Month: February 2018

Broadjam Artist: Margie & Art Corey
Song: Digital Love Re-Mix

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: I found this very original and difficult to pigeon-hole, which in this day and age is a good thing. I was interested from the very first bars and loved the interplay between the vocalist and the saxophone.

Constructive Comments: I thought you overdid the metaphor in the lyrics a little. They lacked subtlety and nuance.

Broadjam Artist: James Neilson Graham
Song: Ma Chrie (Hommage Edith Piaf)

Reviewer: lost on foot

Positive Comments: Well very French and enjoyed the overall feel of this track, reminds me of the 10cc song One Night In Paris, it has the same feel about it – French and love but with a little humor in the music and the interchanging use of French and English. The voice and piano tone suit this very well. HAs a film type feel to it and I enjoyed the listen – bon chance mon ami

Constructive Comments: Nothing to add it was well recorded and played and the voice and piano filled the soundscape without needing to add

Broadjam Artist: Uncle Spider & The Electric Dirt Clods
Song: Come Closer / Latin Rock

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: I think this might be in the wrong genre – I wouldn’t called it Pop-Dance. As the lyrics themselves suggest, there is a keen latin theme here and that might be a better category. This has a sound structure and some lovely arrangements. The vocalist is easy to listen to.

Constructive Comments: It was hard to see where this song wanted to go harmonically in terms of the structure but also the message.

Broadjam Artist: Signal 30
Song: Drifting On A Dream

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: I good techno minor key romp here, with plenty of energy. I love the simplicity of the harmonies, it has a hook that puts me in mind of the early days of synthesisers in recordings.

Constructive Comments: Try to match up your arrangement changes with the patterns of your sequences. They seemed to work independently of one another.

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

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: Great production quality, which leapt out of the speakers as soon as started. You have a good solid structure here that your listeners can follow, and that is moved along by the lyrics.

Constructive Comments: The song lacked a climax or a turning point, a chance to play with the words and the story at some point to provide a twist. It was a little predictable.

Broadjam Artist: Chet Nichols
Song: Say You Love Me Too (Pop)

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: A classic pop song with a verse-chorus structure. Some lovely running chord progressions in here to add variety and keep an element of surprise under the melody.

Constructive Comments: The opening and repeated verse starts in a harmonic place which feels unfamiliar.

Broadjam Artist: Earl.C.Webb
Song: SWEET SOUL MUSIC

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: Love this, really original. From the outset my ears were curious as this has a unique sound of its own. From the first bars of the verse I was following along and singing along. The hook is clearly identified both lyrically and musically and the distinction between chorus and verse is clear and has a lovely “lift” to it. The whole song carries you along with it and has a lovely sweet sound.

Constructive Comments: The instrumentation sounds at times like it’s come from a electronic keyboard, which is a bit distracting. Another take of demo might serve this song better, with a slightly looser riff.

Broadjam Artist: David J. Hentosh
Song: Etched In Stone

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: I loved the dramatic chords at the start, and the progression of chords and bass under the opening of the verse. There is a great bridge up the chorus which has exactly the right chords rising as you need them, leading to the chorus. The instrumentation is good and all the parts can be heard.

Constructive Comments: In terms of texture I wanted to hear a clearer distinction between verse and chorus so that the chorus had more of a “lift”

Broadjam Artist: Joe Stewart
Song: I Love You

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: Lyrically this started so strongly with an interesting idea of the world being made for you. This idea could have been more developed right through to the hook in the chorus. There is a good rhythm in the band and keeps the momentum going.

Constructive Comments: The verse needs some variation in terms of harmony after the first 8 bars or so, it get’s very tiring on the ears. It’s a shame that your hook is “I love you” which is not original, as the lyrics start so well, with an interesting idea which you could follow up with.

Broadjam Artist: Felice Kaye-Cooper / Songwriter
Song: Only You Will Ever Know/With Jack Green Jr.

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: This has a good flow in terms of melodic and harmonic progression, with a solid structure of verses and bridges. The lyrics largely help this to move along at the right pace too.

Constructive Comments: There is no variation in the accompaniment and I feel that the song would benefit from more of a human arrangement bearing in mind the style of music.