august contest - GOSSIP

[Beardedone]

GuitarJeff wrote:

Beardedone wrote:
Markleford and Sepheritoh.
Thanks so much for the support!

I do know that I have found my own way of doing things that hopefully is unique. It is something I am quite proud of. It helps that I try to be my harshest critic.


You should be proud of it! Your music is very well done and you do have a distinct style.

Not everyone likes complex music, but many of us do!!!

Thanks man!

[vishals]

A couple more reviews:

The KVR-I'm Loving It - Vishalshetye

I'm not a huge fan of this style, but this is really well done. I'd like to hear your voice a little louder in the mix, because it sounds like you sing well. The Accordian part is cool!

I thought my voice isn't good so tried to hide it in the mix!

Well thanks for that!

[freeztar]

More Reviews:

Cheeso - Couldn't play your song!!?

Knockman - Really cool feeling in this one. I like how you placed the vocals across the stereo image, it really adds to that nice ambience. The only thing I might change is the string solo. I think a fade in would sound nice there and maybe some extra eq'ing to cut it through the mix.

Sciche - Nice tune! I like the intro and build up. The drums are quite nice too. I'm stretching to find a criticism, so take this with a grain of salt, but perhaps a little eq'ing on the master would tighten up the mix a little.

jdg - I kept trying to figure out what kind of song it was going to be through the intro and I changed my mind at least 6 times. This is a very original sounding peice and I really like some of the sounds you got (especially that pad/organy thing, absynth?). It is perhaps a little to chaotic and slow building for me.

Rsmus7 - Interesting arrangement, but the mix has some issues. I hear the pad and bass fighting and when the guitar comes in it the mix drops out below it. It doesn't seem like phase issues so it might be a combination of eq(not enough) and compression(too much).

Barnadine - Nice mellow feeling. I like the lyrics and the arrangement as a whole. I could go without the clock sounds (delayed/muted guitar strums?). I get the idea, but it doesn't work for me with that sound. A very nice tune though!

Markleford - Wow! Two really good ideas combined into a beautiful synthesis here. Your voice really hits it and I dig the horns. TMBG would definitly be proud!

nikp2000 - Nice, it has a J.J. Cale feeling at the beginning which is a big compliment because he is my biggest guitar idol. I really like the arrangement and the sitar . There are some definite timing issues with the guitar, which weakens the piece quite a bit. The synth that comes in at 1:14 is too loud in my opinion. Besides these issues, this is a very nice groove and a nice listen.

ColG - Cool. You definitly have a signature sound. I would prefer to hear a real guitar (or other instrument) instead of the quikly plucked fake one. I can't remember if I've said it already, but you have some nice video game sounds.

Erki - Good mix and I like the pads. It quickly gets a little too cheesy for me, but that doesn't detract from its professionalism. Could be nice music for a movie.

Koorby - NICE piano! Actually all of it is nice. The dynamics are superb and very realistic. Good stuff, nothing bad to say about this.

Sepheritoh - GPO continues to impress me, especially when used in such a fantastic way. I would have liked to hear the guitar a little less compressed and up-front, but that is a pretty minor complaint. I loved this one, the best I've heard from you yet!

bagungie - Intersting blend of Elevator/Light Jazz and eighties synths. But, I didn't really like this one at all. It's done just fine, but too flowery for me (personal opinion).

Haghi - Bring that lead guitar up front, center stage. It lies in the background the first part of the song and just begs for attention. I'd bring the drums way down and mix again to get a tighter feel. It sounds too chaotic most of the time.

Paradiddle - It's got a nice dance beat, but everything else about it is kind of anti-dance. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but with a beat so strong, my ears/brain expect a certain interplay (damn the years of conditioning).

Shane Sanders - Not familiar with Nico's music. I like some parts of this, but most of it is too cheesy for me. I do like the strings and drums.

Pheeleep - The sounds are fantastic, but I don't feel a completet synthesis. I would definitly dance to this if it came on at a club. It's dark and happy, dubby and edgey. Nice.

Guitarjeff - You've got some serious talent! This song is totally ripping guitar mania 70's rock and roll. The only thing I might critic here is the cymbals. At times they seem a little disconnected from the rest of everything. That is REALLY minor though and a stretch for me to find something wrong at all.

