Month: April 2019

Broadjam Artist: Douglas Branson aka dB+1
Song: Your Boyfriend is a Dick (Pop Version)

Reviewer: Maksimus

Positive Comments: Cool pop rock feel almost like a sum 41 or blink 182 earlier days…. The vocal feels raw with some attitude, makes it feel like the singer has some real contempt for this boyfriend guy and really doesn’t like him and wants to do something about it. The guitars sound great in the mix, cutting through the sonic field!

Constructive Comments: I think it may be helpful to bring the instruments together a bit more to make sure everything sounds more aligned and in place. Vocal pitch sounds like it could use some tuning and timing while the lyrics could be polished for an overall smoother listening experience.

Broadjam Artist: Peter G Olach – PGO
Song: Don’t Say No w/Mourning Stone

Reviewer: Rich Goldin

Positive Comments: This is a great metal song. Well recording, constructed and executive. The lyrics are well articulated and can be readily heard. I like this in a composition when I can hear the lyric. The guitars sound great as does the rhythm section. Excellent bridge construct. All-in-all a cool songs. The “drop” at 3:17 is cool. I’ve heard Heart use this technique and it is always very effective.

Constructive Comments: This is a well constructed song and needs very little if any modification or constructive criticism. Loved it.

Broadjam Artist: SPG~Man
Song: Speed of Life (Sax version)

Reviewer: Rich Goldin

Positive Comments: I’m not sure what to call this genre, but it is very weird. This isn’t a bad thing. The instrumentation is unique. Especially the use of a baritone sax (or keyboard sample) is original. The work appears to be part of something much longer, but again, I might be misinterpreting the composer’s intention. The minor mood reflected by the performance garners the listeners attention right away.

Constructive Comments: The work is short and seems as if it wants to develop into more sections. I’m not sure if the brief running time was intended by the composer or not. The groove is a bit tense and I’m wondering if a hit-hat was needed at all. Perhaps some lighter percussion devices might have worked better. All-in-all, a very interesting, weird, composition.

Broadjam Artist: Uncle Spider & The Electric Dirt Clods
Song: Morning Commute.. Need Coffee / A Commercial

Reviewer: Rich Goldin

Positive Comments: The guitar work is nicely original. Most definitely two guitars layered on top of one another. This could have significant potential if the work is developed further. Again, this would make a neat introduction to a longer piece. The work as it stands piques my curiosity and I’d like to see where this goes.

Constructive Comments: The amplifier hum at the opening is a definite no-no and should be eliminated. Free tools like Audacity offer a simple editing function specifically “apply silence” at any point during the work. The work sounds rushed with regard to tempo and ends much too soon. The opening is very catchy and could develop into something quite listenable.

Broadjam Artist: RICARDO ALONSO
Song: Superficies Subterraneas (Subterranean Surfaces)

Reviewer: Rich Goldin

Positive Comments: This sounds very 80s utilizing vintage synthesizers to death. I like the keyboard solo at 1:12. It’s a great utilization of the scale available to the performer and who’s not relying on the usual pentatonic box often heard in lesser works. The piece really starts to go somewhere at 2:02 and grabs the listener.

Constructive Comments: This is very retro. Not that that’s a bad thing at all. The tempo is too fast for my taste. Slowing the piece down a few bpm might help the listener latch onto the ideas presented. I was really pulled into the composition at 2:02. The song marches into a radically different direction and vibe at that point. This would have been great if it was presented earlier, and then have the piece return to the tripping beat as at the opener. This is just my tastes showing.

Broadjam Artist: Margie & Art Corey
Song: Paparazzi #1 Corey’s

Reviewer: Rich Goldin

Positive Comments: If you like 80s grooves and guitar tones brought forward into the 21st century, then this will appeal to any listener looking to nostalgic tones from that era. The recording is well done as are the guitar and drum tones throughout. The song has a good hook utilizing it’s mysterious reference to a paparazzi photographer. The mood is generally dark, but again, it seems to fit the quality of the piece.

Constructive Comments: The vocal seems a bit “pitchy” in places and very retro. I know this might appear picky, but the pitchiness can be a distraction from an otherwise great tune. I note there seems to be an effect processing on the vocal, i.e, digital or some form of virtual vintage tape delay. This is a fun song and would add well to anybody’s song collection. Again, the vocal control is my only request for improvement.

Broadjam Artist: Thierry Coupey
Song: Conquerors of the Dawn

Reviewer: Mike Halls

Positive Comments: Sounds good,like the middle part. The piece is quite dramatic with the use of percussion. Nice job.

Constructive Comments: percussion overdone in my view.

Broadjam Artist: Fred Kimmel
Song: Spiral

Reviewer: Rich Goldin

Positive Comments: This song has a great hook. It is well recorded, has a strong vocals, and solid lead guitar figures throughout. The drum mix is excellent as is the tempo keeping. The bass work is very solid and locks right in with the groove of the song. I like the lyric “Round In Spiral” which I believe is the right title for the work. Love it.

Constructive Comments: The constructive criticism I could offer might be that the lead vocal is a bit crushed in the mix. I’m having difficulty hearing the lyric. I would perhaps think that this work could cross over into the heavy metal category vs. prog rock. Some of the artist’s influences are creeping in. I hear Motley Crue and Marilyn Mason. Again, those influences are mostly felt within the vocal. I love this style of music and my criticisms are mostly taste oriented on my part. This is great work.

Broadjam Artist: RICARDO ALONSO
Song: Jungla De Espiritus (Spirit’s Jungle)

Reviewer: Rich Goldin

Positive Comments: I like the utilization of the minor key. The synthesizer tones sound very vintage (80s to be exact). Not a bad thing at all. The portamento synth lead is very well constructed. I definitely like how the song builds in intensity at 2:48 minutes in. I get where the composer is going with the utilization of the vintage instruments especially the drum machine tracks. This piece would be well placed among a dance /trance groove track at a nightclub.

Constructive Comments: I honestly like the arrangement. My only suggestion would be to reduce the utilization of the Juno 6 resonance tone that’s appearing throughout the mix. It works once and then perhaps for a short coda near the end of the song. It distracts the listener. If it is critical to the theme of the work, it might be helpful to reduce it’s volume within the mix. The drum audio image seems a bit “thin” and could use some mid-range boost to sit better in the mix.

Broadjam Artist: Wayne Ammons
Song: Paradox

Reviewer: Rich Goldin

Positive Comments: I like the sound of the rhythm electric guitar. This reminds me a bit of Dream Theater. The groove is well maintained throughout the piece. The production has good fidelity. This is a solid instrumental track that has potential. I would like to hear more from this artist in the future.

Constructive Comments: There’s a bit of a shock for the listener with the use of piano and synthesizer in elevator music mode at 25 seconds. I would have repeated that section again later in the work to make a definite composition statement. The timbres selected feel out of place within the song construct. There seem to be some very audible auto fades between sections that distract the listener.