The Song Fight Bulletin Board

A few comments. I'll review with "like, ok or don't like" based on the music, lyrics and vocals. Please note, this is just one guys opinion on this one particular song.

Banana Dan
Sounds like a walk in the robinhood woods. I like the dynamics of this instrumental. Good movie music, Banananana dana. Liked the music. Didn't like the lyrical content. Liked the vocals.


Berkeley Social Scene
Interesting melody. A shame the vocals take away from the great music going on here. The chorus is a nice mix though. I wish the right and left guitar were matched up in volume a bit better. It makes my head tilt listen on headphones as if tilting my head will balance it out, lol. Like the music. lyrics were fine. Vocals need practice.


Billy and the Psychotics
I like these guys. They are the cats pajamas. If I had to pick knees to compare my like for this song, I'd pick those of the bees.


Bombernaughts
Hey, you used an organ too. Groovy church music. Nice mix of the harmonizing vocals. Like the music. Lyrics are ok. Vocals are good.

Christopher Broxson
Nice progressive jazz drum beat. The vocals don't match with the music and sound like just random shit with nothing to sing about. Like the music. Lyrics are weak. Vocals are weak. Practice more and nail it next time. You could make this cool.

Chuck Chuck Moose
Straight drum beat. Cool guitar comes in. Vocals come in and are not practiced and mixed cold. Another organ. This is organ week. The music is ok. Lyrics are ok. Vocals need a lot of practice.

enter it in the art show
Nice guitar opener. Vocals fit well and sound nice. Would sound better if the drums matched the guitar ambiance. Just a little reverb on them would fatten them up. Like the music. Lyrics are good. Vocals are good.

Foobar
Piano. Sounds nice. Let's hope the vocals are nice too. ....waiting for vocals. ....??? Okay, this is a piano instrumental piece. Well, it sounds good. I'm no piano expert, but I don't hear any mistakes thus far, so I am going to take a wild guess and say this is good. My ears say it is, so I'll go by that. Like the music. No lyrics. No vocals.

g Rock
Piano too, cool. A shame about the background air/hiss. Cool beat and lovin' the tremolo guitar and megaphone vocals. Guitar is shweet and moody. The changes are awesome. This is pretty damn good actually. Like the music. Lyrics are fine. Vocals are good.

Havarti on Rye
Robot music, yay. A space odyssey. Oh, time to boogie when the beat picks up. Star Wars bar scene jam. Liked the music. Lyrics are weak. Vocals are synthed, so cloned and the same as the other similar model androids.

The Hell Yeahs
Ok, the fan favs, The Hell Yeahs! Starts out with a SoCk'eM! Rocks with a BaNg! Bridge pops in with a wOoSh! Yeah, Phil's lead solo rips with a PoW! Fun jammy jam. I like it. Like the music. Like the lyrics. Love the vocals. (you get a love rating cuz ur a geeerl)

Hey, It's Romer
Starts off like an Evil Boy rap. Cool groove and deep bass. You have the verbage runnin' but I wish it was tighter, as in practiced more before recording. But it's all there. Like the back beat. Lyrics are ok. Vocals are good, but need practice to tighten them up.

Hoblit
Yeah, the Hobz! Nice, old school punk! The mix is a little dwanky but effective, but the funny thing is, it's 10 times better than the mixes from the era of this style, heh. This is good! Like the music. Like the lyrics. Like the vocals.

Hortus Ortus
Ah, nice guitars and an accompanying uke. A nice stay strong and together story song. Like the music. Like the lyrics. Like the vocals.

Humanic
Nice string pluck intro. What is it, a violin? A lot of great instruments here. A bass sax? This is cool. The synth pad in the back left is a nice touch to keep it all gelling. This is pretty good, actually. Like the music. Lyrics are ok. Vocals sound good.

Inflatable Vegetables
Blondie? Oh, it changes. This is kinda cool. Like an old Casio with a merengue beat. Very 80s new wave. Music is ok. Lyrics are ok. Vocals are good.

Jay String & DJ Whyz
Cool intro! This is cool. This has a fun groove! Like the music. Like the lyrics. Like the vocals.

Klownhole
Ok, time for the hole. Big Iron man guitar intro is cool. Very cool 60s rock This rocks! I like the music. Lyrics are ok. Vocals are ok.

The Pin Drops
REM'ish intro sounds cool. Here we go. Brush drums and acoustic guitar is cool. This is played well. Like the music. Lyrics are good. Vocals are ok.

R. Mosquito
Nice deep bass intro. Kicks in strong. The drummer is having too much fun, lol. Love the quiet breaks to power returns. This is pretty cool. Like the music. Lyrics are ok. Vocals are good.

Roach Bites
Guitar is cool. The drums are not driving in the mix like they should be. Hard to understand. Vocals trying too hard. Music ok. Lyrics weak. Vocals annoying. Practice the vocals more and you'll dial it in.

Rops
Nice back tracks. Rap delivery is pretty tight. Like the music. Lyrics are generic. Vocals are good.

TRJones
Acoustic guitar and voice intro is nice. Oh, it's a G&G song. It's nice, I like it. Like the music. Lyrics are ok. Vocals are good.

Banana Dan

I'll start by saying that this is 'not my thing'. However, it is well produced and there isn't anything wrong with it at all. If I were into this type of thing, I imagine this is a really good version of this style. I will go on to say that I actually do love the sample. Very cute and catchy. I think that helps define this song as this week's Come Out entry and makes it a contender in this week's fight.

Berkeley Social Scene

I like the late 80's, early 90's college radio drone this has. I feel like I hear some old REM in there. I like how the choruses pick up a little but don't go so far out of itself that it is distracting. It all feels like it is glued together really well. Again, I'm in a love / hate relationship with the vocals. I like the style but it seems the execution misses just a little. I imagine that, also again, is just a relic of not having enough time to perfect it. I really like both guitars and the stereo split on them. This song is good among a a good fight and hangs tough with the rest of the entries. Thank you for a pretty good song this week. It's hard to get friends into this when there aren't a lot of solid content and you are keeping the standards up there. My cousin liked this and even asked me if I had entered twice this week.

Billy and the Psychotics

This is the best song this week. I am humbled! Not like I REALLY go into these things thinking I'm going to win but I went in with pretty good confidence in my song only to be surprised by this entry. Your voice is spot on and the lyrics are pretty good. The secondary back up vocals are a nice tease to the rest of them. I dig on the simple guitar melodies. The chorus is the final sale on the song. It meshes well and the whole thing is executed perfectly. The short keys solo is a nice break in the song before it all comes back together for another verse. The pause before that last set of choruses is a perfect suspenseful trick to keep the listener on edge. Also, I'd be remiss if I don't mention the drums. This gives the whole thing a perfectly professional feel to gloss the whole listening experience over with it. This one is downloaded and in my collection now. I voted for this one. Good work.

