I Can't Believe I Ate the Yellow. (When it Snowed Reviews)

[ken]

Watch out where the huskies go and don't you eat that yellow snow.
-Frank Zappa

[Bolio]

Awesome song Ken, that's the first thing I thought of too!

[Sleazy_D]

(overall, production)

Ants(invisible) - Love the beginning... the piano is very well played. or at least, very well quantized. The shifting pitch/time would drive anyone with perfect pitch insane. (8, 9)

Boltolph - Live piano.... nice. Don't know if the words are more funny, or more true.... I like it. Definately a deep cut (7,7)

Caravan Ray - Nice and simple. I like the vocals.... WTF? 808 kick? This is turning silly. Granted, I love the topic of the song. Weird drum selection aside, I think this recording could use a little better mic selection/placement... it lacks a certain balance in the frequency spectrum. (5, 5)

Cashmere Cat - It's got a good Beatles-esque trippy feel to it. I like the production on this. (7,8)

Casio Choir - uh... uh... uh... (3,7)

The Cats Boys - These vocals need to be much more up-front. The timing needs... time. I cry. (1,3)

Chingaling - I'm super impressed at the technology behind this. Do not confuse this with enjoying it. (1,7)

Deshead - Good vocals, and guitar tones. The mix is exceptionally good. I can't even tell if the drums are real or fake (and I mean that in the good way. They just sound fantastically tight.). Solo is very good. Love it. (10,10)

J$ - I'm hearing accidental recording clicks... I'm not into the vocal recording. Given that, the song is pretty enjoyable. The drums play well in the mix, and sound really good. (7,7)

Johnny Chochran's Lo-Fi Blues Experiance - I think there's an OK song in there. It's kinda covered up with some "eh" vocals, and guitar sounds that lack any "up-front" qualities, or a full sound. (5,2)

Kamakura - Nice beginning... good distant piano sound, although the vocals are a little loud at first. Good harmonies. I could definately think of something like this at the end of any mid-70's -era album. So aside from a couple of minor production problems, a good tune (8, 7)

Layman - I like the off-beat chord progression, and the cheezy drums. Granted, that's all I can hear, except for the stabs of off-key vocals. Not my thing. (4, 5)

Masters of Grip - Good progression, and instrumentation. Descent vocals, although I think you could back off on the reverb and get a little better sound. Nice tune. I enjoyed it. (7, 8)

Null Dynamo - Good intro. Mix could use a couple of tweaks (kick a little up-front, snare hits are a bit in the background), but a solid rock tune. Although I am picturing you wearing a cape, and eye makeup when listening this, but it doesn't take away from my enjoyment. Basically, with some better mastering, I think this could really pop out at me. (8,8)

Pileus - awww yeah. This song starts good, but the composition could use a little something else. It got a little boring after the 2nd time through. That and a little better mastering, and it would haul. (6,7)

Revel Yth - Fantastic vocals, and the straight-ahead chords/guitar stuff is fantastic. Wish I could program drums like that. Only thing about this is that I think you could have used more subtle drum instruments, or mixed them down more... they tookaway from me listening to the vocals. But, fan-fucking-tastic. (9,8)

Silk Bikini Mussolinni - This song speaks to me. Deeply. (2,5)

Me - Fucking repetative hack. You can't rap.(1,1)

You Pour a Pearl - Sounds like something orbital would use as a song starter. It could use more parts, and a couple of other things, but it certainly didn't suck. (7,9)

[j$]

OK so I bought some new headphones tonight, and damn if my ears aren't burning. I don't think everyone got that bad all of a sudden, so I guess I need to take them back to the shop. But in the meantime here are some short reviews for a long fight ....

Caravan Ray - cute tune. Not sure about the (to these ears) over-Australianness of this - did you have to name-check emus? Good though - maybe a little long. I am assuming it never snows on Mount Isa .. you can tell from this musing that I like the lyric, in the end.

Kamakura - It starts out like Cabaret .. 'maybe this time' ... not sure about the vocal percussion - I like it but does it add anything to the song? Great words - nice moogy piano in the second verse - the emotion is sad, which makes me happy

Masters of Grip - I don't like the keyboard part - it's a bit too midi-flute pipers at the edge of dawn for me. The vocals sound good. It's not rocky enough for me. I'd like to hear guitars going insane all over this song's metaphorical ass. No it's just that patch choice on the keyboards is hurting my delicate ears. Good tune as always. Lyric is interesting twist.

