This is who I am (Sorry About the Mess Reviews)

[Pigfarmer Jr]

Is it late to say I'm sorry
I know I've made a mess of things that I can't change no more
Is it late to say I'm worried
If we fall this time we might not get back up that easy

Lyrics go here: viewtopic.php?t=12826

[Lunkhead]

Songs posted!

[robynmackenzie]

Berkeley Social Scene: This has a cool sound. Not sure I love the doubled vocals in the verse. It works really well in the chorus though. This is giving Weezer vibes which is always a good thing.

Kev Smith: Those synths are everything. The lyrics alone get my vote. The only thing I would change is perhaps varying the rhythm of the verse or chorus a bit so there's more contrast between them rhythmically. As it stands though, this is great.

The Mellfire Trifecta: I really like the contrast between the intro and when the lyrics come in. That melodic descent on the "ahhs" is soooo satisfying. Really nice.

Pigfarmer Jr: For a song about seeing an ex at a bar, the instrumentation is certainly appropriate. I like the vibe. The guitar and piano interjections work really well.

Robyn Mackenzie: I don't think I've ever sang quite this fast before. Also, the vocals were recorded in my car at 2 am to avoid waking up the family. Considering that, I'm fairly happy with how it turned out.

[kevsmith81]

Berkeley Social Scene: Nice track, very reminiscent of the guitar rock I loved as a teen in the 90s, it really reminds me of something the Stereophionics would have done. From a mix perspective, I think the vocals are a little bit drowned out which is a shame as those are some nice harmonies in the chorus especially.

The Mellfire Trifecta: I really enjoyed everything about this one. Excellent lyrics, great melodies, really nice guitar and bass work and the mix sounds great as well. All in all, my favourite out of the entries.

Pigfarmer Jr: Another really strong entry from both a musical and lyrical perspective. The only criticism I can really give is there is some boominess throughout in the mix, but that didn’t stop me enjoying this one.

Robyn Mackenzie:The bassline on this really has an interesting sound to it (as is probably obvious from my own entry I’m a sucker for a good bit of synth work). Impressive work fitting all those lyrics into the chorus! And I love the arp that comes after the first chorus.

Kev Smith: I had a lot of fun with this one. I had a number of lyrical themes I was working on, until I was talking to my girlfriend about it and it was her suggestion that it could be about a cat, and I just ran with that. It was also fun working the optional challenges in - the glock is there as a kind of texture piece in the background and you have the little melodica solo after each chorus. I was a bit short of time and I will definitely redo the vocals and backing vocals at some point, and may also play around with the drums on it as well, but considering the time I had and that I'm a much less prolific songwriter than I'd like to be, I'm happy with how this one turned out.

[MellyP]

Pigfarmer Jr.
Interesting low-key beginning is powerful and I enjoyed the plinking piano being more prominent than it is in later sections. I like your chorus chord progression and your guitar fills throughout are tasty. Additional listens got this chorus good and stuck in my head. Think my neighbour heard me a-hummin it. Wanted you to come in with a harder-edged guitar sound during the chorus but this is not bad because I can really hear all elements. I really like the playing in this and in particular the drums. The guitar tone in the outro is cool.

Robyn MacKenzie
This is strong from a rhythmic perspective all the way through. The vocals sound a bit separated from everything else – though the mix is excellent when it comes to levels. And your harmonies are inventive. The lyrics are good, and the way you structured them is effective. I like the use of panning too. I feel like maybe some loud but wailing single-note electric guitar could add right after each occurrence of the title line, “Sorry about the mess” with the exception of the first time it is sung. Good job.

Kev Smith
This is fun. It reminds me of the Pet Shop Boys a tad. Really cool harmonies in the chorus! The repeated synth in my left ear becomes a bit repetitive. Could have maybe chosen a couple of other rhythms and rotated through them. You do add a few new things each time you get to a new section (for example the “haunted house“-type ooos and subtle chimes, and I really like that. Btw, if this is describing your actual cat you must have your hands full. Thanks for the light and funny take on the title.

Berkeley Social Scene
The verse on this one is really nice – love the interplay between the vocal and the lead guitar. Also notice the variations later (echoing one part of the riff) and like those. While I appreciate this solo, I wish you’d chosen to do it over a bit more interesting chord pattern and bass part. Cool outro brings me right back with its clever stops and starts. I hear the lyrics clearly on this song but if you are recording it again, I would suggest turning up the drums so they can be heard a bit better. There’s good stuff going on but I feel like I can’t catch all of it. Of course, in truth I am nitpicking as I really like this tune a lot.

The Mellfire Trifecta
Worked quickly on this one and then spent too much time trying to make the optional challenge work and couldn’t. It just didn’t fit. Number of chords in the song is likely a Trifecta record. Thanks for the reviews. I enjoyed listening to your songs.

[kevsmith81]

Kev Smith
This is fun. It reminds me of the Pet Shop Boys a tad. Really cool harmonies in the chorus! The repeated synth in my left ear becomes a bit repetitive. Could have maybe chosen a couple of other rhythms and rotated through them. You do add a few new things each time you get to a new section (for example the “haunted house“-type ooos and subtle chimes, and I really like that. Btw, if this is describing your actual cat you must have your hands full. Thanks for the light and funny take on the title.

Thanks very much! Funnily enough I don't actually own a cat myself, but took inspiration from tales I've heard from other people about their cats. They're funny creatures for sure

[glennny]

Melly P:

Berkeley Social Scene
The verse on this one is really nice – love the interplay between the vocal and the lead guitar. Also notice the variations later (echoing one part of the riff) and like those. While I appreciate this solo, I wish you’d chosen to do it over a bit more interesting chord pattern and bass part. Cool outro brings me right back with its clever stops and starts. I hear the lyrics clearly on this song but if you are recording it again, I would suggest turning up the drums so they can be heard a bit better. There’s good stuff going on but I feel like I can’t catch all of it. Of course, in truth I am nitpicking as I really like this tune a lot.

Thank you! That's a good note about the drums, I wish I mixed them a lot louder.

[scrapheap]

Almost glad I didn't manage to enter this week: I wouldn't have stood a chance against this competition.

Berkeley Social Scene: Nice psychedelic sound to the guitars, and the verse-to-chorus transition works well. Catchy melodies. Put together really well. Think this is my favorite BSS so far of the fights I've listened to.

Robyn Mackenzie: Love this synth bass. I'm kind of expecting it to build more or something to happen and the first verse goes a bit long without developing. Vocals are kind of sitting on top, not melding with the synths. Okay this chorus is great, I like how the vocals get busier and the song builds well from there on.

Kev Smith: Ah, this is a comedy song is about a cat. On the simple side musically, but works well for what it is. Reminds me of [9-Inch Claws](https://tonymason.com/album-huh.html) by None of the Above, but the fact that that song is a parody of Nine Inch Nails makes it funny, whereas this, I think, needs more actual jokes. I need something more than just cat behaving badly to laugh.

Pigfarmer Jr: Getting Warren Zevon vibes here. More in the sound than the lyrics, which don't quite have his poetry, but it's still a welcome thing. Builds well from verse to chorus. Love the outro. My favorite PF Jr so far.

The Mellfire Trifecta: Another entry with excellent arrangement and production, slick, enjoyable with good use of dynamics to keep it fresh. This will probably get stuck in my head too. Incredible strength of entries this week.

[Lunkhead]

The results are in and the fight has been won by ... Berkeley Social Scene and The Mellfire Trifecta!