Month: March 2017

Broadjam Artist: John Masarone
Song: Troop and Camo

Reviewer: The Bitter Elegance

Positive Comments: This is a very fun track without a lot of bounce and exuberance. The vocal has a lot of interesting character and the song structure is very compelling. The musicianship is tight (I am super excited to see if this is a band or a soloist – hoping it is a band because I bet live you guys are smoking!). I am left singing the melody of the hook, which is the highest praise I can give a songwriter.

Constructive Comments: I have NO IDEA what the title is, or how it pays off the lyric. I have tried and tried to figure out what the heck is being sung, but I just can’t get it. I see this as problematic because a listener on the radio (or internet, or MP3) won’t have a lyric sheet and I think the lyrics would be a lot more visual if I “got” it. Stylistically, the lead vocal (while not pitchy) is a little “loose” for my personal taste, but the style definitely shows.nice job!!!

Broadjam Artist: Lisa Vivienne
Song: Tree of Life

Reviewer: The Bitter Elegance

Positive Comments: This is quite lovely. There is a Disneyesque vibe that I find very enchanting and compelling. The mixture of the strings (with the swells) and the snare drum falling in the pocket behind the lead vocal is top-shelf. The mix sounds great (even on tiny speakers), and the vocalist has very good pitch and a very pleasant tone.

Constructive Comments: There are two areas that I feel could improve this song greatly – the first one is the lyric (and I admit, without a lyric sheet, I am missing quite a few words). “You are the tree of life in me” just doesn’t seem conversational enough to use as the entire lyrical payoff. I just can’t picture that being something that becomes “catchphrasy” enough to be an earworm. The other thing is that the phrasing and position of the lead melody puts all of the notes in both the chorus and verse in roughly the same range. I would love to hear a variation in phrasing in the verse, and sung about a 4th lower overall so that the chorus REALLY explodes when it comes in.All-in-all, nice work!

Broadjam Artist: Randal Dunkle
Song: This Old Cross

Reviewer: The Bitter Elegance

Positive Comments: I can instantly sing back your chorus, which is not only important, but the highest compliment I can give a songwriter.This is a good worship song, and I can see it being used as part of a ministry to great affect. The vocal sounds heartfelt and sincere, and the singer has good pitch and delivery. A few tweaks (listed below) and I think the market appeal could be improved greatly.

Constructive Comments: I think that what keeps this song from being a complete home run, is the lack of unique rhythmic structure in the verse melodies. I do understand that praise music needs to have a sing-song sensibility, but all of the great worship songs that come to mind share this detail – the verse (or release) is phrased in a way that sets it apart from the chorus.As for the arrangement, I think a simple piano/vocal would be more effective and timeless – you don’t need the other instruments and they clutter up the beauty of your very direct melodic hook.

Broadjam Artist: Sam Cooper
Song: HALF WAY THERE

Reviewer: Michael Cregan

Positive Comments: Love the overall feel and sound of the tune. I bet this would be a great tune to hear live. Nice small town theme. I do like the hook line, “It may not be heaven, but it’s half way there.” I’d like to see supporting lines as strong.

Constructive Comments: As noted, the hook line works well, but it needs more support of stronger lines around it in the chorus. While I like the small town theme, it isn’t telling me something new (in the group of small town theme songs) to make it stand out. There are some good basics here, but more lines as good as the hook lines would really help.

Broadjam Artist: FRED GROSS
Song: Didn’t I Tell You

Reviewer: John Masarone

Positive Comments: This song as some nice parts. The guitar playing and tone are great. The overall groove is pretty good. It has a very classic rock vibe for sure. The synth part drives that home for me.

Constructive Comments: I listened twice on quality headphones. I will be honest, on the second listen I identified the chorus. It didn’t stand out from the other parts of the song.I couldn’t help to notice static throughout the mix. Almost like this track was recorded from a vinyl album. The high end sounds a little too hyped. This makes the mix sound thin. No Punch. It also can use some low end via bass and kick drum. I don’t think any of this can be fixed at Mastering level. I recommend going back to the multi-track.

Broadjam Artist: Jeff Maguire
Song: Onion Head

Reviewer: John Masarone

Positive Comments: This is a pretty good instrumental. It is like background music when I’m watching hockey highlights on the NHL channel. They always have high energy guitar tunes playing. You may want to investigate it. With an improved production quality I think you’ll have something very marketable. When listening to the hook I kept singing, “I’ll be coming for you,” in my head.

Constructive Comments: I listened to the song on quality headphones. A few things hit me but I don’t know if they can be fixed because I don’t know what the tune was recorded on. I think the mix can improve with more of a stereo spread. Pan some instruments hard left and right. It needs to have more bass, kick drum and overall bottom end. There is a lot of mid-range. Also, you can ear the players playing hard but there is little dynamic range in the mix so your accents and attack can’t be heard. With a fix there will be more excitement.

Broadjam Artist: Peter Toussaint
Song: Sunrise

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: Easy Listening is the right category for this track. The guitarist obviously knows what he is doing, backed up by some nice synth ambiance. I really enjoyed listening to this composition and I think you did a great job.

Constructive Comments: Heard a tiny bit of buzz in the guitar a couple of times but no big deal. Recording is very clear. Hard to pin down the hook in this track, but it was a very pleasant listening experience.

Broadjam Artist: IBP
Song: I Blame Your Eyes

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: What’s not to like about this high-energy track? “I Blame Your Eyes” – great hook, amazing chorus, crystal-clear vocals, nearly flawless recording. This is a young powerful voice that has amazing potential. Favorite lyric: You wash away my brain. Wow, I was really impressed with this song and the performance. Great production and instrumentation, too. Bravo times 3.

Constructive Comments: Fix the ending…it’s too abrupt. Otherwise, keep on making great music. I wish you EVERY success!Mrs. Kate in FL

Broadjam Artist: Chip Salerno
Song: How I Remember It

Reviewer: Weez Pop

Positive Comments: Nice and welly created. Enjoyed it very so that the feeling was very uplifting.

Constructive Comments: not bad at all. it was very nice.

Broadjam Artist: amy abernathy
Song: Love may come late

Reviewer: Bob Bentley

Positive Comments: A fine song of hope for the future with excellent vocals, musical composition and top quality instrumentation. Well produced with a nice blend of piano and guitar accompaniment. Some very interesting lyrics bring originality to a familiar framework.

Constructive Comments: I really enjoyed the track and the performance but (to me) it seems a touch too long and could have done with a solid ending instead of petering out. At first I wasn’t certain that the lyrics in the chorus worked but I listened to the track 3 or 4 times, and the more I listened the more I liked it!!Good luck with your song.