Bombernaughts

This reminds me of early Enya or maybe Cocteau Twins. I'm not crazy about it but I don't think it's bad. I just don't think I'm into this type of music. I think it's specifically the electronic instruments in this particular song. They just don't sound that good to my ears. However, I can focus on the good things about the song and that is the vocal execution. The vocals are very good and are not hardly topped by any other entry this week if at all. It has a very serious but ethereal type delivery and I can appreciate that. Another decent entry in a pretty decent fight so thank you for a very listenable entry.

Christopher Broxson

Simple and short. I'm not sure I like this piece but I do like the bass line. I do not like the vocals nor do I really understand the lyrics due to the vocal delivery type. I like the hook of the bass line with the piano to match. But this song just doesn't have the substance that I look for in a song. This seems like an interval song on an album that is in between the second to last song and the last one.

Chuck Chuck Moose

I have to say that I REALLY dig the name. Chuck Chuck Moose is a really good band name. I am not crazy about the lyrics and please don't take offense, I do not like the vocal delivery. However, I do see a well structure song here and can appreciate the effort. If I had to criticize in order to give you tips in the future, practice the song vocally and work on the segway from verse to chorus. Your song seems to even surprise the performer between those transitions. Your vocals are not in good rhythm with the rest of the music. It would also appear to me that your guitars could come up in the mix. Especially because in my opinion, they are one of the best features of the song. Keep it up and don't let me bring you down. Take my words as encouragement because I had some real stinkers in my time and I can hear potential in your entry. While there is room for improvement, you can take that as having a good shot at improving.

enter it in the art show

Some of your lyrics are unconventional but I can get into that sometimes. I really dig this entry and while I almost never vote for more than one entry (I'm old-school!) I went ahead and voted for this too. I really like your vocal delivery and choice of simple melody. I like the pretty ring of the guitars and the odd kick drum versus stuttering toms & snare. This song is very sweet and overall I feel like it could be in a movie as a montage of memories after a break-up scene or something like that. In fact, I judge some songs on their ability to create that imagery for my brain and you got my attention. I look forward to more from you and this one is now in my collection. ( I have been to many different hotels and they all smell different, but I like the lyric anyway )

Foobar

Very pretty and well executed. I downloaded this just to have it. I'm not sure how it ties into the title but I can't say anything negative about it. I like the changes and the bass keys. This is an excellent recording too. Simple but well recorded. I could say you could up the higher ends and the overall volume but everything is there and the performance seems passionate. This is very pretty and I really like it at about 2:20 mark. As someone else said, it seems to really start developing and then it's over. But to me, it PEAKS and then gets tired and goes to rest. Very good work and another excellent song this week.

g Rock

Very nice. A pet peeve of mine is electric bass & piano alone together. I don't know why. It has always been that way for me. Those two instruments don't work well together alone in my opinion. But that quickly goes away as the drums and the tremolo guitar kick in creating a wonderfully dark vibe. That is what makes this song. I like the filtered voice over the dark sounds playing as the bed for it. I really like the changes and how the vocals slide right into them. This is one of the best songs this week and I considered it for a vote but as it is, I've already voted for two songs and I simply can't vote for them all! Another fine tune in a group of fine tunes. I like the hooky "I don't know how" and the fade out leaving the listener wanting more. This is nice and I'm downloading it.

Havarti on Rye

This is another, 'not my thing' type piece. The beginning vocals with all the delay are a bit overwhelming. I don't want to get too much into this as again, it's out of my jurisdiction if you will. I like that it isn't too long just for the fact that it can be a bit much at times. I think you did a good job as far as what you probably set out to do and overall it's an all right piece.

The Hell Yeahs

We sort of went for the same sound in this fight. I'm glad to have you in the same fight to have sort of a point of reference for the both of us. As pointed out earlier, we're both under the Tony Hawk video game genre. I think the off rhymes are cute but this is a good aggressive female vocal delivery. It's snotty and tough at the same time. The mix is a little muddy and missing some high ends but I kind of like the lo-fi execution as it is perfect for this genre. Heck, that may be on purpose due to the style, right? Very catchy chorus and I really dig on how the guitars are all over the place, messy but tight at the same time and not stuck on a four chord progression. Hopping around and I feel like the song just punched me in the face that felt good. I've downloaded this for the collection. Great song, guys.

Hey, It's Romer

Definitely not my thing but I suppose it is good for what it is, considering a production done in short time. I've heard some local rap before and if that is what I have to compare with this, you are spot on with it. Ya'll keep at it and I'm sure sometime down the road you'll get one that I like. I don't hate rap but I'm pretty picky about it. Hey, I'm a rock n' roll white boyk, what can I tell you.

Hoblit

I set out to do a very formulaic early to mid 80's type punk rock and I think I got it. I've still got a long way to go on drums but I'm now able to keep a regular back beat to my own songs and that is feat for me. This is my anti anti-gay song. I'm tired of the hate and I'm tired of the world pretending that the majority should always rule on everything, even human rights issues. If we let the majority vote and decide everything, there would be a lot more oppression. I mean, it's a good thing that slavery wasn't left up to vote, right? Gay rights are important too. So, Come Out...fighting.

Hortus Ortus

This is really pretty. Well executed guitar and vocals. I'm torn on this because I'm not crazy about it but I can't tell why. I guess it's just a little too 'hippy' for me but at the same time, I like some hippy stuff. I don't like John Denver & Gordon Lightfoot and I guess that this is what it reminds me of. Now, that's enough negative. You really have a good voice and your vocals, along with the backing ones are excellent. The guitar chords and picking are really nice and there isn't a flaw to be seen. I'm sure you are great at parties and I would encourage you to keep doing what you're doing. Good work, another good song for a good fight.

Humanic

This is pretty nice but I'm not getting into it. Another listenable tune for a good fight this week though. The vocals are nice and I like the layers of them at any given time. The melodies are sweet as well as all of the nuances that wave in and out throughout the song. I particularly like the guitar and the way the song develops as it moves on. It comes back to the chorus of layered vocals. I think it's just missing something and I can't put my finger on it. Sweet song though and I'm glad it is a part of this week's fight. There are people I know that quite liked it so it's not you, it's me.

Inflatable Vegetables

You have a good execution but I'm not really getting into this either. I don't like the lyrics and I think there is a degree of 'cheese' ... particularly the 'chasing your dreams part'. I like positive songs every onow and then but this one isn't grabbing me. I want to say I hear a little 'Never Ending Story' in there. But you know, don't let this little bit of criticizing keep you from reaching for your dreams! I do have to say your chorus melody is catchy and your vocal delivery is pretty good for what you are going for. I think the overall production is also pretty good but suffers from some of the sequenced drums. That strange vocal answer back is a bit distracting but also catchy. A listenable tune for a good week of fighting.

Jay String & DJ Whyz

This is a bit weird and I like it for its weirdness and the bendy sample is cute. But I can't really get into this song either. However, having some idea of how this was put together, I can forgive it. Good work under the circumstances.

