Quick comments after several listens. I'll be glad to clarify or further expound if you'd like me to. The mom challenge was hard, and I got lucky. If I had had to use my closest mom. I'd be in HUGE trouble!
Balance Lost - Oops! I thought it was the Friz singing at first! Harmonies would have set the voices more apart but this tune is very pleasant and more musically complex than might first appear. Will survive the round easily.
Boffo Yux Dudes - Clever idea and well done if a little unbalanced. Arrangement-wise, that is. More sample heavy than obvious collaborator heavy and this could spell trouble in surviving the round.
Carlo Bruno Jr. - Great rocking, dangerous and reckless. I am a fan of your voice and your drums are/have always been great sounding. Collaboration challenge use is unclear: are the gals actual moms or nicknamed like the Glimmer Twins or whatever? Is there enough of them?
Cavedwellers - Glen-e-bow-P-Dawg in da house! Sunny convertable drive on the coast. The synthy bridge is nice, but kind of wandery and the ending makes the song feel incomplete to me. However, very nice tune and will make the cut.
Chokehold Princess - It's amazing that you can toss these songs together so quickly. The theme is simple but maybe doesn't come off as hailing the snake. Fun and easy going but the good vibe may be spoiled by feeling rushed. As a fan I hope you get more time to polish. As a competitor...phew!
DJ Ranger Den - Very experimental, to say the least. I admire and applaud your courage. But you may be in trouble this round. Is that your mom talking or the TV? Is your mom on TV? I love how gonzo this is but it may lack too much focus. Chin up, troop!
Frankie Big Face - This is great. Maybe a little dissonant at the start, but that works for me. Love the progression and the voice from the subconscious. Should place very high if it doesn't win, which it probably will. Excellent mom-age! As far as the mom vs. mom challenge goes, it may be my song vs. yours.
Governing Dynamics - Love how this flows, river-like. It's a little loose but that's ok. Nice arrangement. Who's the mom? Nice voice, if phasey sounding. This has a strong emotional feel even if I don't know what I'm feeling. Put this on top of your polish it up list. WIll make the cut this week.
Inflatable Vegetables - The tabla rhytthm is too up in the mix against the guitar. Yeah, not Production Fight, I know, but distracting. I'd like to hear this more Stonesy I think. Good rock riff, sleaze it up a bit and delivery more vocal scruff on the verses. On the fence as to whether you'll pass the round: Where's the mom?
Manhattan Glutton - I like this, but somewhat reluctantly. Nice that you obliged with the immunity round submission, anway. What I am struck by most here is the singing. I like the held notes and the emotion comes through despite the boxey sound. OK. Not get over it and move on.
Merisan - Big Tom Waits fan here, so yeah, I heard it too. Doesn't matter unless you blatantly rip him off and I'm sure you used him as a very strong influence. Great balance of...everything. Love the mysterious subject. The instruments, backing voices, breaks in the arrangement, the whispery voices. Mom sounds nice but is she strong enough? The song is, so see you next week.
Paco del Stinko - I wanted to keep this simple and lean. I think I did except for the bridge, which I dig the most. Any success will be due to Heather.
Ross Durand - I think this may be the tune to beat. Not due to any stand up and salute the flag feeling, but the story telling and arrangement. Love the use of the mom, her placement and role are excellent. Nicely constructed chorus and the horn work may (barely) wobble at times, but I'm impressed. Strongest entry for you this EIN so far.
The Tydon Docks - I dig this tune most of your EIN entries this year. Good fun and I was excited to hear Rummy included in your list of shitbags. The Irwin stuff is fun but the judges may have an issue wth the collaboration part. Is it strong or evident enough? Excellent guitar work, too.
WreckdoM - I have no idea how you guys put this together. There's like a million things happening, somehow all breathing and fitting in together without crowding each other out. The lrics are fine but I love the sleazy pimp snake voice best. Where's mom? Is that enough collaboration for the judges? I say see you next week!