Month: April 2020

Broadjam Artist: David James
Song: Turbo Lag

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: Very laid-back and easy to listen to. The band is tight and instruments are well-mixed and well-recorded. I particularly enjoyed the acoustic sound. Sets a nice, peaceful tone and this almost sounds like Americana more than Pop.

Constructive Comments: This might be called What A Drag or something else. The hook doesn’t really set so the title is a bit obscured.

Broadjam Artist: Charlie Shock
Song: ATTENTION DEFICIT

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: This is one of the tightest bands I’ve heard on Broadjam. Really excellent sound and mix with a ton of energy. The initial bars set a nice tone and the band was a force from the opening gun. The lead vocal wasn’t completely my taste but it fit the song and the lyrics were very solid. Great production and excellent work! Broadjam should separate Indie/Lo-Fi because this is anything but Lo-Fi. Very high-quality. LOVED the timing change as well.

Constructive Comments: I wasn’t sure the airbag/wah sound on the guitar fit as well as a more standard sound might, but that’s personal preference. It’s still an outstanding song.

Broadjam Artist: StarburstRecords
Song: RM 07. Surprise Me

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: I absolutely LOVE the originality of this song! The instrumentation is tight, well-perfomed, and from the opening Athenaeum-like guitar sound I knew I was hooked. Great arrangement too, with plenty of dynamic ins-and-outs to keep the listener engaged. One of the best Modern Rock songs I’ve heard on Broadjam for sure.

Constructive Comments: This would have gotten a perfect score from me on sound quality as well, but there were 2 lines where the vocal was recorded too hot which created distortion. The phraase “on my way” and the word “bucolic” both got jammed up in headphones. I went back and listened 3 times to make sure I was right. KILLER SONG though, and if those 2 spots could be ironed out it’d be amazing.

Broadjam Artist: Sam Cooper
Song: BELIEVELAND (featuring Ron Weinstein–all vocals)

Reviewer: Craig Bishop

Positive Comments: Cool sounding song about baseball.

Constructive Comments: Mix sounds thin. Might be your room that you are mixing in. Mixes not translating well. I would just like to hear more low end and the vocals out in front a little more.

Broadjam Artist: StarburstRecords
Song: RM 01. Tell Me What You Bring

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: Killer energy and super-tight band and vocals. Really interesting, and I’ve never heard anything quite like it. The harmonies also fit well in the song. Nice dynamic changes and even the prolonged, smooth fade-out works. Extremely well-crafted and performed.

Constructive Comments: The hook/title didn’t jump out at all, so that might be worth a look. Also, you may have been looking for a Lo-Fi sound, but for me it just muddied up what was an amazing staccato sound and a cleaner mix would give it an even greater punch. But I liked it a lot.

Broadjam Artist: Fields of Light – John Gerard
Song: Strawberry Moon (Short Version)

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: Very nice mix of instruments, well-recorded and plenty of positive Blues energy. I really loved the keyboard sounds but it was all quite good.

Constructive Comments: The only thing for me that took away was sounding extremely busy at parts, where solos were stepping on one another. Maybe a bit more of a breath to let each player shine, but I still enjoyed it a lot.

Broadjam Artist: StarburstRecords
Song: RM 04. Maiden Voyage

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: What a great 60’s/70’s retro sound. The song is well-recorded and has a prog-rock feel as well. Very likeable and the harmonies are perfectly suited to the piece. Excellent song all around, with balanced and well-mixed instruments. Reminds me of “Get Together” by The Youngbloods, with a more modernized sound. I can also hear a bit of Kenny Rankin in the lead vocal.

Constructive Comments: Once the other instruments come in, I detect a slight background hiss from recording, but I didn’t mark it down because everything works so well otherwise.

Broadjam Artist: Hartmut Oberdieck
Song: dream catcher

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: What an outstanding little groove. Rock/Funk/Jazz, this crosses a number of genres but the rhythm section is tight and the overall sound is super-listenable and likeable. I also enjoyed the changes in dynamics and could hear this as a background on film/TV scenes. Extremely well done!

Constructive Comments: If I were to suggest any changes (as a professional drummer for over 20 years), I can barely if ever hear the bass drum which would really put this over the top.

Broadjam Artist: Charlie Shock
Song: FIGHT UNTIL THE END (performed by MAGDALENA)

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: Outstanding song! Instruments are sharply in focus, well mixed and balanced. Current and tight tight tight. I really enjoyed this from start to finish.

Constructive Comments: Just keep up the good work – this is exceptional.

Broadjam Artist: Bob Birthisel
Song: Old Man, Young man

Reviewer: Patrick E. Muth/Catnip Pat

Positive Comments: real nice!

Constructive Comments: will be looking for you at the Grammy’s! catnip