Nur Ein VII Round Zero "Breaking The Ice"

[nyjm]

Reviews from on high.

Significant (adjective):
1) Sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy.
2) Having a particular meaning; indicative of something.

Adam Adamant - Partially Significant Shouting: abundant but not meaningful
+++ minimalist electronica ambiance +++
+++ nod to Depeche Mode +++
--- chorus sloppiness ---
/// nitpick: that uke is way too hot in the chorus ///

ADD - Significant Shouting: creative and effective
+++ verse melody and prosody +++
+++ channeling U2's "Numb" +++
+++ solid production choices: levels, layering and panning +++
+++ that's some pretty damn cool use of screaming +++
+++ fake ending WIN +++

bgm - Significant Shouting: creative and effective
+++ groove +++
+++ bridge; love that aural change-up +++

Boffo Yux Dudes - Partially Significant Shouting: abundant but ineffective
+++ prosody and crisp delivery +++
/// how many song genres you have in there? ///

The Chocolate Chips - Insignificant Shouting
--- ineffective but somewhat minimal use of autotune - or whatever vox f/x you applied ---
+++ nice Beach Boys vibe with the vocal harmonies +++
--- ho-hum, sexual innuendos ---

Chris Cogott - Insignificant Shouting: debatably present, but does not add to the song
+++ Chris Cogott Brand Pop Rock [tm] +++
+++ chorus +++

DJ Ranger Den - Partially Significant Shouting: meaningful but minimal
+++ bluesy jazz that coheres +++
+++ effective minimalist instrumentation +++
+++ story / portrait +++
/// vocal reverb seems overdone ///

Frankie Big Face - Significant Shouting: theatrical and effective; someone's been listening of Pink Floyd
/// FUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ///
+++ that vocal tone scared the shit out of me +++
+++ chorus +++

Genevieve Jones and the Chiefs - Insignificant Shouting (though after your explanation... Debatably significant and quite creative.)
+++ i just know that this will end badly... in a wonderful way +++
+++ story +++

Gooey Caramel Centaur - Insignificant Shouting
--- lip/voice percussion that brings nothing to the song ---
--- pitchy singing ---
+++ dynamics +++
+++ lyric imagery +++

Jo Ann Abbott - Insignificant Shouting
+++ funny +++
--- meandering melody ---
--- under-baked ---
/// reminds me of Garfunkel & Oates ///
--- goes on way too long and hits the message too much on the nose ---

Jon Eric - Significant Shouting: unique and logical to the song
+++ groove +++
+++ Jon Eric Bittersweet Tone [tm] : passive-aggressive tunified +++
+++ "You know, I won a Song Fight once!" AHAHAHAHAHAHAH +++

Ligers With Attitude - Insignificant Shouting
+++ groove and melody counterpoint / interplay +++
--- a little loose around the edges; messy in a distracting way ---

Manhattan Glutton - Partially Significant Shouting: clearly present and appropriate, but not "noteworthy"
+++ heavy rock groove +++
--- waaaaaaaaaarmth ---
/// it's appropriate to the feel, but this kind of plods along ///

Merisan - Partially Significant Shouting: clearly present and appropriate, but not "noteworthy"
+++ rockin' groove +++
+++ call and response chorus +++

Oystercatcher - Partially Significant Shouting: noteworthy but not meaningful
--- background "shouting" is distracting ---
--- waves / white noise is too hot ---
--- heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey ---

Rabid Garfunkel - Partially Significant Shouting: abundant but does not contribute to... whatever this is
/// wtf, is that a sea shanty? ///

Ross Durand - Partially Significant Shouting: it makes sense with the lyrics, but seems forced; this song would work better with a simple rise in volume and richer vocal harmonies
+++ unique take on the title +++
+++ i love a fully-produced Ross Durand tune +++
--- just ends ---

Sausage - Insignificant Shouting: raising your voice for emotional intensity is not shouting, neither are the "ooooohs" of the chorus
/// why are you singing in the bathroom? ///
+++ background vocal harmonies +++
+++ chorus +++

