Party at Hodgman's! (House of Hodgman Reviews)

Egg · Post by **Egg** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:14 pm

sdurand wrote: I was wondering who would catch that reference.
Steve

Everybody here sounds like They Might Be Giants because we listen to too much They Might Be Giants.

Billy's Little Trip · Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:26 pm

Everybody here sounds like They Might Be Giants

Nahh, I'm only 5'8"

WesDavis · Post by **WesDavis** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:29 pm

I'm trying to get my friend Chris to join Songfight. If you want to hear someone sound ridiculously like TMBG, he's your man. He also happens to write some extraordinarily entertaining songs.

Steve Durand · Post by **Steve Durand** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:03 am

Egg wrote: Everybody here sounds like They Might Be Giants because we listen to too much They Might Be Giants.

Hmmm. I guess. I just bought my first ever TMBG CD three weeks ago because of the references to them here on Songfight!

Steve

WesDavis · Post by **WesDavis** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:14 am

sdurand wrote:
Egg wrote: Everybody here sounds like They Might Be Giants because we listen to too much They Might Be Giants.
Hmmm. I guess. I just bought my first ever TMBG CD three weeks ago because of the references to them here on Songfight!

Steve

Aaaaaand?

Ross · Post by **Ross** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:19 am

Egg wrote:
sdurand wrote: I was wondering who would catch that reference.
Steve
Everybody here sounds like They Might Be Giants because we listen to too much They Might Be Giants.

I thought it was because we're a bunch of geeks.

Ravenhide · Post by **Ravenhide** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:27 am

WesDavis wrote: Ravenhide

haha wow DID you record this with a crappy tape recorder? Hahahaha oh man the vocals. If you did this on purpose this is awesomely bad. If not, then I'm sorry. Hahaha oh god. I'm glad nothing is going to stop you from burning down the house of hodgman.

LOL!!! I am glad the awesomely bad thing works. Well I think that the title itself is comical and Im trying to get an Iron Maiden sound to it so there it goes. I actually composed the music on Guitar pro 5 and then mix it with quartzmaster.

P.S. I am very bad at singing so making it comical shoud work.... I think

spinlock · Post by **spinlock** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 3:26 am

misterbeneboi wrote: spinlock - 5 seconds in, next track, this is emo trash

Worthwhile reviewers listen to the song and suggest ways to improve. Heaven knows there are enough people who don't like hip-hop but still manage to find constructive advice for those producing it. You covered the basics, of mentioning every song, but next time try to actually listen to them, paying attention to lyrics, production & mixing, performance, arrangement, how well the title was used, and then consider your overall feeling about the track. Then you'll be a great reviewer.
Notice how my review of your review is more helpful than your review of my song.

spinlock · Post by **spinlock** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:39 am

Big Crouton
Well mixed and arranged. Vocals are a bit bland in the first verses - a little more edge would make them stick out more. Forget the quentin blake reference, this is like watching an episode of Power Rangers. Not to be mean at all, love your guitar, and it grows on us. Solo approaches perfection around 4:00.
Double bass drumming needs more variation, or humanising.
Biggest flaw is lack of bass guitar.

Billy's Little Trip
Awesome riff. Really nice mixing, drums, guitar, and bass are all clear.
Love the whole tempted by the devil vibe. The melody/singing works, and the chorus is great.
The only downside is that the clever lyrics aren't really audible during the verses. Good variation in arrangement. Possible Vote.

cr410
Nice to hear hip hop with a real instrument. But there's not much feeling in the song. Violence against disney characters is funny, but overall there isn't much to make this stand out. Next time try getting angry. Or offended. Or something.

Feldspar
Sounds in style a bit like Simon and Garfunkle, is that the area you were aiming for?
Something is boomy in the bass, not sure if it's the guitar or the bass itself.
Confused by the bee solo and the sine wave. Apart from that, it's really pleasant, but a bit bland and lacks a hook.

