these songs for?

Right, exactly. You don't know what my hypothesis was, what motivated me to do it, so how would you know anything about its outcome?

[Mr. Orange]

No, I'm not engaging with that argument, except to say all of my scores for this round were submitted hours ago, so slightly irritating me will not affect anything. Bye!

[frankie big face]

So, what I hear you all saying is we need to add a seventh round...

[mo]

out of curiosity, Jeff, do you mind sharing what your hypothesis/motivation etc was? and what you learned about yourself/your process?

I set out to do post-punk inspired songs, mostly because I had been listening to a lot of The Cure, what with the new album coming out, which had me down a rabbit hole of related music, so pretty much every song we did in this competition for me is an engagement with goth rock, or postpunk, or whatever you want to call it. And also that stylistically seemed to fit with where Evermind was/is in a sort of emotional headspace with his lyric writing, so it felt like a good direction to choose. I tried to use a bunch of instruments and effects/gear that I hadn't yet put on record, so every song has at least one instrument or sound on it that's a new thing for me, or at least something I haven't used in a couple years. And also I did all these in a newly acquired copy of Logic (for the last few years I've been only in Reaper) so a lot of problems I had were really about me learning Logic's workflows and tools through the production process.

[Jefff]

No, I'm not engaging with that argument, except to say all of my scores for this round were submitted hours ago, so slightly irritating me will not affect anything. Bye!

Ha, fair enough. I've said my piece.

[Jefff]

out of curiosity, Jeff, do you mind sharing what your hypothesis/motivation etc was? and what you learned about yourself/your process?

Sure. Right before the competition, I saw Quasi one night and the Breeders another. For Quasi, I liked the interplay between 2 musicians and wanted to emulate it. I also liked the idea that you could do so much with one instrument like the organ. For the Breeders, I was just amazed to see and remember how much they get out of every instrument -- and how great they sound even when all but the drums or the bass drop out. Added to that, I bought a full-size keyboard recently and wanted to get more out of it. From Nur Ein, I've learned that I don't enjoy submitting songs to the same panel of judges repeatedly, but it seemed like a good opportunity to explore these ideas in a structured way. No elimination was a bonus.

A few things I learned:
* Mixing two instruments is faster but more difficult. I think I only aced the mixing on Stonewall.
* It's hard to use one instrument for bass, rhythm, and lead. The solo in Side Show doesn't jump out like it should because it's replacing chords.
* I've been afraid to try weird things with vocals for a long time because my pitch isn't great. I never would've done the ahs in Ephemeral if I didn't feel forced into it.
* I can work miracles in editing without adding tracks, so the quicker I get to editing the better -- and recording MIDI means freedom in editing. Both Stonewall and In This Moment were longer than 4 minutes but I just cut cut cut them into shape.
* Trapping yourself in a corner with time to get yourself out leads to breakthroughs that can serve you again and again. Hapless Avenue was deadly boring until I fuzzed out the organ for the second half, which led me to use the same technique for a section of Stonewall. (I tamed the fuzz in Hapless before submitting, and I regret it.)
* I still have a lot to learn from the Breeders.

[Mr. Brown]

I am finding this round to be one of (if not the) hardest to score though I'm not sure why. That I'm still finding things to like/enjoy/discover after repeated listens tells me that there's quite a bit of meat on the songwriting bones of this round/challenge.

Add - I like the hard panned high range harmony vocal. There's a gait to this song that isn't a stutter but gives a cool un-smooth vibe that I find cool. But upon repeated listens the tempo/drag seems a bit monotonous. (Update: Listening again today and it's working for me, so scratch that.) I did find the drums pretty up in the mix but in a sparse arrangement, I'm not sure what I'm expecting. The half dropout on the bridge draws my attention to it more than being wholly musical.
re: Drums - They work beautifully in the last chorus (as a for instance) so I'm thinking they're the same volume all the way through even with the more sparse verses etc., I think volume or attack might be varied to great effect. That being said, after listening multiple times over a couple of days, I'm finding that I'm enjoying the song more when I let it play for enjoyment rather than to critique.
Challenge: Recording then changing the tempo for effect. I'm bordering on thinking it's a great way to attack the challenge and thinking it's "merely" pretty good.