Casio choir - Christmas was a month ago. What else can I say?

Sleazy D Collective - The rapping sounds ok (i.e. I kind of like your voice - it's not really rap, but it works) but this is way too long. Jazz / rap fusion = a real challenge to overcome Disposable Heroes of Hip-hoprisy. I'd got the measure of this half way through. It maybe could have punked out for the last minute and a half. I'm not entirely sure if it justifies its length. Oo-er matron.

The Cat Boys - at 0:14 I was very depressed to hear you decided on forming a rap band. I got bored by the time it snowed. Sorry.

Cashmere Cat - Cute. I love the vinylesque production most of all. I don't know what else to call it, so vinylesque will have to do.

Chinaling - find a better TTS. And some song might not go amiss either.

Pileus - Nice. Snare is too loud in the mix. Slowing down your vocals doesn't make you sound more 'ghetto'. Not bad and the best of the rap entries I've heard so far.

Rebel Yth - Pretty, but full yet silly arrangement does not cover up the lack of a proper chorus. I get the feeling people are going to spunk all over this, so good luck to you. It just doesn't float my boat.

Ants, Invisible - Hmmmm. While many song are too long, sometimes squeezing a full song into too small a space doesn't do any favours either ... lots of interest but kind of flits by and I am not driven to replay ... probably my problem

Null Dynamo - I get the impression that you think the gurgly vocals are scary. They're not. They're spoiling an otherwise perfectly pleasant goth song. 'Sometimes the world just isn't fair' - great insights of our time no.1435b The thought of 4 minutes of this makes me want to go and look at porn instead. Sorry.

Layman - I like this. there's an internal logic that I hear that might not be intentional but in a very very 'meh' fight for me, it's a breath of fresh air. Perfect length. Not going to vote for it, though

Silk Bikini Mussolini - An Otter Pot? Needs to be mastered louder. Not bad. A good tune played on cheap instruments by the inital impression of it. Has a feeling of 'Breakfast Club' soundtrack, if given the big studio production. Oh and some more accurate singing.

Johnny Cochran - If this was 50 bpm faster, it would be a great punk song.

Boltoph - pretty. Is this a bit fuzzy, or is it these new headphones? Nice tune but the lyric from the mention of ninjas on starts to slightly irritate me. But I am easily irritable.

You Pour A Pearl - Instrumentals don't get reviews from me. You almost pulled it off with the snowshoes percussion, but not quite. An exercise not a tune to these ears.

Deshead - Impressive. What more can I say?

johnny cashpoint - is me. A little bit of Cohenesque. I didn't produce this one, but I did produce the crakly, clicky tracks to work with There's many things I like, and one or two things I don't, mainly it's too fricking loud on these new headphones! I think I can feel the blood trickling from my ears as we speak. [2nd listen - good job, man. I love what you did with the vocals and the guitar. Some great spookiness too. Thanks!]

So as you probably guessed, I wasn't overally enamoured with this fight. The only one I liked without reservation was Kamakura, so I guess he will get my vote.

j$

[hillbilly]

Deshead- We love it! that song really touched my girlfriends heart,
I enjoyed the electric guitar myself, good job

[Caravan Ray]

Caravan Ray - WTF? 808 kick? This is turning silly....Weird drum selection aside...

Drum selection?!?! Ha! - I think you've mistaken me for somebody who knows what they're doing! I'm strictly in the "..what does this button do.." school of drum programming.

But I agree - it sounds silly - it wasn't intentional, it was just too late to go back and change it. I had intended it to be just voice/guitar - but a 3 min it got a bit too tedious - I was hoping some drum would make it a bit less tedious

Caravan Ray ...I am assuming it never snows on Mount Isa

Yes, and Mount Isa is a city - there is no actual mountain there.

Caravan Ray ...did you have to name-check emus?

