Month: April 2020

Broadjam Artist: Hartmut Oberdieck
Song: ORI

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: I absolutely LOVED the opening of this song. It played to a great atmosphere and the recording and mix sounded excellent. What an amazing feel and I settled in for what I expected to be a 4-minute smooth groove.

Constructive Comments: Then the song went double-time, Southern Rock and later into late 60s MC5-style distortion. I didn’t get it at all. It almost sounded like you had 3 ideas for a song and combined them, but in doing so lost what was a killer opening riff. I would HIGHLY recommend putting on a pair of headphones and listening to Joe Bonamassa play “Sloe Gin” on Youtube. That’s what this song could be instrumentally in my opinion.

Broadjam Artist: Signal 30
Song: I Don’t Know

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: I can hear the first minute and a half of the instrumental as a backdrop for TV or film with some tightening up. It’s got a good atmosphere and feel to it.

Constructive Comments: The lead vocal was fine up to around 1:40 and the whole song seemed to go off the rails for me. It sounded like the band got lost, there was some vocal vamping and it didn’t sound like it was thought out to me. It was losing tempo and almost sounded like a jam, which confused me more at 2:50 when it picked up double time for 30 seconds. Sorry, I kind of got the feeling this was multiple songs patched together in the end, which was a shame because the early part held a lot of promise.

Broadjam Artist: Uncle Spider & The Electric Dirt Clods
Song: My Eyes / Rock & Roll

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: The guitar sound is fine and recording is clean.

Constructive Comments: This sounds like 1 guy with a beat box and an idea, but I don’t find it to be a song. I’m not really sure why it’s on the platform since the rhythm box isn’t in time with the guitar at some points either. Needs a lot of work.

Broadjam Artist: Charlie Shock
Song: FIND OUT

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: Extremely-interesting chord progression from the jump, and it never disappointed throughout. Really good tune with lots of promise. The vocal fits the song perfectly and the instruments were overdriven but tastefully done so it didn’t sound like mush. Very marketable to my ear with pro dynamics and nice choices in the mix. A+ and I hear Beatles influences in a bunch of places (NOT a bad thing!)

Constructive Comments: My only critique is I found the backing vocals to be a little distracting. Like on the 1st verse “find out” and “be when” seem too staccato — maybe an earlier Fiiiind out and beeeee when would smooth it out. Just one man’s opinion but that’s what reviews are all about. Great song overall.

Broadjam Artist: Ian Graham
Song: Unlovely and Unloved

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: Melodic with a rock-solid lead vocal.

Constructive Comments: This sounds very synthesized, like fake drums/claps/keyboard horns etc., and it’s definitely missing the energy a real drum kit would bring. It’s also not Rock as much as it is Pop. Maybe re-categorizing it would bring a more suitable audience and better reviews.

Broadjam Artist: Uncle Spider & The Electric Dirt Clods
Song: Shaky Jake & The Bone Twist Girl / Rock & Roll

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: The chord progression is interesting.

Constructive Comments: Double-tracked guitars sound very out of tune in parts. With no bass or real drums (just a rhythm machine) it sounds more like a sketch than a song. I’d keep working on it.

Broadjam Artist: Bob Bentley
Song: Heart To Heart

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: Very nice song, easy to listen to and follow the story. The style reminds me a bit of Don Henley or Glenn Frey’s solo work. Well-balanced, well-played and it sets an extremely-pleasant atmosphere from start to finish.

Constructive Comments: Because the music itself is so laid-back, maybe a slight more power on the vocal would be nice, but it’s just a good song as-is.

Broadjam Artist: Bill Dake
Song: Scorcher

Reviewer: Groove Fondue

Positive Comments: Has a nice jazzy flow to it. It swings but in a more of a flowing sort of way. Love that about it. The 50’s type vocal work well for this tune and the lyrics are very expressive in old school sort of way. Nice effort here, enjoyed it.

Constructive Comments: I only wish the piano had more clarity, it sounds a bit muddled. Otherwise, nicely done!

Broadjam Artist: Signal 30
Song: Diamond Destiny

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: You can tell the title directly from the chorus hook, which is always a good thing. Vocal pitch is very strong and the instruments were solid.

Constructive Comments: I’m a lifelong rocker, and this would benefit greatly by re-categorizing it as Pop or even New Age. The recording also sounds about 20 years old, which is maybe the effect you were going for, but to my ear it just sounds non-competitive in today’s marketplace.

Broadjam Artist: Bill Dake
Song: TOUCH DOWN

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: The opening of this song reaally grabbed me as a Jazz piece (not Rock) and I think it would benefit greatly if you re-categorized it as Jazz or possibly Pop. The instruments themselves were nicely mixed and had a great sound.

Constructive Comments: The pitch issues on the vocal completely dragged down the overall score, as I liked the song a lot. I’d strongly suggest re-recording that portion and using studio pitch correction (or if you can find an app that does it). That alone kept this from being a plus-plus score.