june contest ... GOSSIP

[rockstar_not]

Hovmod wrote this over in the Voting thread and I agree with it wholeheartedly - I thought it bears repeating (even though he didn't vote for me )

I decided the theme means nothing to me, and I can't think like a record company in the first place. I wouldn't have signed Britney or Justin or Beyoncé or Puff Daddy or Eminem, so I can't have much of a nose for money. And I'm broke and don't even own my own guitar, so nobody would pick me to lisrten to the demos either...

So I decided to go for the stuff I like, not the stuff I think is signable (or worse (much worse!), the stufff that sounds like music already on heavy rotation on MTV).

these are simply the songs that I could stand hearing over again a few times, that gave me something on the first listen or that simply charmed me in some way. It's a vote for friendly music making and laughs, for love and... Oh, barf. Never mind. Here are the votes from the Hovmod jury:

-Scott

[kovacs]

It always boils down to personal opinion and gut feeling anyway...we're not music execs. I always take the topics lightly - it is too much a Free for all competition for me. I know I wrote a little "drunk exec" snippet in my first review post but frankly it boils down to when you listen, the mood you're in, what you like and what you don't like. (And how many tracks you've listened to by then...).

[griels]

I decided the theme means nothing to me, and I can't think like a record company in the first place. I wouldn't have signed Britney or Justin or Beyoncé or Puff Daddy or Eminem, so I can't have much of a nose for money.

Hmm, I must be one of the few people to disagree with this sentiment... In fact I love some modern R'n'B... Mostly more obscure stuff than Britney etc. however... More Michelle Ndegeocello or Gabriel Rene. In fact I highly respect Justin Timberlake as a talented performer and singer. And to my ears the Neptunes have some of the most innovative sound design around.

The contest seemed to be predominantly and indie guitar pop fest, and it's the more guitarry stuff that I often find hardest to abide (especially such monstrosities as that 'Gay Bar' single or the flurry of nu metal bilge).

And while I didn't really dig Lady J's tune that much, as far as a signable song, I think it was well up there... Although there were quite a few other contenders... I didn't vote on finesse/production alone though, it's just what caught my ear in whatever way.

[Hovmod]

Hey, I realize no problem that some of you will agree and some will disagree and that's why I used the words "I" and "me" a lot in that little speech...

[griels]

Indeed... It's just garage, R'n'B (old and new), soul and jazzy stuff are things I'm passionate about and sometimes I feel in a minority here at KVR... But at the end of the day, it's only music

[rockstar_not]

I decided the theme means nothing to me, and I can't think like a record company in the first place. I wouldn't have signed Britney or Justin or Beyoncé or Puff Daddy or Eminem, so I can't have much of a nose for money.

Hmm, I must be one of the few people to disagree with this sentiment... In fact I love some modern R'n'B... Mostly more obscure stuff than Britney etc. however... More Michelle Ndegeocello or Gabriel Rene. In fact I highly respect Justin Timberlake as a talented performer and singer. And to my ears the Neptunes have some of the most innovative sound design around.

The contest seemed to be predominantly and indie guitar pop fest, and it's the more guitarry stuff that I often find hardest to abide (especially such monstrosities as that 'Gay Bar' single or the flurry of nu metal bilge).

And while I didn't really dig Lady J's tune that much, as far as a signable song, I think it was well up there... Although there were quite a few other contenders... I didn't vote on finesse/production alone though, it's just what caught my ear in whatever way.

Griels,

I've got nothing against RnB or dance/pop - I like it as well if it's well done and memorable. But to be memorable, there has to be a memorable musical hook, or at least one clever lyric, for me to recall it days later. The best pop songs still are built on that.

For example, of all the lyrics of all the 'sung' songs in this month's contest, it's Respirator's 'Biggest Hit' lyrics that keep me giggling days after last listening to it.

That's memorable. If I were a record exec (which I'm not), I'm looking for artists to make songs which you can't forget. I can't forget that one - one of the reasons it made it into my list. If you have a memorable lyric, you can always get a song built around it.

-Scott

[Markleford]

Markleford [...] My only gripe would be that the tempo is slightly slow for me.

It's slow for me, too: 95 bpm, while I usually write at 100 bpm since it's my default sequencer tempo!

There's a bit of "plodding" to the groove, which is how my brain thought it up in the dream, so who am I to argue?

The singing is deliciously off pitch here and there...maybe even I can do a vocal piece now.

