The Song Fight Bulletin Board

You think there's fighting and hurtfulness in this thread??? Funny how people read things different... oh well.

Leaf 62
really good production. i dont know how you got to be first on the list, but oh well. i dont see anything to complain about your song. your song reminds me of offroadingness. i bet you own a few fox and skin shirts. this is a hard song to compete with. super good job kiddo.

Andy Balham:
the beginning to the song sounds cool. i think the heavy reverb on the vocals doesnt match well with the distorted rock sound. good job with the song, but its just not getting on my favorites list.

The Barstools
this song is full of a story about everything. so like, the song is fine. its very predictable, and has generic chord progressions. for me personally it kinda gets things a little boring for me. you did a good job on mixing you song and all but just not catching my attention.

Befores
nice sound. this song isnt totally my favorite. nice using crazy weird sounds, but it kinda puts me to sleep. the vocals are good, and same with the music, but it just feels a little smooth with nothing to stand out and wake me up. anyways, you guys did a good job with the song.

Ross
hey. this song just seems boring to me at the moment. you seem really bored singing the song too. not really bad, but just boring. sorry

Carpetburn
those meddling kids. your always cooking good stuff. its always creative and stuff. i think that in this song it starts to get a lot of energy, and then all the breaks kinda cut it off. its cool that this song is changed up a lot and stuff. i think it kinda is hard to follow. i think sticking to some kind of structure that the listener can follow easier will make the song a lot more catchy. i think the song turned out really cool anyways. really good.

Chief Takahan
that cell phone buzz clicking is sooo annoying. whenever id be listening to music on the computer, my sister would start talking on her cellphone and its like "gzshztztztztztztztzt..." i hate that noise. i was kinda excpecting a song instead of telephone messages. next song.

Jonas Murdock and the Child Inside
he mr. verette. so the vocals are much better in this song than the others i have heard from you. .i think the music in this song is pretty cool as well. if you could get a better quality with the vocals, then this song would be even cooler. good job champ.

Dan-O-From-Five-O
this song sorta reminded me of santana. i think santana kinda sucks, but i think thats cause he cant write his own songs or do anything on his own except lame guitar solos. you did a fine job with your song. im glad you could actually do the song on your own. good job. just not a big fan of the type of music style.

eclectic spoons
dude. this song kinda sucks. someone tell me if something in this song is worth listening to past 1:14.

Flvxxvm Florvm
hmm... i dont know what to say about this song. just not grabbing me. no thanks... sorry.

IPA
haha, so like i think this song really isnt too bad. i think the mix isnt so good. drums need more bass or something. they just seem very flat. anyways, the song is good. mix could be better. good job bud.

Jordan Seavers
this song is really different sounding from my other entries and i figured a lot of people probably wouldnt like the song for the crazy sounds, but i figured oh well. it was fun to make. there are defenately some things id redo before i submitted the song, but i always end up finishing the songs at the last minute before the song is due. anyways, the reviews are up to you kids.

Kill me Sarah
haha, so this is a pretty good first entry. i think the volume could have been boosted a little bit. its a very generic song with a simple chord progression, but right now its not sounding too shabby. i think that it could use another track or two of something to give it a more full sound. anyways, good first entry.

The Landfills
im not sure if im digging this song a whole lot. it has a good 80s sound to the song. im not a big fan of this kind of music, but right now its sounding pretty nice. fun song.

LilMoses and MC Millenium
i think the only thing that keeps your song really listenable is the samples you used. i really dont like rap, especially this... just something im not into.

Lonbobby featuring Anita
this has some pretty cool sounds. i think the vocals need more compression cause at times they seem really loud. especially when theyre distorted. i think this song is alright.

Martin Chitty
i think this song is doing alright. the keyboard sounds really dont sound that bad. it really isnt too bad. im wondering if the production was better, i think that the song would be an even harder contender. i think you did a good job with this song.

Matte Glossy and the 8x10’s
the song itself is really cool. i think you went too harsh with the panning. its fun stuff though. almost reminds me of some of marshall crenshaws early recordings.

Roymond
i think that this song is an alright song. it sorta makes me tired and seems to drag. it doesnt mean its a bad song... just one of those songs where you really got to be in the mood to listen to it. good song

Ryan Rickenbach
you always seem to do really well with just a couple guitar tracks and stuff. i think that you always are reliable to have a good song. good job again. i think this song could have used another guitar that would stay constant throughout the entire song. anyways, even without it, it is still a really good entry.

The Sober Irishman
haha, so is this a late entry or something? i didnt see it on the songs earlier. it has a nice sound. im not really a big fan of this kind of music, but i think its fun to listen to right now. it seems like it would be fun to make and play something like this... with those solos and all. i know its just me, but i think the vocals would sound a little without being double tracked. well, at least it would be cool to hear how it might sound. anyways, fun little song. awesome.

Uncle Boltoph and the Deshead kid
this song is really sounding cool. i think the harmonies really fit well in this song. i dont know what to complain about with this song cause its a really good entry.

Wages
this is a nice song. i think the beat is getting a little off at times and its sorta hard to get a nice driving beat to keep the listener really sucked in. seems like it has a few things that could be straitened out a little better, but its cool.

X-tokyo-river-god
this has some cool riffs, but i think some of the effect sounds sort of drag it out. the vocals are good, but this song(like a few of the other entries) seem to put the listener to sleep. i really dont think the song is that bad. it just is slow and has a tiring feeling. not much to reach out and grab the listener.

LEAF: I love it. I think you soaked up a bit of Custard when you did Sausage Boy's GoM - this would not have sounded out of place in an inner-city Brisbane pub in the mid-90s. Well written song and great performance. Great energy.

ANDY BALHAM: Decide what note you want to sing Andy, and cling to that bastard with your life. Great chorus, but as a whole the song suffers a bit by wavering off key a bit. Not as good as it could have/should have been.

BARSTOOLS: A story about 2 dirty girls got my attention right off. The 'don't miss you' chorus drags a bit - but it's a good sound and not at all unpleasant song. Good work.

BEFORES: Wonderful backing music - and the female vox are spot on. I really love the percussion in this. This is top quality stuff.

ROSS: Buried vocals are making me lose interest. And I haven't heard drum machining that bad since some of Caravan Ray's early entries.

