Round 2 Reviews

[ross]

Post your thoughts here. Who will move on, who will be eliminated? Who got dsq-ed and why?

Happy reviewing :-)

[ross]

Hmmm. The popular vote did not go very well for me.

[caravanray]

Jul 21, 2012 2:27:34 GMT -5 ross said:

Hmmm. The popular vote did not go very well for me.

I wouldn't worry about the popular vote. I don't think it means much here.

What you should worry about is that I didn't vote for you. (OK - I didn't vote for anyone - but if I did ...dot..dot..dot...)

You sounded uncomfortable out of your zone Ross. And I couldn't detect any irony. Was I missing something?

[thechocolatechips]

there doesn't appear to be any relationship between quality and votes ... i'm pretty sure it's just some people bothering to vote many times (it's pretty clear who those folks are...) and others not so much.

I don't think I am going to do a full round of reviews but... I was really impressed by this one: "Hurricane" by Mariah Mercedes.

[ross]

Jul 21, 2012 6:14:01 GMT -5 caravanray said:

You sounded uncomfortable out of your zone Ross. And I couldn't detect any irony. Was I missing something?

No irony intended - I just tried to write and inspirational song that would be good to work out to. Not my usual thing, but that's the point of a challenge, right? Bummer that I sounded uncomfortable

[thechocolatechips]

My personal favorites ... not at all objective.

1. Mariah Mercedes - Great performance (particularly the singing.) Great song. The recording/mix is a bit garage band (not the software, original '60s meaning)... but it's good enough to get across the song which was by far my favorite of these 15.

2. Jeremy Lambright - Reminds me of Air. Doesn't quite work as an instrumental (comes close though, I think) ... but I really dig the sound of this so I'm putting it at #2 anyway.

3. Godz Poodlz - I like this one although it doesn't seem very on target as far as the challenge (seems like more of a chillout track than something motivational...)

4. BYD/Chris Cogott - I'm hearing a lot of cool different influences here (The Who. The Beastie Boys. Van Halen.) Fun lyrics but it's really the music that I'm digging. Great guitars & synths. Maybe a bit over the top but it fits the style.

5. Caravan Ray - Pretty darn weird and I tend to like weird. That said; I'm not crazy about the song and it does seem a bit too repetitive. At its best it reminds me of The Beta Band.

6. Menage a Tune - I think this is a pretty cool track (I like the '60s vibe --- although that's kind of ruined with the piano breakdown which doesn't sound quite right to me) but I also think it doesn't work as a "motivational" song lyrically... but it rocks a bit, I can imagine someone listening to it on a stationary bike.

7. Jailhouse Payback - I like some of the melodies quite a bit but it feels a bit like a bunch of different ideas squished together in an awkward sort of way.

8. Governing Dynamics - Impressive guitar work but has a bit of a downer vibe to it to me. At its best it reminds me of some Modest Mouse stuff I like.

9. Felix Frost - I respect the ambition to do something unique and interesting that I hear in this track. But it doesn't quite grab me enough to really make me pay attention. Some of it sounds a bit too much like video game music for my tastes.

10. Ross Durand - I think this mix could use a fuller sound. I'm not crazy about the guitar tone but the playing is good. I enjoyed the little guitar break.

11. Glenn Raphael - I kinda like the music (there are some catchy bits in there) but the "pump down the volume" lyric is forced and the production is a bit of a mess.

12. RC - Pretty well done for this kind of thing (obviously the judges thought so) ... I just happen to not like this kind of music. It's good and pretty catchy but ... just too cheesy. It sounds like the theme song to a TV show I wouldn't watch. I would say if I was a judge trying to be objective it'd probably be my #1 or #2 out of these 15 because it is catchy, well performed, and well recorded. My rankings are just my personal favorites based on my own taste (which is how real people listen to music... they aren't trying to be "objective.")

13. Gorbzilla - I've noticed my taste doesn't seem very similar to most of the judges... and that's alright. This one just didn't work for me.

14. Edric Haleen - A serious case of "not my cup of tea" ... but it looks like the judges quite like this kind of tea. Objectively it's good for what it is and I understand why other people like it...

15. Rats of the Sky - Irritating overcompression makes it hard to listen to (particularly in comparison to the low volume of the previous track.) A little limiting is alright (I use it - but I try to be gentle) but no need to start a loudness war!

[caravanray]

OK - no actual reviews - (except for a few comments for the songs I really liked). But I will place the song sin my order of preference:

I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR (if I remembered to vote):

The Chocolate Chips - Nothing Can Stop You (this is cool. Good job)

RC - Get Up (hate to say it - but damn this chorus sounds
like something else - if I think of what it is - I'll tell you - whatever - good job)

Rats Of The Sky - Dance To The Groove Libido (slightly sloppy vocals - but promising. Entertaining. Is one of you blokes from Aus?)

Mariah Mercedes - Hurricane (great performance)

Godz Poodlz - In The Zone

The Boffo Yux Dudes / Chris Cogott - Big, Bigger, Best

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These were the other songs:


Ross Durand - Win

Felix Frost - The Frost Mine

Ménage a Tune - Run!

Gorbzilla featuring The Gorbzookies

Governing Dynamics - Forward

__________________________________________

And these were the songs I expected to be eliminated:

Jailhouse Payback - Kick Your Routine

Glen Raphael - Pump Down The Volume

Edric Haleen - One More Step

Jeremy Lambright - Shut Up And Dance