Month: January 2017

Broadjam Artist: CyclopsCow
Song: Somnambulist

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: I like to listen to this kind of music when I am walking around the crumbling ‘burbs with my headphones on. This would also be cool at the boat dock on one of those cool windy blue days. My sister gets really really excited for music like this. There’s a man in this music who doesn’t sound too happy I hope he gets to feelin’ better.

Constructive Comments: I see this is experimental. So the review is different for this style of creation. – this musical piece doesn’t fit – just my opinion only. The man speaking should have been left out. There’s some nice music in the mix but the man ruins it all, because it just doesn’t fit with what is being portrayed musically. Of course, I could be wrong with all this. I hope you have a wonderful new year.

Broadjam Artist: N.Jones, Music Designer (Protilius Productions)
Song: Idols (2015)

Reviewer: J Edna Mae Thomas

Positive Comments: Nice start – good contrast between timbres and great build with drums.Really interesting shift in rhythms throughout! Fab!Middle – good choice of timbre – shift in the feelGood solid structureDrums – good use of different rhythms, fill ins etc throughoutVery last part – quiet ending note is a good contrast to the rest of the piece.

Constructive Comments: Job well done! Not easy to suggest any ideas.However, if I were going to suggest, I would say that your very last section, starting at 3.30, could use more of either the contrast in your earlier sections, or more of a build up to a climactic ending. I can hear something starting to build in the background – maybe develop this melodic idea.

Broadjam Artist: Fred Kimmel
Song: No Need To Reply (featuring Sali Oguri)

Reviewer: J Edna Mae Thomas

Positive Comments: Intro – nice high energy start – gets you straight into the vibe.Great vocals – nice lead and b.v.Good idea to drop out drums in bridge – ‘I want to see you again’ – effective use of texture.Very neat structure, which keeps the track interesting.Good use of textures with instruments/timbre dropping in and out.

Constructive Comments: Great job, but here are some suggestions:VOCAL MIX: On ‘NO NEED TO REPLY’ which leads into instrumental section, add some reverb to have it bounce around. You could also enhance this hook by doubling the melody on this phrase either an 8ve higher or lower on another timbre.

Broadjam Artist: SRJ
Song: No Time To Rest (Funky Vocal Mix), ft Leanne P

Reviewer: J Edna Mae Thomas

Positive Comments: Good clear structure, intro, verse, chorus etcGreat development by introduction of new electronic sounds as the songs progresses.The outro is effective and nice contract from the thumping drum hook.Catchy lyric idea with ‘Can’t get no rest’.

Constructive Comments: A job well done, but here are some ideas/suggestions:Intro – could be condensed , maybe a 4 bars + 4 bars instead of 8 + 8. Some other linking sections could be shortened You could perhaps add some reverb on some of the vocal phrases, example, ‘no time to rest’ – then it can reverberate around the next instrumental section.

Broadjam Artist: Greg Lambert
Song: Down Home (Instrumental)

Reviewer: James Neilson Graham

Positive Comments: Nice clean, spare arrangement with tasteful, mutually respectful, laid back playing. Blues feel knocking around there. This had life (got me dancing). Good stuff!

Constructive Comments: More power to your elbow . . .

Broadjam Artist: Nigel Barrett
Song: Whatcha gonna do

Reviewer: Christian Leslie

Positive Comments: Solid ballad with great potential

Constructive Comments: Overall, I think the song would benefit from updated sounds to make it should more contemporary.

Broadjam Artist: Eclectic Soul Orchestra
Song: If Its Easy

Reviewer: Christian Leslie

Positive Comments: I like the overall vibe of the song.

Constructive Comments: I think the song could benefit from some additional chord changes to make it more interesting. I would also consider adding some other sound textures to maybe come in and out at certain points in the song. Updating the drums would also go a long way top making the song sound more up to date.

Broadjam Artist: Produca X
Song: SoulMate

Reviewer: James Neilson Graham

Positive Comments: Harmonically simple yet mesmeric composition. To my surprise it held me. I was kind of expecting a singing voice to break in , but in the end the piece didn’t need it (or did I miss something?). Tastefully played live drums knitted the piece together.

Constructive Comments: More power to your elbow . . .

Broadjam Artist: Margie & Art Corey, S. & A. Corey
Song: Shakin’ in My Shoes…….Sax

Reviewer: Christian Leslie

Positive Comments: I really like the filly groove on this one. The horns work well on this track as well. The vocalist’s voice compliments the song as well. I definitely get a Curtis Mayfield vibe.

Constructive Comments: The only critique I have of this song is that it sounds dated. I think the song would work great in the 1970’s so the challenge is updating the song so that it sounds relevant and can compete in todays market.

Broadjam Artist: Sam Cooper
Song: DANCE TO JAMES BROWN (featuring Ashley E. Norton)

Reviewer: Christian Leslie

Positive Comments: Good, funky vibe with a solid vocal.

Constructive Comments: The groove seems like it’s dragging a bit. I think the song would benefit from a slightly faster tempo. It could also use some other instruments or sounds coming in and out to make it more interesting. Some more vocal overdubs would also work well here so that the vocal isn’t so one dimensional. Overall though, I think the song has potential