Snappy + Floyd - Partially Significant Shouting: unique idea to use crowd samples; doesn't seem to add any meaning
/// genre bias: rap has to be exceptional just for me to like it ///
+++ this is pretty damn solid +++
+++ creative sampling of and reference to "Under Pressure" +++
--- five minutes is too long; be more concise ---

The Idiot Kings - Insignificant Shouting: it is supposed to be those sampled "aaaah"s?
+++ atmosphere +++
--- bathroom singing + vox are low in the mix ---
+++ melody +++

WreckdoM - Significant Shouting: narratively appropriate; that is, I'm ready to slap that annoying crotch
+++ WreckdoM Brand (Snide) Humor [tm] +++
+++ Juxtaposition +++
/// the breakdown is a little overly busy; and what about Bachelor Number Three? ///

The Worldly Self Assurance - Partially Significant Shouting: just one "wah" does not noteworthy make
+++ vocal harmonies +++
+++ bass line, even if it right from "Walk on the Wild Side" +++
--- second vocals; weak and over-reverb'd ---
+++ country western solo +++

[JonPorobil]

Thanks for the reviews, Noah!

Not to be a beggar and a chooser, but is there any chance we'll be getting detailed reviews from any of the other judges?

[Niveous]

You'll get my reviews tomorrow.

[Rabid Garfunkel]

/// wtf, is that a sea shanty? ///

Pretty much, yeah as an alternative to the French Foreign Legion.

[adamadamant]

Congrats to BGM, well deserved.

I was amazed to see myself come in at 4th place, I was expecting much lower.

[j$]

Me too Only joking ...

I'll post my reviews this evening. In advance, I didn't take the often haphazard approach to the non-optional challenge into consideration for this round when it came to scoring. Expect me to be tougher in subsequent rounds. IAAC.

And because I'm a glutton for punishment, my own "Breaking The Ice", will go up once I have found suitable downtime for shouting. hey if I'm going to be mean about you all, you should at least have the chance to return the favour.

[frankie big face]

I'm very pleased with my 2nd place finish. As Jon Eric correctly pointed out, my song was not my best effort and I was expecting to be toward the middle of the pack. Glad my song resonated with the corps of judges.

I *still* haven't listened to the songs but I will hopefully get there tonight. NUR EIN!!!!!!!

[Billy's Little Trip]

"By jingos, I'm no flash cove skylarking about with sheilas!!!"

That's how I say it in my songs.


...flash cove, lol

[nyjm]

Frankie, you ranked so well (at least with me) because of your approach to the challenge. Though your song is perhaps not exceptional, you have a solid core there and you found a creative and effective way to incorporate shouting into, well, a significant portion of the composition as whole.

Round zero is about showing up and stretching your songwriting muscles. Now, we start tightening the screws.

[j$]

Ok my reviews. As mentioned earlier, as much as I liked the non-optional challenge, I realised pretty early in on the listen that what people define as shouting, and what their set-up allows for, means for wildly differing takes, and therefore it would be churlish to be too harsh in the scoring. To me, all Americans are quite loud. As ever, WAIL and IAAC. Also apart from my top 4, everyone else was of a quality that means I could pretty much have done 5-23 in any order. Can you guess from my reviews which judge I am? Hope not. Finally, these were written before responses in this thread to other reviews, so they may now appear (more) ill-informed (than usual).

