Month: August 2017

Broadjam Artist: Ali Edwards
Song: I’m Cryin’

Reviewer: Marcel

Positive Comments: Nice recording and presentation. Very current sounding song that works well in any Pop format. I think this song has potential. Good instrumentation and vocals.

Constructive Comments: Not many negatives except maybe have the Lead Guitar a bit louder when it comes in. Good vocal layering. Maybe a change up in the percussion to separate the different sections. But good song nevertheless.

Broadjam Artist: Margie & Art Corey, S. & A. Corey
Song: Poopers Mcgoo Sinclair

Reviewer: Marcel

Positive Comments: I dug the vibe in this. It reminded me a bit of Prince but it also had a 70’s thing going for it too. I can envision this in a movie or any other Pop radio. Good work.

Constructive Comments: The only thing I can say is that I had a hard time hearing the lyrics throughout the song due to the heavy Reverb. A little less reverb would’ve been nice so I can listen to all the lyrics clearly. But good work!

Broadjam Artist: tim meyers
Song: christmas is a treasure

Reviewer: Lisa Vivienne

Positive Comments: A very upbeat and christmassy song! Well done on the production and melody of the song… it is a great melody!

Constructive Comments: I am not sold on the lyrics of the song, I found that lyrics were used from other songs and being a songwriter myself I don’t like doing that but on the other hand, it is very clever the way it was put together, linking all the christmas songs in one song! Good job there!

Broadjam Artist: DENNIS MAKEPEACE
Song: Words can’t wait

Reviewer: Dana and Brad

Positive Comments: You are a modern Elton John. I love this. Your lyrics are well thought out, beautiful, and relatable. Your voice and your pitch is lovely. Harmonies are spot on and appropriately placed. I really enjoyed listening to this song. The subtle, yet impactful and well placed instrumental solos were spot on. It was a pleasure listening to your music!

Constructive Comments: I really liked the overall feel and general nature of this song so criticism, even that which is constructive in nature, is going to be a bit rough here. I love your song as it is. The only place that I could think to provide some input is with respect to a focus on transforming this beautiful song into something a bit more modern and marketable in this day and age. Adding a bit of synth, some bass, and a bit of percussion may make this song a bit more current. However, I suspect that most of us musicians, including myself, ultimately prefer the good old days where talent and quality didn’t require synth, autotune, and all other related effects. I like this song as if. However, should you wish to make it more “marketable” considering a few adjustments as laid out above may be a good idea. Nevertheless, I love this song and look forward to hearing more!

Broadjam Artist: Dave Haddad (CenterPeace)
Song: Hold On Me

Reviewer: Dana and Brad

Positive Comments: This song is super catchy! I felt inspired to listen to it more than once and by the time that I was halfway through the second listen, “You’ve got a hold on me” was stuck in my head…which is AWESOME. Also, the beat in the pre- chorus is great and it very nicely sets the stage for the chorus.

Constructive Comments: I would love to hear some more harmony in the pre- chorus as well as some non-lexical vocal harmonies. A few “oohs” and “ahhs” could go a long way! After all, clearly your vocal ability is awesome. Strut your stuff girl! On a related note, I loved your improvisation. I would love to hear more of that throughout the song as well. Either way, this song is a must have on my playlist!! I’m still singing that hook and I suspect I will be for quite some time. )

Broadjam Artist: David James
Song: Heat Haze (ft. CoriAnder and Ruth Gillies)

Reviewer: Dana and Brad

Positive Comments: I thought that this song was fantastic. I love the synth. Overall, the song is super modern and I could totally see this song on a “top hits” list in the very near future. The lyrics, vocal quality and annunciation was great and I really liked how you pulled back on the bridge. Well done!

Constructive Comments: I think it would be really cool if this song was more intimate at the beginning. Laying back on the beat right from the onset and placing a greater focus on those awesome vocals and the underlying modern, “easy listening” vocal tone would be a lovely addition to this arrangement! Adding delay and additional harmony to the chorus may also be a nice idea. I love the hook in this song and I think that just a few adjustments could help it really shine!!

Broadjam Artist: Lisa Vivienne
Song: Tree of Life

Reviewer: Dana and Brad

Positive Comments: Your tone is incredible. Also, your vocal control and ability to selectively utilize that beautiful vibrato where it is most effective at communicating the underlying emotion of the song is wonderful. I have been a member of my church choir and cantor for over 20 years and I can tell you with confidence that your talent is something special. Well done. I am so very exited to hear more from you!

Constructive Comments: I find it hard to give much constructive criticism seeing as that I loved this piece very much as is. However, it might help to increase the overall impact and emotional connection to the song if a bit more build up and use of dynamics is utilized. I think that it would really add to the overall message of the song if you saved the instrumental complexity and overall crescendo until that second half of your first verse. Let that lovely voce of yours take center stage so that the initial intimate feel is maintained throughout the first portion of the song. Ultimately, I thought your song was absolutely beautiful!

Broadjam Artist: tim meyers
Song: christmas is a treasure

Reviewer: Dana and Brad

Positive Comments: Listening to this song made me so incredibly happy!! It also inspired me to want to listen to more Christmas music even though we are still only in the hot summer month of August. The way that you incorporated a reference or alluded to a wide array of hooks and overall themes of various well know Christmas songs was awesome! Your lyrics are great and I absolutely plan on adding this song to my holiday playlist this season. Thank you for sharing!

Constructive Comments: I really liked your harmonies. In fact, I liked them so much that I would love to hear them earlier in the song and more throughout as a general matter. Especially when it comes to the chorus. Adding more harmonies and even doubling and adding yet a third vocal harmony to your hook could be an awesome addition to this beautiful holiday original!

Broadjam Artist: CAEDMON’S DREAM
Song: So Busted

Reviewer: Dana and Brad

Positive Comments: I really like your melody. It is super catchy! I also really like your arrangement and use of dynamics. The song has a great build. I could clearly hear a lovely shift between your bridge, verses, and chorus. I also really like that this song is a really nice modern mix of pop and rock. I enjoyed listening to this song very much!

Constructive Comments: I really like the content of your lyrics! However, it took me a while to really be able to understand exactly what you were saying at some points. Nevertheless, once I ultimately figured it out I was quite impressed. 🙂 I many event, it wouldn’t hurt to work on the mix so that the lyrics are a bit clearer. Lowering the volume of the percussion in the mix and adding some compression may be helpful in this respect. I also think that some synth and/or delay and a harmony for the chorus would sound really great on this song!! Well done! 🙂

Broadjam Artist: Kate Carpenter
Song: Hero in My Eyes

Reviewer: Dana and Brad

Positive Comments: I absolutely love your voice and your tone so very much!! Listening to your singing could literally make me feel at ease and at peace no matter how hectic my day may have been. I really liked the end portion of your song when you pull back and then build up again. Great dynamics! I have been a choir member for the majority of my life as well as involved in many musicals and I suspect that you likely come from the same background. Your annunciation, emotion, and overall style is spot on! Keep them coming!

Constructive Comments: I think it might be a good idea to hold back on the intricate piano work a bit, especially for the chorus. While the piano is beautiful, I feel like it distracts from those lovely vocals of yours. I think that saving the piano for the less intimate portions of the song and leading with your vocals could help this song to have an even greater impact! It might also sound nice if you harmonized and improvised a bit while the children are singing “hero”. I really enjoyed listening to this beautiful and touching song!