Yes, I did - hopefully I may teach some of our American friends pronounce the word properly - there's nothing I find more annoying that hearing Americans talk about "ee-moos"

[tonetripper]

Deshead- We love it! that song really touched my girlfriends heart,
I enjoyed the electric guitar myself, good job

I thought it sounded like a bitter Vancouverite who moved to the big smoke in Canuckville and is griping about the cold.

[Me$$iah]

OOOH
lots of songs ere and on tother side
eh by gum its gonna be a bugger to review em all

[D. Evil]

Revel Yth - badass cut. 10 points.

Chingaling - Scary. - 5 points (stolen rap cut)

CasioChoir - Wow. Hamtaro versus the Chimpmunks. I'd love this if i were much higher than i am right now.

-------------

wheee.

[c.låyne]

revel yth - *SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGH* (*u*)b

[Heather. Redmon.]

Rebel Yth - Pretty, but full yet silly arrangement does not cover up the lack of a proper chorus. I get the feeling people are going to spunk all over this, so good luck to you. It just doesn't float my boat.

Hahaha! This made me laugh... for it's sheer, non-heterosexual honesty and it's downright truth!

nail on the head my friend, nail on the head.

J$ - *SIIIIIIIIIIIIIGH*

[c.låyne]

i spunked, i couldn't help it

[PZ]

Null Dynamo - I get the impression that you think the gurgly vocals are scary. They're not. They're spoiling an otherwise perfectly pleasant goth song. 'Sometimes the world just isn't fair' - great insights of our time no.1435b The thought of 4 minutes of this makes me want to go and look at porn instead. Sorry.

Thanks for the comments. I hope you spent the remainder of our song pleasuring yourself. Please continue the self-abuse if it keeps you from writing songs longer than 2:34.

Otherwise, Hi songfight. Nice to meet you all. I noticed things were a little short on heavier fare so we thought we'd toss something into the ring. The "songfight" concept is such an amazing creative exercise that I'm going to send MC Frontalot a bouquet of flowers in thanks for pimping the site. We relish the opportunity for more experimentation and the chance to add some heavier flavor from time to time.

Cheers, PZ

ps - Thanks for the kind words, sleazy. no makeup (heh)....the "goth" bits of shit were totally tongue in cheek. When we started writing on saturday night we found it amusing to do a straight-faced spoof (goths are hilarious). Evil and I were disappointed that we killed my stash yesterday when your track came up, it's got a nice laidback groove that just screams "smoke!". Fun organ solo too. Longer than I would have let it go, but shorter than Innagoddadavita, so it's all good.

pps - I also really enjoyed Revel Yth (beautiful beautiful voice), Deshead, and the flute melodies on the Masters of Grip track. Silk Bikini Mussolini fucking hurt my brain. It was great! SBM.........please continue using music to hurt people.

Edit - Oh yeah, Cheers Caravan Ray for the excellent pub ballad.

[WeaselSlayer]

A message from Silk Bikini Mussolini:
The song's about saying goodbye to an Otter Pop. I thought I should point that out, lest we sound like bleary-eyed pussyfoots.

Lurve,
Luke

[erik]

Does "lest" mean "so that" now?

[WeaselSlayer]

Duh.

[j$]

Please continue the self-abuse if it keeps you from writing songs longer than 2:34.

Ah. For the record I have no problem with long songs per se, just yours.

[Kamakura]

I could definately think of something like this at the end of any mid-70's -era album.

Except, I trust, the Bay City Rollers. Thanks for the positive review!

The only one I liked without reservation was Kamakura, so I guess he will get my vote.j$

Gosh, wow, lawks a lordy. Ta mate.... Your new headphones must be wonderous!

[PZ]

Please continue the self-abuse if it keeps you from writing songs longer than 2:34.

Ah. For the record I have no problem with long songs per se, just yours.

Hey, glad to hear it. Keep yours under a minute next time. Wow. it's so easy to make friends here. Chuckle.

[boltoph]

...the lyric from the mention of ninjas on starts to slightly irritate me...