Adam Adamant Nice synth. Also white noise distortion thingy. Should have ended there. I like the lyric vs slightly tilted performance.
ADD _ the solo synth that kicks in around 1.40 saves this for me. That’s pretty good screaming. Oooh it just went camp as a boy scout convention with the “breaking the EYES” section Yeah, not engaging with it fully, but it's clearly good.
BGM- I love that riff. Oooh harmonies are lovely. As is the shouting. This feels like ESG – this is fabulous. Hey, indeed.
Boffo Vox Dudes – heh. Cute. I wouldn’t want to hear an album of this but this is fun.
Chocolate Chips – oh this is great! Could do with a really killer chorus in place of the surfy instrumental bit. Wrongsurf is a genre that needs further exploring. (AFTERNOTE: I am amazed that this didn't sit as well with the other judges / listeners as it did with me. More proof, if you need it, that I am not a good guy to have on your team.)
Chris Coggett –Saved from competent but dull riffy power pop by that really quite awesome chorus.
Den – impressive but NMT. I know that's a crap review, but I just tuned out through no fault of yours about 30 seconds in. I listened to it all, enjoyed it without engaging, and it's kind of gone from my memory once it's finished. Sorry.
FBF – Super-tick-like. Not sure about some of the lyric lines. Chorus not as strong as the amazing verse / middle 8 but that’s OK. That is a very sludgy guitar. i thought the mix was rushed on first listen but on different speakers this sounded just fine.
GJ – Billy Bragg springs to mind, for some reason. Charming but, honestly a bit borin’. Or possibly too subtle for the likes of me. I don’t like subtle from you. Broad suits you better. To be honest I ranked you low out of disappointment rather than because it's a bad song, though if you are going to flaunt the non-optional challenge quite so brazenly each round, you're in for a tough ride. Respect the game, man!
Gooey Caramel Centaur - The beat-boxin’ is fun, distracting from the MOR crap of the melody. I am assuming this is sarcastic? (AFTERNOTE: Oof, in retrospect, that's harsher than I meant it to be. I guess I mean I found the arrangement more interesting than the song itself this time round.)
Joanna Abbott – heh The three-times-round rule of comedy music not withstanding I enjoyed this. Could get tiresome pretty quickly but you rate highly for unexpectedness.
Jon Eric – Hmmmm. Fine but nothing special. I don’t like boogie woogie. Standard Jon Eric, with all its faults and benefits. Shame. Your singing has improved vastly over the last couple of years.
Ligers With Attitude – It’s too trebly for reggae. Dislike the “yeah”s immensily. Utterly unnecessary. Some lines good, some are stupid. Interesting arrangement. This is three steps short of great, but they’re pretty long steps. Brave attempt, mind, and i respect that.
MG - like the bass very much. Hate the “emotive” vocal. Although when you get screamy it goes pretty Frank Black and I am excited, it turns far too quickly into fucking Soundgarden. I really feel bad ‘cos I don’t want my prejudices to stop you having a fair chance in Nur Ein so once the voting counts I am going to try hard not to let myself do that.
Merisan – AOR. Superlative AOR but AOR nonetheless. I was just in Boston and every jukebox had the Dave Matthews Band on repeat so maybe I am just not quite ready for a sound that doesn’t cross the Atlantic easily, so to speak. I feel like I have no reference points for this song.
Oyster Catcher – Your sea setting is WAY TOO LOUD. Oh I am lost at the screaming. Started so well. Tune is good as well. Shame about mix / performance.
RG - Casio Tom Waits. Heh. That is fucking crazy, man.
ROSS – Not my thing at all, but I like the melody and chord progression, so that’s OK. A little safe perhaps.
SAUSAGE – ok. Nicely done and I like the singing on this very much. I feel like I haven’t quite ‘got’ Sausage yet and I realise that is my fault though I expect it all to click into place very soon.
Snappy & Floyd – really interesting backing track takes this up in the opinion league. Flows are tight but lyrical content is a bit predictable for my tastes. Still the overall sound, if trimmed to around 3 minutes, would be really welcoming for a person for whom rap is not high on the hit-list generally.
Idiot Kings – now this has one of the best starts of all the songs so far. Doesn’t really develop from there but it’s a good groove, mannn, so I suppose it doesn’t matter. The build keeps promising NIN but it stays too far inside Depeche Mode territory for my tastes. I wanted the mood to progress, which is why it didn't clamber up my love-pole as high as it promised in the foreplay
Wreckdom – Devo meets B-52s for the win. The mix is too vocal heavy – I want that sleazy bass riff much more prominent in the mix in order to get me shaking my bootie. It also sounds like Sausage Boy, which is NO BAD THING ™.
WSA – twee crap obviously, but very pretty twee crap I like the skanking ukulele.