Ixox - Awesome! I love this kind of stuff, and while not as expressive as the real thing perhaps, you did a great job of bringing expressiveness to the instruments. The tuba sounds superb as do the bones. Perhaps a little bit more instrument separation along the frequency band would make it clearer where all the instruments are playing at once. I like the vinyl idea, but it just doesn't work for me how you did it. This is a really excellent peice though and a definite keeper .

Vishalshetye - Nice arrangement and dynamics. The fade out does not work for me. I also thing the vocals should be brought up (don't be shy). The synth that comes up with the vocals the first few times is a little too loud for me (it caps the dynamic range several decibels above everything else). Good stuff though and groovable. P.S. You don't need the "the" . (still kinda works though)

aMUSED - Couldn't follow the vocals because I was tripping out on the music . I'd pull the vocals up and make them pronounced. The music should be subservient to the lyrics in this case (in my opinion). I think that alone would make this a more enjoyable listen. Kudos for the strangeness.

[nikp2000]

Nice, it has a J.J. Cale feeling at the beginning which is a big compliment because he is my biggest guitar idol. I really like the arrangement and the sitar . There are some definite timing issues with the guitar, which weakens the piece quite a bit. The synth that comes in at 1:14 is too loud in my opinion. Besides these issues, this is a very nice groove and a nice listen.

Thanks for the nice review! I was going for a kind of behind the beat rootsy southern thing for the first section, but I fell off the timing train a bit

Nick

[Cheeso]

More Reviews:

Cheeso - Couldn't play your song!!?

Still? It's hosted by Audioshot and I accessed it from work and home...dammit!

[pheeleep]

Thanks so much for the review Freeztar.

Indeed, I do feel like I can step it up another level. When I have more time.. I will.. For example, I regret not putting in some piano.. and the drums need more variation..

Just knowing that you would dance to it is the highest compliment. I was aiming to make some boodies shake with this one.

[Patrick9]

Finally got my song up - Stargazing - for all you romantics out there.

Now for some serious listening.

[Sepheritoh]

Sepheritoh - GPO continues to impress me, especially when used in such a fantastic way. I would have liked to hear the guitar a little less compressed and up-front, but that is a pretty minor complaint. I loved this one, the best I've heard from you yet!

Thanks man. You make me feel very good. Yup, that GPO is really amazing. A truelly great investment.

[RichieBee]

i would like to enter but i do not have my own site yet.
would anyone be willing to host a track for me.

thanks.

I'd be happy to host your tune if you're still in need.

E-mail me if you want it...


Rich

[astanine]

Thanks for your offer Richiebee,

its being hosted by Mystahr.

[Erki]

Thanks to everyone who commented on my song. Almost everyone says it´s cheesy, and well i guess it is haha. When i made it i had just watched an old swedish fantasy movie from the 70/80:is called "The lionheart brothers". And it has that cheesy sound to it, synth-ish string sound with some synth harp-ish stuff going on. So i was inspired by that.

As for the all the tracks in this contest, someone said the overal quality was bad, but i do´nt see how? There are loads of songs i´ll keep and listen to again and again here.

[Guitarjeff]

More Reviews:


Guitarjeff - You've got some serious talent! This song is totally ripping guitar mania 70's rock and roll. The only thing I might critic here is the cymbals. At times they seem a little disconnected from the rest of everything. That is REALLY minor though and a stretch for me to find something wrong at all.

Thanks for the nice words Freeztar. Also thanks for mentioning the cymbal thing as well. I love getting constructive input that makes me go back and see what I could maybe do better. That's the only way to grow and get better at this craft!

Cheers!

[knockman]

had a busy week, got some catching up to do

first a quick thanks to eveyone for the reviews.

Guitarjeff - i'm glad this takes you back, i'm trying to catch a sound that harks back to british psychedelia '67/'68. there's a certain airiness that elludes me.

Farlukar - i'm glad this reminds you of... despite what i said just above, i rarely foresee how anything will turn out when i begin, it's usually my vocal that sends it backward in time. i'm not very contemporary except in technology used.

