How I Raised My Kids (Shut up and Sit Down Reviews)

[Adam!]

Puce - The level of your anger should be spent on a more deserving subject.

I’m curious, what does this mean?

What it says - don't waste that much anger on something that it is little more than an irritation. And then try and say 'well it was all a joke anyhow' (as in 'Where are you going?' line). Get angry about something that is bad enough to deserve some wroth. This is the aural equivalent of an old man shaking his stick at kids in the park.

“An old man shaking his stick at kids in the park” is the perfect simile for the guy in this song, whose complaining irritates the people around him more than thing he is complaining about. Except in this song he gets a taste of his own medicine when those sitting left, right, and behind him [respectively] get fed up and ignore him, move away, or tell him to "shut up and sit down". J$, I have no idea how toning down the complaining in a song about a guy who is complaining too much would make it anything but worse, but if you do I’m all ears.

I’m instantly repulsed by the vocals

Heh, not exactly the reaction I hoped for when I wrote the song

Man, I don't mince words, do I? What I mean is, though very well performed, they made me recoil from my speakers a bit when I first heard them. Especially right after that acoustic intro that made me turn my speakers way up. I hope that sounds better.

[HeuristicsInc]

Only more in-tune-ly! If you think I'm a good guitarist, well, I tried to run audio-mulch again tonight and got nowhere except confused, so there! Actually my own feelings are probably not that this particular song is Hinky so much as there's some similar mind-set with your stuff. Like I can relate (empathise?) better with your music than most other songfight stuff. It's vague, I guess.

Yeah, I can dig that. This song empathises with my style. Agreed!
Also, my style is vague.
J$ - I knew what you meant, yes, about the guitars.
-bill

[Niveous]

Niv's Review Paragraph

First up Deshead and again, it sounds like the son of Woodward & Bangs. It's a good song. I'm not in the mood for this song but I can't deny its merits. Next. ooh, rock. Hey, it's the aforementioned Bangs. Now, that's what I need this morning. It's got a little hair metal mixed with some grungier sounds. That was excellent. next. I bet this is retard. Yep. Rogue Retard. For the second week, RR is on the fringe of enjoyable. If Calfborg covered this one, it would rock. Next. Who the heck is Noah Chevalier? Oh, wait. It's Historyman. Shoulda realized, he did do my themesong. This is the best song I've heard from him. It's very CCS. Definitely frontrunner. But wait, what's this one. Very 80's British New Wave. J$. Again, shoulda known. I like the new rock Johnny. It doesn't beat Historyman but it's a nice b-side for Signs of Life. Next. Hey, it's Ministry. No, it's Reve Mosquito. Wow, that was pretty good. Short but punchy. I love songs like this. Hmmm. Who do I vote for Historyman or R. Mosquito? Wait, 2 more songs left. Rilla Dope's up next. OK, he trying so hard to be hard. Please Rilla Dope, so to epitaph records' website and find Sage Francis. Listen. Get inspired. Come back next week with something new because this didn't work. Last, Charcoal. I like to experiment like this. Bzl, you're gutsier than I for entering it into a Songfight. The vocals work. The lyrics are odd and the mix of feedback sounds and odd de-tuned sounds are a bit much. Vote time. I'm giving it to Historyman, closely followed by R Mosquito and #3 goes to deshead. Off to the next fight.

[hillbilly]

Hillbilly vote goes to Deshead for the killer guitar work.

[Spud]

We did one as well, but didn't enter it due to the one-entry-per-band rule.
You can hear it here, though:

http://octothorpe.songhole.org/music/AA ... itDown.mp3

[historyman68]

I put my musings, then let my brother have his two cents. His reviews are in the red. He's 13.


Charcol--
So this song is about artifice and snide, depressing commentary. It appears. It does a fair job of presenting itself. The entire mix is wayyyyy too bass-heavy. Did you cut the treble on purpose? The guitar solo has some appeal, but is anything but the "Raucous electric guitar solo." promised in the lyric archive. This song could grow on me. Half of it's too subtle, half of it's just not clear enough. Not quite sure what else to say about it.

