Score: 3

"slipping off beats & no changes."

submission: House of the rising sun-guitar

date: May 4, 2008

The notes are brilliantly played and I'm guessing it's 2 tracks?

It seems like it's constantly slipping off the beat though - you might want to make a practice of tapping your foot whilst playing - I know it certainly helps me stay in beat!

It is of course short and unoriginal. I guess you purposely didn't want to change much and were just doing a 'demo' to make it easier on yourself?

Still, it'd have been nice if you'd have added some 'twist' to this - when I hear a cover, it's always preferable to hear a new interpretation, rather than just a new performance of the same notation. With a cover like this, you'r just asking to be compared to the original and that's almost always going to be unfavourable.

Also, I don't really understand why you didn't finish it. Seems abrupt & makes it worse.

Keep at it though - you've got skills!

Score: 5

"Not really to my taste. :-/"

submission: Hey There Delilah Suck My Dick

date: April 27, 2008

Essentially, I found this song pleasant enough to listen to, but it just didn't make me laugh.

The guitar part's fairly well played, but it sounds like you could have let some notes ring for a little more. It's a tiny bit stilted.

Did you use some sort of echo effect for your chorus?

I think I've only heard one version of the original and that was a while ago. Your voice seems kinda similar to the slightly whiny, kinda 'raw' voice I remember.

It was mixed well, there weren't any glitches I heard, the volumes seemed perfect...

The lyrics were reasonably well written, though it is a 1-joke show. It made me smile a little the first time I heard it, but essentially it just doesn't tickle my funny bone.

-Review Request Club-

Score: 8

"A cool energy. Kinda loops. Racing/working."

submission: Passionate Playing-UMSL

date: April 27, 2008

This had me rocking and swaying whilst it was playing.
I got up for some dancing, but found myself slowing.
Maybe more beats would inspire my feet?
Maybe it's perfect for listening whilst working.

The beats early on are great. Later on though, they fade back a tad too much for my liking.

I think you could have come back in a bit earlier at the 1min mark.

I felt the tune really seemed to be running out of steam from 1:30-1:56. Maybe that could be cut back a bit.

I loved the switch-up at 1:57 and 2:12.

The last third of the tune sounds fantastic - little noises breaking up the melody. Cool beats.

My suggestion is basically to introduce a bit more variation into the 1:20-1:56 mark, maybe keep the beats going a bit more and maybe introduce some heavier beats.

A lot better than your other tune - I could really dance to this.

-Review Request Club-

Score: 3

"overly simple melody. Nothing much happens."

submission: BoomChick-Demo-UMSL

date: April 27, 2008

It was kinda interesting reading those stats, though I must admit I don't know what automation clips, sound fonts or percussion fonts are.

essentially, this is a cool tune, but way too short to really be enjoyed, I felt.

The starting melody is simple, enjoyable, but sounds a bit derivative. Maybe too simple.

The melody that comes in at 0:22 was pretty funky, if uninspiring, but just as it seems to be leading to something, it stops.

With a tune this short, I suggest you maybe have it loop.

The instruments you used do sound pretty cool. I'm guessing most of those tracks were echoing one of the 3 frontmost tracks I hear?

I didn't enjoy this too much, but I hope my criticisms were useful for you.

-Review Request Club-

Score: 7

"Good for a 1-level rhythm-based avoidance game..."

submission: In-Rush

date: April 27, 2008

A kinda funky beat going on.

I liked the little explosion at 0:28.

Though you keep up the same basic beats here and the same sorta droning melody that constantly falls, there is a fair bit of fun variation.

I like the varying volumes and it sounds like you sorta cut off the treble/bass of some channels at some points.

The whistle at 0:41 and 0:46 aren't easy on the ears, so I'm glad you didn't keep them up.

Really, this is an awesome tune - kinda unemotional, but full of energy. By only gripe is that it's too short! If you could keep up the variations, this would merit a full 3-6 minute tune imo.

