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Monday, July 30, 2012

SpinTunes #5 Round 3 Songs


Thanks again to Tom our listening party DJ & Jules our poll master.

The songs are now available for FREE download, and you can vote for your favorite entries as well. Many of you will be asking friends and family to support you in the popular vote. That's great, but when you do, please ask them to listen to all the songs & vote for their favorites. You can vote for up to 5 different people, so they might as well listen to everyone.

Until the round 4 songs are posted I will only allow people to download the round 3 album as a whole. But even after that, PLEASE download the entire album vs downloading just a handful of songs while the contest is on going. BandCamp limits how many free downloads I can give away, and 1 album download counts the same as 1 song download.

8 of 12 competitors turned in a song for round 3.  So that means the judges only have to eliminate 4 more competitors this round.  Good luck everyone.

You can find the album on BandCamp by clicking the image below:


(Album cover by Matt Schubbe)

- You can vote for your favorite songs with the poll in the right sidebar. -->
- Popular vote stays open until 11PM on August 3rd (Fri.)
- Judges & guest judges have until 11PM on August 3rd (Fri.) to hand in their reviews.
- Spintown will post the Reviews & Eliminations before 11PM on August 4th (Sat)
- August 5th 1AM (Sun) - Final Challenge is announced.

Videos:
If anyone wants to make a video for their song, Spintown will include it here:

Links Of Interest:
- Edric Haleen posted a Song Bio for his entry.
- Dave Leigh posted a Song Bio for the Dr. Lindyke shadow.
- Dave Leigh also posted some Reviews.

LP & Deadline News (Quick Post)


I got up 30 minutes early to upload the songs before work (2AM).  Sorry this is rushed once again.

For now you should know:
- There are 9 songs on the album. (unless more shadows come in)
- 8 of the 9 are official entries, while there is 1 shadow.
- The deadline victims were Gorbzilla, The Boffo Yux Dudes / Chris Cogott, Godz Poodlz & Caravan Ray.
- The judges will have to eliminate 4 people this round.
- I won't be able to answer your questions until about 6:30PM. (sorry...gotta pay the bills)
- The listening party will be hosted on U-stream & YouTube tonight by Tom.  The YouTube stream will have video & graphics, but no chat.  The U-Stream feed has a chat room available.

U-Stream Link:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/spintunes

YouTube Link: (if this link is the wrong one, just watch the Twitter feed, the right one will be tweeted out)
https://www.youtube.com/user/BoffoYuxDudes/featured

Sorry this is rushed, but I gotta run.

Spin.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

SpinTunes #5: Round 3 Challenge

What's Opera, Doc? - Write a Mini-Opera: A dramatic story told through dialogue sung by two or more characters.  A couple suggested examples I got are "Come Talk To Me" by Peter Gabriel or "Written In The Stars" by Elton John.  (2 minute minimum) (your submission is due July 29th 11:59PM (Sun)

Defined Opera as: A theatrical presentation in which a dramatic performance is set to music.

- We of course run things by my time...not yours. The link at the top of the blog may be helpful to you when it comes to deadlines throughout this contest.

- The bold part is just the title of the challenge/album. Everything after that is the actual challenge. "What's Opera, Doc?" will be the title of the album.

Submitting Entries:
- Entries must be received by the given deadline. Otherwise it'll be posted as a shadow. Received means that it has to appear in my e-mail inbox by the given deadline. I will be going by the time stamp on the e-mail in my inbox. PLEASE do not wait until the last hour to send me something. If there is a blackout in your area, your computer crashes, or your dog actually eats your thumb drive...I will not care. You are allowed to send in a draft of your song early just in case something horrible happens & you miss the deadline. Then you can add polish to your song & send in a better version closer to the deadline. 1 minute late is still late people.


- Send your file in a format that Bandcamp accepts. (.aiff, .wav or .flac) (at least 16-bit/44.1kHz) You can find the specific requirements for Bandcamp files HERE.

