Month: May 2020

Broadjam Artist: James Hamilton
Song: let’s reminsce awhile

Reviewer: Patrick E. Muth/Catnip Pat

Positive Comments: Sure miss hearing this music. nice job. like the smile approach

Constructive Comments: Appreciate that vocal work. You get a gold star for this week! Catnip

Broadjam Artist: Noreen Inglesi
Song: Moonwalker

Reviewer: John Walradt

Positive Comments: This has an easy wistful feel with a nice progression of orchestral notes. Production is clean and very well done. It has a Windham Hill kind of appeal.

Constructive Comments: Take with a grain (or maybe a pound!) of salt because these are my personal tastes. Also, I wouldn’t consider these criticisms or constructive comments. I would call these experiments: I’d try limiting the waves to the beginning and the end. How about softer, more soothing violins? Try a woodwind instead of what sounds like a harpsichord. Then call it version 2 because you don’t want to toss the original, which may be more appealing after all.

Broadjam Artist: Jeana Potthoff
Song: Moonlit Glow

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: Some people can create magic with their fingers on the piano and don’t need anything else to help them “speak” musically. This is one of those artists. This is one of those songs. The hook is memorable and oh so sweet! This is a beautifully written and executed song.

Constructive Comments: Keep the great music coming. The reason I named it Petaluma: The hook reminded me of a beautiful flower petal. Petaluma is the name of a city in California. Really has nothing to do with it. But it has a nice ring to it!

Broadjam Artist: Bob Birthisel
Song: Tonight’s The Night

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: Oooo get me dancing! Tonight’s the night! Super catchy hook with great-sounding harmonies. Love the verses. Short, to the point, original, with terrific word economy. Thrill/kill, guitar/star – great rhymes. This is a very well-crafted song, a great opener for a dance gig to get people going. Instrumentation is superb! Loved the intro, bass, drums and electric guitar riffs soar into the amazing realm. This band definitely has something great going!

Constructive Comments: Keep the great music coming. Ending was too abrupt for my liking.

Broadjam Artist: Hank Thomas
Song: Where The Cool Wind Blows

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: This is a Summer song if I ever heard one. Really catchy with a great hook. The overall sound is outstanding and the vocal and harmonies fit the song perfectly. This is a fun and entertaining listen with a lot of potential for radio, TV or film. Great job!

Constructive Comments: Nit-picking, the organ sound drowns out the chop of the rhythm guitar whenever the full sound is up. That’s not a real problem but for me the churn of the strumming added an extra layer of depth to an already-excellent song.

Broadjam Artist: Bobby Caputo
Song: He Can Dance (Julie Burton)

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: Lots of energy and a nice groove. Melodic song, well-played with a strong lead vocal and a Country Pop vibe. All the instruments were balanced and the vocal is out front without being loud. Excellent.

Constructive Comments: The only thing I’d change if I were re-mixing would be to take out the cymbal crashes. The drums are super-tight, and I think it would be even stronger with just basic, solid rhythm without the accents. Maybe that’s because I played drums for 20+ years or the fact that the cymbal crashes are all panned to the side in the mix, so it distracts a little in headphones. But that’s totally minor, and the song stands on its own merits.

Broadjam Artist: Bob Birthisel
Song: Blues Conversation

Reviewer: Randall Mark

Positive Comments: I can see this song playing in a small town bar room scene in a movie with a brawl breaking out. Maybe like in the movie Roadhouse with Patrick SwayzeGood beat, easy party vibe goin on. Well produced and well performed. I particularly enjoyed the organ it came out about halfway through the song that joined the electric guitar The interplay between the Oregon and the electric guitar was very nicely done and in my mind with some of the best part of the song.

Constructive Comments: Although the song was not overly monotonous and held my interest route I thought it could be a little shortened. Maybe the guitar solos could be curtailed a little bit in length just to bring the song around full circle a little quicker Overall very good Song, professional, and well done !

Broadjam Artist: Bob Birthisel
Song: Cowboy Shuffle – INSTRUMENTAL EDIT

Reviewer: David James

Positive Comments: It’s a really engaging piece. The tune is really catchy. The instrumentation is excellent and. Lovely chord sequence, which provides a perfect framework for the lead instrumentation. I loved those choppy chords at 1.05. Very nicely recorded. The sound quality is A+. It would work really well for an appropriate film/TV listing.

Constructive Comments: When I saw the genre ‘Country – Cowboy’ I feared that I wouldn’t like it. I’m not normally a fan of slide guitars and fiddles, but this tune demonstrates that when it is done well it can be fantastic. Indeed the slide guitar is phenomenal. Outstanding work.

Broadjam Artist: Strange World Music
Song: Put The Weapons Down

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: Here’s a good gun control (or self-control) song with a strong message: Put the weapons down. Hook is memorable and strong. I love the lyrics in the bridge…probably the strongest element in the song: What caused your anger and fed your hatred?Your mind is in danger is your life not sacred? Passionate vocal. Nice instrumentation.We need more songs about the sacredness of human life. I hope that this song will inspire many.

Constructive Comments: Verse 2 is problematic. Your life is lacking depthWith weapons under your beltYour life’s smelling of deathA bad hand you were dealtIt kind of makes sense, but the presentation of your ideas is awkward. Depth, death, dealt. Just doesn’t work for me. Intro should be a little shorter. “hands covered in blood” could be clearer. Song could be shorter (if you are interested in commercial appeal…I am not). I would not classify this as blues/country. I don’t hear blues in this.

Broadjam Artist: Hartmut Oberdieck
Song: special field

Reviewer: Bob Birthisel

Positive Comments: Yeah, yeah. Nice groove and sweet dueling guitar lines. Has some Mark Knopfler in it, but smoother. Lots of dynamic ins and outs and a tight rhythm section. I really love the natural drum sounds, and the spacey mid-section fits well. A rock-solid listen.

Constructive Comments: Only thing I’d change is to do the fade when the guitars are more in smooth mode than cutting off a solo riff, but that’s just personal taste. Nice cut.