Party at Hodgman's! (House of Hodgman Reviews)
Party at Hodgman's! (House of Hodgman Reviews)
B.Y.O.S.
Last edited by WesDavis on Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Am I rockin' hard, or hardly rockin'?
Lyric Review (in archive order)
Zoosneakers
I really like the first six lines. They set the scene really well, from the wide world to the mental state of the main character. The rest of the lyrics seem much less well defined. For example, the line "Can I tell my old man? Would it bring me anything?" Seems less well constructed.
The last verse seems to bring it into the present, and the continuing impact the past events still have. A good start and finish with a vague middle.
Feldspar
Feldspar seems to be setting up a character with a series of related but disjointed images. I really like the way they tumble together to give you the feeling of a slightly unstable reclusive character. I'm looking forward to the musical version.
Steve Durand
Escher Music! I can see the pictures as you describe them, and the way you effortlessly combine the incompatible images mirrors the way Escher's drawings blend the impossible together. I could imagine seeing this in a poetry/verse compilation. I'll be interested to see how you pull off 'deign' in a song, as to my ear, that's not a common word.
Big Crouton
It's a good story, I like the way the fantastical plot is supported with simple words. Overall I get the feeling of an illustrated children's novel, like those by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake.
Everything but the dungeon scene. That doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the words, as it changes tense and style. Does that show that you're reliving the moment? Odd.
Jim Tyrell
I love the story you've set up here. It's so rounded and complete. I feel like the fourth line of the second verse should be a Though, not an And.
Billy's Little Trip
Bonus points for being about a recognisable Hodgman. And for all the references you got in there. Chorus is a bit vague, but my geek side is happy so I don't care.
Wes Davis
What Way Will Words
Combine Creating Criticism
Appropriately Appraising the Artistic Alliteration
You Used?
It's a shame about being "apprehensive of the apparation", because the rest of it is brilliant.
Edit: Though on second read - you're allowed "thither" OR "baby". Combining two different century's use of english in the same song is going to need super-skill hip tricks to preclude an unsatisfactory outcome.
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Thanks. These were all really interesting and fun to read
Zoosneakers
I really like the first six lines. They set the scene really well, from the wide world to the mental state of the main character. The rest of the lyrics seem much less well defined. For example, the line "Can I tell my old man? Would it bring me anything?" Seems less well constructed.
The last verse seems to bring it into the present, and the continuing impact the past events still have. A good start and finish with a vague middle.
Feldspar
Feldspar seems to be setting up a character with a series of related but disjointed images. I really like the way they tumble together to give you the feeling of a slightly unstable reclusive character. I'm looking forward to the musical version.
Steve Durand
Escher Music! I can see the pictures as you describe them, and the way you effortlessly combine the incompatible images mirrors the way Escher's drawings blend the impossible together. I could imagine seeing this in a poetry/verse compilation. I'll be interested to see how you pull off 'deign' in a song, as to my ear, that's not a common word.
Big Crouton
It's a good story, I like the way the fantastical plot is supported with simple words. Overall I get the feeling of an illustrated children's novel, like those by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake.
Everything but the dungeon scene. That doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the words, as it changes tense and style. Does that show that you're reliving the moment? Odd.
Jim Tyrell
I love the story you've set up here. It's so rounded and complete. I feel like the fourth line of the second verse should be a Though, not an And.
Billy's Little Trip
Bonus points for being about a recognisable Hodgman. And for all the references you got in there. Chorus is a bit vague, but my geek side is happy so I don't care.
Wes Davis
What Way Will Words
Combine Creating Criticism
Appropriately Appraising the Artistic Alliteration
You Used?
It's a shame about being "apprehensive of the apparation", because the rest of it is brilliant.
Edit: Though on second read - you're allowed "thither" OR "baby". Combining two different century's use of english in the same song is going to need super-skill hip tricks to preclude an unsatisfactory outcome.
----
Thanks. These were all really interesting and fun to read
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jeff robertson
- Panama
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- Instruments: guitar, bass, programming
- Recording Method: Reaper, Audacity
- Submitting as: FLVXXVM FLORVM, Jeff Robertson and the Neo-Candylanders
- Pronouns: he/him
- Location: Illinoiss
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Billy's Little Trip
- Odie
- Posts: 12090
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:56 pm
- Instruments: Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Drums, Skin Flute
- Recording Method: analog to digital via Presonus FireBox, Cubase and a porn machine
- Submitting as: Billy's Little Trip, Billy and the Psychotics
- Location: Cali fucking ornia
OK, I've given this weeks songs the once over, and as usual, they ROCK!
