Month: December 2016

Broadjam Artist: John Hazlett
Song: At Last I Know

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: So, yeah, bartender, whatch ya got that’s hot? My wife’s done a left me and I need to git schnockrd. Heh. … OK, that’s what entered my mind while listening to this pianist playing an old-style piano in a saloon some time ago perhaps. Perfect music for old-time, and I mean old-time country western movie clips or possible scenes depicting puppets or vaudeville type messages.

Constructive Comments: This piece of music is so specific that it just gets 5’s okay. The imagery depicted in the first part of the review should be exploited. Please do have a happy holiday!

Broadjam Artist: Fred Kimmel
Song: Exotica

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: I like to listen to this kind of music when I’m in front of the mirror for hours trying out all the new hair styles – I can go through three cans of hairspray in one sitting … ugh! … When I hit the play button for this music, my dog’s tail started wagging so yeah, my canine likes it too! I also can see this being enjoyable while practicing karate on peppermint candy canes you know, the ones left over from the holidays. Gonna put this on my playlist when I trim my bonzai tree. My mom says this would be nice for her to listen to when she’s laying down lasagna or making her big famous yummy meatballs. Dad says he’d like this when he’s re-arranging things in the garage. Hey, our whole family like this!

Constructive Comments: This is just a unique piece of music hard to review. For the target audience related to this style – the mixing and mastering is good. I took off most marks for the synthesized shaker I think it could have been placed better in the mix with randomization for more realism. The eerie sound is really nice however the shaker is drawing the ear away from the melody. The bass is full and indicative of this style. The eerie sound driving the listener could have been more present and fill more of the sound field to get more mystery. I think a few variations in the melody/chords would give this more meaning. Have a great holiday.

Broadjam Artist: Planck Time Productions
Song: Swimming In A Sea Of Bliss

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: I like to listen to this kind of electronic music when I’m vacuuming my illustrious satin carpets, or standing next to a big cotton candy machine or diving into a bauble filled pool of sequenced pistachio french fries. As a reformed gummy bear addict, yes, I admit, I can get into this mixture of synthetic feathers, twinkly air fresheners, viola purple potato foggy blooms, and jazzy, splashy, wonky, twinkly smoothly-bathed crimson flowers.

Constructive Comments: I think another pass in EQ can make a better recording. A little more variation in the chord cadence and melody notes would have been nice. I think some cutting needs to occur overall in the mixing for more warmth and clarity and tone dwn the bell. Those crash cymbals over and over …. hmmm. I like that what sounds like a cello or viola. The twinkles could be more realistic in the spatial environment. The piano is hidden in the mix and could become more present. Have a great holiday!

Broadjam Artist: CyclopsCow
Song: Sinister Eyes

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: So, I’m guessing Neo is following Trinity around the club well… because of that message remember? … “Follow the White Rabbit” … so, I’m guessing, before they actually met, perhaps he was walking around the club earlier, following her around with this music playing … This electronic experimental piece could also be a whimsical dark jaunt into Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Constructive Comments: Since this is classified as experimental – it’s experimental! Which, makes it harder to review. If a remix is ever done in the future, I think some more dynamics would take this to a different level. Some more variations, instrumentation improvements and a hook would be nice. The repetitive nature of the bassy line is not enough to make as a hook, in my musical opinion only. I hope you have a great holiday!

Broadjam Artist: Chet Nichols
Song: Tangled Up In You (Best Instrumental at BJ)

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: I like to listen to this kind of music on my headphones when I am splashing all kinds of food coloring into the winter’s snow around where I live, creating a colorful environment for the winter days. This music would be perfect for flying kites on a warm breezy day too. I can see this nice smooth jazzy relaxing piece of music performed while folks at a summer outdoor festival are having dinner perhaps. I imagine raspberry fields, blue sunflowers and purple lilies with white butterflies dancing around on an easy going sun shiney day.

Constructive Comments: Like my great great great granpappy’s co-worker’s mother-in-law used to say – You did brilliant! – To whomever participated in this production – Two thumbs up and have a great wonderful new year!

Broadjam Artist: N.Jones, Music Designer (Protilius Productions)
Song: Broken Machine (Rarified Explicit 2009)

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: While listening to this unique piece of sounds, packed upon more sounds and yes, still more sounds, guitars and frenziness, – with nothing but chaos and a man talking about “fixing his broken machine…” – well – I was transported mentally to a room where a man has been hauled in by the police department and he’s detoxifying or coming down from a bad trip of naughty stuff perhaps. I hope he finds someway to fix his broken machine.

Constructive Comments: There’s not really anything to grab onto musically – only thing I can think of is some grungy movie clip needing all grunge, grit and splat type of music… The first part of this review provides mental imagery if you want to market this to a scene similarly described. Have a happy holiday season.

Broadjam Artist: Sandra Ada
Song: Just Relax

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: This electronic ambient piece of music is nice for relaxation. I imagine a gift card shop somewhere, with candles and aromas filling the air – this music is playing and the customers are all relaxed – enjoying their shopping experience.

Constructive Comments: I wish this was longer – it’s nice. I took off marks mostly because of the sitar sound, I think that’s the instrument. The repetitiveness of the metallic sound took away from the beauty of the piano line – just my opinion only. I think this would be nice at a gift shop. Bringing this down to :45 in a remix would also make a nice introduction to a larger part of a musical story.

Broadjam Artist: Uncle Spider & The Electric Dirt Clods
Song: L.A. Waltz

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: I like to listen to this kind of music when I’m checking the batteries in the smoke detectors. I also like to listen to this kind of music when I’m filing my nails, giving myself a pedicure, taking selfies or re-organizing my cd collection. I played this for my neighbor she says she could see this as good music for when she does her avante garde art thingamajiggies. This would be nice with neopolitan ice-cream with multi-colored sprinkles.

Constructive Comments: Yes, bizarre, strange. It’s experimental! I think some work could have been done to make it slightly more dynamic in parts – like the strongs could have been more enticing by adjusting the EQ to give more presence and reverb. This would be a fitting for some movie clip with an asian backdrop, played lowly in the back. Have a great holiday!

Broadjam Artist: Chet Nichols
Song: Summer Love ( … “Band In The Basement”)

Reviewer: Jeff Maguire

Positive Comments: Very retro 60’s pop/rock tune , reminds me of a lit of those old beach movie soundtracks … just waiting for Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello to get up and dance.

Constructive Comments: The guitar sound might be a little grungy for this style of beach boy, or beach movie summer love thing, maybe cleaner but still with the tremolo and some reverb. Probably a little bit long as well, most of these songs say everything they have to say in less than three minutes. Very well done overall.

Broadjam Artist: Planck Time Productions
Song: A Rift In Time

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: I like this electronic track. It reminds of peppermint jazzyphones blending in with high tubular wonk-lights filling up with synthetic eclairs and throw in some spring rains of sugary donuts, for good measure. This is good music for making chili, blowing bubbles into the air, taking selfies and flossing my teeth. I like to play this kind of music when I’m kneading dough or frosting cakes.

Constructive Comments: Electronic Acid tracks are hard to review. This music evokes imagery, very important. Nice mixing! This is my last review of the day, I’m tired and my cat just barked. Have a happy holiday season!