Jim Tyrell
This is the only song that really delivered on the lyrics. Really nice arrangement, to nitpick, the kit and hand drums seem a little out of sync in places. We're both going to keep a copy of this one. Hard to find anything to criticise. Apart from the ending instrumental. How about an organ solo? It feels like there should be something like that there. Possible vote.

Legless Bill Tubbs
The Banjo at the start seems to be aiming for bluegrass, but misses a couple of notes. You could have used a few more takes. At the end it goes out of tune, and the fade out isn't the greatest ending ever.The words seem to be about a tractor, not a house of hodgman. Is this a mickey-take or are we missing something? Would love to be enlightened, thanks.

Limu
The piano seems a bit over-compressed - as the quiet notes overplay louder ones on occasion. Either that or it's from a keyboard that doesn't have enough polyphony.
Vocals are too quiet to make anything out until about 1:22, and the tune isn't memorable when it does. Not offensive, but maybe a more prominent, repeating tune would help next time.

Melvin
Is this about Australia? Commonwealth, seabound penitentiary. Maybe about the speaker of the House over there? He's called Hodgman. Some great lyrics. "Blessed inmate of a loving queen". Love the energy and cynicism. Good variety in arrangement, synth parts really good this week. But something still doesn't grab us about it.

Paco
Riff reminds us of peer gynt. Or maybe inspector gadget. Top marks for performance and the atmospheric breakdown, but the content just isn't that exciting. Not that it's bad, this is on your previous performances.

RavenHyde
One of us thinks he's heard the riff before, so we're putting off reviewing this till we've checked.

Ross Durand
Were confused at first till we listened again and realised you were singing the part of the girl.
We were going to do a folk song, but couldn't pull it off so we're glad someone did. But, folk songs tend to be about exciting events like gratuitous murders and cheating wives. The death of a noble family by saving someone from drowning... just isn't gruesome enough. Other than that, really good application of style.

will do the rest later

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:49 am

LML wrote:
misterbeneboi wrote:Im not trolling, thats my honest opinion, your music sounds like elliot smith..thats it...
Ah yes, but your reviews are tactless and insulting. You could put your "honest opinion" in a much less childish way if you tried.

Don't knock the "tactless and insulting" reviewer - they are often the most valuable. Keep up the muck-slinging Misterbeneboi, it may do us good (I'm very disappointed now that I didn't enter this week

). I love to be disciplined.

Billy's Little Trip · Post by **Billy's Little Trip** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:45 am

Caravan Ray wrote:
LML wrote:
misterbeneboi wrote:Im not trolling, thats my honest opinion, your music sounds like elliot smith..thats it...
Ah yes, but your reviews are tactless and insulting. You could put your "honest opinion" in a much less childish way if you tried.
Don't knock the "tactless and insulting" reviewer - they are often the most valuable. Keep up the muck-slinging Misterbeneboi, it may do us good (I'm very disappointed now that I didn't enter this week ). I love to be disciplined.

I entered, but he didn't even mention me. Hopefully he'll see this and apologize for missing me and tell me how horrible my music is.

hillbilly · Post by **hillbilly** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:52 am

Bill Tubbs=== hate you lost you leggs, still need to tune the banjio.

Ravenhide · Post by **Ravenhide** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:01 am

spinlock wrote:[
RavenHyde
One of us thinks he's heard the riff before, so we're putting off reviewing this till we've checked.

We'll the closest I can think of is fear of the dark by iron maiden, but it is still way different.....

spinlock · Post by **spinlock** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:28 am

Ravenhide

Our enjoyment of your Iron Maiden tribute was sadly marred by the poor recording quality. If guitar pro 5 can't do it, try using audacity to mix, rather than recording the sound from your pc's speakers. That may also allow you to sing at a comfortable levels and match the volumes later.
Ask for help if you run into problems.
Very much looking forward to your adam sandler tribute next week.