This is my unofficial pre-review.
That BigCrouton guy plays a mean guitar. He's up in the ranks with Paco Del Stinko, who also kicked mass ass this fight, ribbet, LMAO! Wes, Des and LML did an outstanding piece with wonderful vocals and music. cr410 is all by himself this week with his rap number, but a great twist with real guitar, nice. Feldspar offers a nice acoustic number with added studio talk for fun. Melvin did his usual great job. RossD with his real to life folk song that actually takes you to an earlier century. Leggless Bill took me by surprise and I still don't know what to say, but I was intrigued non the less. Jim Tyrrel always reminds me that skilled talent and heart sounds better than just heart, lol. Limu treats us to some piano, as well does Spinlock with an impressively written piece with piano and voice. While Zoosneakers rock it old school with plenty of good ol echo. Sh*tload of Dolphins tells us about his job cleaning crazy peoples houses, but offers up a fun tone. Ravenhide with a Sabbathy entry. And last, but certainly not least, Steve Durand and his brass arsenal, telling a well written story of insane architecture that even Dr. Seuss would be proud of.
This is my unofficial pre-review.
That BigCrouton guy plays a mean guitar. He's up in the ranks with Paco Del Stinko, who also kicked mass ass this fight, ribbet, LMAO! Wes, Des and LML did an outstanding piece with wonderful vocals and music. cr410 is all by himself this week with his rap number, but a great twist with real guitar, nice. Feldspar offers a nice acoustic number with added studio talk for fun. Melvin did his usual great job. RossD with his real to life folk song that actually takes you to an earlier century. Leggless Bill took me by surprise and I still don't know what to say, but I was intrigued non the less. Jim Tyrrel always reminds me that skilled talent and heart sounds better than just heart, lol. Limu treats us to some piano, as well does Spinlock with an impressively written piece with piano and voice. While Zoosneakers rock it old school with plenty of good ol echo. Sh*tload of Dolphins tells us about his job cleaning crazy peoples houses, but offers up a fun tone. Ravenhide with a Sabbathy entry. And last, but certainly not least, Steve Durand and his brass arsenal, telling a well written story of insane architecture that even Dr. Seuss would be proud of.
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Billy's Little Trip
- Odie
- Posts: 12090
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:56 pm
- Instruments: Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Drums, Skin Flute
- Recording Method: analog to digital via Presonus FireBox, Cubase and a porn machine
- Submitting as: Billy's Little Trip, Billy and the Psychotics
- Location: Cali fucking ornia
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misterbeneboi
- A New Player
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:51 pm
big crouton - bleh, not really anything to say, vocals are bad
cr410 - bad production, boring everything, vocals are even worse
feldspar - i think this is why elliot smith killed himself, i would if someone ripped off my music this blatantly
jim tyrrell - adult contemporary? boring, singing is awkward to the point of being unlistenable
legless bill tubbs - i feel ive heard this before a million times, and played more competantly, on adult swim bumps, although its the first track so far that i dont feel the need to skip through, the words remind me of tom waits guest starring on squidbillies, so far this gets my vote
lizard music - boring, peaks so bad it makes my stereo cry, vocals are terrible, hopefully this trend doesnt continue
melvin - its funny how songfight seems like one of those record label samplers released every week that contains demos from bands from the early 90s that never made it....that being said, this is very surreal, and not really in a good way.
paco del stinko - i like this, good vocal presence
ravenhide - this....is.....fucking.....amazing, it sounds like you dubbed this off tape and then whisper/sung over it because you were afraid ANYONE would hear you in real life...