Klownhole

As much as I try, I cannot get into this. It's mostly the style and the vocals. I have to say the drums and guitar are pretty good. I just lose it on the lyrics and vocal delivery. They don't seem to match up very well and the mix is a little off too. And since I don't like it, the song goes on way too long. I say keep it up because I know you will anyway! I wouldn't want to say anything discouraging anyway. I hear some quality in there but I just really get into what the song is doing. I like to think of this entry as you guys sitting around the practice space drinking beer with a moment where someone says 'hey, I got an idea!' , then this happens. On that level, I find it fun!

The Pin Drops

The music is cute. I didn't get a lot of reps in on this one as it got chewed up by Fightmaster's dog. I like the style though. I'm a sucker for the bass line as well as the vocal delivery. The voice is really unique and the whole thing reminds me of a toned down Pixies...or maybe the Violent Femmes meet the Pixies? I don't know but it is definitely a cute style and I really can dig on this. The music is quirky and the fact that it is short makes me wanting more. This is a really good tune and I'm downloading a copy for my archive.

R. Mosquito

This song takes too long to develop and when it does it is a bit clumsy. I don't really like it that much. But I can say that I like what I believe is a distorted bass. (or maybe one clean bass track along with a distorted version). I like the dark vibe it puts out. It reminds me of Christian Death disguised as Joy Division. But ultimately I think it loses its glue and becomes a bit too unhinged for my liking. A pretty listenable tune just not into it all that much myself.

Roach Bites

I'm not crazy about this piece either. Also slow to develop but when it comes in, it comes at you hard. I'm no stranger to hard rocking music or metal. This just doesn't grab me. It's not executed well in my opinion and I can't really make out the lyrics too well. It's missing the drums while there is a crash or ride happening a lot of the time. This needs the backing of the rest of the rhythm section to make it work. I know that there is a little 'tah tah tah tah' of a drums mixed way down but it's not enough. I think this one is a bit sub par for this fight but I imagine if you got BLT to put some drums behind your next piece and you spent a little time on the vocals and tightening up the guitars, you'd have a song to contend with.

Rops

I'm sorry, I'm not crazy about this either. Although, I kind of like the lyrics a little bit which is important when it comes to this type of stuff. The chorus saves it a little for me as well but overall, I can't say much else because it is simply not my thing. It'd be like the Sex Pistols critiquing Opera.

TRJones

This is a great way to wrap up the fight. It comes last in order to sort of ending a great fight. I like the guitar. I think it could have left out the bass. It isn't a necessary part and there are a couple of mistakes in it. I like the lyrics even though they're a little cliche at times. Sometimes humans speak in phrase so I remind myself of that and it makes it okay. The chorus is a nice hook and I like the simple guy and guitar thing. That is especially relevant as the last song in the fight. It all comes back down to the basics as you close the set. I like the woooooos at the end. Thank you, thank you Songfight! We'll be here next week! (Downloading a copy for my collection)


****************

Now, please don't take any offense, I've only offered up criticism and who am I anyway, right?

j$ wrote: Also if it takes you 87 takes to nail something, you're probably doing it wrong I jest but seriously, you may want to consider your approach to live recording. Punch in, punch out, done? Most people couldn't tell the difference. Just sayin'

Ive tried the last three fights to use my Pro tools setup but I just lose the energy in the song. I cant find the same feel tracking it one at a time. I will keep trying maybe Ill get better with practice. I know Id rather listen to a song played well and recorded poorly than played poorly and recorded well if you know what I mean? And the one benefit is I can actually play all my stuff live by myself no sequenced anything. No one but me. Thanks for the feedback man Ill keep working at it.
g_rock

I agree with you guys that the first Roach Bites song is lacking heft. I really just don't have the means to create a rhythm section that will provide the right punch for the project, but if anybody is interested in collaborating I'd be happy to come back leaner and meaner! I'll take it to the Collaborations board or if anyone wants to PM me, feel free. Thanks for the notes, gang!

Billy's Little Trip wrote:A few comments. I'll review with "like, ok or don't like" based on the music, lyrics and vocals. Please note, this is just one guys opinion on this one particular song.

Hoblit
Yeah, the Hobz! Nice, old school punk! The mix is a little dwanky but effective, but the funny thing is, it's 10 times better than the mixes from the era of this style, heh. This is good! Like the music. Like the lyrics. Like the vocals.

I'm not sure what "dwanky" means but I imagine it's lame, or not good in some way. I can live with that as I was really going for power, not precision. But I did spend a lot of time annoying my wife with it so I'll have to learn a shortcut or two in the future. Thank you for the comments and I'm glad that you liked it over all. I'm especially please that my goal was met with the fact that you got it, old school punk.

Hortus Ortus wrote: Cool guitars! I love how the stereo changes when the drums kick in. Love the "Whoa-oh!". Cool chorus!! The harmony is not quite on.

Thanks! I went for center nose punch at the beginning to stereo wide 'two guitarists' (although I cheated in the solo) slamming out the rhythm. And as far as the harmony not being spot on, it's not supposed to be, so thank you! It's punk rawk after all!

j$ wrote: great riffing! I prefer the DK feel of the verses than the Sham 69 of the choruses. Though if we’re “going bashing with the boys” then I suppose it’s absolutely appropriate. Woh-oh indeed! Does what it sets out to do admirably.

I'm blushing at the DK reference! Ha, wow. It wouldn't be the first time I've been compared to being slightly similar or barely kind of like the great JB, but it's always nice to hear it again! Yeah, the whoa-ohs are from a slightly different style of punk. Thank you for saying "Does what it sets out to do admirably". That is exactly what I tried to do and you have vindicated that.

We need more gay activist punk rock songs and I'm happy to oblige.

g_rock wrote: Hi hat should be open on the drums in this song to make it dirtier and heavier. I don’t have any room to talk as my drums are just looped. But still would make the song just a tad better. Vox are good unison singing and whoa’s are great. Best song from you Ive heard yet. That’s all I got for advice open the hi hat a bit. Nice song Hoblit!

In hindsight, you are absolutely right! I can totally hear it with an open hi-hat being the better choice. I completely agree and I really sort of wish that I had done just that. Oh well, I'm not a great drummer and those kinds of things just don't come naturally to me yet. I was just trying to keep time and not that the open hi-hat is in any way considered that, that kind of thought just got buried underneath concentrating on just getting it right.

Thanks for your comments and nice words!

Hoblit wrote:

Billy's Little Trip wrote: Yeah, the Hobz! Nice, old school punk! The mix is a little dwanky but effective, but the funny thing is, it's 10 times better than the mixes from the era of this style, heh. This is good! Like the music. Like the lyrics. Like the vocals.

I'm not sure what "dwanky" means but I imagine it's lame, or not good in some way. I can live with that as I was really going for power, not precision. But I did spend a lot of time annoying my wife with it so I'll have to learn a shortcut or two in the future. Thank you for the comments and I'm glad that you liked it over all. I'm especially please that my goal was met with the fact that you got it, old school punk.