CARPETBURN: Cure-esque. Some great music here - but the vox let it down a bit. Pretty good - not perfect

CHIEF: No

JONAS: Hard to make out lyrics. Vox should be crystal clear for something like this. I do like the feel of this a lot though - even though it's really not my cup of tea.

DANO: Also not my cup of tea - that guitar solo at the start really turned me off instantly (sorry - it's me, not you). Otherwise - entirely competent - but you should turn the vox up a bit .

ECLECTICSPOONS: Is this Denyer? This is pretty good. Some funny lyrics. I approve - very good.

FLVXXM: Great start, I love this - but you sound like you're starting to get left behind a bit. Great vocals! If this had stopped at 2:00 I may have voted for it - but it overstays its welcome a bit.

IPA: Whiny vocals. I don't like

JORDAN: Well written song - but wussy vocals and casio music really turn me off. Not bad at all - just not my thing

KILLMESARAH: Dull song

LANDFILLS: Nothing really grabbing me here. That backing music reminds me of too many drunken nights lying semi-concious on sticky carpet in seedy nightclubs in the 1980s.

LILMOSES: I like the rapping - though the lyrics sound a bit silly. There's a lot good about this - but not enough to really excite me a lot.

LONBOBBY: Love the opening. I like the distorted female vox - that works well. This has a great feel to it. Job well done.

MARTINCHITTY: Very nice. Wonderful voice (Aust. accent?). I really enjoyed this. Sounds like Nick Cave's little brother singing a Whitlams song. Shame about the occaisional snuffling sounds.

MATTGLOSSY: Great song but too long. Otherwise, I like this a lot. (others have mentioned the panning)

ROYMOND: Great guitar at the start. Love the verses - but the chorus is a let down. This is almost very, very good - but there's something about the chorus that just drags it back a bit.

RYAN: Great work. Really well written song and a great simple arrangement. This is very good.

TSI: This isn't playing properly on my computer - all breaking up. What I can hear sounds like noodly jazz - so I probably wouldn't like it anyway

BOLTOPHDESHEAD: This very cool. Very fun sounding - verging on positively jaunty. And great length - I have a short attention span. Wonderful entry.

WAGES: Some dodgy timing - but I quite like the vocals. Not bad - but not standing out in this company

XTOKYORIVERGOD: Pleasant creepiness. Not grabbing me at the end of a long fight - but I suspect this will improve with further listens



Big Fight. High quality fight

Leaf, Befores, Boltoph/Des all stood out as potential winners. Martin, Ryan and Lonbobby not far behind.

XTokyo: is that Beth Gibbons singing? I'm digalizing this track. Love the ring modulated lead guitar or whatever that effect is. This is serious art folks. sweet.

Seavers: Great sounds and production. I hate the bleepy keyboards though. But man you can sure crank out a nice sounding piece of work. What kind of setup are you running man? The mix is spot on. Well, the vocals might be a little quiet.

The Befores: Wo. Beautiful sultry voice!!! I'm down. This is a bit light for my tastes, but holy shit does it sound nice. Another top shelf sonic experience. Kudos!

Flvxxvmflorvm: I was at first excited about the rockiness of this, but then the vocals started and I determined it sucks. Guy you don't really think your singing fits the bill do you? Harmonica ain't bad though. Tune that guitar man.

more reviews later..gotta work.

e.

[quote="ephedream"]
Seavers: Great sounds and production. I hate the bleepy keyboards though. But man you can sure crank out a nice sounding piece of work. What kind of setup are you running man? The mix is spot on. Well, the vocals might be a little quiet.
quote]

haha, my set up is actually pretty crappy. its all recorded in my room on a lame computer with nothing but a small mixer and some cheap mics. i actually record my stuff in Cakewalk Sonor 4 and master it in FL 5. all i use is a yamaha mg10/2 mixer which has just enough inputs to get by on and some cheap-o condenser and dynamic mics. nothing special. i dont know how it turns out sounding decent when im finished, but i guess it works out pretty good. haha, when i entered the song, i knew a lot of people would probably think the dominant synth and keyboard stuff would sound sorta dumb but it turned out being a really fun song to make. it seems like this fight, a lot of people used synth too, and when its in like every few songs, it might seem like a little too much. just this time around i figured id go for a different sound and see what happens.

my song.....i haven't listened to my song since I submitted it. I know i put an effect on one of the guitars that is actually distracting, but I had already submitted it when I realized this. I'll try to figure out what I did wrong matching the drums up. thx

Andy Balham
Something about this tune hints to me of The Doors and Nick Cave. I like the song on the whole, but I think the guitar needs to challenge itself a little. The same can be said of most (if not all) of my material. In any event, I will be listening to this again.

The Barstools
I like your mix on this song. The bckgd vox are cool. My first reaction was I didn't like it... but after about a minute in, it started growing on me and by the bridge I was hooked. Cool. What is the song about? he he

Befores
I like the feel and sound of this a lot. It's got a cool mood. I really have no complaints or suggestions about this tune. I am definitely keeping this song to listen to again!

Beuhiss
The tune in and of itself is fine. With that said, I would suggest adding some life to the vox. It could be the recording is not loud enough....or it could be you were singing so as to not wake anyone up. I've got no idea, but this is my impression. I hope this is helpful.

Carpet Burn
Ooooo. Nice band name. Nice tune. I like your sound. I will definitely be listening more to this one.

Chief Takahah
This starts out interesting, but 5 minutes later I'm begining to wonder when it'll be over...on wait, there's EIGHT minutes to go! I couldn't listen to it all, sorry.

Damien Verrett
Too video gamey for me. It's got a nice novelty sound to it, but I couldn't listen to it all.

Dan-O From Five-O
Do you play a lot of small bars? You've got that sound.

Eclectic Spoons
Six! Six! Six! Six! Six! Six!

Flvxxvm Florvm
Iron Maiden...Black Sabbath...KISS....meets lo-fi. hmmm

IPA
I like your song. Your vocals need to come up a lot. Seriously, bring up the vocals and send me a remixed version. I want to listen to it again.

Jordan Seavers
I like your song...except for that echoing sound that plays through most of it. I don't know what it is, but it totally ruins the tune for me. Beuuuuurr Beuuuuurr Beuuuuurr Beuuuuurr beuur beuur Beuuuuurr

Kill Me Sarah
I thought the song was silent at first..had to turn up the volume. Um, not my style. It's good for that style.

Leaf62
I really like your song. Possible vote getter. Definitely gunna be listening to again.