russ durand - your voice is really hard to listen to, and your music is boring
shitload of dolphins - bad postal service ripoff, the drums are barely discernable, the competely dry vocals are really unflattering to your voice, everything needs to be eqed and brought out
spinlock - 5 seconds in, next track, this is emo trash
steve durand - *shrugs* i would like to like this, but i dont, its interesting atleast
wes davis and other people - this was good...this was GREAT even....before the drums and bass...now it sucks and sounds like an alt country top 40...im sorry wes, your song is amazing, this mix however, is generic and bland
zoosneakers - i used to like the smiths too, but not as much as you do appearantly
i already voted for wes davis, but if i could vote again id vote for legless bill tubbs
cr410 - bad production, boring everything, vocals are even worse
feldspar - i think this is why elliot smith killed himself, i would if someone ripped off my music this blatantly
jim tyrrell - adult contemporary? boring, singing is awkward to the point of being unlistenable
legless bill tubbs - i feel ive heard this before a million times, and played more competantly, on adult swim bumps, although its the first track so far that i dont feel the need to skip through, the words remind me of tom waits guest starring on squidbillies, so far this gets my vote
lizard music - boring, peaks so bad it makes my stereo cry, vocals are terrible, hopefully this trend doesnt continue
melvin - its funny how songfight seems like one of those record label samplers released every week that contains demos from bands from the early 90s that never made it....that being said, this is very surreal, and not really in a good way.
paco del stinko - i like this, good vocal presence
ravenhide - this....is.....fucking.....amazing, it sounds like you dubbed this off tape and then whisper/sung over it because you were afraid ANYONE would hear you in real life...
russ durand - your voice is really hard to listen to, and your music is boring
shitload of dolphins - bad postal service ripoff, the drums are barely discernable, the competely dry vocals are really unflattering to your voice, everything needs to be eqed and brought out
spinlock - 5 seconds in, next track, this is emo trash
steve durand - *shrugs* i would like to like this, but i dont, its interesting atleast
wes davis and other people - this was good...this was GREAT even....before the drums and bass...now it sucks and sounds like an alt country top 40...im sorry wes, your song is amazing, this mix however, is generic and bland
zoosneakers - i used to like the smiths too, but not as much as you do appearantly
i already voted for wes davis, but if i could vote again id vote for legless bill tubbs
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Zoosneakers
- A New Player
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:21 am
- Location: La-La Land
Big Crouton - Good use of the theme. I'm all about child abuse this week. I think this should have ended at 3:10, but there are some good bits after that. Overall nice recording. Some cool guitar playing and nice solo at around 4 minutes. A lot of the rhymes are predictable/mechanical. See, if the song weren't so damn long you would have had time to tighten up the lyrics.
Billy's Little Trip - Cool sound. The singing is a little monotone. Interject a nice threatening scream every once in a while? I like the backing vocals but I don't think you need them on every verse. Good overall.
cr410 - Funny song. I forgot about Hodgman waders. Not a bad little song. The guitar playing is OK, but it could use another part...maybe a nutty chorus or something.
Feldspar - I want to like this song, but it's too meandering. Didn't take me anywhere. But I like several of the lyrics...house of cards <-> backyards. The talking at the beginning can easily be deleted in most DAWs, by the way. I think this could benefit from a full arraignment with drums, bass, etc.
Jim Tyrell - Nice recording. Really good song. Some sweet guitar chords in there. The ending didn't do much for me, but yet...this may be a winner.
Legless Bill Tubbs - Dude, you're killin' me. Is this for a Ken Burns movie? Pretty well done though.
Limu - Interesting song, but I'm not into it. The vocals are not doing it for me. Piano playing is OK in a George Winston kind of way.
Melvin - Pretty good. I'm not that into that bassy keyboard sound, or is it a keyboardy bass sound? I have almost no idea what you're saying much of the time. Can you post the lyrics? I'm not sure this song works for me as a whole, but I like a lot of the parts.
Paco del Stinko - Dude, I think you need a week off. The guitar riff is groovy. But the song is light on content. I'm a big fan, so I don't mean that meanly. Well done song as usual.
Ravenhide - The recording is pretty horrendous, but it kind of works. The vocals are pretty much fucked...sounds like you're whispering into the mic. Music is good.
Ross Durand - I didn't like this a lot until the chorus - nice harmony. This is a solid folk song with really good playing and interesting instruments. You're really good at this style. This may be a big hit with SF, but personally less my taste. But you still get a gold star.
Shitload of Dolphins - Quirky, I like it overall. I rarely know what you're talking about. Pretty good musical sound. Good song.
Spinlock - Ahhh, I don't want to like this. But it's pretty frickin' good. Nice vocal intensity on the "And when you come the sense..." section, almost like Jagger might do. Good song.
Steve Durand - Sweet. I liked your tune last week too. The horns rule. The vocals could be better, but it's a pretty nifty tune.