Yeah, I say dwanky now. I'm cool like that, lol. And I mean it like a bad knee, not stupid. The intro guitar is centered and raw and mean setting up a powerful explosion when the song punches in. But when it punches in, it loses all of it's power because of the mix. It's all there, rockin' guitars panned right and left, bass hitting the lows and drums snapping the beat, but it is totally compressed compared to the intro guitar. It's very anticlimactic compared to how the intro sold it. Then once my ears make the transition to the over compressed low energy mix, the awesome lead solo comes in and it's got it's energy back and my ears readjust. Then back to the chorus and back to low energy. It's an odd contrast to listen to vocals and the band rockin' the fuck out with everything they've got, but the mix is so non energetic that it's lost in translation. So yeah, dwanky mix. The mix's bad knee is squashing the energy. Hope I explained that right and it makes sense.
But other than that, the song is fuckin' great. If I was standing in front of the stage watching this band, I'd be moshing!

On another note. I meant to ask you. Are you saying "fight fight fight..." from about 1:48 to 2:20'ish in the way background? Or is that a happy accident from gak in the mix? lol.

PS. Now that you're married, learn to love headphones for your main mix. When you are running over a measure 20 times to get it mixed right, your better half will start to hate you, lol. I have a good quality set of closed studio phones (flat) for correct frequencies and the main mix, and a cheap pair of open air phones for general listening mixing. My monitors don't even get turned on until I feel the song is done. Generally at that point it's minor level, EQing and panning adjustments.

Hoblit wrote: A pet peeve of mine is electric bass & piano alone together. I don't know why. It has always been that way for me. Those two instruments don't work well together alone in my opinion.

Yeah I would have liked to just have the piano by itself in the verse and have the bass come in and hit with the drums and guitar all at once (I think it would have hit harder) but since I am looping with a hardware looper, my options were limited. It was either with the piano on the verse or no bass line at all for the "come on out" part and that was no real option. If I was better at multi-tracking (pro tools) the song could be better but Im not quite there yet. If I can ever get mobius (software looper) working right; I will have many more options to get my sonic vision right. I'm limited by my skill set and the tools I have for now...

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWS!

...and those of you who don't, You get no thanks

Hoblit wrote:

g_rock wrote: Hi hat should be open on the drums in this song to make it dirtier and heavier. I don’t have any room to talk as my drums are just looped. But still would make the song just a tad better. Vox are good unison singing and whoa’s are great. Best song from you Ive heard yet. That’s all I got for advice open the hi hat a bit. Nice song Hoblit!

In hindsight, you are absolutely right! I can totally hear it with an open hi-hat being the better choice. I completely agree and I really sort of wish that I had done just that. Oh well, I'm not a great drummer and those kinds of things just don't come naturally to me yet. I was just trying to keep time and not that the open hi-hat is in any way considered that, that kind of thought just got buried underneath concentrating on just getting it right.

Thanks for your comments and nice words!

Hey man for not being a drummer it sounded pretty damn good. I don't think just straight open the whole song is necessarily any better. When not just looping my drums, playing drums in a band environment; I like to open the hi hat up as the song gets more intense toward the chorus or heavier parts. Wide open when its really heavy and shut and tight during softer sections; usually verses. It just adds some dynamics to the song and makes the drums feel like they sing a little more. Think about the hi hat like palm muting on the guitar. Just open it up when it gets heavy. Hope this helps. Good song none the less.

g_rock

Billy and the Psychotics! All others must bow down to this entry. Even those of us who didn't enter this round must bow down. This is great. Thanks!

thank you for all these reviews. they've been wonderful. I like our song and I'm glad y'all have as well.
I will write reviews that are not Book-length soon because I would like to participate in the discussion. I like this fight very much.

roymond wrote:Billy and the Psychotics! All others must bow down to this entry. Even those of us who didn't enter this round must bow down. This is great. Thanks!

That's exactly what I was saying. I'm glad others can see just how out of our league this song is!
G_rock

Keep in mind I am listening to these songs through crappy earbuds in a library. Hence, everything I say should be taken with a couple grains of salt.

Banana Dan
I was on vacation making this tune and so I had mix with headphones. Hearing it on proper speakers I am displeased with a weakness in the low-mid range. Surely this song doesn't have extraordinary energy and that is partially due to my restrictions. I wish I could have elaborated on the third verse.

Berkley Social Scene
I really like the feel of this song, delightfully uplifting. The strength comes from the chorus. I feel like the verses aren't that interesting and perhaps the monotony of the vocal line is to blame, I can't quite put my finger on it. But that chorus is so soothing.

Billy and the Psychotics
The strength of your sound is certainly the female vocal lead. I think this is lost in the chorus with busy-ness coming from the clean guitar and backing vocals. I don't feel the instrumentation in the chorus adequately evokes the same change in energy as demonstrated by the emphatic vocals.

Bombernaughts
I love this type of vocals. I wish I had a female to work with who can sing like that. The lead vocals sound wonderful, I like the harmonies too. The instrumentation is a bit lacking and that bass does not seem to convey the proper emotion. As I am hearing this through earbuds I can not adequately elaborate on the drums but they might be a bit flat. The woodwind instrument is pleasing, though.

Christopher Broxson
I'm waiting the entire time for something to happen. Admittedly this is generic silliness with no real structure. The violin about half-way through is kinda interesting with the scattered vocals but I need more development. Lastly, that "come out" at the end is way too loud with way too much noise.

Chuck Chuck Moose
The drums and guitar are fairly generic but sounds good in the first verse. The chorus throws everything out of whack, the organ is lack-luster (but now I know why the guitar is panned to one side!). Very weak vocals both musically and with respect to performance (voice is cracking). While practice is always key, I might also suggest finding a less tonal method of vocal delivery until you can be more confident singing. My favorite part is your name which gave me a chuckle.

Enter it in the Art Show
A lot of emotional appeal. The recording techniques could use some work especially with the vocals. I also would like to maybe hear some vocal doubling. I really like the feel of the song. The biggest weakness is the production.

Foobar
I like the piano for the first 30 seconds and then not enough happens. In the beginning I am pleased by what sounds to be the layering of a piano and e-piano but after a minute and a half it gets to be too monotonous. I'd like to hear it change up more especially with regards to the amount of reverb.

g Rock
Too much noise right off the bat. It could be eased quite a bit with the use of a noise gate. The chill aspect requires dynamic range but you can't be too quiet without the resurgence of noise. I feel like the ending should be more energetic (which it almost becomes) and "I don't know why." My favorite part is the guitar solo.

Havarti on Rye
The intro has my attention, cool electronic sounds! The vocals are a jumbled mess with way too much reverb/delay and synth. There are a few good musical ideas in here but they are never developed. It just jumps about haphazardly. It is also dreadfully LOUD! I think you should focus on the build and release of tension (achievable in part through cord progression/cadence). It is certainly a wild ride... perhaps the drug induced nightmare of the clinically insane.