I know, I hear ya... but couldn't help writing about what I was doing at the time of the blizzard, just as I'd write about people I meet, situations I'd imagine, and anything else that's part of my life...
I have to mention my gears all packed up so wasn't going to submit anything this week, but decided to do this live improv'd little tune...um...with my minidisc recording, I made up the chords and lyrics on the spot. Take 19 was the keeper. I'm ready for the 4 hour-deadline-songfight with this one...sorry bout the mastering job...had to fire up a relative's old PC and get some free software to get this song in...

oh...and the words are true. This song's about some shitty accident i was in last week. Probably the first song I've ever done that actually has an understandable plot.

[j$]

...the lyric from the mention of ninjas on starts to slightly irritate me...

oh...and the words are true. This song's about some shitty accident i was in last week. Probably the first song I've ever done that actually has an understandable plot.

'kay - I will have another listen then. Maybe it was the mix but it seemed a bit disjointed to me. I was also tired and slightly tipsy which never helps.

j$

[boltoph]

Reviews for ya.

Ants - the key changes are very interesting and that you're able to follow them with melody is also pretty neat and this reminds me of early floyd or the Doors...very snow-like and delicate...

Boltoph - Whoa! I almost thought my intro was part of Ants (Invisible)'s song. not my usual thing this week. I'm not much of a piano player, and had 4 hours total to write, record, "master", and send in.

Caravan Ray - Well, I'm broke after betting on your Ninja Gang, even with the 4 vote spread. Shucks. I like the vocal "story" and although I can't relate to what's happening here, I like that bass drum in the chorus and it's catchy and develops nicely.

Cashmere Cat - Skills! good hooks and great creative tune. higher musical intelligence is at work here.

Casio Choir - he he. good title line. poorly developed chorus though, could use more vocal melody movement I think.

The Cat Boys - these rhymes are so forced. it could be a good joke tune but the vocal rhythms are just struggling.

Chingaling - this is a monologue and not a song; and what a RIPOFF of Radiohead. fitter...happier. I'm restraining myself...

Deshead - As always, what a wonderful knack for catchy hooks and the mainstream melody is so memorable. People can say what they want about this being "soft rock" but I just hear up-to-date hooky pop/rock. I don't think I'll ever dislike one of your songs. Is it "De-Shead" or "Des-head"?

Johnny Cashpoint - Odd early pink floyd feel and I'm getting images of the Grinch and roast beast. Like the words and the christmas feel. The backing vocs are good too, thank you for bringing in the whole band. The bass drum was such a tease for a little there.

Johnny Cochran's Lo fi - i think I should change to lo fi too, that way no one will gripe about my lack of recording skills. I like it right at "When it snowed" but think that a vocal chorus there instead of a lo fi guitar solo might would be better.

Kamakura - Is this song about a different kind of snow? those sound effects sound like something fluffy...I'm into this tune, warm during the storm, quick and cute.

Layman - having a tough time deciphering any melody in the music or the vocals. can't hear any of the vocals either. interesting change though.

Masters of Grip - the flute is an odd instrument to have playing all the way through the song. Not bad, interesting and somewhat comical in its psychadelia.

Null Dynamo - glad to hear some heavy guitars and drums. The king diamondesque speaking parts are humorous,

Pileus - everyone needs to have at least one DVD copy of scarface "Frank, he's soft". Last Chance for the Yayo. This one is really about nose snow. Definitely has some good vocal rhythms, but not into the vocal pitch adjustments.

Revel Yth - I have to mention that this is nearly identical to the beginning of an Evanessence song. Even the singer sounds like her. I like it though, being a sucker for the mainstream. I could do without the cymbals altogether, this song's...too sexy for it's drums.

Silk Bikini - a bunch of random obscure thoughts is always fine by me. Would rather hear rock band instrumentation on this. The end is like a boys choir which makes me think of priests...ugh.

Sleazy D - Cool laid back groove, reminds me of being in a rock club slugging down beers during a snow storm. The bass is good, but gets a bit monotonous. Could go for another change of some kind. Hammond solo could be a bit shorter.

You Pour a Pearl - not only is the doogie houser tone annoying the hell outta me but this is absent of any catch. But I think it does kinda sound like snow.

Thanks you all for writing, recording, converting, and sending in these songs; helps make my miserable week a little better. My gear will be packed up for a couple weeks but maybe I'll do another live thing next week, we'll see. Otherwise, see ya in a few. I'll be listening.