Wes Davis - The wife's voice blows my mind...cool. Swell recording, good performance, nice arraignment. OK, the strings are over the top. I don't get much of a vibe from the lyrics, but still, a good song.
Zoosneakers - My tune. It's OK. The guitar solos are supposed to be "angry". I kind of like how it ends where you don't really know why the guy is in the House of Hodgman "again". Maybe just psychologically, or maybe physically there to murder the priest? I don't know either. Inspired by a Frontline episode where a guy and his family bravely talked about the bad shit that happened to him in his youth.
Billy's Little Trip - Cool sound. The singing is a little monotone. Interject a nice threatening scream every once in a while? I like the backing vocals but I don't think you need them on every verse. Good overall.
cr410 - Funny song. I forgot about Hodgman waders. Not a bad little song. The guitar playing is OK, but it could use another part...maybe a nutty chorus or something.
Feldspar - I want to like this song, but it's too meandering. Didn't take me anywhere. But I like several of the lyrics...house of cards <-> backyards. The talking at the beginning can easily be deleted in most DAWs, by the way. I think this could benefit from a full arraignment with drums, bass, etc.
Jim Tyrell - Nice recording. Really good song. Some sweet guitar chords in there. The ending didn't do much for me, but yet...this may be a winner.
Legless Bill Tubbs - Dude, you're killin' me. Is this for a Ken Burns movie? Pretty well done though.
Limu - Interesting song, but I'm not into it. The vocals are not doing it for me. Piano playing is OK in a George Winston kind of way.
Melvin - Pretty good. I'm not that into that bassy keyboard sound, or is it a keyboardy bass sound? I have almost no idea what you're saying much of the time. Can you post the lyrics? I'm not sure this song works for me as a whole, but I like a lot of the parts.
Paco del Stinko - Dude, I think you need a week off. The guitar riff is groovy. But the song is light on content. I'm a big fan, so I don't mean that meanly. Well done song as usual.
Ravenhide - The recording is pretty horrendous, but it kind of works. The vocals are pretty much fucked...sounds like you're whispering into the mic. Music is good.
Ross Durand - I didn't like this a lot until the chorus - nice harmony. This is a solid folk song with really good playing and interesting instruments. You're really good at this style. This may be a big hit with SF, but personally less my taste. But you still get a gold star.
Shitload of Dolphins - Quirky, I like it overall. I rarely know what you're talking about. Pretty good musical sound. Good song.
Spinlock - Ahhh, I don't want to like this. But it's pretty frickin' good. Nice vocal intensity on the "And when you come the sense..." section, almost like Jagger might do. Good song.
Steve Durand - Sweet. I liked your tune last week too. The horns rule. The vocals could be better, but it's a pretty nifty tune.
Wes Davis - The wife's voice blows my mind...cool. Swell recording, good performance, nice arraignment. OK, the strings are over the top. I don't get much of a vibe from the lyrics, but still, a good song.
Zoosneakers - My tune. It's OK. The guitar solos are supposed to be "angry". I kind of like how it ends where you don't really know why the guy is in the House of Hodgman "again". Maybe just psychologically, or maybe physically there to murder the priest? I don't know either. Inspired by a Frontline episode where a guy and his family bravely talked about the bad shit that happened to him in his youth.
Last edited by Zoosneakers on Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:19 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Billy's Little Trip
- Odie
- Posts: 12090
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:56 pm
- Instruments: Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Drums, Skin Flute
- Recording Method: analog to digital via Presonus FireBox, Cubase and a porn machine
- Submitting as: Billy's Little Trip, Billy and the Psychotics
- Location: Cali fucking ornia
Trust me, it took all of my will not to scream while was doing this one. I was trying something new where I had a copy of the lead voice running through a fuzz box and mixed with the vocals, kind of like Bootsy Chesterfield did last week. But I pulled it out at the last minute because the lyrics were unrecognizable. It was a vocal experiment that didn't pan out, but I didn't want to scrap the song because I liked how it came out.Zoosneakers wrote: Billy's Little Trip - Cool sound. The singing is a little monotone. Interject a nice threatening scream every once in a while? I like the backing vocals but I don't think you need them on every verse. Good overall.
