I am Ghengis Khan (Me the Merciless Reviews)

[ken]

Stand back!

[Niveous]

Genghis Khan? I thought you were ROBOTRON.

[The Unstoppable Mr. Mint]

Hahaha I almost did a song for this one instead of Devils live in a quiet pond.
"Genghis Khan's got nothing on
Me - The Merciless
Me - The Merciless"

[ken]

Genghis Khan? I thought you were ROBOTRON.

That's Rocktron Supergenius to you!

Ken

[boltoph]

Hey all, I guess the mp3 I emailed got mangled somehow, so I've emailed over another copy, and in the meantime my song is available here: Boltoph - Me the Merciless

[Leaf]

Boltoph:
I like your stuff. It's very well done, the recording quality is superb, and the music is well written / paid. Sucks that the song's only 38 secs long... someone better look into that...EDIT: after I post, I see you have given us the tune... so, very well done. I like the groove, sounds very tight. This gets an Alice n Chains/jar of flies vibe, just a smidge of that. The pace of this tune ... haha! As soon as I type that , it starts riffing out. I like that guitar tone. CRUNCHY. Nice solo section. You know, based of the first half, I was totally voting King Arthur. Now, I'm not so sure. I'm gonna do some a/b playoffs between the two. I'm not too sold on the verse... It's well done, but doesn't sing to me like the heavy bits, which totally rock. CONTENDER
LISTEN TO AGAIN: Yes.
RECOMMEND TO OTHERS? probably.

Feldspar:
It seems like you vocal style has suddenly (ok, I haven't been listening to a ton of your stuff lately, so "suddenly" is really subjective here) anyway, the point is, the singing seems real solid, nice tone, good singing. I'm not fond of the song itself, or the piano and drum machine bits. I like the singing. Singing, good. Song, just ok.
LISTEN TO AGAIN? Most likely.
RECOMMEND TO OTHERS? not yet.

King Arthur:
This sounds good. Nice groove. This has some soul. I like it. I wish your solo was a little more present in the mix, seems a little washed out with the chorus. That bass line is cool..it creeps along.. in fact the whole groove of the tune does. This sounds like a piece that if the band jammed on it for a few weeks, it would start to grab more character and feel and all those special little tiddy bits... like, it sounds like it's just gonna get better each time you play it. So , CONTENDER
LISTEN TO AGAIN? Yep.
RECOMMEND TO OTHERS? Yep.


Luke Henley:
Not much here, sounds like someone sitting around a camp fire, after drinking a 24 and it's two in the morning, everyone else is sleeping, and all perspective is gone. Not doing it for me, although I sense that others will dig it. The ending is cool though, so it elevates it to a "ok" from me.
LISTEN TO AGAIN? No
RECOMMEND TO OTHERS? I can think of one person I know who would dig this, but he's not on the net!

Noah McLaughlin
This has a similar vibe to Luke's piece...I'm not getting into it. Some pretty guitar noodling... some unexpected moments there... but overall, not grabbing me.
LISTEN TO AGAIN? no.
RECOMMEND TO OTHERS? no, sorry.


I need to hear the whole Boltoph tune first, but so far, I'm going KA.
EDIT: It's down to a playoff! Edge for wetting my pants to Boltoph, edge for groovy soul to King Arthur... the rest can catch the flowers.

EDIT # 2: aDDED REVIEw FOR sTAn grEEN.


Stan Green:
Well... I dunno. I suspect Southwest Statistic... this is excellent. Greqt production... I like the break down, that rocks. And that water effect is killa. Damn. I seriously think I got three contenders.... I really like this. Well done. Reminds me of Beastie Boys, but with a fresh rapper. So, after being blown away by the great production... ok, some neagtives. Tags? "the author, the title"... uh right. I can't remember what the title of the tune is... ok. Well, second listen. I'm over the production (which is stellar). Well, the lyrics seem pretty generic for the style... back on the positives... the chorus, bridge, whatever riffs are great. I like tha t vibe. A contender.


Well... gonnA choose from three now...three finalists.


where's seacrest?

[Edge of LA]

For a moment I thought Boltoph was submitting for Song Fight Orchestra.

