Month: December 2016

Broadjam Artist: Douglas Branson aka dB+1
Song: Late Land

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: This heavy beat electronic piece will entertain you with synthesized baubles, cobalt blue clouds floating by, teddy bears dancing in circles on top of mountain tops and moogy cotton candy land elephants. Go on a smooth 80’s style electro journey that starts in easy-town and leaves you in marshmallow multi-colored cereal land with just the right amount of cold milk.

Constructive Comments: I think another pass through on the EQ for the instruments would get the groove on the dance floor. The drums are not mixed properly to give a full-bodied beat in parts of the mix, it’s heavy in the beginning but not noticeable later. I think the piano could be more dynamic by adjusting the EQ bands in the mix and same with the synthesizers – with some reverb on each instrument’s channel and perhaps delay, chorus, stereo enhancement – a lot to think about there. With some changes this would be hot on the dance floor. And, please remember, in these reviews, I have no idea who this or who made this piece of music and I am now hearing it for the first time so I try to make sure everybody is happy as best I can in a review. I listened to this 3 times in my review to make sure I am saying things correctly. Have a great holiday season!

Broadjam Artist: Uncle Spider & The Electric Dirt Clods
Song: Quentin Don’t Surf

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: I’m on the phone waiting … … … I’m still waiting … and … yes … I’m still waiting. Awww, mann, my Top Ramen is boiling over. Ouch, that’s hot! I’m still waiting here on the phone though … ugh … still waiting.

Constructive Comments: I’m not sure if it was intentional or not. If it was intentional, this is perfect for on-call waiting queues. The recording quality on this piece is low. That being said, there are some media that utilize this type of recording. Still, I think in a remix of this, with the unbelievable craft in the EQ / Mixing would make this a nice piece for something like one of those segments on The Weather Channel. Please remember, I’m just a nobody out in the world somewhere who has never heard this piece of music before – these are just one person’s thoughts. I hope you have a great new year!

Broadjam Artist: Sam Cooper
Song: LONELY GETS TO ME

Reviewer: Kitty Matkins

Positive Comments: Hey, loved the hook and how you got us their with your vivid descriptions,. It was sad & Real! I felt the emotion, the pain of Ralph the fog waiting belt the door. and you were too, but you understood more than the dog, but still felt the pain anyway. I can tell that this was a lot of emotion to pack in to a short space.

Constructive Comments: Here’s my suggestion, for what it’s worth: I think you should give it to a local country artis to re- arrange New country style. I really believe the lyric and melody would lay better in a good country setting. The song itself seems to beef for it. With gat kind of.atlrrangement and good country treatment, like s George Strait type style or newer Alan Jackson! 🙂

Broadjam Artist: N.Jones, Music Designer (Protilius Productions)
Song: Constructing consciousness (Under 2016)

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: I like to listen to this kind of music when I am re-organizing my DVD collection finding unmatched socks in my apartment or writing programming code on a late Saturday night like that dude in “The Matrix”. My BFF says she would like to start playing this over the intercom at the gas station when she’s changing the weekly sale sign. And, my sister says this is cool music to listen to when she’s helping mom in the kitchen making the usual big batch of chocolate fudge with almond centers – we have a big family.

Constructive Comments: I’m a funny person in real life, so my first part of this review is meant to be in good fun. At first, I thought this was a New Age ambient piece and feels comfortable that way. Then it changed. The mystery unfolded in a curious, strange way that even though quite unorthodoxed, it still beckoned. The vocal sounding aspect took it out of New Age and back into electronic in my opinion. Those drums are nice. I heard a few artifacts in the recording. I think the ending could have been better, especially after hearing those big drums my ear wanted a big drum ending somehow or something grander. I think the vocal sounds could be softened somehow to make it more ethereal. And, please remember, these are just the thoughts of a person who has never heard this before and is just a simple person out in the world somewhere. Have a happy holiday season!