Thanks Zoo.-
feldspar
- Somebody Get Me A Doctor
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 2:35 pm
- Recording Method: Mostly gin
- Location: South Norwalk, CT
- Contact:
Care to elaborate on that? I'm sorry, but I don't hear a hint of Elliot Smith in my song. Granted, I'm not very familiar with his entire cataloge (I have <i>Figure 8</i> and <i>From a Basement on the Hill</i>, but aside from that, I haven't heard any of his older works), so maybe there's some similarity with some of the stuff I haven't heard, but to claim that I "ripped off" his music seems to me to be a pretty stupid, uninformed, inflammatory comment.misterbeneboi wrote: feldspar - i think this is why elliot smith killed himself, i would if someone ripped off my music this blatantly
Unless of course, you're just trolling, which some of your other... ahem, <i>insightful</i> reviews seems to indicate. In that case, troll on, we'll all learn to ignore you eventually.
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misterbeneboi
- A New Player
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:51 pm
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Pow Pow Power Series
- A New Player
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2006 4:04 pm
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LML
- Somebody Get Me A Doctor
- Posts: 187
- Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:53 pm
- Instruments: Epiphone Electric Guitar, Ibanez Acoustic/Electric, Casio/Yamaha Electric piano, Yamaha DD-65 Drums
- Recording Method: Garage Band, Blue Snowball, Griffin Line In Cable, hopes and dreams
- Submitting as: LML
- Location: In Houston somewhere
- Contact:
Thanks man! Yeah, as far as the strings, I wasn't totally sure if they'd seem too over-the-top, but I prefer the ending with strings than the way it was previously. We just didn't have enough time to make it work quite as well as it should have. But I'm still fairly happy with the song. I think I'm going to stick it on my demo CD.Zoosneakers wrote:Wes Davis - The wife's voice blows my mind...cool. Swell recording, good performance, nice arraignment. OK, the strings are over the top. I don't get much of a vibe from the lyrics, but still, a good song.
EDIT: Oh, and you can chock up the wife's vocals to LML. It totally wasn't me singing, in case you were wandering. And for any curious parties, Deshead helped out with basically everything but the base rhythm guitar.
Am I rockin' hard, or hardly rockin'?
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Steve Durand
- Panama
- Posts: 779
- Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:26 pm
- Instruments: trumpet, trombone, sax, clarinet, flute, keyboards, banjo, guitar, bass, ukulele
- Recording Method: SONAR 6, Dell Inspiron E1705, Edirol UA-25, Studio Projects B-1 Mic
- Submitting as: Steve Durand, Elastic Waste Band
- Location: Anaheim, CA
- Contact:
Heh, I had my way with that track tooWesDavis wrote:everything but the base rhythm guitar.
Hometracked: Tips for better home recordings
Alright, here are my first listen impressions. I'm going to try to do full reviews later, but I'm not sure I'll have the time, so I'm doing this for now.
Big Crouton
I listened to this one earlier, and it's SO LONG. I can't really find a justification for the length, but your soloing is pretty good. The vocals sound really inappropriate in the mix. They just don't fit well at all. They're too far forward, and music like this probably should have at least some reverb on them. It reminds me of the vocals for this horrible song I used to do as an audience punishment song when I played this coffee house as a semi-regular gig and had an especially annoying audience. I'm not so vengeful anymore. Actually you can probably consider this particular review complete, rather than an impression.
Billy's Little Trip
This one isn't really grabbing me, particularly. I can dig the guitar riff a fair amount, though the song gets a little repetitive after a while. That's all I really have. It's not bad, but not really standing out to me.
cr410
For some reason, I don't really like when people reference Songfight in their songs. I'm also not a big fan of nerdcore in general, and this rap doesn't seem especially clever or funny to me. Of course, I'll have to listen to it again.
Feldspar
This is really folky, and also boring. I do like the sines at the end a bit, though they're way too loud in the mix, and the guitar is far too quiet. There is also too much of the boring rhythm guitar at one point with no vocals or anything.
Jim Tyrrell
Blues, eh? Bongos, eh? Wow, once you get started, you remind me of this guy that sings at the open mic I play sometimes on Sundays. The guy's really nice, but his vocals are really nasally and weirdly timed. I'm getting the same vibe here, except yours are better timed. The instrumental stuff at the end is boring, and the same thing I said above applies. Not standing out a lot
Legless Bill Tubbs
I like the name, first off. What is that instrument in the beginning? Dobro? Banjo? Huh. That speaking bit was uh... I guess it's a joke, and I guess I don't think it's very funny. I'd like to hear you play that instrument in a real song.