[Manhattan Glutton]

Hey guys, wiki update!
The pages will have playlist links from now on. I hacked up the wiki code to do that. That's part of the reason for moving it to SFBase. Enjoy!!!

Breaking the Ice

[EvelBist]

SAUSAGE – ok. Nicely done and I like the singing on this very much. I feel like I haven’t quite ‘got’ Sausage yet and I realise that is my fault though I expect it all to click into place very soon.

well, the old saying goes, there's two things you don't want to be around while they're being made: laws and sausage. I figure making songs is a lot like making either of those, but i don't want to go around being called "law" so I chose sausage. I didnt know who les claypool was before, but since using that name, i've been made quite aware thank you but i aint changin'.

[Caravan Ray]

GJ – if you are going to flaunt the non-optional challenge quite so brazenly each round, you're in for a tough ride. Respect the game, man!.

I really don't think I flaunted the non-optional in any way whatsoever. I used shouting as a significant feature of the song

As almost any dictionary will clearly show you:

shout   /ʃaʊt/
verb (used without object)

1. to call or cry out loudly and vigorously.
2. to speak or laugh noisily or unrestrainedly.
verb (used with object)
3. to utter or yell (something) loudly.
4. Australian . to treat (another) to a drink, meal, amusement, or the like.
...
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/shout


The word has several meanings. Nowhere did the challenge say it was restricted to only one meaning of the word. I wrote a song where treating (another) to a drink, meal, amusement, or the like was central theme and hence - it featured significantly. ie - "significant use of shouting". Every box ticked as far as I can see.

If you are going to be judging with a pre-conceived notion of exactly how the challenge should be interpreted each round, you're in for a tough ride. Respect the game, man!

[RangerDenni]

Den – impressive but NMT. I know that's a crap review, but I just tuned out through no fault of yours about 30 seconds in. I listened to it all, enjoyed it without engaging, and it's kind of gone from my memory once it's finished. Sorry.

This was actually extremely helpful and puts me in a good MindSet. To do what exactly I am not sure yet; but we shall see I suppose

[Lunkhead]

Short attention span and kind of arsehole-y reviews, sorry! Also I'm not a judge so my opinions are not relevant. Anyway, overall I felt like there weren't many songs in this round that I liked much.

Adam Adamant
The verses kind of plod along for a long time, without anything very hooky happening. Choruses seem more interesting but I can't really understand what you're saying, and the noisy distortion grates on my nerves a bit. Overall I didn't like it that much.

ADD
At first this felt a little too robotic, and the samples sounded so cheap and cheesy, that I was worried about this song. The groove is OK at first. It's kind of got a vibe like that Flight of the Conchords "West End Girls" parody. Really the first two minutes don't do a ton for me, but when the guitar kicks in at 2' I enjoyed it a lot more. I am not surprised to hear awesome screaming like that from you. The octave jump up title repetition is hooky, I like it. Then it's ho hum again for a bit then the outro's OK. OK overall.

bgm
The clear winner this time. It's kind of the same underlying groove the whole time, but since it's a really good groove and the song is pretty short the repetition doesn't bother me. The layering on top of the groove changes enough between the verse and chorus to keep me interested. Both parts are good, and the chorus is my favorite incorporation of the challenge in the whole round. Really dig the bridge, too. Damn, well done. I predict you will be a top contender (unless you crack under the pressure! ).

Boffo Yux Dudes
Reminded me a bit of Octothorpe, only not as charming. I couldn't really listen to this the whole way through.

The Chocolate Chips
The music seems OK, kind of reminds me of bgm, but the effected vocals are really killing it for me. You sound like a demented clown or something. I don't know, it's off putting to me. Overall it's kind of OK, at least it's short.

