Month: March 2018

Broadjam Artist: Dallas Marshall
Song: I’m So Lonely (without you)

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: Love the retro 80’s sound and it’s great to hear some fresh chord-progressions. You have a clear verse chorus structure that was easy to follow and you have a firm grip on your arrangement too, with some really vibrant sounds.

Constructive Comments: You’ve got far too many lyric cliches here – I’m so lonely without you – What am I supposed to do ? I would suggest that is something you work on. The style of the song didn’t feel like it matched the mood of the lyrics either, so perhaps a lyric re-write with a different theme might be something to consider. Good luck!

Broadjam Artist: Thierry Coupey
Song: One Of a Kind

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: What a great distorted flute sound to open with. I love the way the arrangement builds. The chords in the second half of the verse get very complicated. It’s good to be adventurous, but I lost track of your lyrics at this point. I loved the build and the chorus. The hook was very clear and catchy and I liked the change of riff at this point! Well done!

Constructive Comments: Not much I’d change here, this shows great potential!

Broadjam Artist: John Masarone
Song: Try It Again

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: This has a lovely loose but lively vibe. The arrangement is well played and quite well produced with all parts clear. I love the chord progressions, the vocals and backing vocals and the way the arrangement builds. Some great playing here.

Constructive Comments: Songwriters starting songs by saying they’re finding it hard to write – I feel your pain! I read recently though that this is not a route to your listener’s heart – because they’re usually not songwriters so it’s hard to create empathy and I’m inclined to agree. It took me a while to realise which part of the song was the main hook, so putting more of a spotlight on this will really make the song shine.

Broadjam Artist: John Evans
Song: Only in Quiet Times

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: What a lovely instrumental introduction, really seductive! And I love your opening lines are great – “The people who knew me well, are queuing up to speak” – this line really TALKS! You have a good turn of phrase generally. I like when the bridge comes and the chords change direction. You have a nice voice and I love the relaxed feel of the whole thing.

Constructive Comments: It feels like this song needs more of a “destination” musically and lyrically. I don’t hear any repeated musical or lyrical hooks, so it leaves your listener hanging. It’s not that you need a “chorus” as such but to focus the “Point” of your song…I guessed by the end it was “Quiet times” but this is such a lovely hook, you should have played with it a little more.

Broadjam Artist: Nick Fuse
Song: Nick Fuse & Jim Pearson: No More

Reviewer: Simon Finn

Positive Comments: You created a nice clear sound and a very mellow vibe here. The song started well. I have a strong sense of the emotion in the song.

Constructive Comments: The main difficulty I had with the song was the meandering musical story – the aggressive chords midway through and the unusual progressions that appear on the third phrase of each verse: they feel a bit awkward and don’t match the lyrics at the point that they change.

Broadjam Artist: Dave Haddad (CenterPeace)
Song: Medieval Games

Reviewer: FRED GROSS

Positive Comments: Percussion is awesome. This definitely has potential in film for sure. TV even. All instrumentation is very nicely done. I like the guitar tone and sax coming in later as well. Awesome!

Constructive Comments: Nothing to add here. Job well done!!!

Broadjam Artist: Jonathan Le Vay
Song: High Noon (Piano Imp part 3)

Reviewer: FRED GROSS

Positive Comments: Very nice piano playing. Obviously some classical training here! Nice piece for a movie soundtrack scene. Very Relaxing.

Constructive Comments: A bit to short in length for most practical purposes. But I loved the musicianship and the track very much! Love to hear more!!

Broadjam Artist: Chet Nichols
Song: The Spirits of Christmas (Piano Solo)

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: I liked this piano composition. The chord progression creates a longing emotion. This is nice music to relax and unwind after a busy day. Nice music to study or for the ambiance at a wine-tasting gathering.

Constructive Comments: Not much to say constructive-wise. Perhaps a few pauses to bring out the passages. A string-section in the background would take this to another level. Have a great day.

Broadjam Artist: Sonic
Song: Gypsy Soul

Reviewer: Jeff Roberts

Positive Comments: That opener is about as good as Rock guitar gets–goreous crunchy tone with cool chord voicings. That’s awesome. Good use of tambourine–which so much more important that one might think. Very tight playing by all instruments–excellent drum work.

Constructive Comments: I wish the song had the vibe that intro does!! Objective criticism: the guitar solos are kinda boring. Why? relying on some riffs instead of really building an interesting melody line, and playing with the beat but a bit behind it–you really gotta push a bit ahead of beat and play aggressively with vibrato to make it snap. Or go totally off the beat and start on the AND of the beat and be more rhythmically inventive. As is the solos are competent but they drag.The vocal performance is very high and feels strained. You’re making the notes but it feels stressful to listen to it (I’ve caught myself doing the same). Subjective criticism: The style is about 20+ years old. Think Europe “The Final Countdown” Who would you point to as a reference? If this is your sound that’s more important, I’m just putting my own bias out here.

Broadjam Artist: RandBpro
Song: Live Again

Reviewer: FRED GROSS

Positive Comments: Love the guitar tone! Haunting and seductive. This would be a great submission for a film soundtrack. Vocals are nice and controlled, with nice harmonies. Really enjoyed it!Great potential here!

Constructive Comments: The only thing I can think is to maybe back off on the vocals volume just a pinch, not much though. Or perhaps just bring up everything else to make it fuller. Excellent tune though!!