Shitloads of Dolphins

Nice premise. Nice tune. Nice Harmonies. Reminds us of lucasarts point and click adventure games. Shame the voice and backing don't really mesh very well. Maybe next time include a simple but louder drum beat that will mix easily, and help ground the rhythm so the ambient stuff is free to be ambient. Possible Vote.

Spinlock
Chris: "Spot on for noticing the ropey vocals. Due to a sore throat and no other source of vocals so close to the deadline, I could only manage one shot. Sorry. Thanks for the thoughtful reviews."

Steve Durand

Lovely instumentalization. Great sounds. Tune doesn't really grab us. It seems to drags a bit in odd places .. the struuuuuuuucture... the waaaaaaaater. And it's minor
Well performed, but not compelling. With a different tune this could be brilliant. And is that a mac bootup 'chime' at the end?

Wes Davis
Great song that loses it towards the end (From Thither). The line "with no anchor in this world" is good, and then spoiled with a "said" that has all that space to itself but is really unimportant. Vocals good, M and F. Drums good. Mix is great, apart from the fading strings at the end. Would have bumped up the reverb on those strings. Possible Vote.

Zoosneaker
The "House of Hodgman left a mark on me" verse and the "am I asleep am I gone to hell" lines don't sound like they scan particularly well. But the style and sound is good, it doesn't get too cluttered. We're not sure if the mix between the drums and guitars could be improved. Did you think about a more impressive ending? Pretty good song.

WesDavis · Post by **WesDavis** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:25 pm

spinlock wrote: Wes Davis
Great song that loses it towards the end (From Thither). The line "with no anchor in this world" is good, and then spoiled with a "said" that has all that space to itself but is really unimportant. Vocals good, M and F. Drums good. Mix is great, apart from the fading strings at the end. Would have bumped up the reverb on those strings. Possible Vote.

Yeah, I really think I should've taken out a measure after the "say" and let the girl voice come right in, but for some reason when I tried it just screwed everything up. Thanks for the review!

MintyHandy · Post by **MintyHandy** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:27 pm

Reviews will be brief; remorse for not entering this week will go on and on and on...

Zoosneakers
Too much going on in the guitar department, discordant and off-time; it sounds like two songs layered over each other, which detracts from what might otherwise be a decent song. Also, watch your vocal levels and get a pop filter. I like your solo.

Wes Davis
Excellent guitar work, strong arrangement, and I love your lyrics (especially the kick-off); hook gets better the second time through, great vocals (a bit unsteady here and there, nothing a few punch-ins wouldn't cure) -- terrific all around. Ghostly vocals at the end creeped me out, as designed. Reminds me a bit of "Twisting" by They Might Be Giants, but I can't put my finger on why. Possible vote.

Steve Durand
I know I'm like a broken record, but: fantastic arrangement, rockin' bass (with a few hiccups), great winds, but your voice and lyrics just can't keep up. Here's my big note for your lyrics and vocals -- you sound best when you're singing slow lyrics, and worst when you're speaking fast lyrics. By the way, I'll be pinging you about doing winds on an album I'm putting together, because -- well, damn, you know why, just listen to yourself play!

Spinlock
I don't know about you, but I really want to drink a Hodgman now. Seriously, this is the longest soft drink advert I've ever enjoyed. Advert jingles do best when they establish tension and highten it until the product exposure; you establish and heighten (great) but never release (bad) -- instead, you collapse into odd distorted guitar and bad timing. I like your voice and lyrics, though, and that little weedy guitar is oddly comforting. Looking forward to your next entry.

Shitload of Dolphins
The melody line that you repeat over and over, like "so don't you say a thing", is from a famous song (the name of which escapes me) and I can't get past that. I liked your boopie-beepie-backing track very much, though, and your harmonies, though sporadic, add a nice complexity to the whole endeavor. Back off the mic a bit, compress your vocals a tad. Fade o.u..t...

