Month: April 2020

Broadjam Artist: Keith Taylor
Song: Stand Up for Peace

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: Love the jangle of the 12-strings and the rhythm section of bass and drums were very much together. Nice retro sound, reminds me a bit of something Neal Young might write. Sounds almost like an old mellotron in the back of the mix. Very easy song to like and listen to.

Constructive Comments: For me as a 20+ year pro drummer, the snare is too far out-front in the mix, but overall it’s a good sound. Personal taste here, but I’d also go with a single vocal instead of haloing it (again, personal preference).

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

Reviewer: Charles ‘KIZZO’ Kizzee

Positive Comments: The arrangement seems to go from Country to Bluesy and back to country. I listen to both genres and the song could fit as country best. It’s catchy and I enjoyed it.

Constructive Comments: I believe a slightly better mix on the song to bring the vocal ups would greatly enhance the track. Although l could not clearly understand all of the lyrics it is fine. I did get a clear idea of the song’s meaning. The hook is catchy. A little more work would bring the track to a 5 star rating. I would love to have a finished version in my personal collection.

Broadjam Artist: Kate Carpenter
Song: Out of the Mouths of Babes

Reviewer: Shelby Sanborn

Positive Comments: The instrumentation and the arrangement are well done. I like the instrumentation. The recording quality is also done well. Lyrics are fine and the singer has a good overall tone to her voice. I like the sound of the strings in the song. Very nice playing. Nice in the instrumental part of the song. See below for more about the vocals.

Constructive Comments: The song is listed under pop but it sound more like a folk/country/blues tune to me. I would say the instrumentation is country blues and the vocals are sung more like a religious hymn. Vocals did not work for me. Not very Pop sounding at all. The singer sings it too much the same all the way through. There’s a delicate balance between being consistent (so the song sticks in your head) and being too predictable which can fail to hold someone’s interest. The vocal choices on this song are too predictable (too much the same all the way through).Some places I could not make out the words due to the mix between vocals and instrumentation. I’m thinking this song was just mislabeled. Maybe there’s a market for this in the right circles.

Broadjam Artist: Sam Cooper
Song: Little Girl Blue

Reviewer: Patrick E. Muth/Catnip Pat

Positive Comments: Reminds me of 70’s. great harmonies. Blood, sweat and tears full sound wow

Constructive Comments: Engineer gets a bottle of champagne.Pro working Here!Very Nice! Catnip

Broadjam Artist: Bob Birthisel
Song: Hot Electric Blues Jam – INSTRUMENTAL EDIT

Reviewer: Patrick E. Muth/Catnip Pat

Positive Comments: Real Nice Real Nice!

Constructive Comments: I can see me coming out in my white costume with a harmonica and singing about third verse–of course–after my sparklers go out! Catnip

Broadjam Artist: Ian Graham
Song: French Toast (A la recherche du pain perdu)

Reviewer: John Walradt

Positive Comments: Definitely original, and you’ve got excellent recording skills. The somewhat muted background vocals work beautifully with the narrator’s vocal. I think Frank Zappa would have appreciated this. It’s an interesting take on something mundane.

Constructive Comments: Just a stupid suggestion, but what would you think about the sound of cracking eggs on a skillet in the middle and muted French cafe music in the background at the end?

Broadjam Artist: Jay Gross
Song: Junto Al Mar

Reviewer: Patrick E. Muth/Catnip Pat

Positive Comments: Ive already reviewed this song. gave it 5 stars then, as well as tried to steal the lady singer!

Constructive Comments: I’ll be reviewing your cat soon. Keep Rocking! Catnip

Broadjam Artist: Charlie Shock
Song: RIDE THOSE HORSES (new mix)

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: Very tight band, well-produced and mixed. The harmonies fit the song well. I could hear this as a backdrop for TV/film on the right show. Nice hook and the lyrics follow well from start to finish. I really enjoyed it.

Constructive Comments: For some reason I’m getting too much high-end in the headphones from the open hi-hat (or if that’s a cymbal or tambourine, I can’t tell) during the chorus. If that could be mixed down to a more mid-range sound I’d have ranked this higher across the board.

Broadjam Artist: Bob Birthisel
Song: Cowboy

Reviewer: Groove Fondue

Positive Comments: Like your song very much. Very strong effort here, nicely done. It sounds fantastic, all the instrumentation is well played and just jumps out at you. The vocals are nicely done, works very well for the tune. Any country song with a fiddle and one that’s played as well as this one, is all right with me. Special thumbs up for the mix, it makes the song shine that much more.

Constructive Comments: I wouldn’t change a thing, very well done!

Broadjam Artist: Hartmut Oberdieck
Song: weite welt

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: Very smooth sound that would work well in backtround scenes. Excellent playing, tone and sound on the lead guitar as well as the contrast of the overdriven chords behind. I liked that a lot. Nice dynamic changes, and I enjoyed the song start to finish.

Constructive Comments: I would have given this dramatically-higher ratings if not for the quality of the drum sound. The hi-hat was fine, and the bass drum was OK though needs more low-end depth. The snare just sounds artificial to me (I played drums professionally 20+ years, so I’m very conscious of drum sounds and patterns). I still enjoyed the song a lot and I think either using a pro drummer or upgrading the overall rhythm section would make this extremely commercial for TV and film.