Caravan Ray - I like the guitar bit but it reminds me of something I can't quite nail. The vocals don't sit perfectly in the mix, especially on the first verse. I liked the harmony vox quite a bit. The vocal panning is interesting if not perfectly effective. But the groove is cool. I think I enjoyed this song the most out of this group on the very first listen. On repeated listens, it holds up well enough but some of the other songs seem to be growing on me. That's a cool guitar solo, both in sitting on that note/trill and the panning. (Less is more and here it really is.)
Challenge: Let me guess, it's in the lyric? Well done but I'm finding that I really want something, even if minor, in the musical part of the song to make me feel that you hit it on the nose.

Glenn Case - I'm a sucker for sticking the title in the bridge to add meaning to the rest of the song. I'm finding that your vocal take/inflection is bordering on snide but in such a great way that I like it. (This probably makes no sense to anyone other than me. Suffice it to say that I noticed the HOW of your singing a bit before finally settling in and enjoying the quality of the vocal.) The key stabs/chords not hitting exactly the same as the bass on the chorus is an interesting arrangement piece (and something I should pay attention to as it seems to work very well.) I have to admit that the opening stab worked pretty well for me at first, then I noticed it and thought it was a little weird to add but still good and then I read your notes and well, that's fun.
Challenge: The flubs = a new intro seems to be the best literal interpretation of the challenge to me. The artifacts that you tried to erase but couldn't seem the least. Still, I think you nailed the song challenge.

The Idiot Kings - The intro doesn't do much for me but I enjoy the full arrangement when it hits; I think I have a bit of genre bias that gets mostly erased once the synth comes in. I think the masked vocal (saturated?) doesn't sit quite right (probably just my poor ears not hearing the lyric as well.) But I'm enjoying the track once the full arrangement gets on base. The little touches of a phaser (or whatever it is) on the vocal in the second verse works very well for me where as the bitcrush (or whatever) is less effective. Another grower on repeated listens.
Challenge: Not editing the timing, introducing a "pitch mistake." You know, that vocal works for me. I hear it when you mention it but it didn't pop out at me before. You hit the challenge but it feels like you beat out a throw rather than hitting it squarely.

Tomorrow - This one grew on me as I listened (although it's not the only one.) I really liked the bridge lyric, sparse but saying so much. The backing vox is a great touch. Likewise the theremin. Another one, in what seems to be a long list, that is growing on me. I'm beginning to think it's me and not you (all.)
Challenge: I think burying the glitch/randomness is less honoring and more checking the box but I like the idea. I also like the single takes idea.

[mo]

Sure. Right before the competition, I saw Quasi one night and the Breeders another. For Quasi, I liked the interplay between 2 musicians and wanted to emulate it. I also liked the idea that you could do so much with one instrument like the organ. For the Breeders, I was just amazed to see and remember how much they get out of every instrument -- and how great they sound even when all but the drums or the bass drop out. Added to that, I bought a full-size keyboard recently and wanted to get more out of it. From Nur Ein, I've learned that I don't enjoy submitting songs to the same panel of judges repeatedly, but it seemed like a good opportunity to explore these ideas in a structured way. No elimination was a bonus.

A few things I learned:
* Mixing two instruments is faster but more difficult. I think I only aced the mixing on Stonewall.
* It's hard to use one instrument for bass, rhythm, and lead. The solo in Side Show doesn't jump out like it should because it's replacing chords.
* I've been afraid to try weird things with vocals for a long time because my pitch isn't great. I never would've done the ahs in Ephemeral if I didn't feel forced into it.
* I can work miracles in editing without adding tracks, so the quicker I get to editing the better -- and recording MIDI means freedom in editing. Both Stonewall and In This Moment were longer than 4 minutes but I just cut cut cut them into shape.
* Trapping yourself in a corner with time to get yourself out leads to breakthroughs that can serve you again and again. Hapless Avenue was deadly boring until I fuzzed out the organ for the second half, which led me to use the same technique for a section of Stonewall. (I tamed the fuzz in Hapless before submitting, and I regret it.)
* I still have a lot to learn from the Breeders.

Oh yeah I meant to go see the Breeders too, but I didn't know that they were opening for Olivia Rodrigo this last tour, for the LA stop, so I missed the show until I realized later what had happened. I also missed a Jack White show at a small club bc of not paying attention.