- Name your file the song's title, but without spaces & punctuation.

- Title of the e-mail should be the title of the Challenge & your band's name.

- Include the song lyrics in the body of the e-mail. (If your song doesn't have lyrics...consider yourself eliminated. Instrumentals can be pretty, but SpinTunes does require lyrics.)

- Include information on anyone that needs credited if you collabed with someone.

- If you have a BandCamp account, you can just send me a link to your song on BandCamp if you include all the info I mentioned above. Make sure you have it set as a free download, and have it set so that I don't have to put in an e-mail to download it if you pick this option. THIS IS THE BEST FILE SHARING OPTION!

- Other file sharing options if you need them: YouSendIt, Sound Cloud & Drop Box. Please send an e-mail as I already stated, but with the download link if you need one of these services. Please follow directions so your file doesn't wind up in my spam or trash folder accidentally.

Side Notes:
- Good luck everyone. I don't care who wins, but I hope you all have fun & maybe even learn a little something along the way.

- Remember that Max, Dave & Tom have access to my e-mail now. If I'm not available, it's possible that one of them will respond to you.

- Remember that you are allowed to send in a little background about your song. Some people don't like to do that, and you don't have to, but if you want to write a couple sentences about your song I'll post it on the BandCamp page for people to see. Some judges will look at the lyrics & this extra info, but they aren't required to.

- If you didn't sign-up in time to compete in SpinTunes #5, you can still complete the challenge & send in a song. It'll be uploaded with the other entries as a "Shadow Song". Check the FAQ if you don't know what that means. You can even complete past challenges from previous contests.

- If you didn't sign-up you can also do a song for "Single Rainbow Across The Internet". You're song would be played during the LP as well.

- The only other way to get your music played at the LP is to cover "Today's The Day" by Inverse T. Clown.

- Feel free to leave any questions in the comments.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

SpinTunes #5 Round 2 Totals

There was 1 DQ this round, and 4 people who failed to meet the deadline.  So the judges only had to eliminate 3 more people, but it wasn't easy.  It was a tough round to judge, and that means you all kicked ass.

It's a good thing I had 2 guest judges lined up this round, because 2 of our regular judges were not available this round.  That means that both the guest judges fill in for the regular judges.  We almost had to use my rankings & reviews (that was close).

Official Judges:

Guest Judges:  Jason Morris & Jon Eric
Alternate Judge's Review:  Spin
NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT: Sammy Kablam & Howie Kapow

Feel free to check my math, but the people in bold have been eliminated.  I hope you all continue to follow the contest & shadow.  Thank you ALL for your hard work.

Total Scores: (Poular) (Mark) (Steve) (Mick) (Jason) (Jon)
RC - 5 - 12 - 16 - 14 - 16 - 15 (78)
Mariah Mercedes - 13 - 15 - 15 - 16 - 11 - 6 (76)
Edric Haleen - 9 - 16 - 12 - 9 - 14 - 16 (76)
Gorbzilla - 15 - 14 - 14 - 4 - 15 - 9 (71)
Ross Durand - 6 - 11 - 13 - 10 - 8 - 13 (61)
The Boffo Yux Dudes / Chris Cogott - 12 - 13 - 7 - 11 - 12 - 5 (60)
Governing Dynamics - 11 - 9 - 6 - 5 - 13 - 14 (58)
Menage a Tune - 16 - 8 - 2 - 13 - 4 - 12 (55)
The Chocolate Chips - 3 - 10 - 11 - 15 - 7 - 7 (53)
Godz Poodlz - 8 - 7 - 10 - 6 - 10 - 10 (51)
Caravan Ray - 7 - 6 - 5 - 7 - 6 - 11 (42)
Felix Frost - 14 - 4 - 4 - 8 - 9 - 2 (41)
Rats Of The Sky - 10 - 2 - 9 - 3 - 2 - 8 (34)
Jailhouse Payback - 2 - 3 - 8 - 12 - 3 - 3 (31)
Glen Raphael - 4 - 5 - 3 - 2 - 5 - 4 (23)
*Jeremy Lambright - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 (5)

*DQed & moved to the bottom of all rankings.

