june contest ... GOSSIP

[pheeleep]

Before I vote, I just wanted to say that I will be looking for good million dollar songs ( there are many in the real world, and they do include instrumentals Rollasoc . Think "la femme d'argent" by Air, for example ).

Anyway, I will be voting for good songs, not emulations of bad songs. I can think of many excellent million dollar deal artists that were able to make a million without selling out or copying what everyone else was doing.

[freeztar]

freeztar - Keep It Bumpin'
...but it is hard to imagine a major label getting excited about this.

Agreed, but some day...
When American Idol has slithered into oblivion

[freeztar]

http://www.the-backups.com/0506-Lady-J--MrRightNow.mp3

Wow, just started to listen to the entries and kicked it off with this one. Puts my song to shame, as far as the theme goes.

Props!

[Lady J]

http://www.the-backups.com/0506-Lady-J--MrRightNow.mp3

Wow, just started to listen to the entries and kicked it off with this one. Puts my song to shame, as far as the theme goes.

Props!

Thanks. Like I said, I took the theme seriously and this was my bid for the record deal with one of the Big 5. That said, in an ideal world there are many entries that could and should get a major label deal. If only that were the case.

[rockstar_not]

Last page of reviews

whyterabbyt - alabaster

I wanted to hear more of the background stuff


vurt - like I care

Vurt doesn't realize his usual stuff could be signed on suspense movies and for performance art shows so he goes all RnB and throws a small tantrum after just a minute and some change.


slartbartfast - thanks for the memories

This month's theme should be 'cheeky tune for the summertime' - slartibartfast's entry fits here. This is a cool little song but the bottom end was missing on my system, particularly the kick and bass.


freeztar - keep it bumpin'

In need of a more kickin' kick and bass and less of the mids on the drums. The System ERA's track has the mix that matches the style.


Audiorn Dream - Time to Advance

I liked this as a backing track - but to me it needs a melody with a screaming lead synth or trumpet or guitar.


The System Era - let me just lite....

Bingo on the mix rapid fire rap. Minus points for the no-fade abrupt ending.



That's all my reviews from glooper's downloader program. I noticed probably 8 tracks or so that wouldn't load due to non-deep linked submissions and other reasons.

-Scott

[slartibartfast]

slartbartfast - thanks for the memories

This month's theme should be 'cheeky tune for the summertime' - slartibartfast's entry fits here. This is a cool little song but the bottom end was missing on my system, particularly the kick and bass.

Thanks, Scott. As far as the mix is concerned, this month I, for the first time, tried my track on a few different sound systems before finalising the mix and submitting (normally, I just trust my studio monitors), and I found that on most systems the low end was muddy and overpowering the remainder of the track - I tried to correct this, but obviously overdid it - at least on your system. All part of the learning process. Cheers!

[Jaidy]

Here are my last couple of entry comments for this month:

Markleford - Broken
The intro was interesting.

slartibartfast - thanks for the memories
I liked the guitar parts in the chorus and also the pop ending bit.

[slartibartfast]

slartibartfast - thanks for the memories
I liked the guitar parts in the chorus and also the pop ending bit.

Yes - it is always nice when my tracks end . Thanks for being specific about the parts you liked - it helps.

[slartibartfast]

More comments - this time on entries from Page 2

plunge - Tabasco
Love the ring on that snare! This takes a while to get going - I think the A&R man has probably switched to the next track before it gets into full swing. Needs a stronger lead - sounds a little like a backing track only, at the moment.

ZioKiller - Noisy Town
Nice smooth groove, but I think you were probably restricted by the 2 minute limit. This seems like a track that wants to keep going on and on with slow, gradual changes. Definitely a track that warrants careful listening. Great first time entry.

remco - future bride
Nice vocal and lyrics. That staccato snare sound became rather annoying after a while, but apart from that a well put together track, with simple, but effective instrumentation. On a second listen, I'm not sure that the chorus/phaser effect on the vocal quite works - I think I would have preferred a purer tone - just a subjective opinion.