L'il Moses + McMinimum
Old skool. Nice. I like the music.

Lonbobby Feat Anita
Really nice easy feeling throughout this song. Found myself zoning out. This is going in my rotation.

Martin Chitty
You've written a very beautiful song. Normally I don't like this kind of song (man and piano) but this one will be listened to again.

Matt Glossy + 8x10s
I like your song, but I would prefer it performed with a little more electric guitar and/or more forceful vocals (as opposed to the very relaxed feel you wanted). This is just personal preference really.

Roymond
Overall, I like your song. There's something about it that needs to be tweaked, but I can't identify what it is. How helpful is that? In any event, I will be listening to it some more.

Ryan Rickenbach
This reminds me of Ben Folds less piano. This has a good "less is more" on the guitar feel. The harmonies are well placed and I like your vox. In a smaller fight, you'd have my vote, but you do have a place in my playlist.

Uncle Boltoph and the Deshead Kid
Why are bands like yours never signed? I would buy your album based on this song. I'm keeping the song!

X-Tokyo Radio God
Nice moody song. I'll be listening again. I like your vox too.

Well, some listening happened...

but first, <b>mine</b>
So this is coming from someone with a certain amount of regret about what's gone down. While he feels relief I think from the trappings of a pressure relationship, there's this "what if she looks back?" thing happening. I played with this with the verse being dark and the chorus much lighter. over-all it's perhaps a little creepy, which wasn't intended, but I sort of like it. I had no time this week to program better drums or add backing vocals, so maybe that needs to be done for another version. Thanks for all the great feedback. Feels good to produce something again!

<b>Matt Glossy and the 8x10s</b>
The photo processor does the Help thing...hard stereo, even. But then you stay stuck in one channel. I bet the other reviews have made this point sufficiently so I'll stop. It's a cool song, I like the harmonic rhythm and somewhat extended structure, even if it comes off meandering from the rough bare bones production. Given a better treatment there's potential for something far more impactive here.

<b>The I.P.A</b>
OK, I dig the rock here, and love the dynamic change. But then you're singing about it and your marshall at the same time? I think it's better to use dynamics without spelling it out so clearly. This could be Alanis Morissette's psycho brother and hell, that's not half bad, right?

<b>Leaf62</b>
Yeah. Yeah. The alternative vocals over the power rock, this nicely justifies the head-banger crunch guitar, which otherwise would be a major drag. The bass certainly helps out, that's cool. Great mix, man. I hear more echo on the vocals in that middle break, but these shifts work and the vocal harmonies are sweetly hurtful. Very cool! Thanks.

<b>The Befores</b>
You always have the sultry wash that refreshes (note to self: new band name?). Dig the guitar creeks and the changes. Beautiful transitions as usual. The change at 1:35 is a little rough, but then the groove it goes into works so well. Like the chromatic bass and slippery progressions over-all. Vocal harmonies could be a bit sparser, they work so well but I think they would be more effective with less. I like the oohs and ahhs. Loving this, though. Thanks!

<b>The Barstools</b>
"This is a story" is very REM and I'd rather just get into the story, since the set up doesn't really add value. Perhaps this is about what the story is but there isn't a story here at all. I like the sound, I like the bar-side conversation going on, I like the vocals, and the hook is hooky. And it doesn't have to tell a story, but I was ready for one had it happened. Ahh yes...I guess I got it right

<b>Jordan Seavers</b>
One of the better clever pacman tunes. I love your layers and the production lets it shine through. Vocals could come up a bit, and the tremolo keys down. Minor. Nice phrasing, then turn out of the chorus. Love that nasal piano. Cute. Yeah that tremolo key part is just too over powering.

<b>Damien Verrett</b>
Cute pacman keys under TMBG slapstick. Not Futureboy, but entertaining nonetheless.

<b>Chief Takahah</b>
I am intrigued. "I'm thinking you might be busy right now" is a great line for some reason. Is this a real message or faux? Probably don't need to answer that now that it's at 4:30 and only a third through. Somehow I sense this isn't a Pink Floyd operatic hit and will have to bail. I'm not that interested, honestly, although it seems clear you're loved. But the guitar is sweet.

<b>Dan-O from Five-O</b>
I like the changes, however familiar, you got the groove going. Dig the bass, punchy and driving. I think we both studied voice with the same non-being. No, yours was better. Nice break, and the rhythm guitar arpegiating is key. While its a jazzy southern rock style I divorced 30 years ago, this is very nicely done.

<b>Andy Balham</b>
There's a certain abandonment nerve being pulled here and I can relate to that. I like the break section, but the verses don't take me anywhere and the chorus, despite the cool backing vocals that should be louder, is plodding and dull.

<b>Kill Me Sarah</b>
Something basic and raw and folksy that's appealing here. Sincere. I sure hope you're being sincere here in a basic, raw and folksy way, or I'll....

<b>Eclectic Spoons</b>
There's very little interesting here. ALL ON ALL THE TIME gets boring so quickly. I think this would work much better at :26.

<b>Beuhiss</b>
It sounds like the guitar and drums part ways and so the vocals are lost, then they reunite. This can be very effective, but this isn't George Crumb. It also sounds like you ran out of time for drum programming about half way. The harmonica works pretty well, though. Other than that, I have to say that "Don't think I don't miss you already because I do" doesn't roll off the tongue easily. That should be a hint that it needs editing.

<b>The Landfills</b>
I like the richness, as usual. Great landscape from the landfills. If only Staten Island could be so beautiful. I'm not particularly taken by this otherwise, although the harmonies seem like a new touch. Nice.

<b>Carpetburn</b>
Sonic and nervous energies are cool out of the start, like that awkward XTC sense I love. At times it sounds like it's reaching for effect, a little forced, perhaps, but something that after a few live shows would come together more organically and become quite effective indeed. Dig all the arpegio crap. Pretty ending. Over-all a bit ambitious but hey, that's what you gotta do to make something new, and this is fun.



<b>More later!</b>

wages wrote:Iron Maiden...Black Sabbath...KISS....meets lo-fi. hmmm

Don't forget Budgie.