Popular Vote:
Menage a Tune - 22
Gorbzilla - 20
Felix Frost - 11
Mariah Mercedes - 10
The Boffo Yux Dudes / Chris Cogott - 9
Governing Dynamics - 8
Rats Of The Sky - 7
Edric Haleen - 7
Godz Poodlz - 6
Caravan Ray - 6
Ross Durand - 5
RC - 5
Glen Raphael - 4
The Chocolate Chips - 4
Jailhouse Payback - 3
Jeremy Lambright - 3
(130 total votes)

Popular Vote Scores:
Menage a Tune - 16
Gorbzilla - 15
Felix Frost - 14
Mariah Mercedes - 13
The Boffo Yux Dudes / Chris Cogott - 12
Governing Dynamics - 11
Rats Of The Sky - 10
Edric Haleen - 9
Godz Poodlz - 8
Caravan Ray - 7
Ross Durand - 6
RC - 5
Glen Raphael - 4
The Chocolate Chips - 3
Jailhouse Payback - 2
Jeremy Lambright - 1

Mark Rankings:
Edric Haleen - 16
Mariah Mercedes - 15
Gorbzilla - 14
The Boffo Yux Dudes / Chris Cogott - 13
RC - 12
Ross Durand - 11
The Chocolate Chips - 10
Governing Dynamics - 9
Menage a Tune - 8
Godz Poodlz - 7
Caravan Ray - 6
Glen Raphael - 5
Felix Frost - 4
Jailhouse Payback - 3
Rats Of The Sky - 2
Jeremy Lambright - 1

Steve Rankings:
RC - 16
Mariah Mercedes - 15
Gorbzilla - 14
Ross Durand - 13
Edric Haleen - 12
The Chocolate Chips - 11
Godz Poodlz - 10
Rats Of The Sky - 9
Jailhouse Payback - 8
The Boffo Yux Dudes / Chris Cogott - 7
Governing Dynamics - 6
Caravan Ray - 5
Felix Frost - 4
Glen Raphael - 3
Menage a Tune - 2
Jeremy Lambright - 1

Mick Rankings:
Mariah Mercedes - 16
The Chocolate Chips - 15
RC - 14
Menage a Tune - 13
Jailhouse Payback - 12
The Boffo Yux Dudes / Chris Cogott - 11
Ross Durand - 10
Edric Haleen - 9
Felix Frost - 8
Caravan Ray - 7
Godz Poodlz - 6
Governing Dynamics - 5
Gorbzilla - 4
Rats Of The Sky - 3
Glen Raphael - 2
Jeremy Lambright - 1

Jason Rankings:
RC - 16
Gorbzilla - 15
Edric Haleen - 14
Governing Dynamics - 13
The Boffo Yux Dudes / Chris Cogott - 12
Mariah Mercedes - 11
Godz Poodlz - 10
Felix Frost - 9
Ross Durand - 8
The Chocolate Chips - 7
Caravan Ray - 6
Glen Raphael - 5
Menage a Tune - 4
Jailhouse Payback - 3
Rats Of The Sky - 2
Jeremy Lambright - 1

Jon Rankings:
Edric Haleen - 16
RC - 15
Governing Dynamic - 14
Ross Durand - 13
Menage a Tune - 12
Caravan Ray - 11
Godz Poodlz - 10
Gorbzilla - 9
Rats Of The Sky - 8
The Chocolate Chips - 7
Mariah Mercedes - 6
The Boffo Yux Dudes / Chris Cogott - 5
Glen Raphael - 4
Jailhouse Payback - 3
Felix Frost - 2
Jeremy Lambright - 1

Spintunes #5 Round 2 Review: Jon Eric


Jon Eric is a veteran from Song Fight, Nur Ein & SpinTunes.  I became a fan of his shortly after I started following Song Fight, and when the time came to start SpinTunes he was one of the people I really wanted to get involved.  Even though he couldn't compete this time around, he's here to give his thoughts on round 2.  For more info on Jon, you can visit his website.

