Month: May 2021

Broadjam Artist: SKY HIGH MUSIC LABS
Song: Deleware Winter

Reviewer: Jeff Ashbaker

Positive Comments: Great sounding instrumental track lead by the straight ahead harp. Nice blend and use of many instruments.

Constructive Comments: Nothing to add

Broadjam Artist: SKY HIGH MUSIC LABS
Song: Thinking Puts Me Back Paulie

Reviewer: Suzy Haworth

Positive Comments: Great country rock feel to this trac. You remind me of Lynard Skynard style of country, nice playing great instrumentation. The middle eight was really spot on, great melody but the lyrics of the second line , a better rhyming word rather than repeat the “was” might be found.

Constructive Comments: Liked this country trac a lot. The vocalist has a very distinct country tone/sound , it would be brought out a lot more if the key was lowered just a semi tone or two giving him a more comfortable range ,just sounded a little strained, a keychange would fix that . The intro was cool, the verse might benefit being stripped back instrumentally, just for texture. Chorus and middle eight especially were really good. The lyrics are telling a story well ,maybe substitute any repeats of words at the end of the lines, just to keep it interesting. Just a thought enjoyed your work!

Broadjam Artist: John Walradt
Song: Stay Here Now featuring Clay Collins

Reviewer: Suzy Haworth

Positive Comments: Love your lush vocal sound I am a sucker for those maj and minor seventh chords. Very reminiscent of Mamas and Papas, America, Seals and Croft, Jimmy Webb style of songs. Love them.Love the instrumentation but have commented further below. You remind me of a young Gerry Beckly (America) so nice to hear a great expressive singer!!

Constructive Comments: Love the song beautiful mood ,great vox , the only thing I could think of would be perhaps a stripping back of the piano in the verse to allow the vox and nice accoustic guitar through and give the chorus a chance to shine texturally. The middle eight section needs a bit of a polish melodically nothing a few chord/melody changes couldn’t achieve well worth it really liked the song thanks heaps for allowing me to hear it!!!

Broadjam Artist: Eight of Spades
Song: Underneath

Reviewer: Suzy Haworth

Positive Comments: The genre said this song was Folk but it had a distinct orchestral moody dark arrangement that hinted of “1000 Years” Sara Barielles but with more of a lush wall of sound quality it was difficult to put into a specific genre. I had a hard time hearing the lyric but that seems to be the way of production these days so that’s just me I like to hear the singer! She has a ethereal beautiful style of vocal. Very “Twilight” or “Twin Peaks” style of music to my ears suited to a moody dark storyline in film or TV series.

Constructive Comments: My only critic of the song is that I would like to have heard the chorus melody lift a bit more, change of tempo? It is lovely how it is, to my ears though seemed to get a bit lost in the verse. Maybe a bit more texture in the instrumentation , a sparser verse section to give the lush orchestration more punch when it comes back into the chorus, maybe a change of instrument from the piano? Like a accoustic guitar, mandolin or voila/cello/flute. I love to hear the vocals out front of the mix but I understand this goes against the grain as far as modern production is concerned, just a personal preference. Overall enjoyed the trac muchly!

Broadjam Artist: Norb Studelska/Upper Air Disturbance
Song: Ave Maria

Reviewer: jim Finan

Positive Comments: A nice full sound with the guitar in the forefront nicely played to backup the upcoming male vocalist. A full sound begins to expand with added flute and then a nice addition of strings and the sound begins to fill the ears in a wonderful balance.a counter rhythm is added by strings and it begins to be continuously expanding! Nive natural sounding vibrato by male vocalist and a genuine and unique rendition is com-leted. What a nice full vocal harmony is achieved and building most dramatically and back to solo again. Lets put some bell accents into it! Very full sounding rendition. Best ive heard for a long time!

Constructive Comments: Boy,youve got a spiritual contender in this match! I think a slight bit of reverb or even a slight dely part of the way through it might be tried. If it doesnt sound good or adds nothing, then back to the normal. Perhaps, or just maybe, a slight modification of the phrasing toward the end might emphasize the culmination of the classic! You the composer has the final say and it stands ready right now. Its a superb winner!