Lizard Music
This sounds, musically, like one of those songs that would play in a Super Nintendo racing game when you've just lost a race, but not really that badly. Other than that, there's not much significant I can contribute here.
Melvin
I don't like this as much as some of your other efforts, honestly. The xylophone's a nice touch. "Flag's a symbol of our history" sounded a little rough. Specifically right on the word history. That's just a nitpick though. I dunno, it's not grabbing me too much. It's a little droney throughout.
Paco Del Stinko
Oh man you jump right into the awesome on this one. That riff is really familiar to me, but I can't place it. I'll let you know if I think of it. Lyrically, this ain't the best song ever, and the bit at 1 minute in isn't doing anything memorable. I guess that's your chorus? I like the solo though. Not great, but entertaining.
Ravenhide
haha wow DID you record this with a crappy tape recorder? Hahahaha oh man the vocals. If you did this on purpose this is awesomely bad. If not, then I'm sorry. Hahaha oh god. I'm glad nothing is going to stop you from burning down the house of hodgman.
rmosquito
Wait a minute I put the wrong song in my playlist. This is Get a Life.
Ross Durand
I wish I could think of a sound appropriate for your vocals. I'm thinking maybe you should bury your vocs more in the mix on your songs. it's maybe too far out in front. Otherwise, I'm really not sure what would fix it. I like your music, though Ross. Is that a harmonium?
Shitload of Dolphins
The melody you chose for your vocals is really inappropriate for your sound. I like the background music, but the vocals kind of ruin what could've been pretty fun. They were too loud, and maybe you should've added some sort of reverb or something to make it sound less like you're playing the song for me on a stereo while you sing in my ear.
Spinlock
So I do have mixed feelings about this one on another listen through. I like the piano, and your vocals remind me a lot of someone I know here in Austin, and they sound like they have potential, but I think you should've taken another go at them. The musical change just around 1:30 is cool. I think this needs a really catchy chorus.
Steve Durand
As usual, the music's great. One of these days, I'd love to have you throw some music on a track. Those horns are so hot, and I love real horns. Actually, I might want your help with some real horns on a song outside of Songfight in the near future if you don't mind. I'll PM you about that though. You just really need a dedicated vocalist, because musically, your songs are great. Actually I think this song could've been really cool with some jazzy female vocals.
Wes Davis and the DesMLs
Yeah so here's the song I've been doing all week. I worked on it with Des and LML doing the angry wife's ghost's voice. I love Des's backing music. I still haven't heard it on headphones and this depresses me.
Zoosneakers
This song sort of sounds like the instruments are fighting the whole time. That's not really meant in a good way. Everything sounds just sort of like a jumbled mess. The soloing sounds really Jimi Hendrixy which is cool, but the song overall just isn't very strong.
Well, that wasn't very many songs! I'm glad, though, because it makes voting and reviewing a LOT easier. Favorites for this fight...let's see...
Right now I like Melvin's okay, Spinlock's, and Paco del Stinko. Ravenhide's too, but maybe not for the right reasons. Nothing stands out amazingly, though. I'll figure out my vote later on, though.
Big Crouton
I listened to this one earlier, and it's SO LONG. I can't really find a justification for the length, but your soloing is pretty good. The vocals sound really inappropriate in the mix. They just don't fit well at all. They're too far forward, and music like this probably should have at least some reverb on them. It reminds me of the vocals for this horrible song I used to do as an audience punishment song when I played this coffee house as a semi-regular gig and had an especially annoying audience. I'm not so vengeful anymore. Actually you can probably consider this particular review complete, rather than an impression.
Billy's Little Trip
This one isn't really grabbing me, particularly. I can dig the guitar riff a fair amount, though the song gets a little repetitive after a while. That's all I really have. It's not bad, but not really standing out to me.
cr410
For some reason, I don't really like when people reference Songfight in their songs. I'm also not a big fan of nerdcore in general, and this rap doesn't seem especially clever or funny to me. Of course, I'll have to listen to it again.
Feldspar
This is really folky, and also boring. I do like the sines at the end a bit, though they're way too loud in the mix, and the guitar is far too quiet. There is also too much of the boring rhythm guitar at one point with no vocals or anything.
