Month: December 2016

Broadjam Artist: Jeff Maguire
Song: Last Free Man In America

Reviewer: Jeff Roberts

Positive Comments: Dang this almost sounds like Driveby Truckers!! Really great lyrics and a good vocal performance. I like the solid Americana vibe with the accordion and classic song structure. This song is really really good, it’s just Cinderella waitin’ for the fairy godmother.

Constructive Comments: Drum sounds are crap, frankly. And if you fix this the song will transform instantly. And overall mix/production are pretty weak. This is a fantastic song –I’d be willing to work with you on this if you like.

Broadjam Artist: Randal Dunkle
Song: At The Foot Of The Cross

Reviewer: Jeff Roberts

Positive Comments: Obviously Randal! At :56 or so I’m hearing some really cool guitar work that could be a bigger and great feature.

Constructive Comments: This one’s pretty rough Randal. The biggest thing is the conflict in the rhythm pattern of the drums vs what you’re doing on guitar. And the lyrics don’t flow that well on this one. But every time you make a tune you’re learning and developing!

Broadjam Artist: Charlie Shock
Song: CALIFORNIA COOL

Reviewer: Black Valentine

Positive Comments: Love the Vocal Attitude.Overall Vibe is great. Verse Dynamics are really cool. Song gets Big right when it needs to.Like the Background Vocals a lot. Good Fade with the little Soloing going on.Great job. I could totally see this making the Radio.

Constructive Comments: Not much constructive Criticism to give, really. One of the best things I’ve heard here.The only thing that maybe didn’t work for me so much is Modulation into the Chorus. It’s a bit jarring Chord-wise. But totally works coming out of it. Perhaps you could find a better Chord to go to at the end of the PreChorus to make that Transition a bit smoother?After the Chili Peppers did it to death in almost every one of their recent Singles, maybe the Marketplace doesn’t need another Song with California in the Chorus? Doesn’t take away from the catchiness, tho.Good job!!

Broadjam Artist: Tristyn Leach
Song: Wicked Little Lies

Reviewer: Black Valentine

Positive Comments: Kinda Dylan-esque Tom Waits Vocal style. Works well with the Music.Like the Vibe. I could hear this on a Movie Soundtrack.Like the Background Vocal “hey” and “Grunts.” They’re sitting just perfectly in the Mix and really add to the whole Mood.

Constructive Comments: I think the Lead Guitar could have been performed a bit better. There are more than a few questionable notes and a couple of glitchy moments that detracts from the quality of the Recording. Solos are also kinda loud, although I really thing the Bendy stuff works great with the Song. I wonder what it would sound like with the Solos taken out? Or just put in more selectively? Maybe you don’t need them thru the whole Song? Vocals are a bit flat in the first Verse. But because of the Dylan thing you got going it still sort of works. The Vocal Performance in the rest of the Song is better, though.A couple places the Vocals stumble because you’re trying to fit too many Syllables in. Maybe consider simplifying that.I’m assuming you used Drum Loops? They sound great but I’d really like to hear this with a real Drummer.The Fade Out is way too abrupt. I would take another crack at that.So even though this isn’t what I listen to, I think you did a really great job. The whole Vibe surpasses the Recording. I could definitely hear it on the soundtrack to a Movie or on a TV Show. I’m curious to hear more.

Broadjam Artist: Greg Lambert
Song: Rock and Roll (Instrumental)

Reviewer: Black Valentine

Positive Comments: I Reviewed a version of this same Song with Vocals so perhaps it’s not fair for me to Review this.However, I kinda like this version better for a couple reasons:1. You can hear the Instrumentation going on in the background. Cool stuff. Especially the Guitar and Keys. Great work on the Solos.2. It sounds less Country. On the version with Vocals the Singer has a deep Voice and Singing Style that pushes the Song much more into the Country Style than the Rock Style.3. The Instrumental Version doesn’t have the Lyrics which in my opinion were a bit trite.

Constructive Comments: I guess on an Album this would make a good companion piece to the version with Vocals.I’m kinda curious to hear more, now. I will check out your Profile.Thing is, it’s really hard to do Reviews on here without coming off like a jerk. Music is so subjective that one person may LOVE a song that the next hates. So I hope my past review didn’t upset you. The last thing I want to do is discourage anyone.

Broadjam Artist: FRED GROSS
Song: Angels

Reviewer: Black Valentine

Positive Comments: Nice Solo, good Guitar skills.Vocal Tone is really good.Lyrics are interesting. Kind of everything you perceive as a threat is just in your imagination.Structure works well. Like the Bridge leading into the 2nd Chorus. Key change for the Solo is cool.

Constructive Comments: It’s hard for me to do Reviews on most of the Songs I’m hearing. It seems a lot of people are posting Songs that are obviously Demos to get feedback rather than Radio Ready Recordings for Placement (which is what I use this site for). So I’m not sure how to approach reviewing your Song.For a Demo to just get your idea down it sounds fine. You totally get how you want the Song to go and everything you’re going for. For a Demo everything is really clear. For a Final Recording it’s not good enough.Vocals are very pitchy. And when the Guitar is Soloing in unison with the Vocals both are not on with each other and it all sounds very out of Key.I don’t like the Drum Pattern in the Bridge. I know what you were going for but it’s a bit distracting and doesn’t propel the listener to the Chorus. And perhaps better Drum Loops will make the Song sound a bit more realized. Maybe this is an older Recording. Technology and Computer Recording has come such a long way. I personally would only put up Label Quality Recordings. Again, as an Idea/Sketch it’s good. From a Songwriting standpoint I think I’d like the first Chorus to go twice instead of once. And the Vocal Melody in the Bridge works better leading into the second Chorus than the first. In the first Chorus it’s almost jarring how the Chorus goes from Minor to Major.I truly hope my Review doesn’t upset you. I like what you are doing. But if you are gonna submit your Songs for Placement in something, you have to make sure the Performances are right on, the Sounds are great, and the Mix has real Impact. The Listings may not say it, but if it’s a choice between a good song and a good song that Sounds KILLER, which do you think they will choose?

Broadjam Artist: Gary Mazzola
Song: SOULS AWAKE CONNECTING IN LIFES MAZE

Reviewer: Randal Dunkle

Positive Comments: I like the sound of the keyboards and the rhythm guitar, I also like the unique vocals, sounds a bit like the Talking Heads.

Constructive Comments: I like the song, very peaceful yet very lonely – I think I would replace the horn with a classical guitar though – best wishes!

Broadjam Artist: Douglas Branson aka dB+1
Song: Excellent Day

Reviewer: Jeff Maguire

Positive Comments: Similar to Lou reed or maybe some old Velvet Underground, maybe the tune ” Perfect Day ” … it’s an excellent day indeed.

Constructive Comments: Tune has a kind of simplistic appeal, very sing song. At first I thought it was just repetitive and lyrics were too obvious, but as I listened, it grew on me and began to carry me along with it, and I found listening quite enjoyable. Electric guitar is probably too loud.

Broadjam Artist: Chet Nichols
Song: I Hurt Too Much To Squeeze (#1 Blues-Rock)

Reviewer: Gary Mazzola

Positive Comments: good lyrics nice guitar parts

Constructive Comments: back up vocals s eem too much almost like to hear one voice whaling i hurt too much. it would be interesting to try it with a female .

Broadjam Artist: FRED GROSS
Song: Lila

Reviewer: Gary Mazzola

Positive Comments: Nice movie type music. ending credits. good guitar work

Constructive Comments: good guitar work though a little thin sounding. maybe a harmony in key spots . would like to hear more in the arrangement instrumentally.