OK, despite what appear in retrospect to be slightly grumpy reviews, I thought this was a great round. Didn't dislike a single song. I am listening now again to it the 7th, 8th time to make sure I give the fairest ranking I can, so you've probably got around an hour to go postal on my arse/try and suck up to 1/5th of the judging panel to try and change my mind before I submit my scores.
W.A.I.L. I.A.A.C. 1+5+ …
As always if I missed anyone or wrote something that makes no sense to you, just ask.
BGM - Not sure what the current event is. Not wildly keen on the cutesy intro at first (though that’s good glock) - Good bass-line. In fact not wild about/ moved by the opening 32 bars or so (forgive my terrible maths/counting) but when the chorus kicks in, one must say that it is lovely. I am not sure this is much of anything but it’s a very pleasant, intelligent listen - and this may (on 4th listen) be my personal favourite. Though on balance I still don’t like that verse chord progression. Or rather it’s nothing new. Damn that chorus thrills, still, mind. (EDIT: Oh, I just saw the ‘horror dentist’ explanation – I read that story and thought ‘weirdddddd …’ but would never have picked up on that from the listen.)
Cavedwellers - Cutesy, risky take on the challenge. Not always a good thing. Why not write a song for Tesla, f’r’instance? Some clunky lyrics. Don’t like the trumpet (VST) at all (it adds an odd 70s sitcom theme tune feel to the song) but I like the notes / positions it takes. Adventurous and imaginative, this is a good song. Hope the story isn’t
too real but fear it is. Also, did I say, this is a great song? If only it weren’t for the brass section. It’s like they belong in a different tune. Then again, don’t we all?
DJ Ranger Den - Good moody opening. Then it goes all campy pixie folk and I drift off. It’s a little too quirky for my tastes, to be honest. However I like the merging of different styles and the overall effect works, it’s just a bit silly for me, TBH. This becomes more appealing on repeated listens and it’s still very well thrown together / carefully constructed …. I do really like that percussion …. And it does grow on me on repeated listens… I should love this more than I do and I don't know why that isn't the case ...
DuTova – Really like the bassline, in the chorus especially. That is a striking chorus, overall. Also swell swelly solo - tick! Lyrically, without a reference point, pretty much all I hear is ‘La, la,la, robots’. A bit of an abrupt ending into the unnecessary coda. I mean it’s clearly a good song, frighteningly catchy as I listen but as soon as it’s finished I’ve forgotten it. That’s not a good thing round Cashpoint Towers.
Grumpy Mike – Yes, that’s a dirty riff, of which I approve. Hey isn’t this your round 1 entry?
The reference to the Zodiac Killer passes me by – in that I know who the Zodiac Killer is but I don’t see the comparison. I’d best look it up. I like the way you do ‘it doesn’t matter as we statistically can’t win’. Also liking ‘he's the only vampire that loves eating cheese’. Honestly I’m not sure if I love this or think it’s a piss-out. Let me think on this one. It definitely hits a bar but doesn’t raise it. (EDIT: Oh! Now I get this and I saw this on the Book of Face when it first went round and still didn’t connect but then again I always thought Ted Cruz looked more like Ted Bundy).
IVEG – References to Esther Williams make me happy. I really like the phrasing in the chorus and also that little shift to the minor chords - the only thing that’s bothering me is ‘mother bit me on the chin’ – am I missing something? I don’t fully understand what that means, beyond its literal meaning. Maybe there’s nothing more to understand. Don’t like the sudden end on this one but that ‘guitar’ riff is working for me and it’s a perfectly pleasant listen.
Ken – really like the various guitar riffing. Don’t like the chord progression, overall. Thanks for the elucidation on the challenge – no way I would have got it otherwise. This is maybe not a good thing. I can appreciate how this is close to your heart but before the background story, I came away with a ‘will this do’ vibe which doesn’t do you justice. Anyway, a perfectly good song (if I heard it on the radio I wouldn’t turn it off) but just not clicking with the metaphors. Really sorry not to be more positive.
Levittdown - There’s a shame in the way you fudge that melody in the first line of the chorus every time. Write something different there that suits your range better? Otherwise I don’t mind this at all. It’s not really engaging me but it’s very considered. I like the tightness to the percussion.
Micah – ha. Cute. Too long for a song that doesn’t have anything to cash in on other than the message relentlessly rammed home. I guess apparent apathy/antipathy is a political response in itself but I like my protest songs to be more positive. That said, there are some great rhymes in here and the chorus is catchy – it just needs one more thing. Like a nice off-set harmony or a keyboard riff that consumes my brain? I don’t care which way you intend to vote (or don’t) but I want some real passion if you’re going to go down ‘that’ line. That’s personal and it won’t affect my scoring but at the same time, I can’t engage with a song which basically says ‘hey, you’re all pricks and do something horrible and I might vote for you’. Right, completely arbitrary rant over – I will say it’s too long, too linear/undeveloped in the arrangement but also top rapping, amusing lyrics and the bare bones of a very good tune.
Paco – While I am *LOVING* the uptempo stuff, the slow-down (while perfectly timed) bores the shit out of me. Which is weird as usually I would be praising the ass out of it. Anyway, ‘Your murdering, rape, kidnap and harm’ is the worst line I have heard this Nur Ein (so far) – bathetic, I’ll give you but … really? I think the ‘harm’ has already been described? Seems like a schoolboy error. Otherwise this works for me. If you’re going to bring the uptempo stuff back in at this point, great – but more of that please (despite *AMAZING* solo work here) rather than just asking ‘hey, remember when I was playing faster’ and then mic-drop? [EDIT: on repeated listens the 'drop-out' doesn't bother me anywhere near as much and maybe I was wrong about the 're-emerge' needing more time to breath. Damn you, sir, you play with my brain in such exciting ways]!
RankCorps – As I keep saying, I couldn’t listen to an album of this but jesus, ‘week’ on ‘week’ this is such a breath of fresh air. I love that cheekily out-of-place keyboard riff. While I entirely agree with your message, I am not sure I warm to the slightly didactic approach to ‘how you idiots should think’ but then that ridiculous solo kicks in and I am super-happy. On each listen I think this is my favourite song of the round. Until …
Solo Frijoles – Ah, yes this is amazing. I have no idea why a song about Prince should be in Spanish but then again, why shouldn’t it be? I am shuffling flabbily around my lounge listening to this. Damn it. Part of me thinks ‘Am I being played?’ (that’s the nicest way I can think of putting it) but hey, I would dance to this in a dingy gay bar in Cadiz (or wherever – I will look even more stupid if I’m missing the real meaning in translation. If only you’d sung in French …) at 4 in the afternoon before anyone else turns up and demand it is played on repeat, so yeah, win.
Strangely Brown – I like this. That Johnny Depp, eh? I think this throwback electronic approach suits you far better than you ever give it credit for. That said, I think maybe we could do with something, erm …, a bit more vocally melodic in the chorus? I mean using the synth is absolutely fine but is it strong enough to carry variety? Ah. I dunno know. I like this a lot. Damn it, another grower.
and ...
BSS –
is for immune I like an organic take on Devo. I don’t know about the current cannibal scandal that’s eating the world but that said, I really like Devo so this has my (hypothetical) vote. You would have scored highly … (sorry, in my notes I have then written ‘if I didn’t have think about where it fitted into the spectrum. Thankfully, I don’t have to do that so you can’ but I have NO idea what I meant by this. I’d been to the pub to watch the football. Decode if you can). Anyway, bottom line, I really, really, like this.