The Song Fight Bulletin Board

I fought the urge to name this topic "Tomorrow Needs You Now" so appreciate it.

Songs posted!

Lyrics go here and reviewers would likely be appreciative if you dropped yours in: viewtopic.php?t=12930

Typed these all out and hit a button and they were all gone. So you get the abbreviated version I guess.

Add: I get a sparse feel from this even though it's not really sparse. I like the melodies, the almost 8bit feel in the bass and the instrumental break.

Brown Word and the Big Whine: I get a rockin' girl-band vibe from this which I like. The extra distortion on the guitars played in the high range is a nice compliment to the heavy bass.

The Chocolate Chips: I like the vocal, especially the effects on the intro. Gives it a synthy vibe. There's some nice arrangement touches in this one, too. Little bits/melodies that feel good.

Great Mimes: Might be my favorite of the fight. It reminds me of late 90's alt.country, wilco-ish. The bass line especially. Maybe the tweedy-like melody that I associate with that era (but maybe that's more me than you.)

Hoblit: Your vocal delivery saves this from being filed into the typically guy with guitar bag such things typically get thrown into around here.

Mk: I just spoke about the sparseness of another entry and here you are with a vocal only entry. I thought the melody was good and your performance didn't have too many glaringly off pitch moments which is more than I could say if I tried something like this.

pabrizzer: Guy and guitar doesn't go over super well around here usually but I found this okay enough.

Pigfarmer Jr feat. Tabitha Arnett: Tabitha is a local songwriter and this is my first attempt at getting the locals involved. She started the lyric and it reminded me of my cousin who committed suicide after his wife passed and they took his step-children away. Turned into a sort of message I wish I could have given him. Extra thanks to Tabitha for working on a deadline and coming through so swimmingly.

The Reverend: I like the vocal. I like how it sort of devolves into controlled chaos at the end. I like the almost alice-in-wonderland "I can't change your heart" bit.

Mk - got me in - a real good write imho
The Chocolate Chips - not terrible - way too much going on but it held me to the end
they got my votes
the rest didn't get a listen to the end despite numerous tries - just not for me

Add:
The outrage, indeed, never stops. Don’t give up this fight, which should be simply to live life. Quirky, poppy and spirited, it delivers shivers to my ears.
Brown Word and the Big Whine:
Holy hell, here's the message most of these entries tip toe around but presented with the requisite raw energy! I can't even pick a quote from your lyric to highlight because each line is a gem.
The Chocolate Chips:
Love the transparency in your songs. The slap back snare, the space between parts.
Great Mimes:
Here’s the anthem song of the week. Wide open verses, hooky chorus. Nice change up in the bridge, too. Check check check! That's an abrupt ending, though, perhaps suggesting the urgency of tomorrow's need?
Hoblit:
Classic Hoblit song awaiting for the full treatment. An urgent call to action without all the distracting details (being sarcastic here... could use a bit of the meat of the moment, not just the call). I also hear a contrasting bridge that begins listing very rational triggers for its need, then breaks out with "fuck it... tomorrow needs you now!"
Mk:
Love this as bare and simple as it is. I hear backing tracks and all the crazy that production might bring, but wonder how much would suffer, obscuring your voice and breath.
pabrizzer:
Beautiful and direct outrage. Lovely uke accompaniment.
Pigfarmer Jr feat. Tabitha Arnett:
Sweet, sad and poignant. It has a flat feel throughout, production wise, I’d appreciate some tension/release dynamics. Maybe less meandering lead gtr and open a bit during choruses.
The Reverend:
This is based on some personal relations that are hard to resolve, so being somewhat obscure is intentional. That said, there's a universal element that certainly relates to current events. I'm more comfortable expressing myself sonically than lyrically.

pabrizzer wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 10:48 pm

the rest didn't get a listen to the end despite numerous tries - just not for me

I think you’ll find that reviews are as much for the reviewer as the reviewed. Perhaps try to get into their head and hear what they’ve created, not what you’d like. “Just not for me” sounds both lazy and judgmental. Many songs this week share your sentiments. A huge problem we’re facing these days, if I can insert my own take, is an almost complete lack of listening… not only between opposing views but also amongst folks who share the same view.