You know I've never thought of your "pitchiness" as a problem as much as just that it's part of the Jeffness of it all

Appreciate you sharing your thoughts and experience, I originally wanted to try to do something challenging like that for myself but knew I wasn't going to have enough time to do it right. Instead I'm going to do that concept for my next group of songs I expect, in a few months once I learn how to use my new toys a little better (just synthesizers, modular and otherwise)

[frankie big face]

I saw Quasi

I haven’t seen Quasi since they opened for (and then backed) Elliott Smith on the X/O tour. They’re a good band to be inspired by.

[Jefff]

Sam Coomes was wearing an awesome shirt that said "Bury MAGA Forever." Alas...

[Mr. Blonde]

Round Six Reviews!

ADD - This plods. Maybe the result of slowing things down artificially? It suits the lyrics, which seem sadder than they have a right to, thanks to the massive tomfuckery of our current state. 2:30 is brilliant, set up perfectly. But if I’m being honest, I want more. It’s the first time I felt the instrumental limits you set for yourself have let you down in what has otherwise been a VERY SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT. (I’m trolling Mr. Orange.) Congratulations on an excellent Somesongs debut!

CARAVAN RAY - Someone mentioned liking your energy and I’ll second that. You sound like a man at least 7/8 of your age! Bass sounds awesome. This song is more interesting than likable to me, but that’s just a matter of taste. Lyrics related to the challenge are fine—I think that’s the best we’re going to get out of you. (Listing a bunch of oblique strategies at the end is a nice final thumb to the nose.) I’ve enjoyed your output in this competition. You seem invigorated. Congrats!

GLENN CASE - You’re in your Todd Rundgren mode! (All those major 7ths) At least until the chorus, then I don’t know what’s going on — Glenn Case mode! I appreciate that you embraced the challenge and I think you did it the “right”way. Not the drum thing - you’re obviously a fine drummer. But hitting the wrong chord for the pre-chorus and keeping it - that’s the spirit! Personally, I think the arrangement is a little too busy and the song meanders a bit (I think I may have said that about another one of your songs). Also, the sustained vocal notes with no vibrato (I know that’s not your thing, really) are a little “in your face.” Maybe you just truncate some of those long notes and it will be less intrusive. Lead vox and drums maybe a little hot in the mix? Anyway, I’m so glad you did this! I’ve enjoyed your output and hope you return. Congratulations!

THE IDIOT KINGS - You did it! I’m glad you found some time this week to make it to the end. Your songs have been a mixed bag for me in this competition, but I appreciate your creativity and honest approach to writing. Interesting vocal effect. I always find this kind of heavy processing hard to EQ and mix —it gets a little muddy and the words are hard to make out. But if you’re just treating the vocal like another instrument (which seems to be the case here), it doesn’t matter much—the color is the important thing. For me, the lyrics are a little too “on the nose.” Add is writing about politics a lot, but his lyrics are more obtuse and they resonate more with me. Maybe try being less literal (or ignore me!—that’s okay too). I really wanted one more verse with a more impassioned vocal. I don’t think this song is done yet.

TOMORROW - Evermind, you have a really lovely vocal timbre and it deserves a more developed melody than you’ve been provided by this song. Neither the verse nor the chorus has a melody worth writing home about. The chorus at least has a rhythmic catchiness provided by the cadence of the words, but it’s still lacking in melody. (By the way, I don’t think a pop song has to have a great melody and your chorus would be perfect if the verses offered more.) When the backing vocals join the chorus, you really have something nice—it shines! (And then the theremin comes in and spoils everything. Oh, Mo.) I have enjoyed hearing your music during this inaugural Somesongs! Congratulations!

[the idiot king]

I don’t think this song is done yet.

Songs are never finished, they're abandoned.

But yeah, listening back now it's more of a sketch than a song, as thick as the production may be. I would've liked a louder vocal part, but my wife and I both work from home and the short window I had for vocals after wrapping for the day coincided with her having a conference call with the San Fran office. I may go back and rework this and the first song, which was even more obviously not finished.

[frankie big face]

Results are posted!! It's over, everyone!!!

[Jefff]

Well done fellers