First up, these were all *good* songs. I’m not surprised, but I am pleased.
AA – Not bad rappin’ at all! But you make the absolute cardinal sin of writing a song about writing a song. I really find it hard to take it seriously when you mention “songfight”. The chorus (thanks for bringing in the BVs earlier this time) just isn’t that strong. “supernaturalist” is genius, maybe not in the way you imagine. “Lyrically we are the greatest”? *ugh*. You know, I usually pretend not to like rap when reviewing because it’s easier than getting into a fight with some nerdcore stude who has read some books and thinks he’s smart– well, truth time I really *ADORE* a lot of rap – if it’s not lyrically boring. ‘Cos what else is there to concentrate on? With this in mind - I *love* the overall impression of this song, it’s just when I concentrate on it, I “see the holes”. However the overall impression is important when hearing a song once or twice, so I will consider that when ranking.
ADD – heh. I like the lyric, develops out into a cute place. Well a dark one, actually, but you know what I mean, hopefully. Did I miss who our collab was with? Ah, Mr Case! Of course. I don’t have much else to say, other than that I enjoyed this despite it missing a huge sung chorus. I am selfish enough to expect that. Musically pretty slight though, and doesn’t have the killer lyrical punchline that would carry the song through its vague sense of throwaway.
Chocolate Chips – This is a great tune. Really, I have voted / props’ed you up enough times to know you have a great ear for a melody. And I have no problem with effected vox (anything that makes the song sound better – as I know to my own cost). Too sudden an ending spoils it a tiny bit for me - otherwise happy.
Chris C – Lovely Bvs in the chorus and in the bridge. Good rocky pop-rock sound. Cutesy lyrical idea that doesn’t develop much for my tastes. I like the “pug” line. And the resolution, as well!
Den – Oh that’s oddly trippy - I like! Pretty catchy too. I am not sure whether me not having much else to say is a good or bad thing. Probably a bit of both. It’s a little safe to fall back on your regular collaborator for the challenge, though since it meets the stipulation just fine, that’s just a personal aside. Second listen – this is so on a different plane (not better, not worse) than the other songs, it’s very hard to figure out where to place it. I definitely like the spacey, creepy verses and bridge more than the fine but “heard it in the 90s” choruses ... ack.
FBF – Any song that rhymes “Irish Catholic” and “Over-reacted” needs to do nothing else to be a winner in my book. Pretty tight rhythm section, too. I jump around! Harmonies are sweet too, and the arrangement stops this just being a*n*other pop-punk song – at the start I was thinking, oh dear, here comes a beautifully done but standard Wheatus song. How rude of me to ever second-guess you - distinctly you, defiantly fun. (I have to say, I can’t hear references to “The Crying Game” without thinking of *that* scene in Naked Gun 33 1/3, but I digress). I fear that as I love this, Cashpoint’s Law (“If I like it, you’re fucked”) suggests that the rest of the team will give you an unfair kicking I have no problem with the mix, gives it a suitably retro feel, perhaps it could fill the speakers a bit more.
GJ – There are too many songs here – or rather there’s three or four songs here I really like and I kind of want to concentrate on one of them. The first minute or so, I am all over this but the “joins”, while not at all jagged, are different enough tonally that it might have been nice to give the subconscious some forewarning through foreshadowing. I really like the second song, and it feels like we could have just had that. The lyric passes me by. Animals. Carnivores. You're a far better lyricist than the rather creepy home invasion motif running through your songs recently.
GCC – You may not know how much I despise country. A few rhythmic stumbles here and there, but it’s charming. Even if it appears to be far too meta- for my tastes. Maybe I am reading too much into it.
JE – I am not sure about this one. I like the jazzy piano, which should be mixed louder to ease this listener away from a few distracting bum notes / performance choices. Nice verbiage makes it sound like it should mean more lyrically than I take from it. Yeah, main problem, vocals mixed too loud, for any. It’s drowning out the piano and especially the bass, at least on these speakers. A rather off-hand attitude to the guest slot too, vocally. I am not sure ...
MG – One thing’s for sure – I am not a fan of the (admittedly well played) lead guitar tone. It’s a catchy melody though. Well in the verses especially, and it’s not bad in the chorus, though the arrangement makes it a bit sludgy / heavy for its own good, imo. “he leaves no rose” and “wouldn't it be nice to take a hold of your own keys?” feel a bit klutzy. Felt like a natural end was 3.20 to these ears. (maybe with the actual end tagged on). Bleh.
Merisan – very pretty. Strong lyric. Maybe there isn’t enough variation between verses and choruses but I am not as moved as I know I should be. That’s more of a comment on me than it is on the song.
OC – Oh blimey! Are the drums too loud in the mix? They seem a little overpowering. I don’t think I can comment on the lyric, seeing as the artwork this time out shares the same shallow predilections
I like the parasite voice, although it does seem endemic of trying too hard to prove “wackiness” rather than letting the cleverness of the rhymes stand or fall on their own merits. But hey, it gets the point across I suppose.
RD – Great opening! Voice is sounding a bit shattered. Oh more wonderful descending trumpetin’! It’s kind of like R’n’B (as was) band playing something from “Muswell Hillbillies”. And then it goes all musical played by a Mariachi band. The little sexy electric guitar that pops up for about 10 seconds is icing on the cake. I feel a bit churlish harpin’ on about the voice as this is the most wonderfully bonkers music I have heard from you in ages. I love it.
Wreckdom – Wakka wakka. This is a good jam funky thang but it doesn’t really go anywhere. It is at the end what it started as. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. It just isn’t immediate, to these ears. It’s fun, but not particularly funny, again immediately.
WSA – Nothing new here. It may appear, no whatever you do, I have a permanent anti-hard-on for WSA, which isn’t true. If I was watching this live in a pub or bar somewhere I’d be up for the cup, especially when the bass does some interesting chordal contrast thing against the guitars. Clearly it is done very well; it’s just not from my musical taste-set. Which makes it hard to rate. Ack.
