Month: April 2020

Broadjam Artist: Nigel Barrett
Song: 2bwu (instrumental version)

Reviewer: Square One

Positive Comments: Its soaked in the 80s both in arrangement and in the mix. It has a very 80s movie interlude type feel to it. I think this would most likely only fit for things looking to specifically capture that 80s feeling with a mix that sounds like it used proper 80s gear.

Constructive Comments: It sounds very dated, the mix although authentic, doesnt quite keep up with modern techniques. Had this mix been done in the 80s it would have been fantastic tho! Thats not to say that it sounds bad either and if that was the goal, you have nailed it! It could use some nice lyrics sung in the same style and a few mix tweaks and I think it could come alive. Good luck mate!

Broadjam Artist: SRJ
Song: Back To Beyond

Reviewer: Square One

Positive Comments: It has a very early 90s trance type of vibe to it. I could see this being used for a daytime court tv program. The bass is driving and very wet, with a lot of 80s type syths mixed in, it gets across an unemotional type of movement.

Constructive Comments: The mix and the composition is very dated and could only really be used for people looking for a very particular niche of old school electronic, the emotions come through as being less energetic that the arrangement alludes at, this may be to the mix being slightly too fat which is hitting the compressor too hard as a guess? Overall I think you achieved what you were trying to tho and just wanted to offer something constructive. Good luck mate!

Broadjam Artist: Bill Dake
Song: TURTLENECK (Blues-Modern)

Reviewer: Sam Cooper

Positive Comments: Nice musically greasy vibe. Performances are fine!

Constructive Comments: This song could really use a remix to balance the instruments and tones.

Broadjam Artist: Patrick E. Muth/Catnip Pat
Song: Snowy Mountain Stream

Reviewer: Sam Cooper

Positive Comments: Vibey bluesy feeling.

Constructive Comments: The rhythm guitar buries everything else. It’s fighting the audibility of the band and vocalists–too bright for my tastes. Couldn’t make out lyrics over it. This needs some serious remixing.

Broadjam Artist: Ante Novaselic
Song: POW

Reviewer: Sam Cooper

Positive Comments: Nice driving vibe.

Constructive Comments: This song hasn’t got much direction for me. Too sterile. Needs some focus and less of a mechanical feel.

Broadjam Artist: Charlie Shock
Song: UNDER YOU

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: I like the feel of this. The opening says “this is what you’ll get” and it delivers. I appreciate someone taking a concept and completing it rather than getting sidetracked. Tight band, solid vocal and well mixed and recorded. Almost all excellent choices throughout.

Constructive Comments: The guitar solo for me lost the overall vibe – it went heavy distortion for no reason I could figure, which made for a less-than-comfortable re-entry of the vocal. The song is too good to have that chop in the middle and I would have scored it much higher had it remained more constant.

Broadjam Artist: David James
Song: Culture (electric version)

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: Very nice tune and it’s great to hear REAL instruments as a backdrop. What a difference from some of what I hear on Broadjam. This could be listed in Americana as well. I enjoyed the listen for sure!

Constructive Comments: There were a handful of places I thought the vocal could be tighter, but that’s just personal preference. Harmonies on Our Culture could add a lot of marketability.

Broadjam Artist: Bob Bentley
Song: Blue

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: I think this has a lot of potential for TV/film background. The feel was great and THANKFULLY it didn’t go off the improvisation rails like so many instrumentals I hear. Just a solid groove with tasteful choices in playing and in the mix.

Constructive Comments: You have the word “Instrumental” in the lyrics box, so it comes over as a song with lyrics. Just remove that and it will only come up as an instrumental piece. Any music supervisor looking for instrumental only will never hear this as they ask for a default without lyrics. Hope this helps.

Broadjam Artist: The Noted
Song: Not So Long Ago

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: I absolutely loved the sound from the start, and found the chord progression to be both interesting and unexpected. Really a great listen. Vocal was solid.

Constructive Comments: The male/female unison vocal lost me. I felt it should have been harmony and more out-front in the mix. Lyrically I wasn’t challenged the way I was by the instrumental part of the song, but still very nice and I enjoyed hearing it.

Broadjam Artist: Greg Lambert
Song: Killing Time

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: This sounded like Doobie Brothers immediately. Nice energy and I can listen to melodic rock all day. Players and vocals all solid.

Constructive Comments: The opening guitar lick sounded way too thin for my taste, but once the band kicked in it was fine in the mix. I still think that one guitar could have a TON more depth to it if I were to re-mix this. Overall a very nice job and a good listen.