I do recommend that people try anything new whenever possible in these contests! I think that it's a great opportunity for us to stretch and learn. Sometimes a "naive" approach to an instrument brings out a freshness to the line, and with vocals you can definitely fall back on emotion and expression instead of technique and talent.

As for being off-pitch, the chorus from my dream was in this key, so it sounded wrong when I tried to transpose it. I guess it's the curse of a strong sense of pitch-memory. Unfortunately, I have a very limited vocal range, so hitting those top notes were a pain!

As for the verse vocals, feel free to use the same technique: double-tracked off pitch sound better than solo off pitch vocals! Oh, and obviously my industrial forefathers recognized that using distortion and other effects (pitch shift down -5 for the verse) also helps mask things...

Of course the alternative was rehearsing, tracking multiple takes, or using pitch correction, but like you mention somehow it seemed just fine in the context of the song, and that's something I aspire to.

So what the heck: I called it a demo and figured I'd polish off a real production of it later. In fact, as mentioned, my wife is demanding it now, so there's no escaping it!

Thanks for the ears and words,
- m

[griels]

Griels,

I've got nothing against RnB or dance/pop - I like it as well if it's well done and memorable. But to be memorable, there has to be a memorable musical hook, or at least one clever lyric, for me to recall it days later. The best pop songs still are built on that.

Doubtless... It's just a question of what you consider memorable... To take this argument to its logical extreme (and I'm not applying this to anyone in particular), a purist classical music fan will probably think all pop sounds the same, and a purist metal fan will probably think all jazz probably sounds the same.

For example, of all the lyrics of all the 'sung' songs in this month's contest, it's Respirator's 'Biggest Hit' lyrics that keep me giggling days after last listening to it. That's memorable.

Didn't do that much for me, although I did enjoy it... Personally I found Donkey's song one of the most memorable tunes...

If I were a record exec (which I'm not), I'm looking for artists to make songs which you can't forget. I can't forget that one - one of the reasons it made it into my list. If you have a memorable lyric, you can always get a song built around it.

-Scott

Fair play... It's all subjective, and like I say, it's only rock'n'roll

P.S. Great tune, very memorable also... Love how raw and exposed it is

[AndreasE]

whyterabbyt, thanks for the vote.

[whyterabbyt]

griels quoth
The contest seemed to be predominantly and indie guitar pop fest

Thats funny, because I thought it was predominantly rap and dance music variations

[griels]

griels quoth
The contest seemed to be predominantly and indie guitar pop fest

Thats funny, because I thought it was predominantly rap and dance music variations

Nah, there was just less guitar guff and ambient thoundthcapeth than usual

[whyterabbyt]

'predominantly' but 'less than usual'

[griels]

'predominantly' but 'less than usual'

Yes, i.e. 'less than the usual s**t loads but still in the majority'

[Beardedone]

Beardedone - It's a deal
Man, this is weird stuff. I needed a few listens on this one. Some cool instrument choices. Neat break around the middle, with following upbeat rhythms. I think it could have benefited from a lead but it might ruin the mood. Great use of drums, DFH or BFD for sure.

Thanks Kovacs!

A lead line would only make sense if this was extended. I would think a Jaco-style fretless bass solo might work. The melody line maybe could have been brought forward a tad more.

My music sure ain't maistream. I am just happy that I have found some kind of voice even though it is mostly with the aid of all this technology. Ironically though I am not interested in competing in the Pop arena, there have been aa number of pop songs that completely bowl me over - e.g. Nora Jones "Sunrise", Lisa Loeb's "Stay" and Michael Jackson's "Beat It" I still love though I cannot say why. I imagine the Lisa Loeb got me because of the adorable video she did.

Such guity pleasures always surprise me. I reassure myself in remembering that one of my musical Gods, Glenn Gould, was literally obsessed with Petula Clark after hearing her hit song "Downtown". So I feel I am in good company in actually well more like a subatomic speck in the musical firmament going along for the ride.

Cheers,
Gordon

[You™]

Well the lyrics to my song were a reference to the city Athens in the US state Georgia - not the cradle of democracy. And an unfortunate night many years ago when we my wife, her dad and I took a road trip to Texas. Driving back, we couldn't find a hotel, so we all slept in the car at a deserted weigh station in Georgia. Being trapped in a car for days (and nights) with your in-laws is like crossing the Rubicon. There's no going back.

Thanks for all the reviews. They're really appreciated.