Spin.


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Hey everyone! First up, here's some bona fides. Back in 2004, I did two songs that both would have qualified for this challenge. Neither is very good, but don't let anyone tell you I don't put my money where my mouth is. The first was a tongue-in-cheek number called "Stationary Bike," and the second was an ill-advised attempt at a straight-up steroid rocker called "Have you Been Working Out?"

So there. I tried to judge based on a good balance of songwriting, performance, recording fidelity, and adherence to the challenge. I tried to be tough but fair. In the end, it all comes down to my opinion anyway. Many of these choices were so close that two adjacent songs could easily have swapped places. If it happens that you get eliminated this round, and it's only by one point, feel free to yell at me. Also, where my wife had some snarky comments, I've quoted her. She disagreed with my final rankings, so let it be known that her opinions didn't necessarily affect my rankings.

And so, without further ado...

16.) Felix Frost - The Frost Mine
I really don't get how this is supposed to address the challenge. The vocals are weak, the instrumentation is noisy and disjointed, and the melody is a bit too disjointed to cohere into anything motivational. Better luck next time, sorry.

15.) Jailhouse Payback - Kick Your Routine
I think I might have an overly-narrow interpretation of the challenge on this one, but unfortunately, I don't think it was enough to simply write a song about working out. To make matters worse, this is a song that doesn't seem to take the idea of working out very seriously, so I'm wondering what kind of effect you want your song to have on your audience. Is this supposed to make them feel superior to gym rats? Smug? Is this meant to be actually motivational? I'm just not sure. All I really know is that I definitely can't work out to this.

My wife sez: "This doesn't sound like a pump-up song; this sounds like something that would be in one of those short films from the 70s that MST3K used to make fun of." She is a harsher critic than I, to be sure.

14.) Glen Raphael - Pump Down the Volume
This shiny exterior belies a song with some real issues here. You tried to tackle the challenge by doing something superficially similar which is actually the exact opposite of what was asked. The song implores us to be quieter, and the narrator is trying to study in piece and quiet. I'm sorry, but that's not what this challenge was about, and I'm docking you points for that. Worse, you're using some overly-familiar GarageBand loops, which I've heard in other songs before (in fact, I think in your songs before).

The wife sez: "Catchy... but more 'danceable' than a true pump-up tune."

13.) The Boffo Yux Dudes/Chris Cogott - Big, Better, Best
Boffo Yux Dudes shoot for "funny," which for this challenge isn't necessarily the best approach, in my opinion. If the goal is to pump the listener up, the jokes and over-the-top vocal performance really get in the way. But if the goal is to be a funny parody of that kind of song... well, it still isn't a great example of that, because it's not actually very funny. Sorry, guys.

12.) Jeremy Lambright - Shut Up And Dance
It's really hard to be convincingly inspirational or "pumping" with obviously fake instruments. You made an honest go of it, for real, but I'm really too distracted by how silly some of those patches sound. Not like it matters where I rank you; I'm pretty sure this is disqualified for not having lyrics anyway.

11.) Mariah Mercedes - Hurricane
This is a straightforward take on the challenge, but I'm not sure your voice is up to the challenge. The strain is obvious at points, which creates a couple of notes that sound pitchy in the chorus, and on top of that, they sound out of sync with the rest of the piece. I can hear the goodness of the song trying to break out here, but it's not there yet. Needs some more polishing in the vocals, the guitars need to sound "bigger," and maybe some backup vocals in the chorus.

10.) The Chocolate Chips - Nothing Can Stop You
I had my fingers hovering over the keyboard, wondering what the heck I would say about this, when... well...
The wife sez: "It meets the genre, but it's kinda boring. It doesn't compel me." Yeah, that.

