The Song Fight Bulletin Board

but I wouldn't be tempting fate so much if it were up to me.

Lyrics can linger in the lounge: viewtopic.php?t=12725

Songs posted! All four of them...

A few comments based on first and second impressions.

Berkeley Social Scene: Bass seems extra heavy to me. Is it up a bit too much in volume? I don't know. I'm digging the panning, wide feel without being blatant. I like the melody and vocal performance. The lyric isn't real clear, though. Both in the mix and in the implementation of the title. We're not doomed but why did we think we were to begin with? Okay, I admit that it works just fine, but it did get me thinking about it. I liked the first two lines, a very good opening. I didn't mention the synths but I really like that bit of the arrangement.

The Idiot Kings: So the title line works much better in song than it did on paper (or on screen, I guess.) This had a cool enticing feel to start and I like the added deep synth a lot. It's short, super short... much shorter than the jukebox thinks it is. Like a full minute shorter.

Pigfarmer Jr: This was one of those typical pigfarmer acoustic based things but I decided at the last minute to rock it up a little bit. I think it benefits.

Scrap Heap: I like the open feeling of the intro guitar. The melody works pretty well. There's something about the vocal, maybe too dry and too low, maybe a little pitchy in a couple of places, that doesn't quite sit right for me. That guitar sounds great. But maybe not good enough to pull off a guitar and vocal arrangement for three minutes.

Pigfarmer Jr wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 24, 2024 6:02 pm

The Idiot Kings: ... It's short, super short... much shorter than the jukebox thinks it is. Like a full minute shorter.

The Jukebox can't help it if the mp3 has a minute of extra silence in it at the end. If The Idiot Kings would like to submit an updated version with the extra silence trimmed off I would be happy to swap that in.

Lunkhead wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 24, 2024 7:52 pm

Pigfarmer Jr wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 24, 2024 6:02 pm

The Idiot Kings: ... It's short, super short... much shorter than the jukebox thinks it is. Like a full minute shorter.

The Jukebox can't help it if the mp3 has a minute of extra silence in it at the end. If The Idiot Kings would like to submit an updated version with the extra silence trimmed off I would be happy to swap that in.

Submitted! Damn gremlins...

Berkeley Social Scene: Slight Failure vibe to this. I’m here for it. I really enjoy the synths. Sick falsettos in that bridge. If I had to make a minor nitpick I think it’s that the bass is a bit too loud in the mix. How often do you hear that complaint? More solid songwriting from the ‘Scene.

The Idiot Kings: I think I missed the memo on the optional challenge. I was just strumming on the mandolin and this popped out. Good times!

Pigfarmer Jr: Not sure if this makes sense, but I’ve always dug songs where an entire verse phrase is a complete chord progression, as opposed to doing just like an Am-F on repeat. It’s something Weezer did to perfection on the first couple of albums, and something I’ve never been able to do well. So when I see it done well, I appreciate it. Given that my song is like a minute long this week with no vocal breaks or crazy instrumental stuff take this with a grain of salt, but I wish there was something else happening - be it a solo, a weird chord changeup, just something to break up the pattern.

Scrap Heap: Very nice sounding acoustic, if a bit squawky. Wish the lyrics were posted since this is such a simple arrangement. Really strange chords, and I mean that in the best way possible. The vocals are a bit pitchy, but nothing unforgivable.

the idiot king wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2024 7:46 am

Lunkhead wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 24, 2024 7:52 pm

Pigfarmer Jr wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 24, 2024 6:02 pm

The Idiot Kings: ... It's short, super short... much shorter than the jukebox thinks it is. Like a full minute shorter.

The Jukebox can't help it if the mp3 has a minute of extra silence in it at the end. If The Idiot Kings would like to submit an updated version with the extra silence trimmed off I would be happy to swap that in.

Submitted! Damn gremlins...

Uploaded!

Pigfarmer Jr: Love the tight rawk sound. Found this one getting stuck in my head. Title seems a bit forced though, like if this weren't for Songfight "Away in the Morning" would make a better title.

Berkeley Social Scene: Really impressive arrangement with a lot of details that come together nicely. Points for doing the optimism bonus challenge, unlike(?) the rest of us.

Scrap Heap: Finally felt confident enough with guitar to submit an acoustic entry! Thanks everyone for the feedback; Idiot Kings, I love the comment about strange chords in a good way. One lesson I'm learning already is: short and sweet... did not expect to be the longest entry, first take was four minutes and thank the gods I shortened it.

The Idiot Kings: Speaking of short and sweet... this one does a lot with a little and has a doomy vibe I absolutely love. Simple but effective. This gets a vote. Although I really like all the songs in this fight, so it was hard to decide which other ones to vote for.

Oh, also:

the idiot king wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2024 7:47 am

Scrap Heap: ... Wish the lyrics were posted since this is such a simple arrangement.

I posted the lyrics after seeing this comment! Had been a little shy about doing so, since some of them seemed obvious/automatic and I wanted to rewrite them, but ran out of time without coming up with anything better. Oh well. And my reviews are late since I was traveling, sorry!

Everyone else IS doomed to lose this fight to Berkeley Social Scene