WHAT ABOUT PROM BLAINE? (Pink Skirt Reviews)

erik · Post by **erik** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:38 am

Leaf · Post by **Leaf** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:48 am

I wanna hear Gert.

Smalltown Mike · Post by **Smalltown Mike** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:52 am

Nevermind what the audio clip sayeth: Gert ain't afraid to go out with anyone.

deshead · Post by **deshead** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:04 pm

Dear Editor—

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Gert. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Gert?

Virginia O’Hanlon

jack · Post by **jack** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:39 pm

jesus, all you canadiens need to get a room already....

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 2:14 pm

If the Canadians can have one - I want an Aussie supergroup.
Denyer - you out there?

j$ · Post by j$ » Wed Jul 13, 2005 2:39 pm

a music - I like this, crappy production and all. It's cute, camp and funny and knows when to leave the party. fun. Sort out the recording side and I would vote for ya in a second. I am turnin' into a production snob, obviously, without being any good at it myself ...

Andy Balham - really good lyric. Undulates and evolves really well. Your voice sounds really good here. There is an almost Cockney Rebel feel to this, which may mean nothing to the Pondothersiders but means something to me. My favourite AB since Bite Size - good bass playing too (though not as good as mine would have been obviously

Contender!

Astrolamb - I forgive you for putting this on Somesongs earlier in the week because I like the song. I don't know if you improved the production or I am just familiar with it, but it sounds warmer somehow. yeah I could jerk around a dancefloor to this, so good.

Bell Green - Oow I like this opening a lot (as it were!) It reminds me in a good way of Robyn Hitchcock's 'Do Policeman Sing?' - Oh this is great. Not much else to say!

Caravan Ray - seems a little quiet, good cross-over between dance and metal. I wish it was mastered a bit louder. Intriguing!

Comfort - Trim off the first minute and you have some very pretty radiohead-esque bends-era stuff going on here. The vocal is maybe a db or two loud in relation to the mix, but not terribly so .... maybe a bit (more) reverb or echo would make the vocal sound stronger all the way through - but I love the fragility. Obviously i can't make out a word you're singing on first listen, but it's good enouigh to make me want to listen again.

Dark Liberty - What's up with the vocals here? Great music, well recorded, which suggests that the vocal effect must be a deliberate choice. If so, why? Ruins the enjoyment without bringing anything new to it, unless you're trying to hide who you are. When it stops it sounds much better - and I realise that you're young and the slowed-down thing might an attempt to sound scary. messy but very entertaining. Stick with the thinner voice - it's really endearing on top of this intriguing chaos.

Gert - Go on then, you've talked the talk (endlessly) can you walk the walk? Well, yes and no. That's a lovely melody and brilliant production. Lyrically it's less impressive. All parts come together really well but I want the punky Police-esque melody of the verses more than I want the metal-rap of the choruses. Good though. I kinda expect this to win but part of me doesn't want it to, just because you've gone on about it so much ....

Hillbilly - sweet blues groove, as per. Kind of like CCR without the rhythm section, which is fine by me. Makes a nice change of direction in the stream after the previous two. Very well done, and nicely played, but it feels a little insubstantial. Beck would cream his pants though, so maybe you should try selling it to him ....

Kamakura - You create a mood unlike anyone else here on Songfight. have you sped this up slightly? Your vocal sounds different from usual - not in a bad or a good way, just different. I like this a lot, despite the Shakatak-isms of some of the keyboard chord progressions. Nothing wrong with a bit of positivity! Yeah good.

Ross Durand - Another CCR sounding vocal delivery - a very beatles-ish chord progression. nice tune. Intruiging lyrical take - I am not sure you carry the 'lives in black and white' line but overall I like the song. I am feeling a bit burnt out comment-wise but yeah, cool!

Sell Crazy - I have been reliably informed elsewhere that my opinions don't matter to the Sell Crazy crowd - fair enough; one less review for me to do!

Ross Durand - oh that trumpet melody is sooo familiar - it's driving me crazy - maybe I am thinking of some UK sitcom from the 70s theme tune, but it is gonna annoy me all night.... a great end to a good fight!

Good fight! I am voting for Bell Green I think, though it could go to pretty much anyone in this fight.

Leaf · Post by **Leaf** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 4:11 pm

j$ wrote: Gert - Go on then, you've talked the talk (endlessly) can you walk the walk? I kinda expect this to win but part of me doesn't want it to, just because you've gone on about it so much ....

