Month: December 2020

Broadjam Artist: Groove Fondue
Song: Island Time

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: Here’s a beautiful instrumental piece that never gets boring. It has enough variation to keep the listener engaged. I love the beautiful guitar work and the way the sweet keys come in and out. Also notable is the instrument bed that surges from time to time to make the composition exciting. Love the harmonics on the guitar. The bass provides a nice bottom end that augments, but does not overpower the other instruments. Bravo! Well done!

Constructive Comments: I think you could bring the percussion up in the mix a bit.

Broadjam Artist: Nick Kushner
Song: 2020 Goodbye

Reviewer: Kate Carpenter

Positive Comments: Here’s a timely song chronicling the debacle of 2020, a year we will never forget. The artist does a great job of melding the pandemic with the political, using audio clips from Trump to accent his points. The chorus is memorable and something we can all agree with. None of us are going to miss 2020! Love the organ solo. Great way to describe a slice of history in a song!

Constructive Comments: Sometimes I found the quotes a bit confusing. But I really like your song. Way to go. I wrote a song about it too. It’s called “Goodbye Corona”. I haven’t recorded it, but it’s my rant. Mrs. Kate

Broadjam Artist: Ante Novaselic
Song: ZZ

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: Just kidding with my “title” guess. Fun little instrumental, doesn’t wear out its welcome like most instrumentals do that head past 3 minutes. The keyboard line is sweet, nice contrast to the guitar line. This feels just a bit like closing credits for a news show or something, but hey, that’s a real part of the music market, so why not?!

Constructive Comments: I guess I’d be picky about the sound, it seems airless, and the drum track is a bit hollow. I self record all my own stuff so I know the challenges, and I hate to be picky. But i guess that’s what this section is about. A better mix would probably really put this track across.

Broadjam Artist: Douglas Branson aka dB+1
Song: I’m Not Laughing About It

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: Glad I got to hear this artist, a guy (I guess) who is passionate about music and his message. is it really well recorded, is the singer the best imaginable? Maybe not! But the honesty and passion comes across. I like unique individuals not trying to suck up to the music industry. Found that in this track, thanks a lot. Oh and really liked solo.

Constructive Comments: I am learning how to record and mix myself, on this I’d try to bringing that vocal up a bit more. I wish I were a better singer for my own songs, so I won’t beat up on this singer for pushing a bit too much. As a song, I’d also like to hear the “i’m not laughing” line repeated a bit, I like that lyric idea and I don’t think it gets highlighted.

Broadjam Artist: George Michael John
Song: night gallery

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: Instrumental track, hard rocking with a touch of prog rock. Guitar dominates but I really liked the keyboard touches, added some atmosphere. The arrangement does try to keep things moving over 4 minutes, which is appreciated. I think one’s enjoyment of the track depends on how much one likes the main guitar line, and some people are going to get more out of than me. Which happens!

Constructive Comments: Well I liked the last 30 seconds the best, the body of the track felt a bit too typical to me of the instrumental prog rock genre. The main lick is solid enough, it just doesn’t peak for me. It’s like “lick”-solo, “lick-solo” over and over. But even though this is not really my thing, it’s really well done and I can imagine this artist having other stuff I’d like more.

Broadjam Artist: Fred Kimmel
Song: Oh Yeah

Reviewer: CW Mullins

Positive Comments: Ha fun rock song, bit of a throwback, like maybe a “hair band” from the 80s, 90s. Basic riff is fun enough, I’ll make some comments about “development” in the section below. But my taste in songwriting is maybe not relevant to this genre of hard rocking, and i think for what this song is, this track is just about as good as most stuff like it out there.

Constructive Comments: The track has a kind of break about two minutes in, otherwise the riff gets a bit repetitive and as a song, there’s not much development. Chorus is not all that different from verse to my ears. Also ends so suddenly feels like it got cut off! Sorry to be harsh on lyric, lyric is I guess typical of the genre, but it is a bit silly…almost like Spinal Tap parody…

Broadjam Artist: Sam Cooper
Song: ST. NICKY IN ST. LOUIE (featuring Ray Dahrouge)

Reviewer: Nick Kushner

Positive Comments: This song reminds me of the music in Rocky Horror Picture Show as well as Bob Seger’s Old Fashioned Rock n Roll. It has that classic rock n roll feel of the 50s and 60s. I love the raspy voice of the vocalist! Amusing and well written lyrics about Santa Claus. Very entertaining! The piano playing rocks. Love the horns as well! Great job!

Constructive Comments: Nothing here.

Broadjam Artist: HAWC
Song: D.I.E.

Reviewer: Nick Kushner

Positive Comments: Very original opening with a cool effect on a distorted guitar! I love the harmonies!! The chorus is very strong, catchy and memorable. I love the vocal scream! Key change with bridge cool! Love the sound of the guitar with the Rockman like effect! This song is excellent!! Great job!

Constructive Comments: I would like to hear the vocals during the verse stand out more. This would require lowering the mix of the guitars there.I was expecting to hear a crazy guitar solo. But it’s all good because the songs rocks without it.

Broadjam Artist: CW Mullins
Song: White Flag

Reviewer: Nick Kushner

Positive Comments: This has a 80s sound, heavy with the dreamy keyboards. Lyrics seem strong. I like the arrangement.

Constructive Comments: Vocalist has a weak sounding voice too bathed in reverb. That being said, there is an interesting personality there.

Broadjam Artist: Fulvio Ferrari
Song: Surf Memories

Reviewer: Fred Kimmel

Positive Comments: Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.

Constructive Comments: a bit short