[MintyHandy]

Feldspar

/// They Might Be Feldspar!
+++ Enjoyed the music, the vocals, the lyrics
--- Except the line about being drunk, seemed out of place
+++ Twang!
--- A little thin overall, felt unfinished
/// Overall, I enjoyed it

Noah McLaughlin

/// Sounded like early Nirvana until the vocals started -- whoops, it's Goth!
--- Vocal melody seems to be following a different song than the instruments
+++ The quality of the voice is fun, though, very Peter Murphy
--- Computer voiceover just annoyed me
/// Like a mashup of two different Goth songs

King Arthur

+++ Great intro, got right into a very solid arrangement
+++ Clever take on the title, unexpected and nicely revealed in the lyrics
+++ Background synth-winds a fun touch, add just the quirk it needed
+++ Good use of repetition
+++ Good use of repetition
--- Bridge was vaguely disappointing in light of the rest
--- At first I didn't like the voice...
+++ ...but by the end I really liked it

Luke Henley

+++ Guitar exactly as medeival-rock as it should be
--- Various noises panned left/right just annoying
--- Was fun for awhile, but eventually fell apart
--- Ow! My ears with the yelling and the screaming!
/// The Residents say hello

Boltoph (full version from forum link)

+++ Nice melodic intro, gives me high hopes
+++ Yeah ooo! Yeah ooo!
--- First vocal line worried me a bit...
+++ ...then it settles down into a very nice place indeed
+++ Terrific changes, great structure, nice arrangement
+++ Crunchy guitar silliness shouldn't work, but totally does
+++ And it keeps getting bigger!
--- I wanted a tighter ending, because the rest was so tight
/// This is not my typical taste, but it pleases me, it does

This one is very close: King Arthur's entry is more my taste and I'm more likely to put it in my mp3 collection, but Boltoph's entry is really compelling from a songsmith place instead of a quirky and unique place like King Arthur's, so it gets my vote. Barely, though. Both terrific. Ah, hell, let's put both of 'em in my mp3 collection.

[Spud]

Stan Green has been added to the fight.

[Ross]

Boltoph
Nice sound - great mix. Nice use of backing vocals. Fat guitar sounds great and comes in just right. Guitar harmony adds great touch to the solo - Like Brian May with tatoos. Musically impeccable - pretty creepy. Great start to the fight.

Luke Henley
I think the intro is a tad too long, but it's a nice idea for a lick. Actually so is the first verse (chorus?). The recording makes it very difficult to tell what you're saying, making it tough to review this one. I do my best to listen to the song even when the performance and production make it hard to "hear" the song. This one was not for me either way. I hesitate to say it sounds like a joke, in case it wasn't.

Stan Green
I am probably not well versed enough in this genre to give a very deep review, but you seem to have skills. I like the vocoder deal in the bridge, but I can't quite make out the words cause its a little low in the mix. The way the samples/turntables create the rhythm feels like it has just a little too much edge on the sound, creating a slightly stilted groove. Great choice of Genre, if it's not your usual - Could easily be an album title for one of the current generation of hip hop stars.

Noah Mclaughlin (I hope I spelled that right)
Second throne and third skin reference - Interesting. I like the idea of including the computer spoken definitions, but I think it may be a slightly long portion of the song. Minus some production and performance issues, I like the overall effect of the song, but for me the lyrical cards are just a little to close to your chest.

King Arthur
Nice take - divorce court. I suspect already that I will be making a tough choice between this and Boltoph. Good tune/groove/vocal delivery. I really like your ryhtmic play with "so much for havin my say" - reminds me of "Ain't no sunshine." I hope that verse following the solo will advance the story a little. I'd love to see this band in a club - money in the tip jar

Feldspar
Do you get "They Might be Giants" comparisons? Another throne reference - where's the skin reference? The change of character is interesting, but didn't quite work for me. Oh...too short - I was totally expecting a CEO after the instrumental. I think a bridge could have worked well in this song also.

I'm gonna give this one to Boltoph for most complete experience in imagery, creepiness, believeing that the character was merciless. Close second to King Arthur which is probably the one I'd be most likely to listen to again.

[boltoph]

Stan Green
i dig the soundclips in the beginning, the ren and stimpy sort of clips. i like the rap when it first comes in, i like the tone in the left speaker towards the middle of the song. but the raps not loud enough, and just never goes anywhere. same rhythm over and over again, beat could use some change. too bad you sing about yer hand on yer dick and lack the creativity to say it in any other way

Noah McLaughlin
vocal melody almost has a hook but maybe I'd say to move at the end of phrases more, and differently each time. the speech part in the middle is funny. feels like it never goes anywhere instrumentally, I'd love to hear it heavy. I like the darkness of it

Luke Henley
i picture madmen and townsfolk raging around city fires. keep putting everything you got into those vocals cause there's something rocking going on there. madmen! there's not enough bass in the mix

King Arthur
jammin right off the bat. I like the bass line and guitars, the drums too. they're all perfect for the vibe of the song. nice slow groove, great production. the vocal melody could vary more but i just love the rhythm of those vocals there in the 1:20s. alright I wish that had been a distorted guitar on the solo. good classic blues tune, well performed.

Feldspar
i like how this gets moving right away and goes into some good quick changes. nice little hook with "you'll fall behind". this is kinda hooky all around and i like how the whole song moves. it could use a lot more production, obviously, and would sound killer with a band and more dynamic changes. nice job, i really dig some of these vocal melodies.