9.) Rats Of The Sky - Dance To The Groove Libido
This is a pretty good dance groove, but I'm not sure it rises to the "pump up" challenge. Your rap is competent, and even funny at points, but unfortunately, I think "funny" is a liability in this challenge. In my mind, being pumped up is about intense focus, and this is a little too class-clownish. This is a problem that was pretty common for this round, so it didn't hurt you as much as it could have. Oh, I almost forgot to write about your auto-tune section. It was a nice unexpected twist that breathed some life into the song at a point when it needed it. I don't generally like the whole auto-tune-as-effect thing, but this is a judicious use of it. You could have made the settings even tighter and let your voice drift a bit more to really emphasize it.

8.) Gorbzilla ft. Gorbzookies - Superwoman
I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt about the challenge. I wouldn't work out to this, and my wife says she wouldn't either, but I'd imagine there just might be someone out there who could. This is still a little too clever by half - "Even kryptonite's not your kryptonite" is a little kitchy, and it comes up three times (!). Still, points for the horns, and for a really sweet bass line.

The wife sez: "This is a really good disco song, but disco doesn't pump me up."

7.) Godz Poodlz - In The Zone
Buzzy guitars and synths set up the mood really well. The lyrics and structure aren't standout attractions like they are for all three entries of my top four, which is what keeps you out of that tier, but this is a really strong line-drive kind of entry. Not particularly ambitious, but right on cue for what it's done. Good job!

6.) Caravan Ray - Pump It Up
Caravan Ray does the best job of all the entrants of toeing that line between being genuinely driving and being a little ironic. "Improved Biology / With Pharmacology" is genuinely funny without being distracting from the driving beat. You did a great job of layering a bunch of parts without sounding too cluttered or de-emphasizing your beat. The only good "funny" entry of this whole fight. That's sort of a dubious distinction, I guess, but winning ugly is still winning.

5.) Menage a Tune - Run!
Who do you have helping you there, JoAnn? This is much tighter and catchier than your usual. Tighter both musically and lyrically. There's some sloppiness in the lead guitar part, and the whole piece is a bit musically unambitious for my taste, but overall this is a keeper.

The wife sez: "I could see Blondie singing this."

4.) Ross Durand - Win
I now believe pretty strongly that there is nothing Ross Durand cannot do. He completely crushed us all in the rap round (yeah, I know he got eliminated that round, but in the reality that I replaced it with, he took first place and won that whole competition). He does guy-and-guitar folk like nobody's business. And now he nails the pump-up rocker! If I were grading solely on execution of the challenge, this would come in first or second place easily. Ross loses a couple of points with me for sounding a little thin in the chorus (harmony vocals or a thick B3 line might have remedied this), but structurally and thematically this is spot-on, and he plays a convincing rock thumper to boot.

The wife sez: "This should win." Well, hey, Ross, you've got another fan.

3.) Governing Dynamics - Forward
I wasn't expecting any waltzes this round, but you nailed it, man. Taking a thematic tack very similar to Edric's, but not feeling redundant, this is a song meant to motivate by being quite literally about pushing ahead in the face of adversity. The lyrics are great throughout, particularly in the chorus. It runs a bit long, and I'd love to hear some backup vocals to beef up the prechorus bit, but overall this is really strong work. If I ever take up distance running, this track will be a staple on my running playlist. You deserve to advance, and I hope you do.

2.) RC - Get Up
I have no complaints about this entry. Strong driving rock beat, clever lyrics (I like the recurrence of the hammer as a metaphor), and the catchiness of the "get up" chorus. The "band" is really tight, too. I like how the drums follow the dynamics of the chorus. Strong material throughout.

The wife sez: "No wait, this should win." Sorry, Ross.