Bro's take: It's okay, doesn't seem to have much of a direction. Part of that is that I don't understand the lyrics. It seems well done, it's just not particularly interesting to listen to. 4/10

Rogue --
I actually enjoyed it a lot more the most recent time I listened than before. The beat is pretty hot, and the production is fun. The guitar solo doesn't seem very in beat. I enjoy this on some level aesthetically, but does the world really need another person singing like they're retarded?

Bro's take: Sort of funny, not sure if they meant it that way. Sort of interesting to listen to, wouldn't listen to it more than once. 6/10

deshead --
nice story, and I like the bluesy feel. Very good song. I enjoy it. I like it a lot. I'm not sure I care about it. I had some critiques, but I don't really care anymore.

Bro's take: sounds more like an actual song, more substantial. nice vocals and nice guitar. Catchy. 8/10

R. Mostquito--
I like it more this time. Sound a little hoe-down.

Bro's take: I like that one. Give that, like 8 1/3. Very rocking. I could feel my head rocking to the beat. Sounds like anonymous rock stuff I've heard. Sounded like "some rock band." Didn't sound especially good. Wouldn't buy it if that was the album. But for something non-commercial, it's very good. 8 1/3 / 10.

Eddie Bangs--
nice chorus, nice production

Bro's take: I like this one. The problem is that... I'd give it a 9/10 in terms of the songfight songs I've heard. It's very well done: I was singing along with it. I felt myself wanting more of it. It was just really, you know, good. 9/10

Rilladope --
kinda incoherent, silly, a little Ice Ice Baby ("gotta get away before the jackers jack" would fit perfect). verse isn't an even number of times (I'm kinda hypocritical). best part is corny saturday morning cartoon "you can do anything" - I like "there's no room in this crew for 'honorable mention.'"

Bro's take: I would give that 8 2/3. 8 2/3 / 10.

Historyman--
Yes, I am really Noah. Now you all know my real name. I guess I forgot to change the id3 tag. I think this came out really well, and I'm glad that people like it.

Bro's take: 8 1/2. I thought it had a really good beginning. Started with a lot of promise. Then it got really weird. And, it had an okay ending. 8 1/2 / 10.

J$ -- kinda irritating song. A little Modest Mouse. I like the groove, though. Down/smile -> frown is a little cliche. Is "furry cup" a magritte reference?

Bro's take: Okay... Um. I would give it a 7 2/3. I thought it was good, just sort of weird... 7 2/3 /10.

Puce --
really bad buffering on that site. I had to download it to listen to it; i really like this; i might've voted for this if you'd entered it

Bro's take: I'd give that a 9. I'm actually sort of disappointed he didn't submit it. He'd at least get a lot of votes. It was very good music, and funny. And I can relate. Yeah. 9/10.

OctoCase --

Bro's take: 6 1/2. Um... sort of... bizarre, but interesting. That's it. 6 1/2 / 10.


On the fight in general--
I think this is a pretty good fight. Small. I like that.

Bro's take: all in two categories: sort of weird, and sort of rocking. Most of the songs were pretty good at least, like, they were interesting to listen to. Most of them I wouldn't listen to again. I would vote for Puce if he'd submitted it. They should be more like Jim of Seattle, cause he's really good. (starts singing "Gin or Ginseng"). Can you play that one?

[j$]

Is "furry cup" a magritte reference?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. No.

Do you really not know what a 'furry cup' is? Think about it, only don't grant me any intellectual power here

j$

[historyman68]

Is "furry cup" a magritte reference?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. No.

Do you really not know what a 'furry cup' is? Think about it, only don't grant me any intellectual power here

j$

... is it sick?

[thehipcola]

Charcoal
-this is 2% more f'd up than I find comfortable for repeat listens. I suspect you are more in control of this than I think. Very dischordant. Sounds like the whole track is processed by really crappy ringtone modulators. That said, something likeable about it. Con: couldn't make out one word.

Noah Chevalier
If you recorded those tamb's, nice work. This isn't half bad...I'd like you to challenge yourself vocally, cuz you can sing..but this is too simple for you. You need to play with a click, or if you did, practice with one. It drags a bit. Nothing really holding me to this track, lyrics aren't bad tho. The melody is ok too. But it feels like I've heard something like it before.