Techbot - Copyright this
Name that tune! Slightly loud - there was some clipping evident on this, but it must have been quite a challenge to put so many diverse tracks into something that sounds cohesive as a whole. Major labels would definitely be interested in this track - but probably for the wrong reasons

grotman - while you were sleeping
Can't download - sorry

DanSad - Stop I know
Excellent mix and production, The clarity in this track hits you right from the start. I don't think this track needed the Autotune effect on the vocals, because other than that, this is an excellent pop track. Shortlisted.

Katanaman - AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MAN
Great indie-style rockin' track. The mix lets this down a little - quite muddy, but there is real potential shown here.

RichieBee - child of the eighties
I like this a lot - funky to the max, and this carries the vocals, which add extra interest, without being the chief focus of the track. Not sure if the bass solo quite works. Excellent mix/production - though I don't know if I would have panned the drums quite so extremely. Shortlisted.

scamme - Obvious Junetic
Unusual drum selection grabs your attention from the start. Some well constructed/chosen sounds in here, but overall, the track feels a little repetitive by the end.

M'Snah - Popstar
I would never have guessed that the girls voice wasn't real. This is an excellent pop-style track with a very strong female vocal. Nice groove, and eminently danceable and memorable. The only minor thing I would change would be the effects on the male "Feel the Groove" line. Shortlisted.

System ERA - LET ME JUST LITE THIS SHIT!
Definitely chart-ing style of music, and an excellent example of this style, musically. I like the intro, but the remainder of the lyrics leave me a little cold and uninterested - not much that grabs my attention. And that ending.....

Beardedone - It's a Deal
This is a challenging listen - some very interesting stuff going on here, as usual, but not nearly accessible enough to be of interest to a major label, I wouldn't have thought. Great use of some uniquely sounding synths - Cameleon and Symptohm Melohman.

WoJ - Eight
This track doesn't really get going till it is almost three quarters through. There is some handy quitar work, but not enough development or thematic content for me.

Ixox - The road to a 25,000,000$ deal
If movie composers get 25,000,000$, then you have a chance. I like the simple theme in this track, but would have loved to see a more lush orchestration in the second half, rather than the staccato brass and percussion - this could have built a much stronger emotional bond with this track.

pheeleep - Dreaming
This is an excellent soundtrack/ambient track with a consistent musical theme throughout, but constant variation that never becomes repetitive or boring. Very nice, but would a major label be interested in it?

[Katanaman]

Katanaman - An Open Letter to the Man
Great energy! Manic drumming perfect for headbanging! The angst gushes from the speakers.

I missed this when you posted originally. Thank you. Manic is my middle name, unfortunately...

[Beardedone]

Beardedone - It's a Deal
This is a challenging listen - some very interesting stuff going on here, as usual, but not nearly accessible enough to be of interest to a major label, I wouldn't have thought. Great use of some uniquely sounding synths - Cameleon and Symptohm Melohman.

Thanks Slartibartfast!

Challenging is a real complement!

Major label? Phooey! I would be happy if only 10 people bought my stuff.

Cheers,
Gordon

[Katanaman]

Katanaman - AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MAN
Great indie-style rockin' track. The mix lets this down a little - quite muddy, but there is real potential shown here.

Thanks. I made the mix somewhat muddy on purpose, since this is PUNK. YEAH!!! But maybe I kind of overdid it. It's good to see that you like the song, though.

[whyterabbyt]

rockstar_not quoth

whyterabbyt - alabaster

I wanted to hear more of the background stuff

You mean you wanted it mixed higher, or just a longer version?

[slartibartfast]

Final set of comments - this time from Page 1

Khepira - Let Yourself Be Free
This may well make its way onto the dance charts. Well produced and mixed and both familiar enough in style not to be threatening, but distinctive enough to be different. Well done. Shortlisted.

