Andre was here at midnight - A pedal steel would just bring out the tears on this one, although there are some instrument phrases that hint at the sound. The vocal jump up at the chorus is very nice, and the patient pace of the song is just right. There are nit-picky things to criticize here, if one would want to, but the genuine feel is nice and sweet. This would make for a good tear-jerker video like you do so well. I like this very much. Intimate.
The Chadderandom Abyss - It sounds like you're trying to learn guitar chords, initially, then let your kid strum it for a while. This would almost be funny if it were like a minute long or so. Almost. But if you were actually going for some artsy-fartsy thing, I'd have to say that you tanked.
chonny - Very nice layering, everything complementing each part just right. What a nice vocal sounding wah, as well. The arrangement is good, although the ending feels a bit abrupt, like it just fell in there. Still, nice sections that transition well, especially into the glockenspiel monster music section. The vocal line is fine, if under delivered. Maybe a little more oomph, but not over the top. Very good tune a wee bit under baked.
Clifton Lee Johnston - Where's the production? I'm kidding! ( I saw your comments somewhere) What a nice and delicate song. Very fragile, and appropriately so, given the lyrics. The melody is fine, if a bit standard, but the guitar part adds the soul, I think. Nicely done.
Deux Freres - It's like a New Orleans funeral march through medieval Europe. I like the wandering melody, but it kind of feels like it loses its way later in the song, and that you got a little tired while singing. The serious subject matter is appropriate and fits well. Loose but smart and well arranged.
Eddie Lance - Despite the entrance of the organ, I don't think I would've guessed that the song was about it. Nice and lean, yet getting the point across. You do what you do very well, but I'd like to hear you take a sharp turn and do something dark and even threatening sometime. Give us a scare!
Flvxxvm Florvm - Where did this feel come from? Very Carlos Santana or something. I dig this direction and like the rubbery bass. Also the fuzzed out chorus. The song makes more sense after the first chorus, feel wise, as well. A nice change in the drums would be refreshing, but somehow the horse-trot feel gets away with working throughout. Care to share who this is about?
The Go Ahead And - I didn't care much for this song the first time I heard it, finding it stiff or something. But after each subsequent listen, I enjoyed it more each time, even the familiar 'but I can't recall what it is' chorus. I like the lines about the watch, for reasons I may not understand, as well. I could end up hating this if I heard it too many more times, but at this point in history it's good fun.
The Hell Yeahs - The lyrics and beat are great, but the bass line and subtle accents and buried in the mix schnibbets are the secret weapons here, I think. Nice complex arrangement that does a lot in a short time, yet doesn't come across as too busy. Heather sounds good, but better in the almost naughty sounding I-I-I's and chorus. Nice lead/tone as well, Mr. Phil. You guys can teach everyone how to rock properly.
Iqballers - I kind of like the ultra lo-fi here, and don't mind the static either. Or the car driving by as well. I like the melody and this seems to be the success to the song, too short and undeveloped as it may be. (structurally, not sonically)
Kid Cruiser - What a great melody and structure, if too short, although too many verses and all that would probably rob this of some of its charms. Totally infectious. Nice voice and singing all around as well. And the dee-doodle-oodle-lee-doo business is tops. I don't think the subject matter, with a couple of chuckles, is required to get something this nice any attention, as it sells itself with a multitude of hooks.
King Arthur - This is a nice surprise. How goofy and weird that main line is, it's great coming back in when you start repeating 'how beautiful she is'. An over the top, maniacal vocal would've fit in here nicely as well, though your matter of fact hep-cat delivery works well. The monster in the lyrics is scary, and I'd rather bump into a more traditional Frankenstein than the one you describe-good job.
LSK - Well, you get points for enthusiasm, but lose them for that brain punching snare. It's nice that it's real and all, but put that thing in a harness, please! The lyrics are way under-baked and display a lack of either effort or time, hopefully time. Step it up, man.
MC Eric B - Familiar and also dipping your toes into a new territory. The chorus starts off good, with the descending chords, but almost gets scared and comes back to safety. The rap part is OK, but I like the effort you made to layer vocals underneath it better, even if they struggle a bit. It's good to hear you trying to branch out a bit, don't be afraid to tank. Hell, I think I drive a tank! Watch that vocal pitch though.
Melvin - Nice pre-chorus and chorus, both nice and hooky. Good supporting keys and oohs. I'm a little head scratchy at the car bit, but like the return from it. This would work well both blasting out of your convertible's stereo or in the eating ice cream cones on the beach montage section of the hit romantic comedy of the summer. Jees, make a stinker, won't you?