Broadjam Artist: Fred Kimmel
Song: hibye

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: Well, us poor folks can’t afford much, especially us starving musicians. I only have 4 minutes left on my Tracfone and I am suddenly caught in a dilemma. You see, there’s this chick in this electronic experimental track who keeps telling me to call her and say hello. Over and over she goes. “Call me, call me, call me, … say hello”. Ummm, I can’t cuz I don’t have enough minutes ok! I mean, I’d like to call you, but it’s all a matter of economics – sorry.

Constructive Comments: The intro could have been better. This is piece is unique, making it difficult to give a review. I played this three times. It’s like taking a break from the day for a few minutes and just change it up. Have a great holiday season.

Broadjam Artist: SRJ
Song: One Blond Never Made The Summer

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: I like to listen to this style of music while I’m eating multi-colored potato chips, walking about empty halls or taking dramatic selfies. I can also see people liking this music when they are doing their hair, cake-mixing, kneading bread dough, or whipping up a souflee on a bright sun shiney morning. I played this for my neighbor he says this would be awesome for Project X-like parties, jumping on the trampoline or running with Fido on the beach. His sister says this would be cool in a Logan’s Run re-make. Wow! Hey, nice electronic dance track!

Constructive Comments: I took off some marks because it’s more dance than ambient – althought I can easily see how this could go that way. It’s the beat mostly, still an enjoyable listen. There’s a few elements in the piece that could be enhance to make it more ethereal in parts. But overall, I like this the way it is. Thank you and have yourself a great new year ok.

Broadjam Artist: DENNIS MAKEPEACE
Song: midnight (is a lonely time)

Reviewer: Rachel Joy

Positive Comments: I like the guitar on this track.A melancholy song with good, clear, confident vocals and catchy tune. Very easy to identify with the lyrics. A pleasant feel overall. Well done!

Constructive Comments: I have listened over and over and feel the song needs no improvement. Great job!

Broadjam Artist: Margie & Art Corey, S. & A. Corey
Song: Wish You Could Smile Piano/Vocal

Reviewer: Rachel Joy

Positive Comments: The highlight for me is the heartfelt piano playing, which truly brings the song to life. Elton John comes to mind… It is not a mere recording, it is a performance, which literally jumps out and holds the lucky listener till the end!! I love the last line ‘wish there were rainbows all the time’.

Constructive Comments: Maybe the harmonies could be improved, apart from that I have nothing else to add.Great job.

Broadjam Artist: Fred Kimmel
Song: Executive Power Lunch

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: If you’re like me, you like to have fun! And for fun around here, we like to burp and make slurping sounds – you know – that cool fresh exhiliriating slurping sound like you hear with a frozen/slushy 7-Eleven strawberry Slurpee. Colorful and flavorful coolness comes to mind with this short electronic experimental piece. Yep, this would be perfect for pushing the brain-freeze limit while consuming one of these vibrant freezy slushy thingies. Don’t forget to stop for a minute and burp – it’s only natural ya know. Burp and Slurp to a beat.

Constructive Comments: I gave all fives because it is unique, and can really be used commercially for certain things like I mentioned in the first part of this review. I like the beat and drive to it and with the sound effects, the listener gets to go back and forth with surprise and drive. Have a great holiday season!

Broadjam Artist: John Hazlett
Song: Better In a Desert

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: This is good electronic music with somewhat of a New Age feel to it, yet retaining electronic qualities. This is perfect music for relaxing at the end of a hard day with a libation in hand.

Constructive Comments: There are some really beautiful parts with chords/instruments in this that stand out. I think this could go into the New Age genre if a remix is done to tone down a little of the beat and modify the electric keyboard sound for something slightly more ethereal and filling the sound field. There is a a part around the 2:15 mark that doesn’t seem to fit too well in terms of the motif of the entire piece. Then the music goes back to peaceful. I think the harpsichord sounding instrument could be warmer with better EQ or warmer sounding type instrument. These are just the thoughts of an old man up in the woods, so don’t mind me ok. Have a happy holidays.