Leaf: I didn't know you had that bass line in ya! Did you mic the kit differently than for the Gert tracks? Or maybe just tuned different? The snare sounds tighter, which works great for this track. I like that I got the advance preview, 'cause this is a real grower,and I've had time to let it grow on me. Speaking of growing, have you considered a skullet? http://www.mulletjunky.com/skullet.htm

Andy Balham: I like the backup vox in the chorus. The drums are really buried though. I find the meter of the lyrics is stilted. It sounds like you wrote the lyrics separately, and shoe-horned them into the song. Here are the latest predictions for the Canadian election today: http://democraticspace.com/blog/predictions/ . Tell all the Canadians you know to make sure they vote.

Barstools: That guitar's pretty heavily compressed. Maybe too much so. The whole "this is a story" construct bugs me, 'cause you're so busy describing what the story's about, you forget to tell the story. Hmm, and the bottle sound on the right is jarring. I dunno if it's off time, or just the wrong sound. I like to complain. In other news, I like the chorus. Also, here's a story about raising a pet squirrel: http://squirrels-for-you.com/index.cgi

The Befores: It's nice, and all. There's no real hook in it .. This'd make a good track 9 on an album. Kinda goes on a bit long, too. On the bright side, after today it all gets better: http://news.scotsman.com/features.cfm?id=108812006

Ross: This is a bit eclectic for my tastes. I never really find the "tune" in it. Not sure if the drum machine adds anything. (The canned fill at 1:26 definitely distracts me from the rest of the song.) The mix is pretty thin in the bottom end. I'd boost the kick drum level, or at least boost the eq around 80-120Hz .. And maybe find a way to warm up the guitar tone. Speaking of warming things up, you'd look good in one of these: http://www.slanket.com

Carpetburn: This has some interesting stuff in it. I like the stops and starts, and the unconventional meter. I think it just needs a little mix love. The vocals are a hair loud, and the bottom end is anemic. If you could fatten up the snare, make the kick a little louder, and give the bass a little more body (somewhere around 200Hz, maybe?), I think the song would have the punch it needs. Are you afraid of heights? http://www.destinationgrandcanyon.com/skywalk.html

Chief Takahah: I listened all the way to the end, which says something. But I'm not sure if I enjoyed it. In some ways, your song is like this picture: http://jafproject.net/index.php?id=P2322

Damien Verrett / JM&tCI: I'm not a fan of the casiocore/nintendo-pop thing. I'll give ya props for how well this is put together even though it doesn't do much for me. It's a nice melody (but I feel like I've heard it a dozen times before.) Have some Steven Seagal juice: http://www.xoxide.com/lightning-bolt-as ... iance.html

Dan-O: Two things jump out at me. 1) the production is great. You got nice tones, and mixed it together perfectly. 2) Your vocal delivery is a little too restrained for the rest of the performance. It might be a product of what you said, about not really settling on a melody. Sounds great overall, though. If I could buy it out of a vending machine, I would: http://www3.tky.3web.ne.jp/~edjacob/vending.html

Eclectic Spoons: It's like Alexei Sayle on ludes. It doesn't scare me half as much as this, though: http://www.deansplanet.com/courtney_lov ... faces.html

Flvxxvm Florvm: I can't make out a single lyric in the verses. Not sure if that's performance- or mix-related. And it's way too long for what it is. I get the point after a minute and a half. Do you like whiskey and Irish poetry? http://www.mindspring.com/~mccarthys/whiskey/poetry.htm

IPA: it's a good song overall, but the mix needs a lot of work. There's no bottom end, either on the kick drum or the bass guitar. You could turn both way up, or at least boost the lows on the kick and the low-mids on the bass. You also have a phase issue on the overhead drum mics. I can't tell if the left and right are just out of synch, or if the mics are spaced incorrectly. Anyway, it's still a good tune. Next time, play one of these: http://www.cigarboxguitar.com/start.html

Jordan Seavers: I got no problems with the overall structure. (I'd mix the bass lower and the vox louder, though that's probably a personal preference.) But gawd, that spazzy sound on the right drives me nuts. Like, to the point of distraction. Something else that distracts me is cathie Jung's waist: http://www.cathiejung.com/01c4a494011290501/index.html

Kill Me Sarah: Sounds like you know how to write a song. Nail the production next time, and yer good to go. Here are the 29 healthiest foods you can eat: http://www.bellybytes.com/articles/29foods.shtml

The Landfills: I think there's a decent song in there, but what's up with your vocal delivery? Sounds like you were afraid to commit to it. The mix is also pretty muddy. Ya gotta pick one instrument to fill out the bottom end, and chop the legs off the rest of the synths. For lunch, have a grilled cheese sandwich, but use your iron to make it: http://www.southphillyblocks.org/photos ... ed_cheese/

L'il Moses: This gets better as it goes on. Personally, I'd drop the noodling at the start and just git into 'er. I listened to the end. Not much else I can say. Protect yourself from the man: http://www.rpi-polymath.com/ducttape/RFIDWallet.php

Lonbobby Featuring Anita: Nice vibe. The vocals are a little harsh in the chorus, and the bass drum is maybe a little hot throughout. But it still works well. This is one of the better songs this week. I especially like the piano break. Do you know about the carnies? http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2005/12/ ... he-public/

Martin Chitty: Good vocals, dude. This is a nice song. I'd like to hear the percussion a little louder, and some more shine on the piano. But it's mostly about your vocal performance anyway, which like I said is the stuff. Zounds!!!! http://www.bellybongo.com/zounds.html

Matt Glossy: Yeah, the panning pretty-well kills this. Put the vox in the middle, and you've instantly got a better track. You could also use a pop screen on the vocals. Whatever, it's a good song behind those things. Do you know how to cook with lava? http://www.dolphinbayhilo.com/cook.html

Roymond: Nice full sound. The solo at the end is a great touch. Only thing I'd change is the snare drum. It needs more high end, 'cause it's kinda boxy. Speaking of things that should be kept in boxes: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... e=embedded

Ryan Rickenbach: Sounds like a Beatles demo from 1965. Good song, I just wish the vocals were centered. And remember, knowledge is power: http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/Is_it_harmful_ ... aby_powder

Sober Irishman: Great job. I'm curious why you choose to mix the drums over on the left, rather than a more conventional centered panning. And how many redheads do you know? http://www.fawny.org/rhcp.html

Boltoph: Ma boy writes a great song. The last 30 seconds of this track are the best thing I heard all week. That's saying a lot, 'cause I just finished listening to the Golden Girls: http://www.mess.net/golden/album/index.html

Wages: You know how to sing, that's for sure. Now put the same work into quantizing those drums. Or just leave them out altogether. I can't appreciate your singing 'cause of the extreme timing problems. Timing is everything: http://web.mit.edu/Edgerton/6.51s/2003/

XTRG: It's attention-grabbing. Not my cup of tea, but it got my attention. And for the last time, I don't care how you feel about smart cars, this is cool: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... e=embedded

For those of you wondering who lonbobby's mysterious "Anita" might be I think I figured out the answer: it's blue. It might sound incredible but I have heard him sing and he has a very big vocal range.