Napoleon's Toes - This gets better as it goes, starting right about where the way in the back scream comes in. I like some of the lyrics, even if I have no idea what they're about. I like the little half-steps in the progression, which is an odd one. I like the rubbery bits breakdown at the end, and would enjoy it more without the accompanying voice. It's almost kinda scary, for some reason.
Paco del Stinko - This is indeed about a blow-up/ sex doll. Not an auto-biographical story, thank you very much. Fun to try pedal guitar type sounds. The drums were played with rods instead of sticks. Good god, that strained end note, though.
The Phobias - Wobbly vocals, but a nice effort and good idea. I like the falsetto vocals in the verses and the repeating piano line in the bridge section later on, it saves that part from being just a robot feel. The simple layering works well throughout. This tune is OK, but it feels like someone who hasn't quite hit their stride yet. Keep at it, peoples.
Pompeii - That's not a gal singing, like people say is it? I like the voice, whatever the gender, but feel the melody is a bit too plain. I like the song except for the pause in main progression, where the chord is just held. I don't know why. The guitar on the right is awfully gravelly sounding and I wonder if the same sound might work better produced differently, as it's not necessarily a bad sound. The left guitar sounds like an organ at times, and I wonder if that might've been a cool approach to further enhance the Deep Purple elements in the song. The lead smokes and is a great example of 'shredding' without sacrificing feel.
Rone Rivendale - I just realized that the weird bell harmonics I was hearing, and couldn't figure out what they were, is a guitar! Tune that thing up, bro. Glad that you're trying a new instrument, though. What dark and bleak lyrics, some work well some don't. Some bass tones might've helped this, but I'm not so sure about that, as the entire song feels a bit rushed, evident in the overlapping and stuttery sounding vocal tracks. You can do better.
Sanity - That simple bass line is great: right out of 70's porn or the original Dirty Harry flick. It's nice that you updated it with more current sounding vocals and keys, but I could listen to that simple line for, well, as long as this song is, anyway. Sounds like you're having fun here even though the track is laid back and far from being zany. Maybe too casual at times, the guitar noodles take away from the cool factor at the end, and the backing voices could be less aggressive, compared to the main voice. Still, an enjoyable mood piece, if a tad long.
Signboy - Great opening riff, it sounds better on speakers than on headphones, where it sounded sloppier. Cool main progression, and chorus as well. The vocals sound a bit strained at times, but head in the right direction, if not delivering a great melody. I feel like this could benefit from some kind of way up high and fast paced key riff squiggles or something. I like this song but it doesn't quite deliver a knock out blow. Like the bass sound, too.
The Stims - Frankie Little Face. The melodies work well and the progression is decent as well. I like the guitar phrases on the right, despite the scruffy sound. I think a bit smoother tone would've helped, but not as important as what they're doing. Weird how the bass is almost not there during the song, but pops out during the little riffs it does. This is good but almost feels lazy, although I'm sure that wasn't your intention. This is probably a good candidate for a re-do, if that's your way of going about things.
Stu Jordan - Nice melody and one of the better voices around, it's almost shocking when you go off key here. Maybe this would've worked better in one of your more 'regular' production approaches. All finger picky or something. The song is nice and sweet and I can see what you were going for, but maybe the lovey-dovey version could have benefitted you better. And the little famous melody lick in the lead has to go. Good song, wrong road.
The Styop Quoons Experience - This could afford to be even creepier, it's weird but maybe not weird enough. Give it a heaping dose of Alice Cooper and now we're talking! Still, I like the banjo sounding thing and the snaps, if both a bit stiff. Go full out creepy next time, or if you re-work this.
Swilington - Good guitar progression, if a bit wandery. It fits in well with the keys when they enter. How about a distant and way 'verbed out slide accent in there, that might give this a bit of haunt. The tinkly sounds work well in that direction. I like the arrangement here, as it patiently evolves yet doesn't lose its skeletal structure. Right approach to the vocals, another simple verse might not have hurt.
The Weakest Suit - Much of this reminds me of Sway by the Stones. I'm sure that wasn't deliberate, but I have a hard time shaking that off. I didn't like the opening line for some reason, I thought it was going to be a joke. And the false ending kind of bugged me. Ha! Not trying to dump all over you, man! The late at night feel you often display is here and working well, and although you're probably pressed for time, this could benefit from some more tinkering. Good foundation for something stronger.