Month: November 2020

Broadjam Artist: Patrick E. Muth/Catnip Pat
Song: HOW MUCH LONGER?

Reviewer: Ian Ritchie

Positive Comments: Not a usual genre for me to listen too but it certainly had my foot tapping. Good job!

Constructive Comments: I tend not to give constructive comments because each musician has their own style and sound and it’s not for me to push my thoughts on to anyone elses music, so none from me.

Broadjam Artist: MGB
Song: LET ME KNOW

Reviewer: Ian Ritchie

Positive Comments: Not my usual genre but a nice tune here, good job!

Constructive Comments: None from me.

Broadjam Artist: DeDe WedeKind
Song: Dream of You By DeDe

Reviewer: Charles Edmund Carter

Positive Comments:

Constructive Comments:

Broadjam Artist: Jeff Ashbaker
Song: A Storm Outside My Window

Reviewer: David James

Positive Comments: It’s a beautiful melody. Lovely chord progression. A compelling performance from the lead vocalist. Strong musicianship. The lyric hook ‘down to the river’ is very effective and overall the lyrics are strong. The quality of the recording is excellent. Great sound quality.

Constructive Comments: I’ve marked down the arrangement and instrumentation because I feel there were opportunities to pull back on the instruments in certain sections of the song to give the listener more light and shade. I also felt that the lines at 1.23 and 3.13, sung by the backing vocalist just repeated the previous line and didn’t add to the song. That could be rectified by adding the lead vocalist to those lines. I found the ending a bit abrupt. A drum fill or similar might prepare the listener for the ending. If these comments sound harsh, I don’t intend that. It’s a really strong song, which I think would be even better with a few tweaks.

Broadjam Artist: Hartmut Oberdieck
Song: kleiner lateiner

Reviewer: paul sandberg

Positive Comments: nice groove – cool breakdown – production is very solid – solo is very very cool – tone reminds me a bit of Jorge Santana during the Malo years. like the interplay between the guitar and the synth trumpet – and wouldn’t a real one have been that much sweeter!

Constructive Comments: can’t help but feel that the song meanders a bit after the breakdown, losing focus even though all the interplay is solid – some excellent work going on here for sure! I was bopping my head along with this one!

Broadjam Artist: ROGER BOLT
Song: MOONLIGHT MEMORY

Reviewer: David James

Positive Comments: It’s a really catchy song. Beautiful guitar arrangement and I love the flute part which is sublime. I like the way the instrumentation pulls back at certain times to give light and shade. The lyrics really suit the song. The vocalists have great voices and complement each other wonderfully. Very nicely recorded with excellent sound quality.

Constructive Comments: I’ve marked down the market potential not because there is anything wrong with the song, but because it obviously has a retro rather than a contemporary feel. I really like the dual vocal, but in the sections which begin at 1.27 and 3.27 you could have used just the female vocal for line ‘Oh I love you’ and then used the male vocal for ‘Will I see you’ line. I think that if you had separated the voices on those two lines you would have added an extra dimension to the song and impact for the listener. In conclusion though, great song.

Broadjam Artist: John Walradt
Song: Studly Do-Right

Reviewer: Monday Funeral

Positive Comments: I love your authenticity. I love your intelligence. You have a concept, “Studly Do Right,” and you go for it. Including the beer being poured, the sound of the audience in the background, your counting off at the beginning, keeps the listener engaged and having fun. I appreciate you smart lyrics and what it gets me thinking about. For the cheekiness of the song, I feel the arrangement works, as if you’re playing the song at a campfire of which I’m a part.

Constructive Comments: For songs like this, which to me means an honest, authentic, acoustic song, I’m a big fan of recording the vocal and guitar at the same time. My assumption is the singer is also the guitar player, and if that’s the case, try recording together. A lot of experts will tell you not to do this, as you sacrifice certain things, but I disagree. I feel the sound of the guitar and the voice don’t “blend” like they could. As such, the authentic folk nature of this piece lacks a certain authenticity that it could have. I also think the keyboard that enters 2/3 of the way in is a bit off putting. I do think something more akin to piano might be a better choice, keeping with the acoustic nature of the song and adding a new texture.

Broadjam Artist: MGB
Song: LET ME KNOW

Reviewer: Monday Funeral

Positive Comments: I really, really like this. In terms of vocals, I’m extremely impressed. I hear singers try to do the somewhat casual, indirect, “folk” sound (Neal Young/Jay Farrar) and it fails. I think they go for it, because it seems easy. BUT IT’S NOT. On the word “abide” early in the song, I knew I was listening to someone who knows how to sing. You use pure vowels when you need to, to really hit and hold notes, but being able to go back to a more spoken, folk sound on demand is extremely impressive. The arrangement is perfect. I wouldn’t change anything. I was hoping some drums came in, and they did. I was hoping some slide would come in, and it did. The bridge was good. Really, I’m extremely impressed. This is a genre and “style” that a lot of hacks try to mimic. The assumption is there is no need for technical skill at guitar, writing, or singing. What they miss, is it’s a lot harder, because there is no smoke and mirrors. It’s genuine, real songwriting and singing. And you nail it in my mind.

Constructive Comments: The section 3:10 – 3:20, which I love the note and line on “dawn lights the sky” as well as the “will you still be here” I feel like it could be built a bit more. I would like to hear a vocal harmony, matching the lead singers intensity on those bigger notes. ESPECIALLY on the “will you still be here.” I’m also wondering if adding piano in this section, to help add a new level of drive in motion before returning to the refrain would help? Piano could then be part of the song through the end. In fairness, I listened to the song again to find something to be constructive. The song is very good and I’m a fan.

Broadjam Artist: John Walradt
Song: The Most of Nothing

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: Such a sweet, heartfelt song. There still has to be room in today’s world for warm melodies, thoughtful lyrics. I love the concept of “most of nothing,” it captures something so gentle and true about how we get by in this world. This is a song ready to be shared with the world! And the world today really needs to listen, too.

Constructive Comments: Well there are singers out there that could really make this song shine, but I always say, with a really great song, the songwriting will come across. And it does here, no doubt about it. Sometimes hearing songwriters sing their own songs, even if the voice isn’t all we might wish, is the best way to hear a song. keep sharing this good stuff with us!

Broadjam Artist: Dave Haddad (CenterPeace)
Song: God Speed

Reviewer: John Walradt

Positive Comments: I like the strong beats set to the slow haunting melody. It has a pleasing come down ambient sound of electronica trance music. This would be a beautiful album cut or an excellent background for a nature, travel, or world culture video.

Constructive Comments: I wouldn’t change a thing.