Month: July 2016

Broadjam Artist: Douglas Branson aka dB+1
Song: You Are The Girl

Reviewer: Tony DeSimone

Positive Comments: I assume the intent here is to be a college type song for the frat house and parties. Sing along while you drink a beer. If that’s the plan it does it quite well. I almost opened a beer just now. THere’s a bit of catchiness with the hook going on that it just repeats in your head. so great job there.

Constructive Comments: THe recording and the instrumentation kinda caught me of guard here. A little over the top piano which was fine but it sounded a bit brittle (too much high end). THe mix needs a little work sonically. I think the chosen instrumentation was fine. Just suggest a better quality on mixing.

Broadjam Artist: Uncle Spider & The Electric Dirt Clods
Song: Remember When

Reviewer: Tony DeSimone

Positive Comments: Definitely feeling that 70’s rock pop. Reminds me of songs from Sirius XM the Bridge. I hear a lot of 70’s music influences here. Steely Dan, Michael McDonald, etc… THe recording is well done and the vocals are great. Good harmonies.

Constructive Comments: Like I said it’s really well recorded, would’ve like to hear more movement in the bass line and the drum machine / sounds kind of sounded dated to me. THe guitars and piano were placed well with the vocals in the mix. Maybe a little over the top on the Neil Schon guitar licks but it worked well.Great job.

Broadjam Artist: Warren Hein
Song: When I See You

Reviewer: Tony DeSimone

Positive Comments: Good song. Really well recorded, performed and produced. I suspect this was written by a guitar player. There’s a heavy guitar vibe. Great length. This has good potential – especially for a movie or something.

Constructive Comments: My only concern is the music sounds a bit dated. It has that 80’s sound to it. Mow maybe that’s what is intended I cant comment on that but it reminded me of a mix between the Outfield and Night Ranger.Well done.

Broadjam Artist: Birthe Noer Myers
Song: The Swamp

Reviewer: Pete Higginson

Positive Comments: Really quite original-sounding Country song that lacks a little bit of focus re hooks, themes and purpose. But I liked it.

Constructive Comments: Just FOCUS the song more- I couldn’t think of a title because I couldn’t hear the POINT of the song, and it doesn’t really build to a climax and ending.

Broadjam Artist: Castle-Eye (Michael Casali)
Song: Where Were You? m

Reviewer: Pete Higginson

Positive Comments: The vocals are excellent on this but the music is a little bit generic and the lyrics cliched to some extent.

Constructive Comments: I think with the right song this artist could be major.

Broadjam Artist: DENNIS MAKEPEACE
Song: susie

Reviewer: Pete Higginson

Positive Comments: I really like this artist who stands out from the crowd with quite original sounds. Good chorus hook!

Constructive Comments: Just needs opportunities.

Broadjam Artist: Jeff Ashbaker
Song: The Gift

Reviewer: Pete Higginson

Positive Comments: A pleasant tune but one that follows the chord pattern closely which is quite conservative. Good playing and vocals though.

Constructive Comments: Try to break the melody out of the chord-pattern and deepen the twist of the lyrics which are a bit cliched.

Broadjam Artist: Dave Haddad (CenterPeace)
Song: Reflections

Reviewer: Pete Higginson

Positive Comments: I think this could be a background track to a documentary on wildlife etc

Constructive Comments: It’s difficult without lyrics or vocals to be too positive as the hook in the music signals background rather than foreground uses, but this is competently played.

Broadjam Artist: Delta Burnett Reed
Song: Hundred Years War

Reviewer: Ian Graham

Positive Comments: A simple, traditional-style tune well sung in a slightly quavering style. Repetitive backing enhances the hypnotic effect. The lyrics, gory enough in places, are presumably about the Hundred Years’ War (between England and France, with occasional breaks for refreshments). “A war that lasts a hundred years must never come again.” Indeed. A good anti-war sentiment. Although, looking at some of the people now either in office or running for it, a much shorter war seems more likely.

Constructive Comments: Occasionally difficult to make out the lyrics, which is a pity as I’m sure they’re all worth hearing. But a great overall effect. Good luck with it.

Broadjam Artist: DENNIS MAKEPEACE
Song: lakes of ponchatrain

Reviewer: Ian Graham

Positive Comments: Excellent rendering of this classic folk ballad, which is an American variant of The Lily of the West. Soaring tenor voice that suits the song perfectly. Clear pronunciation, so you can hear the whole story. Well-judged vocal and guitar variations hold your interest without being overdone. A pleasure to listen to.

Constructive Comments: The top F# on the guitar backing (the first string, I imagine) is sometimes a bit too insistent and repetitive for my tastes. Perhaps it could be ducked down slightly in the mix. Re the vocal, you might find it more comfortable to take the key down to F or E. Not sure. But these are just quibbles. I really enjoyed it. Good luck with it.