Month: August 2016

Broadjam Artist: Randy Calligan
Song: Hundredth Valentine

Reviewer: David James

Positive Comments: This is absolutely beautiful. Superb lyrics which deliver a huge emotional hit. Lovely chord progression. But for me the harmonies really take the song from the good to the great I just love them. The fade out is sublime.

Constructive Comments: No criticisms at all. The song has shades of The Beach Boys and Alessi Brothers. I’m sure either of those groups would be proud to write and produce a song of this quality.

Broadjam Artist: Jeff Roberts
Song: The Goodby Horizon

Reviewer: David James

Positive Comments: Great sound, it jumps out of the speakers. Strong vocal and a nice use of backing vocals. Lovely acoustic guitar work. There’s a Spanish influence in there which I like. I could imagine Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull writing this song, but the performance is more like Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Constructive Comments: I feel at times the lyrics are shoehorned into the song, which make me wonder, rightly or wrongly, whether the lyrics were written before the music. I also think that the guitar solo at 2.27 doesn’t quite work…it sounds a bit laboured in what is otherwise a bright and breezy song. But overall very enjoyable.

Broadjam Artist: Jon Babb
Song: For My Queen

Reviewer: David James

Positive Comments: A compelling tune. This piece is beautifully arranged. Great use of instruments.. those strings and kettle drums are divine. Excellent sound quality.

Constructive Comments: I can hear this in so many film/TV situations. The piece is emotional and slightly melancholic but at the same time there is an element of optimism in there. I can visualise wide skies and seascapes therefore I could imagine it in a nature or space documentary, but also in a film/TV drama.Good luck with this.

Broadjam Artist: HarryBudini
Song: Chevron and Shell Destroyed the Niger Delta

Reviewer: Randal Dunkle

Positive Comments: Cool sounding Keyboards, I also like the drums and bass guitar, very cool – sounds a bit like the Beatles during their experimental era.

Constructive Comments: I like the song however, the vocals sound a little too rough and sometimes a bit out of pitch. I think the lead guitar needs work as well, its too distorted, it would sound better with a cleaner sound – best wishes!

Broadjam Artist: Bob Higgs
Song: Dreambody

Reviewer: Randal Dunkle

Positive Comments: I like the sound of the lead vocals and how the drums and keyboards sound. I also like the harmonica – sounds a bit like the Rolling Stones.

Constructive Comments: Very good sounding song, I do think that the vocals need to be turned up in certain parts of the song, I think the bass guitar needs to be set a lower frequency and the volume needs to be turned up just a bit – best wishes!

Broadjam Artist: Uncle Spider & The Electric Dirt Clods
Song: McSong/ Contemporary Jazz

Reviewer: Josh Walker

Positive Comments: The arrangement and harmony are all very interesting, and the instruments used are appropriate for this song. I like the form as well, with the A and B sections balanced well. It could be a very cool song!

Constructive Comments: The areas that could use the most improvement in my opinion are recording/mixing quality and guitar tuning. It sounds like everything is bleeding together in the mix so that its hard to hear clarity. The drums have a lot of reverb and, at least on my speakers, probably too much low end. The guitar isn’t in tune with the piano, plus they occupy the same frequency, which makes the tuning problem worse. It sounds like you’re using electric piano, so you’ll need to tune the guitar to the electric piano. One thing that could help with the clash is use piano chord voicings in a different frequency so it doesn’t clash with the guitar. You really need to use a different drum sound, but I know drums aren’t cheap. Apple Logic Pro is a $200 DAW and it comes with a drum program that sounds pretty good, as well as a TON of great piano, keyboard, and synth sounds. Once again, I think it’s potentially a cool song if those are fixed.

Broadjam Artist: Chet Nichols
Song: Cloud Show (Folk – from “Waving Prairie”)

Reviewer: Bob Higgs

Positive Comments: Vocals are a bit indistinct and the guitar very exuberant, but this is a confident piece of work. Lyrics quite original. Not sure the melody is strong enough to be commercial, but the modal chords are catchy.

Constructive Comments: Drum and bass!

Broadjam Artist: Kate Carpenter
Song: The Sword Song

Reviewer: Bob Higgs

Positive Comments: Great folk-gospel song, love the idea of the sword dividing me. Nice change of pace in the tune. Religious songs can be a bit dogmatic, as Dylan found out in 1980, but this is quite an original piece.

Constructive Comments: I’d add a rhythm track and keys to gospel it up a bit. Vocals are very clear though.

Broadjam Artist: Jeff Ashbaker
Song: A Message To Keep Me Afloat

Reviewer: Bob Higgs

Positive Comments: The melody is a little pedestrian and the sentiment familiar, but this is a solid folk-rock ballad with a pleasant chorus. Like it.

Constructive Comments: Strong vocals and band don’t need much work- just sell it to film x

Broadjam Artist: Norb Studelska/Upper Air Disturbance
Song: Left Yesterday

Reviewer: Bob Higgs

Positive Comments: The vocal could be mixed a bit stronger, and the tune is a bit pedestrian but the overall sound is quite nice folk music.

Constructive Comments: Great guitar solos- remind me of my own band.