TristezaOrange - Coastal Town
The intro seems a little long, Sweet tune, and nice flute harmonies, although the organ is a little cheesy. Reminds me a little of some of the music on early kids computer games - will this be a potential market for major labels?

...xander - Slow Down Jackie
And now for something completely different..... Love that big band sound. Sounds like you needed to smoke a few more packs of fags before you nailed that vocal, and the reverb on the lead vocal is possibly a little heavy, but these are minor quibbles about a great track. If a major label isn't interested in this type of music, then they should be. Shortlisted.

knockman - The Contract
Disturbingly ethereal (or vice versa). Very different, but ultimately, not very commercial, I suspect - especially given the lyrical content.

Seus Hawkins - Suicide Booth
I somehow managed to get hold of this before you withdrew it, so will review anyway. Love the bass and percussion intro, and the organ build - however, the track doesn't really go anywhere from there. Appropriate vocals were needed, I think - or some other melodic interest. Pity you chose to withdraw, as this track has great potential.

VitaminD - midnight is a destination
You have nailed that kick-hihat combo really well, and there is lots of interest in here. Section between 0:22 and the changeup at 0:34 gets a little repetitive however. And I'm not sure that the changeup works either - I would have preferred to have the drum beats continue throughout. A worthy entry, however.

peppy197 - Power Peanuts
Like the percussion in the intro, but the whole track seems a little mechanical (quantised?) and feels like it could use a little more organic growth and/or syncopation. Love the ending, however.

Hovmod - Record Deal
Great hard rocking guitar work. Not sure having the guitar solo panned hard right is a good idea, and I would have probably had this section between the verses rather than at the end.

donkey tugger - timberlake
Great to hear something a little different from your usual fare. Great parody, had me grinning like a Cheshire Cat throughout. Well constructed, produced and performed. Shortlisted.

Wopelka - MC Wopelka (The New Man)
Love that lofi drum groove and this has a nice feel to it. Unfortunately, for we English speakers, lyrics are just about everything in this style of music, and so it is hard to critique. Great effort to meet this month's theme.

You™ - Athens
Lovely laid-back country feel, with some sweet vocal harmonies. Couldn't help feeling that the electric guitar was a little intrusive, however, and that the track may have worked better with this either missing altogether, or moved much further back in the mix - this might give it a bit of a homier, less polished, "sittin' on the porch" type of feel to it which I think would work well with this style of music.

Paulie Phonick - DJ Paulie Phonick vs John Cage - 4'33" (RaceAgainstTime Edit)
Enchanting - but I am still waiting to hear a version of this song that I can turn up to 11, and have it drown out all other sounds

farlukar - Oiiftm
Dark and brooding trance. A few more filter sweeps, and the first part of this track could be used in a movie "chase" scene. Love the subtle chime sounds.

AndreasE - Melrock
This has a great mix and excellent production. The track itself is interesting with some nice development and variation - I am not sure whether it is Top 40 material, but I am sure that this could be used very effectively in computer game music, which is probably at least as important a market.

That's all for now - time to sleep on it and think about voting tomorrow. Some great tracks this month (as always), and I hope you have found my comments useful.

[Hovmod]

Hovmod - Record Deal
Great hard rocking guitar work. Not sure having the guitar solo panned hard right is a good idea, and I would have probably had this section between the verses rather than at the end.

Heh - thanks.
The solo is hard right because the one that was panned right was the one I decided to go nuts on towards the end. You have to realize I didn't plan anything in this song. I threw out a drum track skeleton, recorded one take on the bass (that's where the structure came from), threw down three guitar tracks (pre-panned) and then decided to sing. When I played the solo, I didn't know it was going to have voice, and I didn't know it was panned right. I think I was panned a bit left myself at the time

And then I mixed and mastered and posted before I could change my mind...

So I think I agree with you on the structure, but the way the song was born, I'm surprised it has a structure at all

Maybe I shouldn't give away all this info until voting is over...

Thanks anyway mate. Hard-rocking was what I went for, I suppose.