Deshead*
Wow...great guitar lead. This has great feel, of course. It's very french canadian in it's vibe. If you've ever pubbed in Quebec City or around, you'll know what I mean. No matter, it's a fine fine song. Very well recorded and mixed, classic Des. Nice job, possible vote.

Rogueretard
You know, you've got something in them beats...I can dig..but by 30 seconds I realize that this avant-breaks piece is not really doing it for me. Nice piece of art.

Rilladope*
Right on. Your vocals sounds like you jacked in to your radio shack cassette player to lay them down. But very very retro. And that gives it some cred...This works on a UTFO kind of level. That's right, I said UTFO. Skeezer! (edit, this goes in my fav's folder.) I enjoyed it. At first I hated the production, but that's the charm, isn't it? It might be a tad longish.

EddieBangs*
Classic eddie. Love the axework...there's an awful low mid-honk when you really chunk away, could be my setup. Metal lives, RATT! Your voice really works well for this. Great ending. Great. I'd like to remix this. Not as a remix, but actually mix your song. Rock it.

R. Mosquito
This is great, love the guitar work. The disto vocals are so disto, I can't really understand them. But stylized they is. Relentless is how I describe this. That's all. Not my favourite, but well done nonetheless.

Johnny Cashpoint
Could these be further apart on the musical scale? Johnny, you are in fine form here. Like the rippin' synth in the back ground. As usual, I'm tripping on your voice. Great moments, but I don't like the growly stuff. Mix isn't as shiny as I'd like it. Dull-ish. LIke the guitar at the end. Like the end too.


Yay. Got all 4 fights reviewed. Did you?

Some good stuff in this fight. I've run out of time, will try to get to the unentered tracks later.
Man, I'm havin' a tough time with this. Deshead, as usual brought his A-game. But Rilladope slayed me with his flow. I'm not the biggest rap fan, but that was so old skool, I have to give props to the man. Rilladope takes my vote this week, but Deshead is way right behind. Photo finish actually..

Thanks everyone!

[historyman68]

It kind of does sound better; see the bonus version that I am compulsively plugging for no good reason, and the HInc comparison makes some sense, at least sonically. A lot of the same sort of spooky sounds and similar atmosphere.

I like your remix. I think it would be good if, for your middle, "raucous guitar solo" part, you brought in the whole band. For the end, you could either take it out, or leave it in for the rest of the song. But this mix does take your song from "weird, unintelligible, and slightly unpleasant" to "weird, spooky, and kinda cool."
'S what I say.

[historyman68]

Noah Chevalier
If you recorded those tamb's, nice work. This isn't half bad...I'd like you to challenge yourself vocally, cuz you can sing..but this is too simple for you. You need to play with a click, or if you did, practice with one. It drags a bit. Nothing really holding me to this track, lyrics aren't bad tho. The melody is ok too. But it feels like I've heard something like it before.
Thanks everyone!

I recorded everything. It took me soooo long to record the tamborines in time. I'm very proud of that. I did us a click track, but once I recorded the clave, I turned it off so I could sync it more internally. But yeah, there is some out of sync stuff that I would have fixed had I had more time.
Thank you for saying I should challenge myself vocally. I felt this was one of my best vocal performances I've done so far. I guess I'll try something more complex or difficult for myself next time...

[HeuristicsInc]

rmosq - wow, the guitar tone there is pretty harsh on the high end. this is butthole surfers style. heh. this is good. i would have toned down the harsh on that guitar, though, when it came in it was pretty sudden.

eddie - different voice styles = good. eddiebangs rocks.

rilla - your sense of rhythm is better than most rappers here at songfight. this is still just the cliche "i'm better than you" rap... i'm sick of that particular lyric style. all in all, well done, but not my style.

noah - pretty good. not totally together, but the vocals are good.

j$ - hey, nice guitar! this is like a 60's song too. some parts of unison vox aren't really

rogue - with a name like that i expect not to like this. the guitar is good, but the rest...

charcoal - the guitar is so awesome and weird. in the past i've not liked your vocals, but i think in this setting they're great (either that or they've improved, which is possible!). yes, very cool. great atmosphere. now listening to the remix version... seems less weird so far. yeah this one is too normal. i wouldn't vote for this version, but i might vote for the original!

puce - i like it better after it picks up. the shut up part is great. funny spoken word part. this makes it.

deshead - this chorus is insidious. after i heard it the first time this stuck in my head the most of all the songs here (may have been helped by the fact that it was near the end, but i don't remember). the instrumental break at the end is also great.