Broadjam Artist: VOYA
Song: Carpe Diem

Reviewer: jim Finan

Positive Comments: A very mystical beginning with a melody to match this spirit.It strts saying a new melody which is short but certainly sweet. The harmony is good and the overall feel is unique. I think if this piece would continue,it would be very surprising and entirely satisfying. Very good!

Constructive Comments: The main thing for me id like to hear is more of the sam extended parts saying what has been said already adding a little change in tempo or pause or something else to continue the interesting variety which you have set up already. It is the composers choice to have made any changes and the momentum it now has could not be stopped if extended too! Excellent as presented!

Broadjam Artist: Fred Kimmel
Song: Oh Yeah

Reviewer: Suzy Haworth

Positive Comments: Loved the vocal intro very exciting and heavy rock style suited the song. Guitars on steroids my favourite thing in this genre. loud and proud and sex (or the suggestion of) on a stick!!! In parts this reminded me of a futuristic Aerosmith crossed with Led Zepplin, Faith No More, AC/DC swagger. Sorry guys am a little short on names of more contemporary bands but the instruments had a very now attitude/sound for heavy rock number.

Constructive Comments: Loved the vocal intro very exciting and heavy rock style suited the song. Lyrics were a little difficult to discern, but when i read them , it made better sense. Lyrics could be a little more on the “fifty shades” style of suggestion- grittier, more out of control ” , the “love affair” line seems a little tame for the overall sound of the track. The song seems to be about wanting someone sooooo bad the physicality of the desire is there in the music but the lyric needs to push it. I liked the song overall and could hear it being played anywhere. My only critic was the guitars got a bit lost and messy in the middle, maybe a breakdown and more vox like the intro. Great job.

Broadjam Artist: Benjamin Stone
Song: Stockton Symphony Pt 1

Reviewer: jim Finan

Positive Comments: Very interesting combination of instruments to lay out the theme which sets out a pattern to continue It occurs to me that some tricky counting of measures is needed to play parts without stepping on some other sound. It is so interesting to listen to with the variety throughout.Finally a few long notes are heard and relaxes a person to hear the mixture of parts that continue throughout culminating in a dramatic long notes . Quite an interesting piece and the pattern throughout is complimenting in its preciseness. A great rhythmic journey and keeps a busy motion. Very good harmonics too and enough change that it doesnt become too repiticious. Very well done!

Constructive Comments: So well done its difficult to expnd on this. More changes , and maybe tempo, with perhaps a com-letely different part in the middle to help emphasize the overriding mode traveling along a path. A part with longer notes occasionally to break up the composition, but these thoughts are entirely up to you the composer. Excellent job! I like it!

Broadjam Artist: amy abernathy
Song: He is alive

Reviewer: jim Finan

Positive Comments: Ascension developing and personal voice to enhance the spiritual statetment for this particular time especially. It has a esual quality and an individual experience to a religious event that touches the soul and reaches outward expressively. The happiness melodically expands from within and an honest thought arrives to the audience! Original expression and feeling is great.

Constructive Comments: To help it be more expansive musically speaking, soke addition of other voices or instruments layered or helping out the musical idea will attract more attention to the thought being expressed from within. Even simple accomaniment added will greatly expand the sound. Musical effects,while not adding to the simple feeling being conveyed, will beautify the thought. Well done!

Broadjam Artist: Benjamin Stone
Song: IGNITE THE ELECTRUM FORGE

Reviewer: jim Finan

Positive Comments: Hey, I like the contast to begin with in instrumentation, rhythmic diversity,wake up the cellos and stop the other strings from just counting, but then….the always monumental entrance of voices to add the personal dramatic charm that human entrance can lift to all else! Simply.The rhythmic diversity and human voices inserted keeps interest building up. AND NOW GIVE THE PERCUSSION SOME TOO. (While we can catch a melodic pause), key changes add the color to continue on…..brass gives a little syncopation to notice and what color is added to long notes intruding with rhythmic pattern. Great!

Constructive Comments: So difficult to harrass this musical statement but I must say I cant leave the performance humming the melody! Almost too many ideas statements overlapping yet still enjoyable, while might be confusing to some listeners,but I love it all and an assault on more passive sounds! Not just a background, but saying something forthright!