Hell Yeahs
I like the female punk. I feel this could benefit greatly from a focus on production (although I know that's the opposite of the nature of punk!). It just feels lackluster. I think a stronger emphasis on the vocals would be beneficial. Lastly, hehe.. tomor-ee

Hey It's Romer
Good, I was hoping to hear some rap. However, the most important aspect of rap is the vocals. In the first verse they are too quiet and not emphatic (regardless of the poor writing). The chorus is dreadful. I like the main synth as a cornerstone of the beat but there needs to be more happening with drums, where are the drums?! The best advice I can offer is to make the vocals brighter which is achievable through a multi-band compressor, specifically boosting the mid and high frequencies.

Hoblit
Unfortunately this song does nothing for me. The backing (doubling) vocals are out of tune. My favorite part is the flair from the backing (non-doubling) vocals saying "woah oh" and "fight" (or something like it). There is a weird chord change around 3/4 into the verses. I wish I had more constructive things to say.

Hortus Ortus
I don't listen to a lot of this genera, which is a shame. The singing is good except at the end of lines where it's most important. I like the lead and backing guitar and the backing vocals but it doesn't come together for me.

Humanic
Those strings are too loud! This song is a strange mix of electronic techniques with acoustic instruments. I'm pleased by the soothing feel but those damn strings!!! I want to hear more violin (or viola) and the brass (tenor sax?). From what I can hear the vocals are very well done. I would love this if it wasn't for the strings. Mind the mix!

Inflatable Vegetable
The music says happy, the vocals and lyrics say sad. The music sounds like what I hear from a sequence preprogramed in a walmart keyboard. If you are using the vocoder for the vocals either pay more attention to it to make it interesting or make it quieter.

Jay String & DJ Whyz
I'm not sure what the intention is for this song. Perhaps my favorite bit is the various detuned synths, especially the short 'boing' during the chorus. I dislike everything else, however. My best suggestion, two words: Vocal Presence.

Klownhole
I like the intro until the guitars come in. They are sloppy and the singing is unpleasant. Too much of the same thing. I do not want to listen to this for 5:45. It's all too monotonous. It repeats itself. This song is redundant. Focus on making a shorter song with dynamic and tonal variation.

The Pin Drops
The vocals say "Wacky!!" A sentiment not shared by the instruments. The guitar solo is a nice little break. Keep practicing.

R. Mosquito
Holy crap! Satan worshiping? The instrumentation is so sparse that the drum fills are distracting. This song could probably use more subtly. Everything is so 'in your face' and at the same volume level.

Roach Bites
The high frequencies feel lost in this recording. If you are going to use "growly" vocals, go hard and make them very clear and apparent (read: louder). Mainly this is poorly mixed and it takes four minutes to say what could be done in a minute.

Rops
This is a nice break from the long string of electric guitar, I wish there were more rap songs. I like what you're doing with the beat but the lyrics have too many syllables and you struggle performing them. Perhaps your doubling vocals can be detuned about 50 cents to lessen the "pitchiness" of the singing. It ends very poorly at the end, fade that shit out!

TR Jones
There is quite a bit of reverb in the room.. but we work with what we have. I like the song: singing and guitar-ing but it is poorly recorded/mixed. Holy carp, that vocal addition you do at the end is distracting. As a rule of thumb you don't want to introduce something new right at the end and I believe this very well shows why.

Billy's Little Trip wrote:PS. Now that you're married, learn to love headphones for your main mix. When you are running over a measure 20 times to get it mixed right, your better half will start to hate you, lol.

Too bad that doesn't work for recording vocals, too. I usually wait until she's out of the house.

Short notes with all the disclaimers - hearing damage, bad speakers, interruptions, personal preferences, etc.
I think my pet peeve for the week was intros that repeated the same riff over and over four times. That includes my song

BananaDan: I really enjoyed some of the sounds you used. Song felt repetitive.

Berkley Social Scene: Seemed flat [due to my speakers?] vocals seemed too buried. [on better speakers] Love the instruments, harmonies, etc. Just wish the vocals were up more in the mix.

Billy & the Psychotics: nice intro, love the vocals, esp the attitude. VOTE

Bombernaughts: liked the vocals, loved the melody and harmony. VOTE

Christopher Broxon: I didn't like. Random silly can be fun if it's the right content, arranged the right way. The trick is that it's NOT really random.

Chuck Chuck Moose: What I was saying about intros. Vocals: Plenty ways around this: spoken word, rapped, shouted, vocorders, autotune, samples, get friends to help out. Practice the right things [timing, tone, breathing] and you'll get better.

Enter It in the Art Show: Nice intro, like the lyrics. The vocals were better after about 2:30 - before, they sounded tired?

Foobar: Nice piano intro, but long... too long. Then I realized it was an instrumental.

G Rock: What they said about noise reduction. Some very cool effects. I was pleasantly surprised a couple times with the changes in progression. Seemed long esp after 3:10 or so.

Havarti on Rye: Interesting sounds, too much echo/ reverb. I liked the mood and tempo changes. It felt like an experiment. Just edit it...

Hell Yeahs: Great vocals and guitars. Some intentionally silly rhymes [sorry/ tomorry]. VOTE

Hey It's Romer: Some sounds were good, but arrangement needs more complexity. If you could have stolen half of Havarti's experimentation, and some drums...

Hoblit: Punk! The "bad" bgvs would suck if they were in tune. Since I hear you in tune when you want, I'm assuming this is intentional, to get that "our bass singer can't sing, but he sure is loud!" vibe. VOTE

Hortus Ortus: Quiet. Nice story. VOTE

Humanic: Liked intro at first then... too long. Thought it was another instrumental. Everything was smooth except for that low sound... it was very raspy compared to everything else.

Inflatable Vegetables: Thanks all for your reviews. BD: I found my OLD Yamaha sequencer, thought it might be fun to use it again. I didn't want verses to get too down. But you're right. It could have been stronger if the song fit the tone of the lyrics better. BLT: Yeah, I thought it sounded too "Heart of Glass" at the beginning, so I changed it up. Hoblit: It couldn't get much cheesier... well, yeah. I guess it could have. You're right on vocorder. Too loud. J$: Thanks! I had to look up fatuous, tho. VOTE because I wanted at least one vote.

Jay String & DJ Whyz: Now I see why you gave me the reviews you did at Nur Ein...

Klownhole: Liked the drums and guitars & riff... if only song was half as long...

Pin Drops: Solo nice, melodic.

R. Mosquito: I thought it was just a guy singing over a drum beat at first.

Roach Bites: Guitar and vocals sound very thin. I was waiting for something with lower end to come in, fill it out.

Rops: Singing parts - something wasn't right. It's like there was a melody, but there wasn't. I was trying to figure out why...

TR Jones: I think I would have gone for more of an edge on vocals. Less whine, more energy. I mean, you've just been dumped, for your ex, right? This is a confrontation song, but it sounds like you're just too tired to confront her.

BananaDan wrote: Unfortunately this song does nothing for me. The backing (doubling) vocals are out of tune. My favorite part is the flair from the backing (non-doubling) vocals saying "woah oh" and "fight" (or something like it). There is a weird chord change around 3/4 into the verses. I wish I had more constructive things to say.