Chris Cogott
OK, some rock music! Seems perfectly fine, if a little generic sounding. Parts are OK, they flow together well. It's just not grabbing me personally very much. The solo part is kinda cool though it really reminds me of a specific AC/DC solo or song ("For Those About To Rock"?). Overall OK but could have been better if it had been trimmed down, to like 3 minutes maybe or something.

DJ Ranger Den
The instrumentation is cool, especially the vibes. Makes me think of Jon Brion's instrumentation, though it sounds very monophonic. I wish the instruments were spread across the stereo spectrum so they could stand out individually better. Overall this feels kind of rambling to me, like the parts just blend from one to the next without any sort of distinct feeling of progression to me. So many lyrics, I am having a hard time following them all, frankly. It feels very stream of consciousness, which isn't really working for me.

frankie big face
That dirty guitar is a little out of tune (I think I hear it on that last chord). I know you're going for a certain atmosphere with the vocal effects, but I think it's too much. I don't think the two guitar tracks are sitting very well together in the mix, though it's nice to have the two different parts they're playing. The "pins to needles, needles to pins" lyric sounds a bit clunky to me, and it's part of the chorus lyrical hook, so I'm having a hard time getting over that. Probably could have ended sooner after the bridge, kept the song tighter.

Genevieve Jones and the Chiefs
Takes too long to build from the guytar format for me, and the story isn't holding me that long. Overall just didn't do a lot for me.

Gooey Caramel Centaur
The beat boxing is kind of cool. I wish you'd changed up the percussion somehow in the choruses, like added shaker and/or tambo. Half way through though I feel like I've already heard everything this song's going to offer, and it's just not enough for me.

Jo Ann Abbott
Sorry, burned out on spoken word. It's got to be super super compelling and this isn't for me.

Jon Eric
Something feels loose, timing wise. This is fairly OK. Your singing's mostly good, though there are times where you sound like you're straining a bit. Overall OK song.

Ligers With Attitude
Starts out pretty repetitive, the same thing for nearly a minute. Your singing's ok but your vocals sound pretty muffled. Maybe put a hi-pass on the vocals to cut the low frequencies. Overall so so.

Manhattan Glutton
You sound pretty pained, and it's making me cringe. Mission accomplished I guess? Sounds kinda Hetfield-ish at times, in a way I can't really take seriously. "In the season of love" line doesn't work for me. Pretty plodding in the chorus. Way longer than it needs to be.

Merisan
Too quiet, should have turned up the maximizer more. Drumming's a bit loose but not terrible for a guitar player. That's not really shouting in the chorus, oops. Things feel groovier in the second verse. Erin sound great, wish I could say the same about the guy. Cheesy guitar solo (one take!). Could probably use more different stuff happening in the final choruses than just the lead guitar. Tried to add some extra cymbal smashing in the final chorus but don't think it did enough.

Oystercatcher
Sounds like the weather one of the days of Song Fight! Live NYC last year! You're not doing a lot, but somehow it's way more compelling to me than many of the other entries. You're emoting more or something, I don't know. Not a lot of meat in this one though when all is said and done. Still, it shows that you are a past Nur Ein winner. I think you'll be a contender again this year.

Rabid Garfunkel
Man, this is weird. But I am not surprised! I like that it's weird. And at only about a minute, doesn't over stay its welcome.

Ross Durand
"Thin ice" metaphor feeling pretty well worn at this point. Not your fault I guess. Perfectly OK playing and writing… feeling a little bland to me though for some reason. I guess this is kind of a power ballad, especially with that guitar solo. I like your shouting. I feel like you're overusing the ice/break/etc. material lyrically. Fine song.

Sausage
More OK stuff. Nothing too terrible happening here in the verses and choruses. Nothing very interesting either, though, honestly. Could be a minute shorter if you ask me.

