How full of crap is it? (E\ | /F) reviews

[The Weakest Suit]

I agree, I can't record my vocals when anybody else is in the house.

I totally echo those sentiments. And it's hard to tell people that without them taking it personally.

[PlainSongs]

Andre was here at midnight : A nice but a little uneventful song. The lyrics are out of sync here and there, like "these days are kicking my ass" and "there's like ten of them". I know very little about basketball so I may not get everything... It gets more eventful when the electric guitar kicks in. Enjoyed it on the whole.

Bax : Just great how this starts off. The vocals are good too, though I wouldn't have minded them 15% louder either. Solo "but my beer is half full" + drums = cool. Really neat short ballsy punk song.

The Capitalist Youth : I like how you played with "...in half. Empty ... in half. Full ..." - might seem a bit gimmicky but if one wouldn't know the song title it would work perfectly and that's the litmus test. Meanwhile very good guitar playing, singing, and mixing... It's a really good song, it just stays a little too much within the country music style for my tastes, but that's no fault of yours.

MC Crapalot : This leads me to compare with Saul Williams, one of the few rappers I listen to regularly, in that it combines rap with an un-gansta (I think), even wistful tune. So I like the melody, and I can like the beat even though it seems a bit off; but you need to make the vocals more prominent. Not necessarily more aggressive or brawny, but more confident; again Saul Williams is the only example I can give. Loved the little 'oriental' trickle just before 2:00.

Dying Light : I love everything that is metal in this song, really good guitar riffs and rapid-fire bass drum. With that sort of tune the vocals need more oomph and darkness though... at the "look into my eyes" bit you get closer sometimes. I see you're one of the youngest fighters here so plenty of time to work on that I guess (lucky you :-).

FAWMit : Something weird going on with the panning here, no? The right channel enters in a hickupy fashion and also I think the panning is too extreme, in fact you panned (close to) 100% left/right, right? I find that pretty distracting. It's a pitty because you have some lovely mellow chords, some good and some okay singing, and that little phrase (at 0:13 and elsewhere) that is sweet as pie.

Jim Tyrrell : I really hope you'll play this at parties. Makes me thirsty... It is obviously expertly done, and your voice is appropriately gruff and the lyrics witty so it transcends 'yet another Irish drinking song' by a good stretch. So fun I have to concentrate to tease out the guitar and drums, and then those again are dead solid.

MC Eric B : This is quite okay, others have commented on the vocals and yes they need more presence; though I like the "some people see an empty glass of water" bit, and the Q/A pattern. I don't think at all that you're "a horrible singer" as you write (I'm serious, not pretend-supportive): 'just' be confident and think of something tough?

Melvin : What a great start. Very catchy, that guitar hook is a godsend. Nice alternation of quieter and noisier parts, might have preferred a bit more of the fun and less of the noisy elements past the halfway point. Good singing too despite one little slip. Overall a song I'd enjoy hearing again once in a while.

PQ Band : Good voice. Good guitar playing. There's some issue with the sound falling away at points, perhaps you used a noise gate with the attack/decay times set too aggressively? This song meanders a bit, a bit aimlessly, but I still really enjoy listening to it because it just sounds so pretty. The sudden cut-off at the end is a pity, might be due to the noise gate (or whatever it is) too.


As for my song, thanks for the nice reviews. And for the Cohen ref :-) Shame I didn't get the production right up to snuff; too little time, with the bongos, tin whistle and 2nd voice pretty much on the fly. Interesting comments about doubling/harmonizing. I did decide on harmonizing in the 1st and 2nd verse and doubling in 3&4&5(half), but apparently it could've been more convincing. In fact, ideally the second voice would have been a female one (the protagonist girl chiming in) but there wasn't any time for that.


Cheers all for good songs and reviews!

[The Weakest Suit]

Plain songs - the fawmit song is two separate songs (one called half empty and one called half full) played together, one in each ear. it's supposed to be hardpanned and strange sounding.

if you want the separate files (not hardpanned) you can go here:
timealpha.googlepages.com
all my fawm stuff so far is here, if you take it, please pm me and let me know what you think of the non-songfight stuff.

[PlainSongs]

Plain songs - the fawmit song is two separate songs (one called half empty and one called half full) played together, one in each ear. it's supposed to be hardpanned and strange sounding.