Anyone who hasn't figured out that Des JUST might have:

a) one of the weirder senses of humour on songfight
b) tremendous amounts of free time
c) a head the size of a 19 inch philips monitor

needs to read those reviews again. Wicked! I love it!

...no mention of Celine Dion though... that saddens me...

Andy Balham - This song is promising but your voice is wandering around, not in a good way. I really do like the sound of this and your voice has what sounds to me like the proper style for this sort of thing, it just slides around unmusically; for instance, around 2:50, where you say "cause if I didn't love you," etc. Good song anyway.

The Barstools - Very plain-spoken, sir. Others have mentioned the "story" aspect of it, and I found that annoying too. I-IV-V over and over, and while your recording sounds very nice, it's just kinda boring.

Befores - This is pretty, you have a nice voice. I like the percussion, of all varities. And I like how it builds up at 1:45. This is laying into a nice groove, but it's not really grabbing me at all, I don't know what you could do about that. Very solid and pretty song, regardless.

Carpetburn - This song has energy, I like that. Straightforward lyrics, but I suppose the title leans that way. Nice.

Chief Takahah - Obviously it's unfocused and random and not really a song at all, but I like this. These particular answering machine messages work really well together. I like that it's actually affecting me emotionally a little bit. I don't like the cell phone answering machine system, they break up the feel of the piece. I would have liked it better with just beeps I think. This one could get old kinda fast, so when you put it on the album, mix it up in between some other actual songs. Actually, don't put it on the album, put it on your website for your true fans after you hit it big. I feel like you should know that I've actually listened through the whole thing, two times in a row, and liked it each time. It just feels very... personal, and vulnerable. I like it.

Damien Verrett - I like your rhythms as usual. I really don't like that samply vox sound, but I do like the overall simple and clean aspect of this. "but it's kinda yours too"... maybe you should have only used that line once.

Dan-O/Five-O - Those arpeggiated guitar bits remind me of Santana, I kinda like this. Oh, and then it changes up completely, this is nice. Except I'm not really listening to the lyrics because I don't like your voice too much, the song is just kinda fitting into the background for me. And then a fade-out, which makes it even more background-y. Good one anyway.

Eclectic Spoons - The rhythm on the samples isn't with the rhythm of the rest of the song, and it's annoying. The soundscape has a certain authenticity but nothing stands out and it's very constant and not very interesting.

Flvxxvm Florvm - Hard driving. Your vocals keep falling behind the music and it's really annoying. I like the fact that you broke it down, and I like the breakdown more than the first stuff.

The IPA - Pretty intro. You have some pretty straightforward lyrics, and I don't like them much. I don't like your voice when you start powering it out, either, but you have a very nice song here.

Jordan Seavers - You have a very nice voice. Lots of people have said that the wobbly synthesizer is overpowering, and they're right, but I honestly like everything else here. I like the bridge a lot. Bring the wobbler down and you have simple, happy pop and it's great.

Kill Me Sarah - "...since that I lost you"? That's not English. Very simple, campfire stuff (if you can teach everyone all of the words). I do like your voice but see if you can do more with your music than I IV I V over and over again, unless of course you don't want to. It's just kinda boring me.

The Landfills - I don't really like your voice at all. Um, the sounds are fine and neat but nothing catchy.

Leaf62 - This is pretty cool. I'm into the crunchy guitar sound, and that clean, rangy bass. I like it. Not grabbing me terribly much though.

Lil' Moses/MC Minimum - You have lyrical flow, sometimes. It feels like you're trying to squeeze too many consonants in there, other times. The sounds are pretty cool too. Like the take on the title.

Lonlobby feat. Anita - This is very strongly reminding me of Pi. The fuzzy vocals just don't seem to fit with the smooth warmth of the rest of the song. Nice solid song.

Martin Chitty - This sounds nice. You sound like you care, I like that. Those string synths are just a bit too obviously synthy for my taste.

Matte Glossy and the 8x10s - As people have mentioned, the panning is just extreme and irrational for this kind of song. It makes me not care about the fact that your song sounds like it might be good.

Ross/Beuhiss - Pick a name. Just kinda a whatever song, not doing anything for me.

Roymond - This starts off extremely promisingly. I like how that tone is moving around on me a bit. However... I don't care for your vocals a bit. Over-the-top, to mine ears. I do like the transition to major in the chorus, but then it just keeps sitting around on the same notes in the vocals. The synth/guitar ending is cool.

Ryan Rickenbach - I like the chord progression here, and the melodic interest in the vocals. Something about the panning in those solo guitar licks seems a bit off, but everything's nice and clean. I like the way you sing, and I think it's helping me like the lyrics. Getting maybe a bit repetitive. Woo woo woo, check.

The Sober Irishman - I like your voice a lot, and the bass solo, I don't hear enough of those. Nice solid groovy song. This sounds vaguely Beatles-y, with the voice and the vocal rhythms.

Uncle Boltoph and the Deshead Kid - Noisy. And catchy. But that wave of distorted guitar and reverb, I guess, is overwhelming the vocals and basically everything else for me. Maybe turn it down some.

Wages - Those backwards cymbals are a little goofy, and the drummage not quite fitting with the rest of the song has already been noted. Maybe try writing the drum bit first next time and then playing along with it, or recording to a metronome at least. I like your voice some. Alright, that drumming is fucking bugging me, I'm gonna have to move on. Work on it.

X-Tokyo-Radio-God - I think if you're going for that industrial beat, you could process the drums even more. Wow, this isn't really industrial, this is cool. That clipping guitar is bugging me some, either distort it all the way or clean it up, I think. I like how you back it off for the semi-a capella section. It's not really going anywhere though. I feel like this should have had some kind of a build-up, but I like it a lot anyway.

Not sure who I'm going to vote for yet, but the Befores, Carpetburn, Jordan, Leaf, Lonlobby, Sober, and X-Tokyo, and mebbe Boltoph/Deshead as well, are on the list... that's a really long list and this was a really fun fight to listen to. Nice job folks.

a bebop a rebop wrote: Kill Me Sarah - "...since that I lost you"? That's not English.

