Turn Off Your Television Reviews
Bob & the Boggles-I guess that’s a TV in the background. I keep thinking I need to close another window. I like the atmosphere of this. I wish the vocals were a little less mumbling. The percussion is so much louder than the Ukulele, and the tuning is a bit painful. It’s a nice filler kind of a track on a concept album. There’s not the usual arc of a pop song. I enjoyed listening.
Glennny- I guess the distorted vocal was a FAIL in the court of public opinion. I was checking out sounds, and I thought it sounded kinda cool, maybe like it was coming out of an old crappy TV speaker. Oh well. At least the focus is on a bad vocal effect choice rather than directly my vocals. I wrote this song in this order: Drums, Horns, Bass (virtual Double bass and cello), guitar, vocals. Kind of a weird order, but efficient. I dig it, it’s an earworm for me, so hopefully that errors on catchy rather than annoying.
Jerkatorium- the mix is weird. Vocals are very up front. There’s some great backing vocals that are too low in my opinion. The guitar tone is muddy and really low in the mix. Yeah I could bitch a lot about the mix for a while. Mix aside, the song writing is superb. Catchy song, cool lyrics. I want the solo louder too. (damn it, sorry more mix bitching). Yeah lyrics are great! Nice approach to the title!
Luntar- Major points for your commitment to the material. That guitar is sooo buried. Bass and drums sound really nice. Vocals are too hot in the mix for me. Another short song. Feels unfinished to me. I like your vocals, they seem prime for a silly Dr. Demento type song.
Paco del Stinko- I’m a fan. This gets a vote. Your distorted vocal idea was much better than mine. I’m always a fan of the backing vocals you do. All the instruments sound great, cool riffs, nice hooks! Fantastic mix, best mix of the fight? I bet you have the most practice
. I’m fascinated most by the bass line. That is not the bass line I would have come up with at all, it’s dark and slippery, what bass is that? Cool tune, I could listen to you solo all day long. I wish Song Fight was more welcoming for a Zappa/ Phish type ratio of 30% song and 70% soloing. Fun song!
Pannacotta Army- Nice mellow groove. I love the drums, the organ and acoustic sound great too! Mix is great! The vocals are really good too. The song is so mellow its bordering on Jack Johnson territory. (I like Jack Johnson, don’t listen to Manhattan Glutton). I want to hear an instrument call and respond to the vocals, like a saw or pedal steel. Seems like it could use just one more element, hopefully with a killer hook. In any case, this is impressive recording and mixing, and a very pleasant listen. I’m not quite sold on the song.
Pepper Jane- You are crazy talented. I bet you make grocery lists sound soulful. You’ve done that descending lick already, I forget which song. Safe Harbor? The string squeaks drive me nuts. What a voice! Yep Safe Harbor. You think I’m not going to keep listening to your entries from here on out? I am. Good stuff, painful recordings, but great singing.
Pigfarmer Jr.- Mr. Elliot, I like this. I think maybe it’s too slow, it feels a bit drunken at this tempo. My favorite bit is the acoustic guitar lick. The political lyrics serve the sing-a-long aspect of this song. I think I’d like to hear a big group singing the choruses, like it was everyone in a bar. (maybe track yourself 12 times). Cool stuff.
State Shirt- Awesome video! The song is haunting. Production is fantastic! Maybe it’s the Rhodes, but it reminds me of Kid A. I keep singing about heads on sticks and ventriloquists. I want more State Shirt! Nice! You’re on Spotify. You’re going to earn fractions of cents from me today! I blame you for me not finishing these reviews earlier. That was some fun listening. (I think you should bring Song Fight Live to LA). There, I planted the idea. This is great! Gets a vote.
Truth- I love this song! I was going to help with this song, but then Truth didn’t need my help. This will be a fun song to add to a Cavedweller set. Great hooks! Fantastic vocals. My favorite of the fight. I love the lingering lead guitar post solo when the chorus comes back. This gets a vote. Winner? Love the solo, I would’ve brought it up a bit.
I liked them all!
Votes go to:
Paco, State Shirt, and truth
Phillipso, Older Brothers, Semolina Pilchards, Zipline , Thank Glennny for the Frisbee, The Odoriferous Valley, The Worldly Self Assurance, Berkeley Social Scene, Very Gentle Knives, Daddy Bop Swing Set, GUNS, The Kraken Lives, Cavedwellers