Jim Tyrrell
Blues, eh? Bongos, eh? Wow, once you get started, you remind me of this guy that sings at the open mic I play sometimes on Sundays. The guy's really nice, but his vocals are really nasally and weirdly timed. I'm getting the same vibe here, except yours are better timed. The instrumental stuff at the end is boring, and the same thing I said above applies. Not standing out a lot
Legless Bill Tubbs
I like the name, first off. What is that instrument in the beginning? Dobro? Banjo? Huh. That speaking bit was uh... I guess it's a joke, and I guess I don't think it's very funny. I'd like to hear you play that instrument in a real song.
Lizard Music
This sounds, musically, like one of those songs that would play in a Super Nintendo racing game when you've just lost a race, but not really that badly. Other than that, there's not much significant I can contribute here.
Melvin
I don't like this as much as some of your other efforts, honestly. The xylophone's a nice touch. "Flag's a symbol of our history" sounded a little rough. Specifically right on the word history. That's just a nitpick though. I dunno, it's not grabbing me too much. It's a little droney throughout.
Paco Del Stinko
Oh man you jump right into the awesome on this one. That riff is really familiar to me, but I can't place it. I'll let you know if I think of it. Lyrically, this ain't the best song ever, and the bit at 1 minute in isn't doing anything memorable. I guess that's your chorus? I like the solo though. Not great, but entertaining.
Ravenhide
haha wow DID you record this with a crappy tape recorder? Hahahaha oh man the vocals. If you did this on purpose this is awesomely bad. If not, then I'm sorry. Hahaha oh god. I'm glad nothing is going to stop you from burning down the house of hodgman.
rmosquito
Wait a minute I put the wrong song in my playlist. This is Get a Life.
Ross Durand
I wish I could think of a sound appropriate for your vocals. I'm thinking maybe you should bury your vocs more in the mix on your songs. it's maybe too far out in front. Otherwise, I'm really not sure what would fix it. I like your music, though Ross. Is that a harmonium?
Shitload of Dolphins
The melody you chose for your vocals is really inappropriate for your sound. I like the background music, but the vocals kind of ruin what could've been pretty fun. They were too loud, and maybe you should've added some sort of reverb or something to make it sound less like you're playing the song for me on a stereo while you sing in my ear.
Spinlock
So I do have mixed feelings about this one on another listen through. I like the piano, and your vocals remind me a lot of someone I know here in Austin, and they sound like they have potential, but I think you should've taken another go at them. The musical change just around 1:30 is cool. I think this needs a really catchy chorus.
Steve Durand
As usual, the music's great. One of these days, I'd love to have you throw some music on a track. Those horns are so hot, and I love real horns. Actually, I might want your help with some real horns on a song outside of Songfight in the near future if you don't mind. I'll PM you about that though. You just really need a dedicated vocalist, because musically, your songs are great. Actually I think this song could've been really cool with some jazzy female vocals.
Wes Davis and the DesMLs
Yeah so here's the song I've been doing all week. I worked on it with Des and LML doing the angry wife's ghost's voice. I love Des's backing music. I still haven't heard it on headphones and this depresses me.
Zoosneakers
This song sort of sounds like the instruments are fighting the whole time. That's not really meant in a good way. Everything sounds just sort of like a jumbled mess. The soloing sounds really Jimi Hendrixy which is cool, but the song overall just isn't very strong.
Well, that wasn't very many songs! I'm glad, though, because it makes voting and reviewing a LOT easier. Favorites for this fight...let's see...
Right now I like Melvin's okay, Spinlock's, and Paco del Stinko. Ravenhide's too, but maybe not for the right reasons. Nothing stands out amazingly, though. I'll figure out my vote later on, though.
Am I rockin' hard, or hardly rockin'?
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misterbeneboi
- A New Player
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:51 pm
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Reist
- Hot for Teacher
- Posts: 3066
- Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:26 pm
- Instruments: Drums, Guitar
- Recording Method: Yamaha AW1600, Reaper
- Submitting as: Therman
- Location: Calgary
- Contact:
misterbeneboi wrote:legless bill tubbs - i feel ive heard this before a million times, and played more competantly, on adult swim bumps, although its the first track so far that i dont feel the need to skip through, the words remind me of tom waits guest starring on squidbillies, so far this gets my vote
Heh ... so who in this fight do you know in person?misterbeneboi wrote:almost everyone else - trash