Thank you for your review. And yeah, that was "fight" repeated many times to give emphasis to the instrumental part into the third verse where it continued until chorus.

iVeg wrote: Hoblit: Punk! The "bad" bgvs would suck if they were in tune. Since I hear you in tune when you want, I'm assuming this is intentional, to get that "our bass singer can't sing, but he sure is loud!" vibe. VOTE

THANK YOU. Yes, the backing vocals are out of tune on purpose to finish the sound. If I wanted to polish this up, I could have. But that would have ruined the 80's punk vibe I was going for. My favorite parts about that genre were the gang vocals that were 'yelly' and out of tune with no regard to it. (Misfits, Clash, NOFX, etc...)

Hoblit wrote:My favorite parts about that genre were the gang vocals that were 'yelly' and out of tune with no regard to it. (Misfits, Clash, NOFX, etc...)

I intentionally do that too, even though I'm not trying to fit the old punk genre. I just like a band backing up the lead vocals, even if it's not pretty. They aren't the lead singer for a reason, lol. But I like the atmosphere it creates and I do it often. I'm into rawness with the music I do. Even when I do clean'ish music like for this title, I make sure it runs hot and never gets too polished. If I wanted that, I'd be sequencing electronica with synthesized beats.
Although at times I think Dee wishes I'd not dirty up her time spent giving me super clean vocal tracks, lol. The poor girl spends money and time on bass blockers and fancy acoustic panels. She has a really cool home studio with high end mics, etc. Then I get her pristine vocal tracks and start by throwing a bucket of dirt on them.

iVeg wrote:Jay String & DJ Whyz: Now I see why you gave me the reviews you did at Nur Ein...

Oh j$ the reviewer is very different from Johnny Cashpoint the performer. Or in other words, "Do As I Say Not As I Do". Right?

BananaDan wrote:Jay String & DJ Whyz
I'm not sure what the intention is for this song. Perhaps my favorite bit is the various detuned synths, especially the short 'boing' during the chorus. I dislike everything else, however. My best suggestion, two words: Vocal Presence.

Multiple choice response - pick your most preferred -

a)Hahahahahahahaha! The instrumentalist is giving me advice on vocal presence??

b)Thanks for the self-important production tips that you don't appear to apply to your own music.

c)The intention of the song is to annoy twots. So job done!

d) Seriously, I'm sad you didn't enjoy the song. Tant pis - c'est la vie! (ou peut-etre, c'est le guerre)

e) FTR, the "laid back" vocal performance is quite deliberate. All emotion in music is false. The message I wanted to get across would have been lost in grunting and groaning n- like a ruptured water buffalo.

Billy's Little Trip wrote:

Hoblit wrote:My favorite parts about that genre were the gang vocals that were 'yelly' and out of tune with no regard to it. (Misfits, Clash, NOFX, etc...)

I intentionally do that too, even though I'm not trying to fit the old punk genre. I just like a band backing up the lead vocals, even if it's not pretty. They aren't the lead singer for a reason, lol. But I like the atmosphere it creates and I do it often. I'm into rawness with the music I do. Even when I do clean'ish music like for this title, I make sure it runs hot and never gets too polished. If I wanted that, I'd be sequencing electronica with synthesized beats.
Although at times I think Dee wishes I'd not dirty up her time spent giving me super clean vocal tracks, lol. The poor girl spends money and time on bass blockers and fancy acoustic panels. She has a really cool home studio with high end mics, etc. Then I get her pristine vocal tracks and start by throwing a bucket of dirt on them.

Get a room. With a sick bucket.

j$ wrote:

Billy's Little Trip wrote:

Hoblit wrote:My favorite parts about that genre were the gang vocals that were 'yelly' and out of tune with no regard to it. (Misfits, Clash, NOFX, etc...)

I intentionally do that too, even though I'm not trying to fit the old punk genre. I just like a band backing up the lead vocals, even if it's not pretty. They aren't the lead singer for a reason, lol. But I like the atmosphere it creates and I do it often. I'm into rawness with the music I do. Even when I do clean'ish music like for this title, I make sure it runs hot and never gets too polished. If I wanted that, I'd be sequencing electronica with synthesized beats.
Although at times I think Dee wishes I'd not dirty up her time spent giving me super clean vocal tracks, lol. The poor girl spends money and time on bass blockers and fancy acoustic panels. She has a really cool home studio with high end mics, etc. Then I get her pristine vocal tracks and start by throwing a bucket of dirt on them.

Get a room. With a sick bucket.

I idiotically insisted on trying to post all the reviews at once, which means I lost a bunch of them to the Forums. Next time I'm posting in batches. I'll try and go back and fix the ones I'm missing if I have time.

Banana Dan
Forums ate my homework.

Berkeley Social Scene
Forums ate my homework.

Billy and the Psychotics

Intro is a bit slow for my taste. I like the mix a lot once the vocals kick in. Very clear, easy to follow, which I appreciate. Backing vocals (esp in the chorus) add a lot of depth without being distracting. The instrumental break doesn't provide enough contrast for my taste. I like the extra choruses, esp the vocal technique around 3:20, but by that time the song is feeling long to me. Not enough variety to keep me going all the way.

Bombernaughts

Feels like an 8-bit video game soundtrack at first. Castlevania anyone? Legend of Zelda? I can only make out some of the lyrics, as they speed up I can't make the words out anymore. But I really like the overall sonic texture during the verses and chorus. Well until the rounds part around 2:30. I still think this could make a great video game soundtrack, even with the vocals.

Christopher Broxson

Like the bluesy opening. Uh oh, is somebody ill? By :40 you've lost me.

Chuck Chuck Moose

I like the guitar riff, which I think is unsurprising considering I used a very similar chord sequence and tone myself. Vocals don't sound good to me, but I'm not really skilled enough to explain what to do differently. By 1:40 I would have stopped listening if I wasn't listening for review purposes, honestly. During the instrumental break I think the background keys/organ (which I can barely hear) could be brought front and center and made more interesting. In terms of the song itself, I feel like this is the most literal way to go with the song title. It's almost too literal for me.


enter it in the art show

Like the intro, when each new element comes in it adds a lot. I think the vocals blend really well the with backing tracks. I like the structure/sequence as we go from night to day. By 1:50 I'm waiting for something new to happen. It's all a little hypnotic for me so far. The vocals are extremely inconsistent but the errors don't bother me - I think maybe because the emotion is coming through clearly and the mix is working. OK I like the new backing vocal around 3:05, but I wish this had happened much earlier in the song. Same with the return to the spare mix at 3:30, nice contrast but I wish it'd been sooner. I think there is a great 2-3 minute song in here with some editing.

Foobar

This is me. I often start with some piano improv to flesh out a song concept. For whatever reason this week I couldn't actually produce anything I liked very much after this stage. So I got to the deadline and figured I'd try an instrumental entry, which I've never done before. I appreciate that people took it seriously and that some liked it. Thanks for taking the time and energy to review.