Snappy + Floyd
Not the worst rapping I've ever heard, in terms of the rhymes, but frankly I think the judge who ranked you guys second was smoking crack. This is overall pretty bad to me. It's just way too repetitive and not interesting enough to be the same basic thing over and over for 5+ minutes. Admittedly I have genre bias against this kind of thing.

The Idiot Kings
Your vocals are sounding way too small, I think you overdid it there. I don't know, have kind of an early NIN feel or something. It's not really working for me.

WreckdoM
Not really into the comedy rock at the moment.

TWSA
I like Frisbee's voice, though it sounds like there are some tuning issues in that intro. Those fake drums don't really feel like they fit the music very well, they're so fast and hectic. Yeah, I'm having a problem with the drums, and now the whole thing sounds so frenetic. It feels weird, under the long legato vocal notes. I like the instrumentation. I'm really starting to get lost during the "whoa oh" part then the long guitar solo. Again I'm feeling like the music and the vocals are from two different songs or something. Oh, it's just instrumental part then out. Huh. Overall it just didn't really add up for me.

[j$]

GJ – if you are going to flaunt the non-optional challenge quite so brazenly each round, you're in for a tough ride. Respect the game, man!.

If you are going to be judging with a pre-conceived notion of exactly how the challenge should be interpreted each round, you're in for a tough ride. Respect the game, man!

No pre-conceived notions - I will just score higher when inspired / excited by interpretations of it. I was aware of the Australian definition of "shout" (only after you handily pre-explained it - although in the UK we do use "it's my shout" for round occasionally) - which why I carefully chose "flaunt" not "ignore" - as in (since we're playing looking up words in a big book) "to parade or display ostentatiously".

For me your song, lyrically, was little more than a cutesy and slightly over-long exercise in fluffing your interpretation of the challenge. It was the conspicious lack of much else around it I was challenging.

j$

[glennny]

.... Those fake drums don't really feel like they fit the music very well....

I wouldn't call sampled drums fake. They sound more real than your real drums to me. Don't fit the music well? How much more uptempo country/folk can you get? The kernel of the song sounded soooo Fairport Convention, Mumford and Sons, or Lazy Porch Dogs to me.

Based on your bitchy review I want to drop you in my rankings however you guys still have my favorite entry in the fight. But if you make it to the finals and I don't I just might have to vote for the other artist.

(all competitive ribbing Lunk, you know I love ya man!)

[roymond]

Nur Ein reality TV show...its time has come!

[glennny]

Breaking the Ice

WSA- I’m not objective so I shall not rank us. This entry certainly swings glennny. I got a country jam at the end! I wish we had more shouts in there. It was risky to end up with one poignant shout, but I kept looking at the definition of significant, and it never mentions anything concerning abundance. The song just seemed best served where it ended up. Ken was super busy this week, so when he said he didn’t have time for drums, I whipped up the drum track from samples. I think they worked out awesome, but I’m neither objective nor a drummer. When Pete added the Uke it elevated in a big way, he nails it! I love the friendly competition I have in my bands with my guitar counterparts (Furry Pedro and Lunkhead) they’re sooo good. You know Walk on the Wild Side is one of my all-time favorite recordings, yes the beginning of this song and Wildside both have fretless basses doing sliding double stops in opposing directions at the same time, BUT the notes and rhythms are different. I love the vocals from both Frisbee and Pedro, that’s why I collaborate with them, I love their music, and they’re bringing it! I think our challenge interpretation is what knocked us so low in the rankings, but the competition was so good I don’t feel too bad about it at all. You gotta love Nur Ein for bringing out the quality!

My rankings of the rest of you:

1. Merisan- I know it sucks and it’s unfair, but apparently Erin must always “shout” in her songs, it’s a new rule. Don’t question it. Sweet guitar solo! I wish it was 4 times as long. The Rhodes is super tasty! Great story, good lyrics. The backing vocals are the best part. Not sure I would call those shouts, but they are awesome! Well done. Glad you’re in it!