Ross Durand
Once I stop giggling like a stupid kid over you singing as a girl, I really like this. You sound like Michael Nesmith, the arrangement is beautiful, and (other than pitch trouble here and there) your execution is flawless. One of your stronger concepts and lyrical executions. Possible vote.

Ravenhide
Some band's rehearsing in the apartment next door, and you've decided to record yourself singing along -- but it's the middle of the night and your parents are asleep, so you have to do it really, really quietly. Find dymanic range in your instruments (listen to Paco Del Stinko's entry this week to see what I mean) and for heaven's sake, if you're going to sing, SING OUT LOUD. And yet, and yet...there's something in here I like, just aching to come forward and be counted. Looking forward to your next entry.

Paco Del Stinko
Unusually solid vocals this week, on top of your typical kick-ass arrangement. Great concept for the lyrics, well executed. I wouldn't have changed a single thing, except to pack a couple of backup singers behind you and a crowd of adoring fans in front of you. Probable vote.

Melvin
Love the arrangement. A little weak on the harmonies at first, but you find your groove quickly. Well-executed throughout; often evokes "Life in a Northern Town" by The Dream Academy, if they'd had some edge (and some balls.) Good concept lyrically, and that little lower-end guitar walk makes me bop my head each time. If there's anything wrong with this, I couldn't hear it, even after two passes. Probable vote.

Limu
In-your-face arrangement versus ethereal vocals makes me a sad boy. I want to hear more strength in your vocal, or less impact in your arrangement. Timing and levels fall apart near the end, and it ends on a whimper. Still, I can hear what you're going for, and once you have several fights under your belt I think you'll figure out how to get there.

Legless Bill Tubbs
Your name is jokey, and it detracts from what is otherwise a fascinating study of this genre (jokey lyrics aside.) I could listen to the instrumental part over and over. And then, you speak. You ALMOST pull it off, but it's a bit too crisp (consonants-wise) and thick with overdone pauses. Slurred a bit more, and run together so we struggle to decipher it -- I think that would have worked better.

Jim Tyrrell
You've got a lovely voice, but you need to roll some low end out of it, and out of your instruments as well -- the whole thing's just a tad muddy. That's a nitpick, though, since you brought a strong arrangement, great James Taylor vibe throughout, and lyrics that stand out in the right ways at the right times. Terrific. Probable vote.

Feldspar
Two takes, eh? Or is that just what you WANT us to believe? This is cute, pleasant, and solid. Meticulously crafted, but missing a hook that would compel me to listen a third time. The electronic synth sounds are distracting, as is the fly buzzing around. Midpack, I'd say, but needed a hook to be a standout. Fade o.u..t...

cr410
Almost made it the whole fight before someone rapped. Oh well. The stuff about hodgman.com amused me, but after that I kind of tuned out. Nothing grabbed me, though your backing track was fun and you're not a bad rapper -- but not a good one, either. You sound like I think I'd sound if I tried to do this.

Billy's Little Trip
Sir, nobody can deny your mad guitar skills, and this is a strong groove you've got going on. Unfortunately, this kind of wallows around in the groove instead of going somewhere. You've laid a solid foundation, and now it's time for you to write a hooky chorus and an intriguing bridge. I know you can do it. In a lesser fight, would have been a possible vote.

Big Crouton
You know what would be awesome? If somebody challenged Paco Del Stinko and Billy's Little Trip for the title of Guitar Hero -- well, speak of the devil! Somebody melted Cranial Biffida and Paco together in the microwave. This is fun, and would have walked away with a lesser fight. Heck, it may walk away with this one. Damn long, but not from useless filler, and your timing is tight as hell; this one's packed like a sausage. Probable vote.