...well, we had so much fun goofying around with the photos and emailing silly jokes while making it that it just starting spilling over on the boards... it's hard to contain the fun,ya know? Sorry it ruined your ability to enjoy the tune..but it was a fun one to be a part of...and the picture is simply... funny. Still, thanks for checking it out... I still don't know who Gert is, but it seemed quite humourous at the time...

j$ · Post by j$ » Wed Jul 13, 2005 4:26 pm

Note use of

I am only playin' with ya.

Leaf · Post by **Leaf** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 4:37 pm

Gert is amused.

ugh. Now I'm having flashbacks of that dude who used to post everything like that. I can't recall the technical term (first person? third person? help me oh scholarly ones!) but man that was annoying.

(awaiting backlash "Puce has no time for responses" and "future boy is not amused" or "Erik is unamused by these ramblings" type of posts.....)

I may manage to squeeze out some review time tonight...as everyone is leaving the plant, and I'm stuck sitting here on first aid duties.

Plat · Post by **Plat** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:05 pm

Just curious, has anyone else encountered problems getting iTunes/Mac to load the Gert tune?

All the other songs this week loaded just fine, and Quicktime/Mac loaded Gert's too.

Kamakura · Post by **Kamakura** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:06 pm

j$ wrote: You create a mood unlike anyone else here on Songfight.

Hmm. A good one I trust. I hope you're not reaching for another bottle in tears.

j$ wrote:have you sped this up slightly?

Nope. Recorded live on a cassette... I thought I'd get this in early before the hiss is mentioned... or taken.

j$ wrote:Shakatak-isms

Blimey!

There's a name I've not heard in a while.

Ta for the comments.

Smalltown Mike · Post by **Smalltown Mike** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:13 pm

Reviews to come soon, but I had no problems loading the Gert tune on Mac in Itunes.

blue · Post by **blue** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:43 pm

Come all without, come all within
Ross Durand aint seen nothing like the Mighty Quinn..

(everybody now)

Come all without, come all within
Ross Durand aint seen nothing like the Mighty Quinn..

boltoph · Post by **boltoph** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:10 pm

Plat wrote:has anyone else encountered problems getting iTunes/Mac to load the Gert tune?

FWIW, the Gert mp3 has an image attached, perhaps could cause a prob in an older version? Not sure.

have to say, liking some of the transitions in this playlist alot

gduncan · Post by **gduncan** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 4:40 am

a music - I would have enjoyed this more if there was better tune behind the comedy lyrics. I like the spoken breakdown with the random guitar noises but the rest is very plodding and isn't helped by the monotonous melody. If you could come up with a more up beat verse I think it would set the lyrics off better.

Andy Balham - reminds me a little of the Beautiful South, probably because it's catchy pop. Nicely performed and mixed. The rhodes sounding piano solo is my favourite bit and comes in just at the right moment. Not usually a style that interests me but this was pleasant to listen to.

Astrolamb - I saw someone on somesongs mention the White Stripes and I think the solo guitar line part is very much in that vein. The rest of the song is more Punk and I can see people doing that Punk dance where they put their thumbs behind their belts (no idea what it's called) to the "pink skirt pink skirt" section. Short but good.

Bell Green - I'm not a fan of the single melody replicated over multiple instruments for a whole song. I think it works if used in places but you need more harmony for the rest of the song. I know you do have harmonies in there but I would have liked to hear the same melody over full chords rather than just arpeggios. As a result this song sounds a bit dull to me. That said I don't mind listening to it as it's very well done. I just didn't find it that interesting.

Caravan Ray - this wasn't what I was expecting when I saw your name. This sounds remeniscent of the Prodigy and early Primal Scream. The mix isn't quite right as the vocal is too low. When combined with the distortion it becomes difficult to make out what your saying. It does sound cool though. You surprised me and I liked it.

Comfort - a little slow to get going but I like the way the guitar and bass combine. The singing is a little too wavery, it does sound fragile but if it was steadier in pitch it would have more impact. I can see this being sung by a female opera singer and I think it would really soar. Good effort, your use of effects really made this song haunting.

Dark Liberty - you sound young when the effect comes off your vocal, that's not a bad thing, but trying to go for a gruff gravelly style of singing doesn't suit you. Play to your strengths. This song does have charm but it's very simple. I guess that suits the rap style but to me it gets a little boring. Not bad though.