AAAAHHH!!! They're onto me.

a bebop a rebop wrote: I do like your voice but see if you can do more with your music than I IV I V over and over again, unless of course you don't want to.

You're the second person to say so. Excuse my naivte since I'm a self-taught musician and always learning more, but what does the I IV I V refer to?

Root chord, chord built off the fourth, chord built off the fifth of the tonic (root) of a major scale.


So, if your root is "C" , you'd play C, F, G. (all major triads).

barstools: what a fun song. love the "shrimp on the barbie" comment in the background. the guitar has some over-compression problems as has already been noted. i do hope you recorded the ambience live. the song does go on a bit long without a change.

befores: the befores go mainstream this week.

beuhiss: a lot of good hiss there. i would eq it at 3khz to get it to pop out more.

carpetburn: the guitar felt like going surfing and i like surfing although i am not very good at it. vocals started very promising but then went a little too far out of tune. the arrangement is rather complex and i commend you for making it hang together. overall this held my attention and was very well done, except the vocals need improvement. i mean the basic style is good, just need to work on getting the pitch closer to a point on a map.

chieftakahah: pretty funny and the digital transfer noise is nicely mixed. it would have worked better with around 5min length though.

deverett: not sure how i feel about this song so i'll just stick to the facts. the instrumentation and vocals are boldly cheesy, this is a plus. there's not much variation though which is a minus. but i guess i can forgive that because the song is disarmingly simple and therein lies its charm.

dano: nice guitar tone and rock piano. is that you on the piano or band in a box? it sounds almost too good. the song feels pretty sincere. i have to admit this is not my genre so i can't make much informed comment on the song itself. in terms of production, the vocal recording can definitely improve. there are good low cost condenser mics and preamps out there which will do wonders for your vocal presence.

eclecticspoons: not a song i would play to my girlfriend, if i had a girlfriend.

flxxxfvvm: the playing and singing are pretty good, but the recording sounds very muffled. condenser mic, decent preamp, can't say it often enough.

ipa: i like india pale -- it's bitter yet refreshing, with a crisp delivery. to some extent that's true of this song. what really lets it down is the recording quality - are you recording through a radio shack mic? i do appreciate the lofi school of thought but here both the vocals and drums are lacking any balls, probably because of the mic. either that or you had the balls setting switched to the "off" position on your recorder, if it's not the mic i would check and be sure that the balls switch is turned on.

jseavers - this is excellent -- high marks for originality and songwriting. i really enjoyed it. even though it doesn't get boring, it would be nice to hear some change to the basic synth patches at some point. i blame society for my extremely short attention span.

killmesarah - this would be a decent song if it didn't suffer so much in comparison with the other entries this week. the songwriting, delivery and production all need to improve to come up to par.

landfills - there are two problems here: one is the vocal pitch wanders too far from home and the other is the lack of dynamics in the song. otherwise i dig the "screw acoustic instruments" vibe.

leaf62 - pretty decent, i must say i am not a fan of the genre but this is competently executed. the mix sounds a bit trebly to me.

lonbobby+ anita - i like this a whole lot. the mix is excellent, i love the vocal sound and delivery and instrumentation is spot on. also, having some familiarity with the genre i think it's pretty original. if i had to get anal i'd say the mix renders the drums a little too starkly, they could use a little something to gel with the rest. but it's a minor complaint. otherwise two thumbs up!

martin - this reminds me of steve merritt of magnetic fields in terms of delivery. while i love the fields, i don't like their slower, low key stuff, because his voice is already so heavy. the same is true here -- it would be a nice contrast to have the instrumentation more "up". otherwise you're in leonard cohen territory and that places a huge burden on the lyrics. but otherwise i do like the dynamics and instrumentation of the piece, it's well done.

mattglossy - there's a good song and great ideas in there but they are somewhat let down in the production. it would take some serious production chops to realize the ideas implied in the song. but i like the originality and songwriting, keep it up.

roymond - hey, the vocals sound great! it's much better than what i heard before from you vocally - that was pretty good but this is top notch. very authoritative. i was worried this song might not have any weird bits which i really look forward to in raymond songs, but then the ending put my fears to rest. great effort. oh yeah, if i had to bitch i would say the guitar is a little loud and could lead to unexpected side effects after prolonged listening.

ryan r - hey, this is sweet! nice vocals and guitar. good tune too. nothing to complain about in fact except the solo guitar sounding disjointed from the rest of the mix. overall great stuff though.

boltoph + deshead - freaking excellent. rather than go on about it, i will just say that it will probably get my vote.

wages - sounds a bit tentative, maybe because the different parts are a little out of time with each other. the whole thing just needs to let loose and rip at some point.

xtokyo - imaginative and original. sometimes original is a euphemism for shitty but definitely not in this case, this is quality stuff. pj harvey would rob you blind if she got hold of this. it's good to see people taking risks, it keeps songfight interesting.

I see you're taking the compliment well, Dan-O.

Leaf wrote:Root chord, chord built off the fourth, chord built off the fifth of the tonic (root) of a major scale.


So, if your root is "C" , you'd play C, F, G. (all major triads).

I understood "C, F, G". And tonic is something that goes with gin, right?

So much fun noise! So, to finish up...

<b>Lonbobby feat. Anita</b>
Lovely depth here with that subtle distorted guitar patch. Anita brings the sultry encore. Certainly hurt by such a long phrase for a title, now too familiar to sound fresh even where it should. But actually breaking "miss" over two notes sort of kills it, and lyrically this is pretty thin. But I love the soundscape.

<b>Wages</b>
There's a real song in there! Keep making music. I bet you're 10th submission will be amazing.

<b>Lil' Moses and MC Minimum</b>
Gotta get a stronger beat for this...the dj needs to dig deeper.It's gonna be hard to take this for 4:26. I do like some of these samples...that dixie land stuff really swings. Shorten this up and give it a decent production and this would fly on the floor.

<b>Uncle Boltoph and the Deshead Kid</b>
Wall of sound crushes my sensabilities. Yeah, the wave form exposes major over-compression. Sad, too, cause this is classic Uncle Kid stuff. I wish there was some head room to hear the awesome tones that have been lost. Please remaster this baby. But, it's the right length No, this is a fun romp, still.