---

Down to four: Melvin, Paco Del Stinko, Big Crouton, and Jim Tyrrell. Jim and Melvin both drop finely crafted works of art, and Paco comes through with the best fun-per-minute ratio, but Big Crouton delivers something I've been waiting a long time for: a SongFight metal submission that rocks me harder than the stuff in the stores. You, sir, got my vote, and ukuleles be damned. TO UKULELE HELL. ForEVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!

MintyHandy · Post by **MintyHandy** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:40 pm

After reading misterbeneboi's reviews, I realized I've been wasting my time attempting to give insightful, helpful and diplomatic reviews. So you can all ignore my previous reviews for this fight, and enjoy these reviews instead. Thanks for the inspiration, misterbeneboi; these were a lot more fun for me (even if they're not at all helpful for anyone who entered the fight.)

..

Zoosneakers
Crap.

Wes Davis
Meh.

Steve Durand
Skunky.

Spinlock
LOL WTF?

Shitload of Dolphins
Shitload from Dolphins.

Ross Durand
Teh Gay.

Ravenhide
Tastes like chicken.

Paco Del Stinko
You can suck it.

Melvin
Garbage (not the band)

Limu
Lameu.

Legless Bill Tubbs
Talentless Bill STFU.

Jim Tyrrell
Shit.

Feldspar
Shitcock.

cr410
Shit on a shingle.

Billy's Little Trip
Billy's Little Shit.

Big Crouton
OH MY GOD THIS IS TEH AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it wrong that these made me giggle uncontrollably? Evidentally I am five years old. Hooray for five!

Billy's Little Trip · Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:50 pm

MintyHandy wrote: Billy's Little Trip
Sir, nobody can deny your mad guitar skills, and this is a strong groove you've got going on. Unfortunately, this kind of wallows around in the groove instead of going somewhere. You've laid a solid foundation, and now it's time for you to write a hooky chorus and an intriguing bridge. I know you can do it. In a lesser fight, would have been a possible vote.

Hey, there's the Mint'myster.
So you're saying I'm groovy? Shweet.

.....and who's this Lesser bloke? I'll kick the darty barstid in the bollix.

WesDavis · Post by **WesDavis** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:51 pm

MintyHandy wrote: Wes Davis
Excellent guitar work, strong arrangement, and I love your lyrics (especially the kick-off); hook gets better the second time through, great vocals (a bit unsteady here and there, nothing a few punch-ins wouldn't cure) -- terrific all around. Ghostly vocals at the end creeped me out, as designed. Reminds me a bit of "Twisting" by They Might Be Giants, but I can't put my finger on why. Possible vote.

I will take that as a compliment! I really like that song a lot. Though I can't tell you why my song reminds you of it either. Though honestly this did sound a lot like a TMBG song when I first started writing it.

Billy's Little Trip · Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:07 pm

somebody challenged Paco Del Stinko and Billy's Little Trip for the title of Guitar Hero

I just caught this

<<*me wiggling my upper lip with laughter because this is the best smiley we have here at teh SF to represent extreme laughter...izm*
I would go down in f**king flames. I'm the opposite of a technical player, which is very unappealing in a guitar solo challenge.

Steve Durand · Post by **Steve Durand** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:18 pm

Feldspar,

How did you record your acoustic guitar? It sounds fantastic.

Steve

Ross · Post by **Ross** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:51 pm

WesDavis wrote:
MintyHandy wrote: Wes Davis
Excellent guitar work, strong arrangement, and I love your lyrics (especially the kick-off); hook gets better the second time through, great vocals (a bit unsteady here and there, nothing a few punch-ins wouldn't cure) -- terrific all around. Ghostly vocals at the end creeped me out, as designed. Reminds me a bit of "Twisting" by They Might Be Giants, but I can't put my finger on why. Possible vote.
I will take that as a compliment! I really like that song a lot. Though I can't tell you why my song reminds you of it either. Though honestly this did sound a lot like a TMBG song when I first started writing it.

I keep hearing Bare Naked Ladies in there (the band, of course. although the other would be thrilling, too.)