Mmmokay! Yeah I did get the full/empty contrast in the lyrics in each ear, but I was perhaps too bothered by the 'strange sound' to reckon we had a nice pan-play here. It's an interesting idea but executed too radically for me to 'get', it seems.

if you want the separate files (not hardpanned) you can go here:
timealpha.googlepages.com
all my fawm stuff so far is here, if you take it, please pm me and let me know what you think of the non-songfight stuff.

Shall have a listen tomorrow!

[The Weakest Suit]

It's an interesting idea but executed too radically for me to 'get', it seems.

I'm not claiming it was executed well at all, but it was something I always wanted to try. thanks for listening.

[fretnoize]

Plain songs - the fawmit song is two separate songs (one called half empty and one called half full) played together, one in each ear. it's supposed to be hardpanned and strange sounding.

That's a cool idea, I'll have to listen to the channels separately.

I almost wanted to do something like The Streets' song Empty Cans off of A Grand Don't Come For Free. Not necessarily rap, haha I'm not so good at that, but the song kinda covers two different perspectives, one negative and one positive. In minor then major respectively. It would have been cool to so something like that.

[drë]

<b>Bax</b> i like the angst in this song. it has some 80s bad religion punk feel to it. a bit crazy on the drums at times, and i wish their was crunchy guitar lick here and there, but oh well.

<b>The Capitalist Youth </b> nice soft country acoustic guitar their. Sure bring in god into the conversation, nice and slow build up. Catchy chorus, maybe a bit too long, but slow and easy all around. Possible vote.

<b>MC CrapAlot </b> in the back of my head, am trying to think how i would want this arrange to bring this song into life; but am drawing a blank.
things that work: soft synth strings, some bass, and soft vocals with lyrics.
things that don’t: random midi drums/beat, and annoying nylon guitar midi patch?
completely take out the things that don’t work, if they are not helping/supporting the elements that are carrying the tune, then their just getting in the way and hindering it. dont be afraid of being minimalist, if it gets the song across.

<b>Dying Light </b> ear grabbing intro, kick drum sounds flat tho. ahhhh, what a downer those soft bedroom vocals are.. you had me sold on the music, but i want my money back on the vocals. vocals cant match the music intensity.( either change vocals, or music)

<b>FAWMit </b> interesting idea, both sides of the topic panned hard to either channels.
very close in pulling it off, maybe with more time to developed the lyrical story and song structure. You have this laid back easy going sound that i digg.

<b>Jim Tyrrell </b> the title just had "dirking song" written all over it.
it sounds like your straining your voice quiet a bit there Jim; i know its that Irish genera your going for,
but maybe you needed more beers to pull those rough parts out. i think you could use more bass in your mix, ohh and a fiddle.

<b>MC Eric B</b> dude i don’t know what genera or art direction you are going for with your music, but i think its beyond nerdcord. it bugs be that i can categories it under something in my head.(ohh their it is, songfight semi-WTF). good thumping beat, tho.

<b>Melvin </b> dude your still singing about that girl? the song is full, poppy and lush, classic Melvin.
it should be interesting when ever and if you decide to experiment a bit more with your sound, and see how your going to take your music to the next level.
possible vote.

<b>Plain Songs for Doves & Tigers </b> nice riff their. uuhh and well played hand drums, yey! with that voice of yours, this sound likes a psychedelic folk Magnetic fields song. Good lyrical story; you sir have my vote.

<b>PQ Band </b> you can really carry this tune with you vocal performance. and what’s up with the crackling fire in the background? It seems like allot of people are sitting around a fire and playing these days(Jim Tyrrell, & myself included). Good song, and for its simplicity the time is right, it has a good pace.

Plain Songs got my vote.

[adamadamant]

Andre Was Here At Midnight
The rhythm of the vocals is a bit weird, it has a nice feel though. Makes it sound like a kind of lazy/drunk confession. The music is good and solid, i like the chords and the solo is pretty good.

David Bax
I really like this, it is kind of like the Offspring, i think someone else said, but that's mainly your voice. A kind of electric Offspring. Really good energy, would listen to again.

The Capitalist Youth
Mmmmm, a nice mellow vibe, a bit sad and country but not so much as to drive me away. Well produced, it sounds very professional, and everything is well played, sung and etc.

MC Crapalot
The backing track is quite nice, it would be better if the drums were a bit more tight, as they really serve to throw it off and make it seem amateurish. Maybe use a midi sequencer or pc program (try Hydrogen (http://www.hydrogen-music.org/), I use it and it's quite good and easy to get the hang of) next time as it sounds like you've just tapped them out on a keyboard. The rapping is nice enough.

