Month: December 2016

Broadjam Artist: N.Jones, Music Designer (Protilius Productions)
Song: A world in motion (2016)

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: When our neighbor played this, she said she was transported to a place of super duper tall daffodils a place with hills made of taffy and teddy bears dancing on rooftops of sugar. I agree! Except I would add a touch of colorful rainbows shining through misty valleys of polysynth jelly beans.

Constructive Comments: I left out marks for Hook, even though there isn’t one really, it doesn’t need one either. Still an enjoyable track. I think more could be added to this to get more emotion through to the listener. This is fun, I like it, that being said, in the chord progression, I’m not getting the full emotions that are hidden within the piece.

Broadjam Artist: Bobby Caputo
Song: Cool Junk

Reviewer: Sam Cooper

Positive Comments: Really well-thought out recording. Pretty strong on all levels.

Constructive Comments: This is just a personal thing–it’s good but the voice feels a little sterile and there may be some pitch problems around 2:45 with the harmonies until the next chorus. It feels like there’s room for more passion, at least in the choruses–think of Don Henley in “Heart Of The Matter”

Broadjam Artist: amy abernathy
Song: Staying power( madsion Shea Vocals)

Reviewer: Sam Cooper

Positive Comments: Very commercial sounding release! Meticulously crafted.

Constructive Comments: I can’t put my finger on why, but I’m not getting the magic I want to hear. Maybe the vocal delivery is a little less than passionate and too structured–almost sterile. There’s none of that in the arrangement either so it would be good if the singer really dug down deeper.

Broadjam Artist: Greg Lambert
Song: Bring It On

Reviewer: Sam Cooper

Positive Comments: The obvious thing is the connection between the lyrics and the timbre and style of the lead vocalist. Then there’s the rest of the instrumentation and background vocals–all well done.

Constructive Comments: Not sure I’m down with the lyrics being as strong as they could be. To me, it just feels like you settled for what you had, but you’re singing about THE KING. The hook doesn’t hit me as being totally as relevant as it should be.

Broadjam Artist: COSTA / Costa Ioannides
Song: Eastern Drums

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: Towards the end of this clever musical piece I hear “Step…Step…Step Back” – There is this man in this song, I hear him telling me to “Step Back” – but in a really cool way – hey, man – you’re really cool. But before I got here at the end of this captivating and unique music piece – I was enchanted with voices of ladies, some haunting me with taunts of desire and a very cool phased exotic chorus group of ladies … and … oh, wait, I’m gonna listen again, because I like it, it is fun and … I am back from my second play through and that exotic string line is perfection with the repetitive vocal pad – nice. Perfect to play tonight at the dance club!

Constructive Comments: I’m not gonna even bother here …. what can I say, the mix, the mastering is all together in this and whoever put it together gets a five star ok. I’m gonna get to the dry cleaners now, I have to pick up my giraffe costume. Ugh…it’s a lot of work.

Broadjam Artist: Dave Haddad (CenterPeace)
Song: Circumstance

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: A tribal ensemble takes you on a world beat journey with a cast of tribal drums, an enticing and haunting string instrumentation, a distortion guitar and some cool sound effects. This reminds me of the music played in the movie “Gladiator” when we first see Zaccahabar Province. Recommended!

Constructive Comments: The drums in the beginning do not sound realistic that being said it is forgotten as the piece comes together with the sound effects and the violin showing up in the mix. There seems to be a thickness in the drums perhaps. The violin at around the 2:10 mark is really nice. I was hoping this would be longer by possible add of a chorus and another violin to answer the call to that last segment musically. I really think this could be extended by quite a bit, with an emphasis on the loneliness aspect musically and tell a bigger story. I gave a 5 in Overall because I like this style of music.

Broadjam Artist: Glenda Jackson
Song: The Night Baby Jesus Was Born

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: Lovely introduction and nice storytelling in song. Tenderly sung, believable and worshipful…loved it! This song would be a nice addition to any Church Christmas program. Instrumentation and production are lovely. It’s hard to be original in a Christmas song, but you did a really nice job. Favorite lyric: Holy Night, Filled with Light.

Constructive Comments: Keep up the beautiful singing/performing/playing. You blessed me! Merry Chriatmas! Mrs Kate

Broadjam Artist: Sam Cooper
Song: A LITTLE MISTLETOE (Kati Mac-vocals)

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: As far as secular Christmas songs go, this one is pretty well-written. The horn is a nice feature in the instrumentation….very well done. I like the “jingle bell” horn lick and spoken word Merry Christmas ending. Nice word pictures present a homey, loving ambiance of good cheer. Nice instrumentation, background vocals and harmonies. “opening our presents we feel just like kids again” nice lyric.

Constructive Comments: The melody reminds me of The Teddy Bear Picnic. Vocal is a little “brash” at times, but it comes across as cheerful and bright.

Broadjam Artist: Jeff Ashbaker
Song: Little Drummer Boy

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: Here’s a nice cover of a favorite Christmas song with nicely matched male and female vocals. There’s an interesting percussion track. Vocals are crystal clear and easily understandable. Nice rendition of a popular tune.

Constructive Comments: I would have liked to hear a more childlike humility or tenderness in the vocal….just to make it more believable. Thanks for making my Christmas merry. I listened to you while I was doing my sewing and roasting my turkey. Mrs. Kate

Broadjam Artist: DENNIS MAKEPEACE
Song: i want to wish you the happiest christmas

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: The guitar introduction is so absolutely beautiful. I wondered if it was going to be an instrumental. The vocal is nicely done. The lyrics are written from an interesting angle. The peaceful beginning that Jesus had…and the trouble that was to come.

Constructive Comments: White boys and fools? Not sure I understood that lyric? I think that as fantastic as the instrumentation is…the lyrics need work. “I want to wish you a happy Christmas” just seemed like a jump from where you were going with the story of Jesus.