Me (Boltoph) -
did these vocals and electrics last night with barely any gear, cause it's up in a rehearsal space where i recorded the drums up in new hampshah. vocals don't always flow so well cause i made them up last night as i recorded them. overall, i guess calm makes me crave crazy and vice versa.

First vocal line worried me a bit..

yeah me too. horrifies me...sorry bout that. should've remixed, but always too eager to get to the mastering point! control..must..exercise..precision. distortion was a bit much but i think my fav part is the guitar solo section. i also hear ya about the ending..might have to remix

gets an Alice n Chains/jar of flies vibe, just a smidge of that.

i hear it, definitely. i had limited resources with the guitar tone and the dod pedal direct in was my only option, but wanted it to rage so it sorta did the job. thanks man. i do love big distorted guitar tones though. have a bad habit of overpowering the mix with 'em when they come in.

[boltoph]

Guitar harmony adds great touch to the solo - Like Brian May with tatoos.

rock! added a few vocal harmonies in there too, just to fatten it up a bit

[Leaf]

I posted an edit to my review to include Mr. Green... nice work.



I got a few ways to test my finalists for my precious vote...so precioous.... and first up... jamability on the old guitar...well, it's new.. and I'm listening to tunes, and riffing over King Arthur... funny, cause there were K.A. tunes from a few months ago, and I just didn't groove on them, this one is eatin up with soul. At least, how I define soul.... good fight...

[boltoph]

let's put both of 'em in my mp3 collection

This is an honor, thank you!

I also have to add, thank you to Deshead for reviewing an early mix of my song, and giving me some advance feedback, helping me work out the song structure.

And happy St. Patty's day to all!!!

[WeaselSlayer]

Luke Henley
I think the intro is a tad too long, but it's a nice idea for a lick. Actually so is the first verse (chorus?). The recording makes it very difficult to tell what you're saying, making it tough to review this one. I do my best to listen to the song even when the performance and production make it hard to "hear" the song. This one was not for me either way. I hesitate to say it sounds like a joke, in case it wasn't.

On my speakers the words come through fine (and on a friend's speakers too), but I get a lot of these production criticisms. I don't hear it properly maybe? I dunno, sorry. The words aren't the key to the song anyway. And yeah, it wasn't a joke, what made you think it might be?

[boltoph]

... jamability on the old guitar...

I just realized, I had started that mix with an ear-tuned acoustic guitar that turned out to be about a quarter step sharp. Ended up discovering i could still tune everything on a boss pedal tuner because it has those individual lights...and it was about 4 lights down from F tuning...must've been tough jamming out to it, eh?

[Leaf]

That's totally what happened!! I was sitting there, bending my e up and down to find the pitch... and I'm thinking...geez... this whole things sounds pretty in tune with itself... my guitar must be out of tune... but it wasn't ... so I ended up giving up on that one....

...plus the guitar part was out of my league anyway...

[sparks]

That is totally Edward James Olmos.

[nyjm]

Left my own group for last this week. First, off, though, I'd like to thank everyone for the advice. It's been very constructive.

Boltoph
- weezer! gotta love it.
- great rhythm and nice touch with the backing vocals
- solid song, good playing, good mix, good dynamics

Feldspar
- channeling some ben folds five/crash test dummies
- i like the hamlet reference
- this is a neat song, but i'm not too hooked

King Arthur
- nice lyrical take: divorce court
- the vocals have a great vibe, but it seems to contrast with the lyrics
- really like the vamp

Luke Henley
- i like the guitar part
- but the vocals are just grating and through your nose
- most of the time, this song seems to teeter on the edge of disintegration; it creates an interesting tension at times, but for 4 minutes, it's too much.

noah mclaughlin
- "or, how to record a goth song with nothing but an acoustic guitar, a lighter and a table"
- yep, so this is me with my little laptop and $10 computer mike
- this is the first song i ever built 100% on the computer; usually i can play my songs (mostly) live, but this has too many different parts
- i find my biggest production challenge is meat and volume without clipping the mic. aside from heading out and buying expensive equipment, do you guys have any advice?

Stan Green
- i'm not a big fan of this kind of music, but i have to give you props for skill and talent
- maybe some more variety in the verse, a la the beastie boys or run dmc
- really, really like the chorus; it makes me want to get up and dance


Boltoph walks off with this one, hands down.

[HANK.]

Boltph is a zipper.

[boltoph]

bending my e up and down to find the pitch... and I'm thinking...geez

Same thing happened to me when i went to do bass the next day...thinking: oh no...what have i done! I'm not that technically inclined with my recording gear but the first thought was "how do I bend the pitch down to E and will it sound all wacky if I do".
thank the makers for electronic tuners! my guitars' necks are a little angry with me now though for tuning them all up to "E-and-a-quarter".

[boltoph]

the moral of my merciless story, what i mean to say, is that the true merciless always wears a disguise...in the beginning...and then over time develops into its true self