1: rmosq, eddie, j$, charcoal, puce
2: rilla, noah

yeh, i'm going to vote for the song voted "most likely to be like heuristics inc."
but deshead was almost there, too.
-bill

[deshead]

I had this premonition that my vote in this fight wasn't going to matter, so I didn't bother casting it. Colour me psychic ...

Reviews still count, though:

Charcoal: The vocal level in the remix is much better. The out-of-tune-ness is cringe-inducing at first, but once I listened to the track a few times, my ears adapted. Neat. Some thoughts on the mix: it's all mids, and there's no definition on the bottom end. I'd pan things out a bit, and follow Puce's advice

Eddiebangs: Your voice is perfect for this song. I second THC's observation about the low-mids: everything south of about 250Hz is muddied up on my system. But the overall balance in the mix is great. That guitar solo got me banging my head!

Historyman: FWIW, this would have had my vote. The mix is great. So well-balanced. Are you going to tweak the synch a little more, or just put this one to bed? It's a great song either way.

J$: Heh, raspy vocals. Sweet! The guitar at the end works really well. The mix could use a broad-band boost on the high frequencies, but otherwise it's solid. Oh, and congrats on FAWM. You're a machine!!!!

Puce: Wow, top notch. You make it sound so easy! If you'd submitted this, it would have been the song that didn't win.

Rilladope: 3 tries and I still can't get through this. That bass 'heartbeat' is frickin' sonic Chinese Water Torture. Meh, sour grapes I guess. At least make sure your buddies know there're new songs here every week, and they can vote any time they want.

Reve: Wow, good job. Genre-hopping suits you! I'll second all of Puce's mix advice, and add that the kick drum should be WAY louder.

Rogue Retard: I laughed in spite of myself. That guitar in the background is awesome.

If you've ever pubbed in Quebec City or around, you'll know what I mean.

I'd kill to see Big Rude Jake in a smoky French-Canadian pub.

[historyman68]

Historyman: FWIW, this would have had my vote. The mix is great. So well-balanced. Are you going to tweak the synch a little more, or just put this one to bed? It's a great song either way.

Thanks. I guess the votes that I got are exclusively the people on the board who said they would. Thanks to all five (5) of you! And congratulations to Rilladope - good flow.
Thanks about the mix. I've had some issues with that previously. I think I'm going to put this baby to bed.

[j$]

The mix could use a broad-band boost on the high frequencies, but otherwise it's solid.

oh, this is so true. So (pardon my production luddism) you're saying on a graphic parametric EQ, I'd spread a wide band from say 3k - 20k and click 'go'????

Please help, I totally agree with you & Hip Cola that the mix is flat, i took some of the bass end out of the original for this exact reason, but it made it worse ....

j$

[deshead]

So (pardon my production luddism) you're saying on a graphic parametric EQ, I'd spread a wide band from say 3k - 20k and click 'go'????

Yep, that's the general idea.

This might give you a feel (though it could definitely use more tweaking):Here's your track with the simple HF EQ boost pictured:


(Here's what it sounds like with Ozone's "4-band excitation and widening" preset, which also does some compressing and exciting to liven up the top-end. In hindsight, that's what I really meant )

[j$]

Wow - I am both amazed and slightly horrified that a plug-in can make such a difference. It's how you use it I guess! Must get this Ozone thingy ...

Thanks, man. I appreciate it.

j$

[HeuristicsInc]

if you didn't know, ozone is the mastering plugin that starfinger and i both use. was his idea first tho. definitely get it.
-bill

[historyman68]

Yeah, I also use that EQ when I record at the radio station. So, not on the most recent ones... but that is a good EQ. All you really need is a good understanding of equalization, and any of them will work, including builtins.

[historyman68]

Thank you so much, fightmaster, for putting my song on the front page! That's really awesome, and I appreciate it a lot!