Dying Light
The guitars have a lot of energy and are pretty exciting. The song deserves a stronger singer I feel. The whole track is slightly familiar, I don't know if that's because all metal just sounds the same to me or if you've got a similar riff to another song. Would have been a contender I think if the singer was stronger, it really detracts.

FAWMit
The whole two song thing is a bit weird. I'm listening now on a stereo and the panning isn't as off-putting, but when I listened on headphones it really annoyed me, especially the drums. It's a nice pleasant track but nothing amazing I don't think.

Jim Tyrrell
Very Pogues-y (well perhaps generic Irish American drunkards, they're the only ones I know), which is not a bad thing, quite good fun really. It's very competent, well sung and played. I feel like it needs something to change it up a bit, a longer chorus or something as it's a little bit repetitive. One of the best so far though.

MC Eric B
I never thought I'd say it but I think you've either worn me down, got better or, well I don't know, but I'm enjoying this one. Very simple, but it means it's uncluttered and fun, the signing is cool, maybe not the strongest singer but it really fits.

Melvin
I'm getting early Weezer and I like it. Lovely synthy lines throughout and solid chords and melodies on the guitar(s?) too. Definitely a would-listen again and possible vote.

Plain Songs for Doves and Tigers
Another corker. I really like your stuff, partly because of your voice i think, but you sound so different form anything else on Song Fight, but in the best way. Lovely sad song, a nice story going on and I love the drums, perfect.

PQBand
Another good one, sad and solemn and quite slow moving, but it works well. It makes such a difference that you can sing well, reminds me a bit of Nick Drake, and your voice really carries the song. There's a slightly tinny thing I think in your voice, almost sounds like the mp3 has been compressed too much, but it doesn't bother me too much. It ends very suddenly too. Good though, possible vote.

Highlights for me were David Bax, Melvin, Plain Songs and PQBand, but there a lot of quality entries I thought. I'll have to ponder as I'm not sure who to vote for.

[ex-kal]

half empty/half full

andre=The singing is pretty off here, rhythmwise and tone wise...the musical backing is decent enough tho

bax= i'm not the biggest fan of this tune. i like the style of the vocals. drums and guitar seem pretty bland, that kick started to get to me tho i dun think i like that constant kicking

captialistyouth= i like it, sounds like an old folk song. the harmony in the chorus works well. favorite so far, but that's not saying much, considering this is only the third one i've listened too heh. but i do like it a lot. no real criticism.

doubleback= flow is really chopped and not confident sounding. the drum loop is really shaky and weird too. I enjoy the panning effects of the synth or whatever that is, plus the vocals are too low. decent. not too good though.

dying light= the intro section was dopesauce, getting to the verse part, it gets kind of bland, the vocals kind of ruin it though. the chorus part is good. the vocals are barely audible, need to be better Eq'd, and it sounds like you're trying to be quiet or something. how do you have such strong instrumentalism and such weak vocal production?

fawmit= weird panning. I thought there was something wrong with the track and was startled when the sound all of a sudden came from the other side lol. I can't really understand the vocals in the right track, nor can i hear the music very well. as for the actual song. it sounds decent. singing is solid. guitar part is kind of uninspired, just chord, chord, chord. nothing special.

jimtyrrell= cool track. one of my favorites. vocals get shaky at point but solid overall. kind of gets repetitive after a while, but that simple variation in there works to break the monotony.

mc eric b= vocals are low. backing beat is okay, very simple. you should find better drums sounds, these ones kind of suck the bassline works.

melvin= cool composition. vocals seem kind of weak, need more oomph i think, sounds kind of whiny. I like the track though.

doves and tigers = i like the riff. I love it actually. this music is good, the flute is dope, vocals are cool. the harmony part doesn't seem to be mixed well. good track

pq band = pretty good. the guitar is cool..vocals are way too loud and seem kind of overly wet, but voice is good.


my favorites are jim tyrrell, doves and tigers, and capitalist youth.

i think i'll vote capitalist youth.

[jimtyrrell]

Congrats Melvin! *raises glass*

[melvin]

Yes! What a nice surprise. Thanks Jim. It was a close fight!

[Spud]

Hey, congrats, Melvin (and everyone else). A vote like this, which more or less corresponds to the review thread comments, makes me feel good about the system.

SPUD

[TheCapitalistYouth]

Congratulations Melvin!



P.S. I was surprised Plain Songs didn't get more votes.