<b>Martin Lloyd Chitty</b>
Opening with the title line isn't against the law but considering how obvious this sounds, it is not recommended. You could have simply swapped the first two verses. midi strings need to be very quiet in the mix, they are more effective as a mere hint, without actually trying to sound like strings.You have a nice baritone, but this is really depressing, even with a picardi third ending. Oh, maybe not. Still...

<b>Flvxxvm Florvm</b>
I dig the harp. And I appreciate the break. But this just doesn't go anywhere and is stuck in a jam band rutt, though it's ok for that. So, I am skipping around looking for interest...still looking.

<b>The Sober Irishman</b>
Oh Christ this is great. What, no gospel choir? Major disapointment! I join in the bowing down to the irish. Although a penny whistle solo...you know...would have gotten the vote. Got a big rave from my wife. hey...

<b>Ryan Rickenbach</b>
Sweet song, surprising lyric. I like that. It's like Paul McCartney in that way. But that's the only way. And then the progression gets really tired.

<b>X-Tokyo-River-God</b>
I ... am ... ready ... that subtle fluttery flute patch is great. is that a saw? I love this. The depth, sonic imagery and pace is perfect. I could really take this trip for real, if it wasn't for being so happy from Sober's tune. Thanks for this!

here's where I started:

Martin Chitty
It doesn't really grab me in an ecstacy of feeling but it tries during some of the parts, with the sadness. It could go farther, develop with more instruments or just some different turns in the vocal melody as the song progresses. I wouldn't call it chitty.

Matt Glossy and the 8x10s
Ah man it's hard to listen to it without a mix in the right speaker. This would go well with a full band, I like the chorus part, want to hear that drummer jamming away. Could use backup vocs in the verses. Ahs and oohs. The More Bore line reminds me of the Beatles, which is good. I have to assume the lack of sound in the right speaker is a last minute mistake. I know how that goes. Feeling the "post-submission blues" ??

Roymond
You've mixed a heavy metal tune with an early '60s pop love song!!!!!!! I'm dying to hear those two vibes built on to the max! Like produce it to be super heavy in the verses even with screaming, and Marylin Manson/Korn style on the minor parts like the "don't even think it...".. and then break down into the ultimate 60s vibe in the chorus, complete with guys singing high, "oooo baby" and such, in the background. Oh man that would be beautiful! So much potential, and such a great play on those two different styles, written into the songwriting.

Ryan Rickenbach
There's a good Beatles sorta vibe, but the verse vocal repeating line is redundant, and the wide, bass heavy guitar lick that comes at the end of the chorus is kind of a shock, I think there's a better lick out there somewhere that you could use there, and mix the guitars closer to the middle, low cut at 150-200hz. The oohs at the end are catchy, but it might be on the border of annoying. That could be a good thing though, for tv commercials and stuff. Man we all gotta start getting it in there somewhere. Maybe some of us are...

Sober Irishman
Now I'm hanging out, drinking beers while the list is playing and this came on, I turned around, like I know this song! Well I have listened to the tunes more than once but still, and then lookd at the playlist and YEAH! This is the Sober Irishman. Yeah you used this format well, I agree with most other comments about the panning, I can tell what you were going for, but it would've been better mixed more straight up. And with a ripping guitar solo.

Wages
The good hooks in the song are a bit masked by the rhythms, pieces of low end of the guitars and what seems to be a phaser on the vocs. I was doin "uh uh" around 3:01. The weird cymbal hits, and such, make it feel like a bit of a "half-assed" venture. More development, esp. toward the end, would help this, for me, at least.

XTokyoRiverGod
The melodies on the guitar and other instrument hit me at thirty seconds in. The vocal pours a sweet glaze over the beats and tones...but the lead guitar during the vocal track should be cut. And a full on ensemble of sound after the 2nd chorus would make this like a flower slowly blooming, burning. I like the energy in the vocals on the 2nd verse. That lead guitar's gotta go though. I wanted to hear a complete wall of sound after the "I do" at 1:47. Or even better, to have brought it back to that point a second time and then exploding in a torrent, like an orgasm of sound. That would've blown my f'n mind. I can hear it...echoing....

Leaf62
The scant intro and the groove that pops in there are so quick and move right along. Hey bud, I don't, don't worry....oh wait...I don't wear perfume? oh shit....ohhhhhhhhLoard. This chorus is the best thing that I have hoard!. That unexpected major/minor thingy (oh you know what I'm talking bout!) is just taking my face and pulling it off, like i'm screamin. But I'm just so psyched and it's all back on...waiting for me....i really did lose track of me...withdrawn so many times.........they were sooooo different.....so gone. Oh and then we have the slow build up / bridge...and we're movin....don't think it...no way....I can't tell.....long smooth neck. I hear alot of stuff in here. I can't say much more. Not only one of my favs in the fight, but because of that chorus, one of my all time favs.

Andy Balham
The heavy 1-2 feel broken up by the movement of the bass line in the verse is my favorite thing, I like the dissonent feel, want to hear it all out heavy screaming, hardcore punk style, especially with the heavy chorus and the more of a surreal dark verse. slower, perhaps. milking the darkness.

The Barstools
Reminds me of something I've heard, a million times, I can appreciate it, I would appreciate it more if you told the story more. It feels like the song was produced more in favor of "even strumming on the acoustic" when it should of focused on the potential story. Like Dylan, get that guitar way down, and focus on the vocals, the lyrics, the story. What are you praying for? something tied up in that random talk toward ye right side? I can't hear it. Alright your bein' sumblime. I can appreciate that. The name and the vibe flow together like black n tan.

Befores
Oh I got friend who's ex-girlfriend's voice reminded me of this voice. So it strikes a chord, like a vibration a little bit but it's a little more sultry, and I'm not just talking about the voice, I'm really talking about the whole vibe of the song, and there's a few chords changes that bring us into the open majors which are great turning point. The drums' entrance enhancing of this piece vibrates the soul of it's meaning and reason for being written in the first place. There seems to be one question on a particular vocal note that could be figured out. I want to hear this end on a really tripped out, but sparse, note; or just change completely, break out, in some way.

Ross
I would rather it be just solo acoustic guitar and vocals, no drum machine. Ah man, I can't make out most of the lyrics or vocal emotions. The cymbal crashes were in the right place, yeah, ..but...."be open" there was a part I liked.