Listening to it now, I wish it was about 50-60% shorter.

g Rock

I like the short intro and the way the vocals come in. Love the contrast at :40 as the chorus kicks in. Vocals are good and clear. I'm hardly one to talk, but is it possible that the rhythm piano is not totally on-tempo? Love the guitar solo but the last 5-10 secs of it aren't strong. The return to the verse at 1:55 could use some work. By 2:20 I think we could use some variety in the backing parts. Maybe switch to a different playing pattern on the piano and guitar. Or come right back to the minor part at 2:45 right after the solo. There's almost a little bit of a James Bond feeling right around 3:00 that would make a great second part to the song if it came sooner. And for the outro, I think it would be great if the distortion and apparent volume on the guitars steadily increased so you could go out on a note of high intensity.

I think I remember you saying you don't produce these tracks in DAW software. Is that right? If so, you will be so so so happy once you make the switch. I think a little processing (noise filters, varying the guitar tone) and a little editing will dramatically improve the results your getting. In fact, I think it's remarkable how good you sound without modern tools - the songwriting is strong, I think. If you need help getting started, let me know and I'm there. I'm excited to see what you'd do with it.

Havarti on Rye

Axel F! Start with that, it's great. Ouch, this is getting painful by 1:45. I don't mean artistically, I mean you're breaking my speakers on my laptop and it's physically unpleasant to listen to.

The Hell Yeahs

This is catchy and fun right away. By 0:30 I'm excited to hear more. Great vocals and mostly great backing vocals (seems like some minor errors but it's all going by so fast I can't really tell). It's losing steam for me around 1:30 or so. I can't quite put my finger on what has changed, but it just feels like the energy is slipping away. The last few bars of the guitar solo at 2:20 or so is great; I think something like that kicking in sooner would add some needed energy. Maybe that riff could start soft in the background and then build up through the second verse. Or maybe that wouldn't help at all; I'm not really sure. +1 for is that a stack of vampire novels? Thanks for writing a song that's straightforward, fun and understandable.

Hey, It's Romer

I don't know quite what to make of this. The verses are tight, the choruses are less so. I think maybe I'm just spoiled from listening to MC Frontalot et al so my standards are too high.

Hoblit

Enjoying the intro and energy. Nice intensity in the guitar part without being too loud even on my crappy laptop speakers. When people talk about garage bands, I think this is what they think they all sound like. If only they all sounded so good! Something in the backing vocals is bothering me, but again not sure what to suggest. Loving the part around 1:45, with the background yells. I think I'd like if the prechorus dropped down or some things dropped out in order to give the chorus more punch when it comes back. But overall this is a great track. I am not super sure what the song is about, but it's obviously fun to listen to and just the right length. Tight.

Hortus Ortus

Sweet intro, good vocals. "Population one" is a nice touch. I don't know if this would be a problem outside of Song Fight, but through even 0:45 I honestly couldn't tell if this was going to be a serious song or something funny/ironic. There's something refreshing and straightforward about the song and how it's constructed. I think it's lovely, really. My only thought is that it's at its strongest when the nouns are concrete; hat, water, salt, etc and weakest whenever you use the word town. Maybe the impact could be increased with a little more mystery, maybe using some isolated images to build up the picture of what happened instead of telling directly?

Humanic

Good groove through 0:30. I like the way the different vocal phrases are overlapped. By the guitar solo at 1:50 I'm ready for something new to happen, though. I don't know if this is what you'd want to do, but I think this could be a legit pop song if you added the stereotypical massive bass and kick beat, some token verses, and brought that huge pop synth sound in and out. And I guess you'd need a high-energy break somewhere, but I think you have lots of musical ideas in there already to choose from. Just my $.02. Most songs on Song Fight couldn't be pop hits even if they tried; you've got something different here IMHO.

Inflatable Vegetables

Thanks for getting right to the point by 0:30, fun setup. There's something about the classic sound here that I like, but I'm having a hard time deciding what it reminds me of. Overall, I don't like the production, but I think there's something good in the underlying song. At 2:00 I'm ready for a new verse. OK, I don't know if this is helpful, but I really wanted you to continue the storytelling after the first verse. What happens to her? When you introduced a man in verse 2, I couldn't help but think you were going to get them together in some way, break her out of her trap, etc. Something about the song foreshadowed that to me very strongly and that made the rest of the verse pale in comparison. Much better song than the production allows to come through.

Jay String & DJ Whyz

This style is not really my thing. OK, I must be really dense but I don't understand the lyrics. Far be it from me to argue with the idea of calling out racists and shooting them, but I didn't follow anything more. Maybe I'm overthinking things, as usual.

Klownhole

LOL, that was a funny way to start. Rock on. So is this going to be a funny or serious song? Through 0:45 I can't tell. The lyrics are cutting in and out of legibility for me, I think some bits of the drum kit are masking the vocals when they hit on my laptop speakers. I don't understand how to reconcile the lyrics I can hear (which sound pretty light) with the heavy musical sound. I would have liked to get to the break at 2:40 much sooner. I needed a break. There's some Rush in here somewhere, which I like, but the vocal style clashes with that too much for me. By 3:30 I am getting fatigued listening. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but this track is making me appreciate how good the metal/progressive bands that can produce a great six minute track are. There needs to be a lot more variety to keep a song going this long without getting tiresome.

The Pin Drops

Vocals are very quiet on my laptop speakers. I like the musical texture overall. Was that a brief bass solo? I appreciate the short and punchy nature of the song, left me wanting more.

R. Mosquito

A very dark beginning. Another time when I'm wondering if this is a serious track or a Song Fight parody of some kind. OK, I've decided serious by 0:35. Lost me by 1:50. I just keep drifting off and forgetting to pay attention. I don't mean that in a harsh way, but there's just not something I can latch onto here. I had to stop listening at 2:30.

Roach Bites

Can't make out the lyrics, and I'm not sure I even want to. There's something very dark going on here, but I have no idea what it is even by 0:40. Honestly, I skipped ahead to see if anything changes later. There seems to be some kind of cool guitar solo bit around 3:15 but I just couldn't listen to enough of this sound to tell. Sorry, just couldn't get through it.

Rops

Made me smile to hear someone attempt this style on Song Fight. Verses are strong, but you lose me on the chorus. It's both the vocal sound (which sounds sour to me) and the lyrics, which just aren't clever in the way the verses are. Overall, I think the production is strong although it gets away right towards the end. Bonus points for being extra different from everyone else.

TRJones

Vocals in the first are great except when you sustain a long vowel. I like the build up to the chorus, but then I don't feel like the chorus delivers enough to live up to the expectation. Overall I like the lyrics and the song's construction. Straightforward but heartfelt and the emotion comes through. I was just about to write that I think it could use some more effects, but that I understood you were going for a completely natural sound. But right then, at 2:30, you bring in that processed other vocal sound. So if you're going to do that, then let's get a lot more variety a lot earlier in the track?

foobar93 wrote:Jay String & DJ Whyz

Far be it from me to argue with the idea of calling out racists and shooting them, but I didn't follow anything more. Maybe I'm overthinking things, as usual.[/quote]

possibly, possibly not, but if that's all you took from the lyric, then it's enough for me.