This might be good for some sort of rhythm-based one-level avoidance game.

-Review Request Club0

Score: 4

"Enh."

submission: 2'29''

date: April 25, 2008

There are a few bits of noise in the audio. I dunno if that's the mic hitting off something else or what.

I would have expected you to just leave the mic unplugged for this!

Regarding the piece - whether the sped-up version or the original - I guess the most interesting part is in the reactions. Sitting in a concert hall, I'd be interested to wee how others were reacting - specially on the opening night.

4:33 seems similar to Duchamp's urinal, which created the field of modern art. Uninspiring in and off itself, but its mere presence sent shockwaves through the field, though not necessarily changing it for the better.

Score: 7

"Great song, well played."

submission: Metal (S.C.)*

date: April 20, 2008

The tune rings a bell, but I can barely remember the original so can't compare.

I like the piano intro and the little roll and harder beats before the vocals work well.

I understand that you've probably distorted the voice to make it fit better, but it does mean I can barely understand any words. If you're gonna distort it that much, I feel lik you might as well distort it more, making it sound more instrumental, alien and maybe interesting - as is, because I can 'almost' understand some lyrics, it becomes annoying - I feel like maybe I'm meant to know what you're saying.

The instruments that pop up at 1:48 are pretty cool.

I feel you could have had some harder beats and some more variations in volume - at times it was lacking a little punch.

Still an awesome tune though and nicely performed.
-review request Club-

Score: 8

"Beautiful. Uplifting, yet sombre."

submission: Prelude pour la Gaieté

date: April 20, 2008

A beautiful piece, the bass drums, tinkerbell(?) and choir work wonderfully. Another piece that I struggle to criticise.

Instead, here's an exploration of the story I'd animate if I were to spend the time to do this tune justice:

As a young boy, I sat down, doodling in my German book, avoiding work. the character came alive for a moment, but walked ungainly. More characters were created and more characters joined the flock. With better-drawn arms and legs, they were freely able to walk and exist with each other!

The stream of creations became a river that poured from my pen; from my mind; from my computer; from my fingers. They raced through the internet, through paintings, games and other art, finding a place in people's hearts. Worlds became populated and soon flourished!

But nothing lasts forever. Eventually, the flow was stemmed and my ideas waned. I passed on and was eventually forgotten about. My work went out of fashion and after my death my world started to die too.

But there were a few who continued to read, to look, to play, to explore. And my world planted its seed in a fresh mind and the cycle started anew.

-Review Request Club0.

Score: 8

"Another wonderful piece of music."

submission: Thoughts*

date: April 20, 2008

Sounds like your typical techno-jazz style but it seems you're using a greater variety of percussion here.

What's that sound that first pops up at 17s and then once ever 2s for a wee while?

Specially when we get into the middle of the track, there's a lot going on. Melody, counter-melody. Electric piano, scrapey wood thing, bells, drums, change, move, change, go on. I do so love the way you change it up.

You'd like a shining example to everyone - of how a tune should meander. Of how it can use a few well-placed instruments here and there to massive effect.

Bearing in mind that I'm only throwing in this criticism as I consider a review without criticism to be not a proper review, you could have maybe returned to the starting melody less often.

-Review Request Club-

Score: 9

"Fantastic. (use for a Crimduder pickle flash?)"

submission: Swimming

date: April 20, 2008

I love this track! Such an upbeat vibe, it'd be great for a CD to play during a limbo party or just when jiving along.

Or maybe for repeatedly shouting 'pickle' to and making a flash honouring Criminal Duder's love of pickles. For some reason, I think it works really well.

The 2 vocal samples both work really well. What are they?

I liked how - though the steel drums get into a routine for the first half of the song - it really meanders and keeps itself fresh, as is your typical style.

Is it maracas that I hear at 0:40 and 1:14?

I'm not gonna find anything to criticise, so I'm gonna stop trying.

Well done. You've surpassed yourself and it's great to hear a new sound from you.