Gert - I was expecting more of a soaring chorus after that subdude style of verse. Maybe I'm just too predictable. What you have as the chorus really sounds like a solo section to me and I'm not that keen on it with the singing over it. The playing on this is good and if you had something more like the solo section as the chorus I think it would be really catchy. Good song, despite my nit picking, well performed.

Hillybilly - the mix on this is a touch bass heavy, it sounds a little muddy because of that. Fairly straight ahead bluesy song that doesn't outstay its welcome.

Kamakura - this sounds very hissy on my monitors and it's a bit distracting. This style of ballard I find a little sloppy but you do it really well. I love the little organ sections but they remind me of a song I can't quite place. A Whiter Shade of Pale maybe? I don't have a copy of it and I've only ever heard it a few times on the TV so I can't say for sure. They sound unusual when placed against the different style of the rest of the song, which is a good thing. Overall a nice song just not in a style that I'm a fan of.

Ros Durand - the start of this sounds very familiar. It's very catchy but I don't if that's because of the familiarity factor. My only comment on the mix is that the guitar on the left is very quiet, could do with going up a bit. Nice song.

Steve Durand - the trumpet melody reminds me of the old snooker theme we had in the UK. Sounds very ragtime to me. The brass is lovely when you have them harmonising. Yeah I liked this.

Cheers,

Gareth.

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 5:18 am

a music – Good ideas in this. Vocals a little sloppy though – phrasing out a bit here and there – everyone knows aliens have impeccable timing. What could have been very good let down a little in the execution

Andy Balham – Really good song. I know I always write this about you, but your voice really sounds like David McCoombe of The Triffids – and this even sounds a bit like it could be a Triffids song. David McCoombe though paid a bit more attention to staying in tune – you’ve got a good voice, I’m sure you could keep it on track with a bit more effort. Like A Music – a good song let down a little in the execution.

Astrolamb – Not one of the best things I’ve heard you do – but pretty good all the same. Good fun song

Bell Green – I like this. Nice melody – the guitar is great – though I would have liked to heard it break into a solo. Good lyrics – but the see-misery-me-flee rhyme grates a bit. All up though – great job.

Comfort – Your Radiohead is showing. Not bad – the vocals aren’t great though and it drags a bit.

Dark Liberty – Effects don’t make up for bad singing – it just sounds like bad singing with effects. I don’t like this.

Gert – Certainly very well done – but not really setting my world on fire. Good lyrics – and I particularly like the second vocal (Leaf? Or Mike? – one of the Boon Livers isn’t it?) Overall just not my thing though.

Hillbilly – Well done, but not really for me. With your style, a little goes a long way for me – I enjoyed your “Chance” a few weeks ago – but this one not doing anything for me.

Kamakura – Is this your rough demo? I’m glad you entered it – I think it would loose it’s charm if it were ‘smoother’. I’d actually like to hear an even sparser arrangement. Your voice sounds great. Very well written (abeit in a slightly sickeningly sweet sort of way) – except for the Christmas pudding line (don’t know why – I just didn’t like it). Good job

Ross Durand – This first time I heard this – I misheard the lyrics and I thought that the skirt was in Grandpa’s box. I thought that was a stroke of genius – first I thought “Hello – what’s ol’ Grandpa hiding?” – then when Carolina went downstairs it became clear that that was a very special skirt that Grandpa had kept hidden away as a memento – then Carolina appeared – sigh - I thought that was a particularly touching sentiment. Then I re-listened and discovered that the skirt was actually just in a box of Grandma’s old clothes – and that destroyed the magic for me.

Anyway – it’s still a very nice song – though the lyrics need tightening up. I don’t think the “living in black and white” thing is really strong enough to be the main focus of the song as you have it now. Also, it sounds a little too similar to The Band's 'The Weight' when it starts. A bit of careful re-writing and this could be a great song. And please, for my sake, consider putting the skirt in Grandpa’s box instead

Sell Crazy – This doing nothing for me.

Steve Durand – Herb Alpert called – he’d like his Spanish Flea back or he’ll drop 16 tonnes of Tijuana Brass on you.

And…
Caravan Ray – I just wanted to see what would happen if I played 6 different drumbeats at the same time, turned my guitar up to 11 and screamed a lot. I like it!