Carpetburn
That intro was a beautiful wash of music there...i was hurt by the vocals a little. But then again' I'm drunk and the highs are huhrtin more. The stops could be really sweet....and the bass alone there back into it is sweet. But it shifts too quickly for me. I want to hear it milk out that mellow stuff, and the changes get awkward half way thru the tune which hurt it I think. The last chord is sweet.

Chief Takahah
Isn't that beautiful. Well you can speak, but is anyone listening. What if one of those people died since leaving that message, and they only had that message as their last words? Did that happen? Cause if I knew them, I'd compose music to go along with that last message. Well might depend on the person, and how much they appreciate music. For me, anyway, I'm looking forward to finishin some stuff, you are too. Git'n 'r dun, some might say. Ok. I really like the chord changes from 2:38 or so there. i want to hear a whole band build on that there. Takahwwwhoo? Did you get the Cell phone / Speaker buzz in the recording, or is that my cell phone buzzing the speakers right now? I'll never know.......

Jonas Murdock and the Child Inside
This is a good dose of bouncing around the room...all problems, washed. Dead...confused....key change helps keep it thru for me, kinda goes thru is my fav line there, with the barely do...the breaks could be interesting. I dig the walking bass line, I dig any walking bass line whenever I hear it. It could use a change, beyond the breaks. The third or second break could be tripped out more.

Dan-0
When those first few chords hit, I'm brimming ear to ear. This bitch is blues. The intro guitar part was solid. But it could use more vocals in the mix, some harmony vocals. I want to hear it break into more distortion, but the slow down after about 1:40 and until 1:51, I wanted to hear the guitar solo over that stuff, instead of where it was later; however, the key change during the solo, I liked. You know, 2:25. The key vocal change after that I could've skipped in favor of a darker bridge of some kind, like a B3 solo or something. Solid tune, I really dig the opening vibe and the breakdowns, the most...and that blues guitar.

eCCleCtiC spOOns
it is programmed into all of our systems, possibly

Flvxxvm Florvm
That guitar part in the beginning almost saved me. I like the basic idea, the song here, this rocks, I have to crank it right up. Right up. Don't think it yeah I do!!!!!!! the harmonica, is good there. C'mon work it harder. Just when i thought it was gonna work it harder it trips out. Whos this the doors or something...nawyeeee...wait....it's takin too long.......c'mon .....ok vocals are trip. Working it into 3/4 there is sweet. The whole of this needs to be produced with wall of sound style, but really the chorus is jammin and I love the screaming vocal tone there. Give 'er.

I.P.A.
I really dig the opening Smashing Pumpkins style groove, smooth, with those little stops. More vocals, louder vocals, a little something for body somewhere, there's alot of potential behind this. My favorite thing is really the verse groove. Not so into the repetition of that one line at the end.

Jordan Seavers
Man there's been alot of talk about bass in mixes but this songs got the bass like I want to hear, fat bass. Man live shows, the amount of bass in those sounds is nothing compared to most mixes. I like the bass smooth and on the low side. This reminds me of some U2 tune but it's more synthetic and bubble-gum than that, here. The instruments definitely take away from the vocal, but like the cycles that they do at the end. Doesn't stick in my head but I like some of the cycling, the way the vocal just kinda rolls along.

Kill Me Sarah
I'm rolling with this on a country porch. This song needs to have a whiskey bottle on the cover. The "I've Been" parts really have a down home feel that makes me thing, particularly, of bourbon. Makers Mark or something with that tinge of brown sugar, baby!!!

Landfills
The vocal could be a little strained in some parts, the panned harmonies are nice when they come in. It never feels like it really formulates into a song though, sounds a little desperate, dies a little quick.

Lil Moses and McMinimum
Almost had me goin there at thirty seconds in. Again a little bit if you had a woman speaking the woman's parts. Who got bitch slapped for singing the girl part? could use a better rhyme to go with "on purpose". That's where I think it could've flowed.

Lonbobby feat. Anita
Well long fight and this is at the end for me. Soothing like a warm rain. This breaks me right down, reminds me of a friends old band called Splashdown, god this sounds just like them. I like the change of vocal tone in the places it's in. The breaks are great, could use more effects to build back into the vocals after the break. I want to hear this song totally explode at 2:22. Or if not there (that break was sweet) I wanna hear it slam in at 2:52 again there for the last chorus. Ah anyway, this is a trip and brings back all sorts of nostalgia because of what I was saying.

Uncle B and the Deshead Kid
Yeah, all I can say about the mix is that twas late, I was drunk, speakers were quiet, I had to work the next day early so could only make a few mixes to choose from. Here's the better mix made some hours after the deadline. Deshead rocks the skins.

My favorite tunes would have to be Leaf62, Lonbobby and Anita, Sober Irishman and Dan-O, and Roymond's song.

[/u]

Well, this isn't Help and How To, but: http://www.cyberfret.com/theory/chord-c ... /page2.php

boltoph wrote:Chief Takahah
Isn't that beautiful. Well you can speak, but is anyone listening. What if one of those people died since leaving that message, and they only had that message as their last words? Did that happen? Cause if I knew them, I'd compose music to go along with that last message. Well might depend on the person, and how much they appreciate music. For me, anyway, I'm looking forward to finishin some stuff, you are too. Git'n 'r dun, some might say.

Boltoph!!!! Yours are the only reviews I read all the way through, and this one deserves some sort of special merit award or something (one of those recycled gold soccer trophies, perhaps?)
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kill_me_sarah wrote:

Leaf wrote:Root chord, chord built off the fourth, chord built off the fifth of the tonic (root) of a major scale.


So, if your root is "C" , you'd play C, F, G. (all major triads).

I understood "C, F, G". And tonic is something that goes with gin, right?

I IV I V is roman numerals: 1 4 1 5. The numbers tell you how far away from a certain chord you are. Pick any note on the guitar. Go ahead, any note. Play it. Now play a chord that sounds like that note. That chord will be the 1. Now, start singing the "Do Re Me" scale from the Sound of Music, with the note you picked as "Do". When you get to the fourth note (Fa, a long way for a beer) find that note on the guitar. Make a chord that sounds like that note. That is your 4. Repeat the process, starting with the 1 note, and sing do, re, mi, fa, so. Find that note, make that chord. That is your 5 chord.

Songs that use only the 1, 4, and 5 chords can be found in abundance in blues, punk, rock, folk, and country. Oh, and in drinking songs, too.