My apologies that you have had to wait trillions of years for these reviews. I hope that they are not mean or terrible, and are somewhat constructive - and that they are not overly long this time. Thank you for all the nice feedback on the Billy and the Psychotics song. This was a good fight and y'all are great
thanks, DJRD

{ps. if I forgot anyone... PLEASE yell at me and I will fix this with all Due Haste!!!}

HUMANIC: well layered and lulling. pretty. Sleepy bit a nice ride there. Good instrument choices. Cinematic, but I was jarred by the abrupt feeling ending. It brought me out of the song in an odd way. Still very cushy.

FOOBAR: Good for a development situational setting. Would lend well to lyrics or a melodic line. Well played, comfortable and familiar chomping choices. I thought of things to sing though, so that's good {2 smileys}

HOBLIT: youthful, energetic, and rebellious-feeling. Very deliberate chaos-fun. Every cool thing in its place and had the FEEL of beer in the garage but the sound of whiskey in the studio. [clever way to say that it had that sloppypunk feeling, but you obviously know what you are Doing and made Intelligent Vocalist Choices, imo.] Soundtrack-closing credits feel.

INFLATABLE VEGETABLES: interesting sound choices that sometimes dated the package. retro is not always bad. Good lyrics. Remind me of several really goofy bands I like all mixed together, which of course made a tasty You-soup. it wasn't too weird to groove to either. I know because I'm too weird to groove to.

G ROCK: misleading hissy beginnings lead to slowly unwrapping package of nicer and nicer vocal effects. I only half agree. Your melody is pleasing and I like your vocal a lot. I actually really liked this song more than the beginning of it warranted.

BERKELEY SOCIAL SCENE: a vocal I have liked better in different ranges and modalities (1:53ish was nice). The melody won't stick with me, but the rhythm section was perfect and structure immaculate. Someday I will be able to say something useful in a review about your band. Today is not that day.

ENTER IT IN THE ART SHOW: GORGEOUS an interesting vocal. Wish environments in mix matched up more perfectly, vocal sounds distanced off. An album-worthy song I resonated to, but I wanted it to have more production, more development, and forward movement.

ROACH BITES: Very abrasive, but holds on skillish-tight to make its point. Would work live just fine. Everyone can play just fine, and vocal caterwauling (I just want to make you TEA!) is done with Good Rhythmic Skill. Your band name is icky.

BANANA DAN: this is cute-cute-cool and very silly. I wish I could program like this. It was precious. Didn't go on and on... too much, not bad as sound-offs go... I'm gonna be cleaning my bathroom singing that line, dang it!

HEY, IT'S ROMER: This has a vibe that is just really catchy and feel-good. I like the mix of accents. The singing in the chorus is raw - May need to be studio-spit-shined a bit more/differently. Repetition nice and works in your favor. Good layering of elements entering and exiting, but so systematically it's overly noticeable.

BATP (This is Us): There is a 4th mix up on my soundcloud I like better. I don't think I told anyone. I was glad that we did this song at this particular time. It was cool and refreshing and I needed something fun. {I am smiley here} It's about a bounty hunter but Chris thinks it's about Death. I s'poze it could be both.

HORTUS ORTUS: Slow, mellow, song-writery and skilled. It's nice to sit back and appreciate some content. I'm a lyrics person though. The singing is great and I love the earnestness, it's got a Cheryl Wheeler-y push I like (sorry to make compare-s). Beautiful harmonies and gorgeous folk set-up.

R.MOSQUITO: epic high drama with a vocal I like. the ride cymbal sounds great. drums are sometimes REALLY well done and then sometimes REALLY detract. Drummer is another front person in this thing - everyone feels so separated. Would make good theater - some kind of devilishly costumed evil hard-core passion play.

CHRISTOPHER BROXSON: The drums sound nice and speakeasy-ish and things get real detective-story and things come in and out of this for a minute until you whisper the prompt into the mic. Harshly. Bingo. There's the title. Thanks. Man, I've been there.

JAY STRING and DJ WHYZ: annoying sounds combine with  REALLY COOL ones to make something that flows nicely under accents (YAY! What an interesting collab!). Sadly, I love that you said "trousers" the most in the whole lyrics; and combined with the fact that I continue to give this Preferential Accent Treatment (I do this sometimes ...) I do GET that I might be missing the point of the tune, perhaps ... oh well, tough tilapia. I DID listen, and hear the point. TRIPLE swear.

TRJONES: this is a good demo of a song that when produced could be really stellar and hit-tesque. You've got a fantastic voice with a different, yet professional edge. I usually don't speak up during that oh-so-oft-recurring "bitch"-usage argument, but in your case; it unfortunately rubbed me the wrong way. I wish I could explain a little more.. or not.. {smiley-smile}

HAVARTI ON RYE: this would sound good in a FP video game where I was flying through space fighting enemy ships. The tempo changes were not necessary, imo, and the beat change was weird. But that's kind of like something I would do, so it just made me reflective, really. {Illegal smiley}

ROPS: If I belonged to a completely different demographic, I think that this might appeal to me more. I do see where it's meant to hit. Individual elements could be more subtly mixed in and perhaps less over-relied upon. I'm thinking that you could use more variety and more fine-tuning. But the rhymes are well shot from sturdy hips and vocals are good.

THE PIN DROPS: the progression goes everywhere but where it is expected to - but in a way that I like. It FORCES you to pay attention to the lyrics. It forces you to pay attention to everything that makes it strong and to consider anything that MIGHT be a weak element, an asset. This, of course, makes it belong on a soundtrack of something cool. Lyrics clever too.

THE HELL YEAHS: I like this because it has the energy of the bar that you want to be in that's all kick ass ninja sexy headlining chick band. The lyrics are great. It hangs tight and is unpretentious and rides the motorcycle into your dorm room all pig tailed and shit. The line about the Vampire novels was so choice. {2 ENTHUSIASTIC SMILES wearing HATS} A band aptly named. Yay.

KLOWNHOLE: I opened this song TERRIFIED that it would be over 12 minutes long. Yes, I heard that fight. Your lyrics are always amusing and yes, I would MUCH rather hear you at a bar; but you make me laugh and I like your vocalist and all the extra noises. Not much more to say. You're having fun. I (mostly) listen all the way through.

BOMBERNAUGHTS: this is odd because it's very choral but  kind of throwback-ish. The mixture of genres gives it an almost medieval flavor that would be really cool in a themed club as an extended mix or as The Song to a fantasy movie (or a video game). It's really sci-fi. Vocals are pretty, programming interesting in this context and I really like this!

CHUCK CHUCK MOOSE: Hilarical band name. You are in a totally different place than your band - and I feel bad because you are shoved WAY out in front of your very tight band and this exposes you in an unflattering way. You double the instrumental lines so it's not like you're not hitting the part.