Month: October 2017

Broadjam Artist: James Hamilton
Song: you’re gonna miss me

Reviewer: Nigel Barrett

Positive Comments: Start sounded like Shanice Wilson! Liked the keys a lot. Smoooooooooth vocal chorus!

Constructive Comments: Splitting hairs here but for me some more emphasis on the chorus with the use of a rolling cymbal would be good. I could also hear some of the backing dropping out and being replaced with some gorgeous rich pad chords.

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

Reviewer: Nigel Barrett

Positive Comments: One of those tunes that keeps you listening to hear the subject content. Liked the real instrumentation. (prove me wrong!)

Constructive Comments: I review music on here in headphones, so the panning really didn’t help the enjoyment of the tune! Drums right and bass left need to be central. Not that I know much about mixing!

Broadjam Artist: Jeff Roberts
Song: Even Now (Jimmy Michaels Night Mix)

Reviewer: Nigel Barrett

Positive Comments: Rhythmic start got me interested from the outset. Liked the old school vibe a lot. Reminded me of Brand New Heavies etc. Could hear this in the next edition of Grand Theft Auto!

Constructive Comments: Only thing I would do is bring in the vocals earlier. The chorus could benefit from some underpinning with some pad chords as for me the rhythm guitar isn’t quite enough.

Broadjam Artist: Gladstone Avenue
Song: The Legend with Kimberly Haynes (remix)

Reviewer: Nigel Barrett

Positive Comments: Clean and tidy recording. Nice vocal performance!

Constructive Comments: For the first chorus I’d bring in the snare immediately to give it more impact and highlight the obvious. If you can use a better piano sound that would be better. The piano voice sounds very dated.

Broadjam Artist: Powerklash
Song: You’re Not Dreaming

Reviewer: Joseph Miller

Positive Comments: Let me start by saying I don’t listen to this kind of music. I’m more of an R&B/ Smooth Jazz sort of guy. But I recognize talent when I hear it and this is one very talented group. I rather imagine they won’t have time to read my review because they’re probably out on tour hitting all the big stadiums. But if they’re not it’s just fluke or a darned shame because this band is top notch.

Constructive Comments: Ok I wouldn’t change a thing…. passionate guitar work… epic hooks. Nice dry centered vocal… clear well produced. Great Hook…. “My Heart is Beating for You”… would be the Alternate Title… What young chick wouldn’t want to hear this from the hot Guys in the Band. Nice quiet part before the 2nd Chorus…. tasty. If I was going to look for a band to take into the studio to do a rock tune…. these are the players. Well done, I say!!! Nice guitar work and nice tight band all around.

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

Reviewer: Joseph Miller

Positive Comments: Well the overall tone kind of strikes me like a Randy Newman type of song. It has an upbeat happy kind of feel to it. And the instrumentation is kind of like old time New Orleans feel Minimalistic. It’s a fun song overall. It has a very positive overall vibe to it. Kind of like a bunch of friends got together to make a good natured Vaudeville kind of a song. So in this is is fun and kind of a hoot.

Constructive Comments: OK this song kind of has too much going for it to swamp it with the minimalistic production. You’ve got most of the Piano Center and vocal panned to the center sax and trap set and chorus in the right… Bass on the Left. Had you spread them out behind you with separate mics for each player you might have been able to separate them and place them better. I suspect this was a 3 mic setup… and that’s why I say minimalistic. The vocal has words that are important to the story and there is little space between the Lead Vocal and the Piano…. I’m guessing that the vocalist was also playing piano… just a guess since they seem to be coming from the same auditory space. The vocalist is not a great singer but has a charisma and warmth to his voice like a Randy Newman or a Mose Allison who are also not that strong as vocalists but they managed to make quite a nice living writing memorable tunes… and the production seems overall good fun with a sweet message.

Broadjam Artist: Jeff Roberts
Song: The Emperor’s Clothes

Reviewer: Joseph Miller

Positive Comments: Kind of strikes me like many of the bands that came out in the 60’s after the Beatles… this song is reminiscent of the Beatles… Sgt Peppers Production. The lazy shuffle and the instrumentation and vocal is very Beatles like to my ear. I wouldn’t change anything in this tune just keep writing, singing and producing. Obviously this person has a good skill set. Just keep writing and maybe you’ll come up with “Yesterday” or a perpetually classic Tune.

Constructive Comments: The style of this tune is to set the vocal back into the mix and make it just be a part of the production rather than in your face and without echo and very dry now so that the lyric is right in your face. But I wouldn’t change it in this song. This is a production type song with the instrumentation, vocal and telephone voice and other sound effects appropriate to the 60’s Beatles Style. If this artist hasn’t already I’d say get one of those Vegas Gigs with a Beatle Sound Alike Band…. there is always that kind of work. In the meantime the skill set is so good and the ability to put together a song and good production is apparent with this artist. But I’d like to hear what that skill set can do with a contemporary sound. Keep the Faith and keep writing.

Broadjam Artist: tim meyers
Song: christmas is a treasure

Reviewer: Joseph Miller

Positive Comments: There is always a place for a good Christmas Song. This tune is well produced and bright, cheerful. I’d submit it to all the Holiday Song Contests you could find. The vocal is on pitch and has a nice 1 octave range in this performance. The beat sounds even a little like the repetition of clopping of hooves from the reindeer or a horse pulling a sleigh. Hard to beat White Christmas but you’ve got a nice Christmas Song here.

Constructive Comments: Not much to change here. I would put it out there in any and all competitions to see how it fares as a Christmas tune. After all you’ve got the Chipmunks Christmas tunes that are still on rotation after 50 years. If anything different I’d like to hear this song in a Musical Presentation with a large Choir on the Chorus. Might kick it up a notch. But overall I’d say well done!

Broadjam Artist: robert wesley
Song: Midnight Impulse

Reviewer: Joseph Miller

Positive Comments: I would submit this song to TV or Film opportunities. It is simple and well produced. Nice touch on the piano. I can see that this might fit easily into many story lines in the Film or TV Media. The choice of the tone and timbre of the piano shows that the musician has a good ear and a sensitivity to the instrument. The recording was done with skill and well produced. Though I don’t listen often to this kind of music I do listen to the overall production value and I’d say well done!!

Constructive Comments: I rated a 4 if I’d like to hear more. It is hard to tell from this single song if this is just some sensitive doodling on the piano or if the musician is trained classically. Therefore it seems better placed in the George Winston Category. Simple lyrical playing without too much showmanship. Winston seems to have made a career of it so I say why not have a go at it.

Broadjam Artist: Jeff Roberts
Song: The Emperor’s Clothes

Reviewer: Ante Novaselic

Positive Comments: I could hear a Paul McCartney Wings era thing going on in this song. The instrumentation was good. There were a lot of different parts to the song that the writer put together and made work fairly well

Constructive Comments: I could hear this possibly being played on a oldies radio station like K-EARTH 101, but other then the oldies scene I can’t see it being played on a more modern station. I think it is a bit too long as well