The Reverend:
This is based on some personal relations that are hard to resolve, so being somewhat obscure is intentional. That said, there's a universal element that certainly relates to current events. I'm more comfortable expressing myself sonically than lyrically.
[/quote]

Ha I was wondering if this was you so I listened to it and the wonderfully wacky vocals told me yup!

roymond wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 02, 2025 10:49 am

Hoblit:
Classic Hoblit song awaiting for the full treatment. An urgent call to action without all the distracting details (being sarcastic here... could use a bit of the meat of the moment, not just the call). I also hear a contrasting bridge that begins listing very rational triggers for its need, then breaks out with "fuck it... tomorrow needs you now!"

Hey, thanks!

I'm working on a punk rock album and was hoping to get Songfight! to inspire a couple of titles. Not only has it done that, it has provided me the first & last tracks.

This one is a punchy way out of the record and is meant to wane you off with a hook that should worm it's way into the ear, holding it there for a chorus or two. While I am going to re-record it (because I had a cold when I did this version) , it will likely remain the same in the relative way.

However, the first song will be Young Punk and it has all the meat and suggestions and ...but nothing over the top because ... you know, I don't want to get in trouble.

Hoblit's Young Punk on Youtube (and he won't quiz you on it later so take it or leave it, your choice, obviously...




.

Pigfarmer Jr featuring Tabitha Arnett - Beautiful dual vox, great guitar tone, tasteful soloing throughout. The chorus is really pretty, I like the chord progressions.

The Chocolate Chips - Sonic textures. There's a frequency in the beginning on the vox that's sticking up a little. There's a lot going on in this song and I like that sort of thing. Cool coda!

pabrizzer - Sometimes less is more. It's gutsy to come with a spare take like this and it's pulled off well in my opinion.

Add - This is candy to my ears, I do have a sweet tooth and was instantly toe-tapping. Sorta They Might Be Giants feel for me. Beautiful vocal harmonies. I did get a bit of ear fatigue, maybe some warring frequencies.

Great Mimes - This is a toe tapper. Nice vocal harmonies. I like this straight ahead rocking ditty. I'm a huge fan of pairing acoustic/clean guitars with distorted ones. I like the tone on the solo.

MK - Oh, this is really neat! Very gutsy to bring a capella and your delivery is beautiful.

Hoblit - Nice sounding acoustic. I really am always impressed with well recorded/mixed acoustic, there's not a lot of room for flubbing and there's none here, clean, even with the folk punk feel to this. Dig it!

The Reverend - The vocal effect is wild, captivating, against a pleasantly chill background. Musically going into careening carnival territory. Heck yeah, I like the free form aspect to the ending. Amazing!!

Brown Word and the Big Whine - I had a harder than average time mixing this for some reason. The vox aren't sitting quite how I want them to, so any advice welcome placing them where they ought to be I also have had voice issue for awhile so getting the takes right on a kind of difficult kind of bombastic tune was a challenge, but I was happy with the energy. Well with a title like this and the sort of climate of general WTF-level uncertainty and horror actually, it can get a little heavy but I didn't want to tiptoe, I wanted to leap right to it. The lyrics are a little prescriptive, but hey, I believe in you.

Add - I like this one a lot. Great lofi synth sounds that have a lot of character. The breakdown/solo section is really cool. I like the vocals. I dig it.

Brown Word and the Big Whine - I like the energy. Garage punk rock vibes.

The Chocolate Chips - been a while. I am somewhat happy with it but could be better.

Great Mimes - Cool power pop vibes. Strong vocals. I like the harmonies. Nice one. I like the sudden ending too, I think it works.

Hoblit - Good performance. I like it.

MK - Not sure what to say about this one to be honest, but ... it's good making music. Keep on rockin'.

pabrizzer - I really like the vibe of this. Great character to the vocals. Might be my favorite of the fight. I think the sparse arrangement really works for this song.

pigfarmer - kinda messy/loose which is distracting me from the song a little bit. My main complaints with this one are with the arrangement/mix I think. the song itself is pretty cool. I like the vocals.

reverend - reverse reverb is one of my favorite effects, very cool use of it on the intro vocals. this one is bonkers. really interesting arrangement. lots of cool ideas. in the running for my favorite of the fight.

votes to reverend, pabrizzer, and Add.