Lot of good efforts here – but none that really appeal to me. One of the very few fights I’ve been in where I can honestly say I think mine is easily the best! \m/ I Rock!!\m/

Not sure who to vote for – maybe Ross D, maybe Kamakura, maybe Andy Balham, maybe Astrolamb…

deshead · Post by **deshead** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:33 am

a music: Others will like this. I do not.

Andy Balham: Heh. "Suited like a boy" is a great line. Good tune.

Astrolamb: It feels like you're beating me 'round the head with the phrase "Pink Skirt". Ow, stop it.

Bell Green: Let's see. Rhyme with "hurt", check. Rhyme with "dirt", check. Bonus rhyme "miser-eeee" with "flee"? Oh my!

Caravan Ray: The lo-fi mastering reminds me more of early Skinny Puppy than some of the other bands mentioned. But either way, this held my interest. It actually felt shorter than 3 minutes (= good).

Comfort: De-esser, at least twice as much reverse-verb, compress liberally, run the whole chain through a hall verb. And it wouldn't hurt to throw some 9ths and 13ths on top of the drawn-out notes.

Dark Liberty: There might be a good song in there, but I can't hear it because of the timing issues and the vocal effect and the treble-heavy drums and the vocal delivery.

Gert: Dirty.

Hillbilly: Man, great song. A high-pass filter around 150Hz would smooth out the rhythm guitar.

Kamakura: There's lots going on here. I'm glad you submitted it! The organ sounds just the right brand of cheesy.

Ros Durand: The lyrics are way too literal for me. The song has a great feel when the slide guitar comes in, but not enough to rescue me from the overall early-afternoon-at-an-outdoor-Americana-festival feel.

Sell Crazy: Well-constructed song. Reminds me of Ash. You'll get closer to the sound you're going for it you bring the drums way up, double and hard-pan the guitar track, and compress the crap out of the bass guitar.

Steve Durand: You know that Mr. Nice has no arms, right? So why do you insist on making him dance? WHY??!?!

a music · Post by **a music** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:48 am

All these comments are great. Writing a few songs in the past, I had been thinking about entering my first Song Fight for a while. So I goofed around Sunday and came up with this little song.

My biggest issue is, once I write something, it's hard to tell if it's good or not since I'm so close to the project.

So any and all comments are great. Unless it's swearing at me. That helps no one. Except my psychologist.

deshead · Post by **deshead** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:57 am

a music wrote:My biggest issue is, once I write something, it's hard to tell if it's good or not since I'm so close to the project.

Submit to SF a few weeks in a row, you'll stop caring if your tunes are good or not.

(Oh, and welcome!)

j$ · Post by j$ » Thu Jul 14, 2005 8:00 am

Don't listen to him! Damn crazy songfight-winning canuck doesn't know what he's talking about

My only 'pearl of wisdom' is never think 'ok I screwed that - never mind no-one will notice.' Whatever you think is wrong with your song, someone will pick up on it ....

j$

tonetripper · Post by **tonetripper** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 8:31 am

amusic - Cool sonics, but what does this have to do with the title?

Andy Balham - Cross-dressing dancing really lets one out of their shell especially in a pink skirt. Not bad.

Astrolamb - Other than the guitar/vocal breakdown the song kind of lopes along like a wrinkly 1980's independent punk hot dog.

Bell Green - This is a good tune. I especially liked the emulated guitar line by the vocal. Nice touch. Contender.

Caravan Ray - It sounds as if everything is a little too far back in the mix. That's my only production note. Would've been heavier if the drums weren't so far back. I love the edginess of it and the phasing frequencies. Possible vote.

Comfort - Trippy in all the right kind of ways for me. The guitar work and bass work is very nice. Reminds me of early Sid Barrett. Very cool. I'm not convinced of the title in the delivery of the music. I feel it could have had a different title that would have jived better with the cool music and effects. Keeper.

Dark Liberty - Like an old demo that's just better left in that box where all the lost bad songs that exist from band practice.

Gert - Fishy.

Hillbilly - I feel like sipping on some moonshine until I go blind.

Kamakura - Direct acoustic guitar is not a sound I'm fond of. Everything sounds a little too loose for my liking and when the cheesy string sounds come in it's over for me.

Ross Durand - "Signs, signs everywhere there's signs". I think it might be a stop sign.

Sell Crazy - "Forever" falsetto is terrible. Drum work is pretty tight, but the song moves me about as much as broccoli for breakfast.

Steve Durand - Do you brothers realize the ripping off that is going on here? Sounds so much like The Benny Hill Theme Song I can't take it.