Thomasc_dk - glad to get your review. the corn factor is a tricky one to get right - for years i tried to erradicate it, but it's an indelible stain that i've grown to love - my turin shroud

Freeztar - thanks for the advice, now i listen i hear the need for that fade as for eq'ing thats my biggest headache and constant challenge. i'm gaining a huge amount of benefit from KvR

hope i haven't missed any reviewers - now i have a weeks worth of submissions to enjoy.

regards

[knockman]

oops! sorry nikp2000 i missed your review

Quirky is my game, or one of them, and cabaret will be soon

edit: this is my 'Heinz' post - sorry, just getting into a cabaret mood!

regards

[knockman]

some more reviews (sorry not real ones as such, more perculiar ramblin') apologies in advance for any humour that misses the mark

baggio - this is rather like super furry animals, of whom i'm a big fan. it's wonderfully 'lithe' in its own way. do you ever add vocals to your tunes? hope so.

mystahr - can't dance myself so don't know what kind of dance music this is, but i like it. the last thing i want to hear when visiting kvr is an old git like myself warblin' away about nothing in particular. i come to listen to other peoples' worlds, so much appreciated.

cheeso - forgive my british delusions, but on listening to this, in my head i instantly saw grainy black and white footage of industrial towns in northern england enjoying less than prosperous times. i guess that's far removed from alhambra ca (not to mention the songs title). just goes to show how 'complete' and effective this piece is. whenever music sets my head projecting and reeling away i know i'm onto something good. cheers

jdg - don't have a subwoofer, but the other 'apparatus' i could manage. gonna be studying your panning on the headphones - lots for me to investigate here.

markleford - top arrangements, i've never really pursued they might be giants, though i'm a fan of quirk. do you listen to optiganally yours per chance? your tune put me in mind of them. i'll be digging out their cds later. thanks

nikp2000 - nice 'live' feel. i like the guitar 'swimming' along - sorry i lack terminology here, perhaps it's doing breaststroke? great.

Col.G - i'm currently undergoing dental treatment, not wisdoms but two root canals, so i instantly got into this! i'm taking some orange tablets, did they give you any medication? goodstuff!

Erki - is it called 'butter' because it's smooth? works for me!

Sepheritoh - wow! when i lived in the uk i could never get the GPO to deliver like that! (sorry crap joke) this is truly beautiful and obviously accomplished music. the only thing i don't like are the curtains behind the guitars in the photo, though i can't hear them on the recording!

Haghi - some great sounds in there. please buy a microphone - some vocals would really lift this. i'm glad to say i didn't hear any bryan adams in it! phew!

paradiddle - couln't stream or download

shane saunders - i anticipated something more solemn when i read the post, i guess there's the dark thing with the harmonium. the synth noises remind me of allen ravenstein's work in pere ubu circa 1979/80, which i love of course. i can't reference to the violin, other than to say that ztar thing must be wonderfully a fluid tool. a very interesting and satisfying piece.

pheeleep - another reminiscent piece. this time of 'space' the french (i believe) electro group of the seventies famous for 'magic fly'. nice!

Guitarjaff - once again i'm reminded that my own strengths lie not in musicianship, but in ...where?

Ixox - big fan of your stuff - another piece to make me ponder and reflect. thanks!

vishals - a very happy sound, good for smiling to, plus my infant son, a good barometer of positivity, is now dancing.

aMUSEd - i came to this at just the right time. i recently picked up a cd of futurism and dada, mostly spoken word, but also including some luigi russolo noise machine music (if only it were a dvd!) anyway this is the first time i've heard anselm hollo, it's true he has a marvelous delivery. thanks for the introduction.

AndrewSimon - there's a great piece in this, i don't know if it's a bridge or what but it starts at 0:55 - very nice indeed

Patrick9 - i'll be singing this alot over the next few days, it's perfect for practising vibrato, and it's fully lodged in my head. perhaps i'll sing it to the wife tonight

astanine - echo my comment to pheeleep. dam i only have a vinyl copy of 'magic fly' and no turntable! once again kvr prompts me to spend money! consider this a compliment indeed.

Rays - very striking dynamic from the word go! and clean sounds - really announces itself. i'd like it to develop into a song structure with vocals and all, but hey! i'm old fashioned. anyway another piece to study for sounds. thanks

have i filled the page yet? sorrow if any typos or name spelling errors etc but this was a long session

regards