Month: December 2020

Broadjam Artist: David E. White
Song: Night Chill

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: Ah a nice instrumental, synth based, a lot of different sounds. Long melody line, I like that, keeps the music flowing while also maintaining interest. Nice textures. I just came up with a silly title, sorry about that! Smooth as silk, you know.

Constructive Comments: Very much a personal thing, but I find the main synth sound used for the melody has a nasal quality, and it starts to wear on the ears after a minute or so. I would switch up the instrumentation, use a different sound entirely each time the melody is repeated. Not a big fan of the ‘cha cha cha” finish, but that’s a minor detail.

Broadjam Artist: Groove Fondue
Song: Groove Fondue (Funky Driver)

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: I have no idea how recent or old this track might be, but it just made me smile to hear “funky” in the lyric. The happy, jumping arrangement also sounds a bit like a throwback, but I’mm all there for a throwback to more melody, more songwriting and less talk. Great piano at end! Had a good time listening, and that’s what it’s all about.

Constructive Comments: I think the danger is, will people think this is almost a disco song? Disco gets a bad reputation, but some great stuff came out of that era. I just think to sounds more contemporary in 2020, “funky driver” isn’t gonna cut it. But it makes me smile, so I hate to say it! Fun track. Thank you for sharing.

Broadjam Artist: HAWC
Song: Excited

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: Not a religious person, but this song has me believing – in the talent of the musicians! A bit old school R&B, and I love it. melodic, joyful, rhythmically supple. That solid bass, funky guitar sound – just fun to listen to. There are a couple points where I was asking myself, “Does this remind me of a particular song?” but I never did come up with a specific song it reminded me of. Fun finish too!

Constructive Comments: This is just my opinion, but I could do without the little “rap” section. I just like pure music, without someone talking over it. But rap is the thing and has been for several years, so I understand including it. Me, I’d put a couple pure instrumental breaks in there, show off those fine musicians!

Broadjam Artist: Jenny McGregor
Song: Crossroads

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: Fun song, like country-rock-pop mix. Really appealing singer, and able to handle all the fast moving lyrics, keep everything clear. Chorus is best part of the melody, which is the way listeners want it. Takes a while to get to the chorus but that’s for the section below….Enjoyable track, well put together. Thanks for sharing it!

Constructive Comments: Like I said above, the chorus is the best part of the song, the other sections are a bit ordinary for me, less inspired. Message of the lyric comes through, a nice one, encouragement is always appreciated. Just a bit generic feeling. But overall I have to rank the track fairly high because it’s put together so well.

Broadjam Artist: Douglas Branson aka dB+1
Song: You Are The Girl

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: Fun spirit to this song, from the little funny touches in the arrangement to the sense of humor popping up in the lyric. That piano player can really tickle the ivories! Best part of the instrumentation by far, to me. I did have to smile as I listened, and I’m sure that was intentional, so good job!

Constructive Comments: It kind of borders on a gimmick song, but doesn’t really cross that line. To me the acoustic guitar was not adding much, maybe it should be mixed back, bring that piano center stage. The vocalist doesn’t have a classic pop singer voice, but it works well enough for this song. The chorus or hook is ok, but it’s good the song cuts out at 3 minutes, it starts to get a bit repetitive. But still fun!

Broadjam Artist: sonya watts
Song: Chasing Ghosts

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: Classic pop ballad feel, with that piano at center stage. Vocalist is so nice, a touch of Sarah McClauglan (sp?). Nice harmony touches in chorus. Well recorded, and the simple arrangement suits the mood and feel of the song. I wish I could say there were more songs like this enjoying success recently, but maybe I’m not listening in the right place….

Constructive Comments: I started to puzzle over the “chasing ghosts” line as I listened, and it just didn’t come together for me. Is it about looking for an old lover in a new lover? I read the lyric through the link and still felt confused. The melody is nice enough, and the performance is overall excellent, but the total impact – not what I’d expect. Could just be me!

Broadjam Artist: Bobby Caputo
Song: You Remind Me Of No One

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: A very sweet, sincere performance of a sweet, sincere song. I’ll talk about the lyric title or conceit below. The arrangement is simple but tasteful, and allows the very pleasant vocalist to be up front, where the vocal should be. So to sum up, sweet and sincere. Those are two good things, everyone can agree I think.

Constructive Comments: I just don’t really get “you remind me of nobody.” I can see how it is meant as a compliment, but it just feels like a backhanded way of saying “you’re special.” of course every songwriter is looking for new ways to say the things songs have said forever. I guess if the melody were a little more original to my ears, the lyric wouldn’t bother me. “Nobody” else may feel that way though!

Broadjam Artist: Kelly Triplett
Song: Your Soul

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: Such tasty guitar in intro. Song sets out a steady tempo, simple chord changes as effective setting for the melody. Then the chorus comes in, and the energy picks up, that’s a very nice touch. I’ll have soem comments about the lyric in the section below.

Constructive Comments: Hearing that key line “I wonder what your soul looks like” so many times, it begins to be a little weird, to my ears. What does a soul look like for anyone? The singer has a good voice, high set, but I would have liked a little harmony to deepen the chorus. It would never happen, but if someone wrote a song like this for me, I’d feel a little bit like “umm thanks but…a bit intense for me!”

Broadjam Artist: Delta Burnett Reed
Song: Slow Hand

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: This is a cover, I’m old enough to remember the Pointer Sisters. It’s very pleasantly done. I have to push aside the memory of the original, which was a fairly big hit. The singer is earnest, has a nice tone. I will address the performance and arrangement int he next section. Thanks fro sharing your version of the song!

Constructive Comments: This needs some snap, a little grit. It just feels too clean, too safe, and not especially exciting or sensual. And I think that’s what the lyric calls for. It’s almost like a karaoke version of the original. A quality karaoke performance, but still, yeah, not clear to me why this cover was necessary.

Broadjam Artist: Bob Bentley
Song: Love Is In The Things I Do

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: Very tasteful piece of pop writing and performance. Vocalist is lovely, a tiny touch of Dolly Parton in timbre, though not the type of song I’d think Dolly would sing. Maybe she should! Nice harmonies, and the arrangement has many nice touches. Very professional sounding! Holds up over 4 minutes very nicely.

Constructive Comments: I guess I’d say that the lyric doesn’t have the impact it might have, for me. The key line is “love is in the things I do,” which sounds as if it’s a song about enjoying, sharing, displaying love. But the rest of the lyric seems to be about a broken relationship. And the music has some minor key elements as well, so I guess for me the lyric message is a bit confused or contradictory. probably just me!