2. ADD- This is awesome! I’ve been regularly listening to your Nur Ein 3 entries for the last 4 years, so I was very excited to see you in the contest this year. The mix is just about perfect. This builds with patience, and taste. The 2 vocals singing together is the best part. The octave jump to ice is super catchy. Well done! I very much appreciate the outro, it definitely strengthens the song!

3. BGM- Excellent mix! Your voice is superb! I don’t know why shouting = staccato. The shouting sounds a little awkward to me. If one person was shouting they wouldn’t shout stiff like that. It’s a small tweak. I really dig the surf guitar and doubled bass. I was on a Ventures kick last week, this is very welcomed guitaring! The soft vocals vs. the loud shouts is a very smart juxtaposition. Awesome!

4. Ross Durand- Great song! This hits that Wilco space rather well. Is there video of you shouting? Some of the fills in the dums sound a little awkward to me, though the tone of the drums is fantastic. This songs builds intensity very nicely as it progresses. I wouldn’t have been surprised if this won. You really embraced the challenge. Good job!

5. Oyster Catcher- It was about the 4th listen, and before I saw your post that I figured out that this was Ben. It’s the melodies that revealed it. Also the audacity to submit something like this is very Boop Boop. I smiled a big smile, I think I texted you “are you Oyster Catcher?” sorry about the random text. So the background noise was very off putting upon the 1st few listens but once I accepted it, I started to really like it. It does paint a setting stark and cold. Big art factor on this track. I think the judges will appreciate it more than most listeners.

6. Chris Cogott- I do find the chorus lyrics a little obvious. It’s Sammy Hagar school of rock lyrics. Is there shouting in there? It’s arguable that the singing style is shouting. I don’t think it embraces the spirit of the challenge. This ranks high due to killer musicianship, an awesome solo, and great vocals.

7. Wreckdom- This is by far the funniest song of the fight. I like this a lot more than I respect it. I’m laughing on every listen. The Gilbert Godfrey lines are hilarious! The primary vocals have some great lines too, sarcastic rock. I hope you guys go far, I’m looking forward to more from you guys. Well done!

8. The Chocolate Chips- Primer mi Carucha (Chevy 39)….. What can I say if my greatest hero of all music does it, I should forgive you for doing it. More surf guitar! This is a very catchy song! This is musically simple and potent. I find the lyrics to be brainless and dumb, but in a good surf rock kind of way. I’m not a big fan of fade outs, in fact I hate them and think they’re lazy. Write an ending! The shouting at the beginning is the weakest part. It’s a challenge box check. I hope we get to hear your regular speed voice in this competition. This is a keeper! Good song!

9. DJ Ranger Den- I love the jazz. I dig the vibes. The echo is too much for my tastes. This is rather meandering. I feel like I gave this review to you before. Nice string touches! I want to lock you in a room with a collection of Ella Fitzgerald CD’s and not let you come out until you have more vocal licks. Your voice is great, lots of potential to be even better. This is great!

10. Frankie Big Face- Good song man! I hate the production. The guitar sounds terrible. Everything is mud, except your vocals. If anything was to cut through one would hope it was the vocals. The melody is at the lower end of your range. It’s not where you’re strongest. I think you should’ve picked a different key for yourself. Lyrics are very good. The shouts are a bit buried in the mud. The vocal effect hiss that comes and goes is rather annoying. Fade out ending? Boo! Okay man, great song, really warrants a rerecording. Something maybe to revisit and pull out for your next album deal?

11. Jon Eric- I like the song that is written a lot more than the performance or the production. The vocals sound good. The keys sound good (who’d a thunk). The bass and drums are a little too loose and awkward. Those shouts sound more like a raised voice. The lyrics are a bit obvious. I love the idea of the shuffle. The melody is pretty great too, although reminding me of the Georgia Satellites during the “…start a conversation…” octave honky tonk thing (keep your hands to yourself) is something I’ll have a hard time forgiving you for. This would be a stronger song without the challenge check box semi-shouting bridge. Good stuff!