Sorry for the late reviews. I've been getting over a long cold and work has been eating up my time, even after hours.

Add:

This is the best one and immediately fell in love with it. My wife likes it too and agrees that this one is at the top. While I've never been too much into the bleepy-bloopy stuff...that's changed a lot over the years (something we can thank my wife for actually!) and I really think this is cute. Great patch choices and I love the light bounciness to it. I love the lyrics and indeed the rage rolls in. Great performance and your voice and vocal delivery is classic Songfight! But simply good on its own. Good work and good luck!

Brown Word and the Big Whine:

Sounds a bit like real-early Joy Division and 80's new-wave-punk. On that level, I really enjoy it. I even like the guitar note choices which makes the whole piece a bit uneasy. Overall I think this is put together well enough and I can appreciate its place in this fight. I'll spare you what I didn't like and rather encourage you to keep working at it!

The Chocolate Chips:

I appreciate the arrangement but not crazy about the production. I think you made good choices but the EQing on some of the instruments keep them a little too thin. With that said, this is put together pretty well and I appreciate the tonal qualities and the 'psychodelicness', if-you-will. I think the performance is good and you nail everything you're after even if it isn't one of my favorite entries this week. But I like that it is listenable and your attention to delivering something worthy of a good Songfight!

Great Mimes:

Tom Petty & the Rembrants' Replacements featuring REM.

I had to get that out of the way.

Love it.

This is my second favorite of the fight and it gets a vote for sure. It definitely has that 90's vibe but I love those guitars and straight rock beat. I like the bridge choice into the feel-good guitar solo, performed perfectly. The vocal delivery is simple, but on point. Clear and concise which makes the lyrics pop and I really dig it. Just another comment on those guitar tones and I even like the repeating hooks at the end.


Hoblit:

I had a cold when I recorded this and I am going to re-sing this for the record. Young Punk will open the album I'm working on and this one will be the outro. Thank you, Songfight! I was hoping for a couple of titles for inspiration and not only did I get them, they cap both ends of the record I'm workin' on.

Mk:

I can appreciate what you're doing but I'm not crazy about this one. There's nothing inherently wrong and I won't say anything discouraging but I will mention that this was an ambitious entry. Keep at it and I'm sure there will be stronger entries in the future.

pabrizzer:

It's hard not to like this. I like folk music and while sometimes I think this sort of thing can be cheesy, I think this overcomes any of that corniness. It survives some struggles in the guitar performance but I feel like that makes it more intimate in this case. I like the overall performance and I like the even vocals and style. You have a good voice for this type of thing and it shows. And I think we're screwed too.

Pigfarmer Jr feat. Tabitha Arnett:

This is the B side to Great Mimes! I do not hate it! I think their performance is slightly better but this has a lot of the same vibes. The subject is dark but the song is comforting. If it were me, I'd re-record this or maybe just the acoustic guitars in order to tighten it up a bit. But with that said, my opinion is based on how I like it and believe it's worth the treatment. Your voice isn't too sweet but it is soft and I like how it's firm, warm, and delivered sincerely. Another good entry this week!

The Reverend:

Captain Beefheart ? Or is it more Zappa? I don't know! This is a fun piece that I can tell a lot of effort went into. I kind of like it even if I'm not crazy about it but I definitely hear things I love about it. Especially when it breaks down into the quieter part, with the psychedelia...which I guess I'm a sucker for. This one gets a vote just because I can get into it being all artsy and well performed. Guitar work was spot on for what it was doing so good work and the vocal delivery was weird, but not ... not BAD... in key, even.






Loved the fight, ya'll!

Great Mimes sounds like Glenn Case with someone else harmonizing the chorus. Good and hooky! Wilco-ey. Quick ending!

The results are in and the fight has been won by ... Add!

Lunkhead wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 18, 2025 8:14 am

The results are in and the fight has been won by ... Add!

Yeah, that was/is good!