Month: January 2017

Broadjam Artist: Fred Kimmel
Song: The Clock Burned Down

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: This is an unusual song and one that I don’t feel fit the genre category it was in. The vocalist has clearly put his heart and soul into the song, and the instrumentation does build up around him, but not in the way you’d expect. I feel some kind of clearer Chorus is needed in order to sharpen the focus on the lyrics and to give the song a clearer “hook”

Constructive Comments: I liked the overall shape of the arrangement, there was good use of light and shade, and a good build up to the peak of the song. The sounds used in the arrangement are a bit dated – 80s almost – and not in an ironic way. Making more of the instruments “live” rather than synthesised might give the song the additional energy it needs.

Broadjam Artist: Nigel Barrett
Song: Looking at the face of God

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: The instrumental recording is nice and clear, with all the parts recorded and mixed well. The idea behind the lyrics is a strong one, though could be executed with more brevity. There is variety in the way the song is structured that can be surprising but also interesting.

Constructive Comments: Try a recording with a professional vocalist, perhaps a woman’s voice? The track has a soulful vibe in the instrumentation but the voice on this recording is not a soulful one. I think this would take the track in an interesting new direction. The idea behind the lyrics is good and clear, but some of the metaphors and stories used to take us through the song are a little long and a little awkward. This might help if you simplify the verse melodies a little in order to make them more memorable, and give them a bit of a lift into the chorus.

Broadjam Artist: Uncle Spider & The Electric Dirt Clods
Song: A Cold Blade Tells / Blues Rock

Reviewer: Jeff Maguire

Positive Comments: Moody blues jamming tune , similar in style and mood to Eric Johnson. Well played.

Constructive Comments: Playing is good, statement of main riff is clear, it definitely sets a mood that is sellable. I might like to hear the player shred a little bit more, and if that’s a stereo effect on a delay it doesn’t take long to be more distracting than it’s worth.

Broadjam Artist: George Molden
Song: Free as a bird

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: This is a very curiously put together instrumental track reminiscent of “Rock of Ages”. An interesting percussion background adds a creative backing to this tune. The rumbling roll drum work adds excitement to the piece.

Constructive Comments: Why is this categorized as Unique-Children? The only thing that reminded me of kids was the tinkle-bell quality of some of the instrumentation. Otherwise, it just seemed like an electronically created instrumental track. Ending way too abrupt.

Broadjam Artist: Randal Dunkle
Song: Shout To Jesus

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: Somebody had some fun creating this rock instrumental track that has 3 words in it. Shout. To Jesus. Memorable lyrics for sure. (Sometimes less is more, and that was creative to say the least). Instrumentation is driving and well-done, especially the bass track.

Constructive Comments: Good job keep on playing and having fun with it!

Broadjam Artist: Mike Cantwell – TalentEast Productions
Song: Tip Toeing Around Happy (Smooth Jazz)

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: This is a nice easy-listening jazz piece…nice ambiance music for a restaurant, date night, etc. Compelling introduction, nice instrumentation. Good job!

Constructive Comments: I liked that driving steady drum beat at the beginning but later on was wishing for a little more variation or perhaps bringing it down in the mix a little. The ending was way too abrupt.

Broadjam Artist: Tom Reardon
Song: Changed My Life

Reviewer: Bill Oboczky

Positive Comments: Wow. Not often I here songs that are at this level on Broadjam! The mix was awesome, performances were solid and supported the vocals as very well, and the vocals were beautiful. Nice builds from verses to chorus and vocal/instrument accents were very well placed as to enhance the song but not draw focus from the lead vocals.If this song hasn’t been placed already or won a contest here, there’s something wrong with the world…

Constructive Comments: Not much to say critically. As I stated above, everything was top notch.I feel there could have been a BIT more of a hook. I know I’m nitpicking on a great song, but hell…felt I needed to say something constructive.Keep up the awesome work!

Broadjam Artist: Patrick E. Muth
Song: BEFORE THE WORLD STOPS SPINNIN!

Reviewer: Bill Oboczky

Positive Comments: With some work I honestly believe this song could get placed…in a TV show or possibly a film. It reminded me of Randy Newman’s Pixar film work, and there’s definitely commercial potential in that genre.I love hearing tracks like this that don’t fit into the pop/rock mold, that take a chance and stand out. That being said, by that same token your chances of radio airplay drop but I think film/TV placement is a better fit for this anyway.

Constructive Comments: Now it’s time for me to be negative…but hopefully constructively so.I found the mix very odd honestly. The panning was very lopsided…piano and lead vocals seemed to be the only things in the right channel with all other tracks to the left. The stereo image was therefor not used to its full potential. If you were aiming for a retro/Beatles type mix with the hard pans and radical separation that they employed, I feel that would probably have worked better with a more sparse arrangement…as it is, there’s a bit too much going on for that type of sound.Also, I would have liked the lead vocals perhaps 3db hotter in the mix…oddly, the backup vocals were more up front and clearer than the lead. That being said, with a bit of work I do feel this has a chance of placement…again, thinking of Disney/Pixar type films.

Broadjam Artist: Randal Dunkle
Song: I owe You everything

Reviewer: Bill Oboczky

Positive Comments: I thought this track was generally very well produced, it sounded full and clear. The only thing about the mix I didn’t care for was that the vocals were a bit too hot in the mix. To me, they didn’t sit well in the mix at all, but stood a bit too far above everything else.

Constructive Comments: I would have liked to hear a bit more contrast from the verses to the chorus, possibly some harmony vocals. The sections seemed to me to run together and become a bit repetitive after a while.

Broadjam Artist: Glenda Jackson
Song: A Heart Of Love (Remix)

Reviewer: Martin Pescatore

Positive Comments: Excellent performance. Great vocals, strong harmony vocals. The guitar playing is really tight, and drives the song along nicely. Love the cello (?) it really adds depth and variety to the arrangement. I really appreciated the coda (“pour out your spirit”) which added a further dimension to the arrangement and meant that the song ended really strongly.

Constructive Comments: The lyrics were a bit straight forward for me, I would have liked to have seen maybe fewer verses and a bit more inagination in the lyric. Also the overall mix seemed bass light, partly due to the bright guitar and vocals. Maybe it was lackng a bass line (or just some EQ).. But this is a personal preference ..