12. Sausage- Vocals are great! Maybe too much with the Ohs in the background. I really dislike the drum machine. I think you win for the most syllables sung in a one syllable word, (that’s not a slight, I really like that). The lyrics don’t do anything for me. Strong melody, good singing, the recording quality just isn’t there.

13. Rabid Garfunkel- This is short and weird and enjoyable. The shouting is funny. Maybe this is too short? It hits the challenge out of the park. I liked this. This conjures up Mighty Boosh imagery, especially the Old Greg episode. Fun stuff!

14. G J and the C- This is really slow to get going. I’d worry about this in a contest. It demands a lot of the listener. However when I relax and let it just play, it’s nice. Your vocals are nice. Is there a chorus? I like the way it builds. I suppose the whole gag is the building musical thwarted by a broken string. It’s funny, it would be funnier with a louder shout and it ending there.

15. Adam Adamant- Good to hear your music! I keep wishing the vocals and drums would swing with the uke and the synth. The 2 sides (vox & drums vs. Uke and synth) are not grooving together. I dig your voice, and the tones you’ve chosen for the synths. I can’t make out the shouting part. I don’t really like the static gag, it works for the art, but it makes me want to listen to this song less. Overall I am pleased with another fine Adam Adamant track.


16. Gooey Caramel Centaur- I don’t believe for a moment you would choose to have the beatbox drums unless you had to. I’m trying to forgive you for that. It’s a really pretty song. Pretty good singing. Any shouting at all? Close bass and far away piano is odd.

17. Ligers with Attitude- Is the “Yeah” the shout? Nice harmonies, nice riff. It’s all too repetitive. The missing drums are very conspicuous and deeply missed. I would never think this song would sound better without drums. Maybe you should have beat boxed? Just kidding.

18. The Idiot Kings- How do you get a string screech so loud whilst keeping the guitar so quiet? The 80’s new wave genre is pretty cool. The atmosphere of the song is nice. I think the vocal melody really lets down everything else that is going on. The drum machine works well for the new wave genre. The electric guitar is nice. Those string screeches are awful. I think with a catchier melody this would have been much more successful.

19. Snappy & Floyd- Way too long. I don’t like the baba o’reily reference. The Fat Boy Slim treatment of the backing track is abrasive but kinda cool. You really need a hook. Vanilla Ice sample is hilarious, almost worth the 5 minute build up.

20. Manhattan Glutton- Don’t ever sing like this again. I predict you’ll win Round One. You’ll have the fire in your belly with a lot to prove. The disparity between potential and product has never been so great. Sorry man, this is an MG dud. On the other hand the power trio has some cool moments, though I think the BPM is too slow. I do admire the risk you took. I admire the thrashing of your voice for the contest. I’m glad you submitted, and you’re in the contest. Even the solo is slow and lost.

21. Jo Ann Abbott- This is way too long for one melodic idea, and one joke. Tom’s Diner : 2:09, Fiddle and the Drum : 2:50, Uncorrected Personality Traits : 1:44. Tighten it up!

22. Boffu Yux Dudes- This is a cute novelty song. It’s kind of the exact same idea as the Wreckdom song. I don’t find it very funny, but it’s one of the better BYD songs.

[j$]

Uncorrected Personality Traits : 1:44.

While I agree that, as Luke Haines wrote, "If you can't say it in two minutes, why bother saying it at all?", it's slightly unfair to compare Joann's effort to this, one of my favourite songs of all time, as it's a 3 part a capella. It's not just the length that makes it sweet, matron. also, it's 1.46 according to youtube. Just sayin'

(for those not in the know, and cos I'm *all* over this youtube embeddin' today)

[glennny]

Yes, that recording is 3 part. When I saw him live, he did it just with one part.

[j$]

Yes, that recording is 3 part. When I saw him live, he did it just with one part.

Really? When I saw him do "I Often Dream Of Trains" (the album "that recording" comes from) live, he did it with other band members. I was so ecstatic a little bit of figurative wee came out. Perhaps he couldn't afford air fares