Nur Ein IV Round Five "Spider to the Fly"

[Lunkhead]

So, um, judges 3 and 5, any comments?

[furrypedro]

Tiny Robots: Good composition, though I'm always put off by minor key soloing, and it seems to me that once you play that section you return to it after the 4/4 section which eschews the challenge a bit. I'm a big fan of time sig. changes however.

Todd McHatton: I guess it's a side-effect of this kind of challenge that you have to spend longer writing than producing, but from the beginning this song sounds like it's lacking the production of previous entries. That feeling subsides as the song progresses but it is still definitely one of your weakest vocal performances.

Reist: Classic Reist.

Wreckdom: It feels like you've used up your best ideas in previous fights. I do like the first and last parts of this (I wouldn't normally like the style of the last part but you do it well), the middle section is a bit weak. I know you're not about subtlety and stuff but the changes aren't as fluid as most of the other songs.

Ross Durand: Everyone likes ukeleles (and if they don't they're idiots) and the intro in your song makes the sound feel much richer when your guitars and stuff comes in. Yeah, nice.

Frank: Lots of good stuff well executed here, but there is too much slow draggy stuff as well and it doesn't click with me, mainly the last minute of the song which is also quite reminiscent of the opening section. Not the right move methinks.

Swilington: I can tell you're thriving on this challenge. I've gotta admit I love the way this starts and then gradually dig it less as it goes on, I like most of the changes, but the jangly chords and riffs in the first 30 seconds are easily the coolest bit. Purely on a technical level, I think you need to sort out the phrasing of your lyrics, in the first section it sounds like your freestyling it completely, this is one aspect of the song that improves significantly as it progresses. You've made judging this thing really hard because you have lots of good ideas, but i think they way you turn them into a song has room for improvement.

[frankie big face]

Frankie Big Face- I think I’d lose a music debate with you, but none the less your song strikes me as more of a suite than a through composed piece. It sure is through composed, but it seems only technically so. Your fast section was about my favorite part of this fight. The ending is what shot you down to the 2nd tier for me. Even though it could’ve been shorter I think it was the weakest part of the composition. I LOVE the intro part. Your chords are just gorgeous! A rethought ending would take this to the #1 spot. I’m glad you survived; I’d hate to lose you to one bad movement.

Another great review. In retrospect, I probably should have worked harder to make the ending more satisfying. Thank you for the comments!

[Ross]

Thanks for the kind comments from all of the judges.

This has to be about the nicest rejection I have had since Janice in High School.

[melvin]

Thanks for the kind comments from all of the judges.

This has to be about the nicest rejection I have had since Janice in High School.

Heh. That's why I had to wait until this late in the competition to start writing reviews. Any earlier, and some of the rejections would have been cruel.

[Lunkhead]

Tiny Robots: Good composition, though I'm always put off by minor key soloing, and it seems to me that once you play that section you return to it after the 4/4 section which eschews the challenge a bit. I'm a big fan of time sig. changes however.

Thanks for the review and the ranking. I'm just going to respond a tiny bit then try to fade back into the background. I know it probably didn't matter much to you, but I just want to be clear that we're not repeating any previous part after the 4/4 bit, though I'll admit that the parts after that do have a similar general feel to the part right before the 4/4 bit (loud, distorted guitar, big drums, soloing, minor and dissonant chord changes). They use different chord progressions, though, and in the first part after the 4/4 the guitar's playing a new melody, then the chords change again and the vocal melody and lyrics are new, etc. Anyway, that's all from me for now, but thanks for the feedback from all the judges. This was a very challenging round and I'm content that we did as well as we did considering our limited time and personnel availability this round.

[furrypedro]

I know it probably didn't matter much to you

Yup.
(Jeez, top ranking just isn't good enough for some people is it )

[Reist]

Reist: Classic Reist.

Hmmmmmmmm. Perchance a little more detail?

[furrypedro]

Nope 8)

[JonPorobil]

Frank, I dig your song, but I have to say this is your best mix in a long time.

Ditto that. I think you got robbed in the judging.