1.) Edric Haleen - One More Step
Aside from what I think was a misstep by starting on a polyrhythm, this is a pretty much flawless take on this challenge. Edric, I know you have a habit of being a bit too clever by half, so I spent most of this song (if you'll forgive the wordplay) waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it never happened. If there's irony here, it was certainly lost on me. You laid down a solid "Chariots of Fire" groove and carried the song to its inspirational peak. I like the lift in the verse melody, where it fakes out a full-step modulation before resolving back to its original key. I like pretty much everything about this. Well done, my friend.

My wife sez: "This is a little too Broadway to be a true pump-up song. I like it, but I usually don't work out to Broadway music." Oh well, no accounting for taste.

Spintunes #5 Round 2 Review: Jason Morris



Jason is a veteran from Masters Of Song Fu & SpinTunes. Whenever we are lucky enough to get a new song from Jason, it's a safe bet that it's going to rock.  After reading his reviews, you can check out his work on Bandcamp.

- Spin


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RC - Get up
Very catchy chorus, good production, and performed well. Maybe a touch too much reverb on the vocals, but far more judicious than most of the other folks were. You know who you are!
Well done sir. I am suitably motivated.

Rhythm - 7
Melody - 7
Lyrics - 7
Hook -  9
Production/Arrangement - 9
Performance - 9
Total: 48

Gorbzilla (featuring the Gorbzookies) - Superwoman
I can't help but be amused by this song. Great 70's funk voice. Good production.

Rhythm - 8
Melody - 7
Lyrics - 7
Hook -7
Production/Arrangement - 8
Performance - 8
Total: 45

Edric Haleen - One More Step
I love music, but I hate musicals. Edric typically writes tunes that sound like they belong in some broadway musical. From time to time, he surprises me and writes a song that I think could stand on it's own as a pop song. Something you would hear on the radio.
This is not one of those times. This song sounds like it was ripped straight out of a Disney movie.
There is no chorus to speak of, and no real bridge. The tune never really develops or seems to go anywhere. There is a little solo, which isn't too bad. The performance is fantastic. If a big ol' stage voice is your thing, Edric is the man for you.
Edric should quit his day job and make a living writing musicals.

Rhythm - 6
Melody - 8
Lyrics -  8
Hook - 4
Production/Arrangement - 7
Performance - 10
Total:  43

Governing Dynamics - Forward
I always want to love Governing Dynamics tunes, as they play what I tend to listen to when I don't have to listen to goofy songs about robots and super-villains-in-training.
Their songs are always almost awesome. but not quite. The intro to this tune is a little long, but the real issue is that the vocals are buried and the drums are almost inaudible, and drowning in reverb.
The guitars are very loud. The mix could have been much more dynamic. Lyrically, I find it interesting and artsy, but when I turn in off, it quickly fades from memory.
Almost an awesome shoe gazer tune.

Rhythm - 7
Melody - 7
Lyrics - 7
Hook - 6
Production/Arrangement - 5
Performance - 7
Total:  39

Boffo Yux Dudes / Chris Cogott - Big, Bigger, Best
Cool guitar tone, drummer needs to chill out a little (less is more), yay 70's rock! KISS called, they said you can keep the sound, since you do it pretty well. They aren't so sure about that keyboard though.

Rhythm -6
Melody -6
Lyrics -6
Hook - 6
Production/Arrangement - 7
Performance - 7
Total:  38

Mariah Mercedes - Hurricane
I find the intro to this song very annoying. The guitar tone is terrible. The rhythm is uninteresting.
Her voice is fantastic. Like if she keeps at it she may be the next Ann Wilson. Performance wise, I want to give her a 9 for having such a great voice, but then there is the guitars to consider….
Keep at it. You will be a star. Or at least a really great musician.

Rhythm - 4
Melody - 7
Lyrics - 6
Hook - 7
Production/Arrangement - 4
Performance - 7
Total: 37

Godz Poodlz - In The Zone
Can't say i dig the vocal production. I can't tell if it's just a the effect he chose for his voice, or if he doubled his vocal and wasn't as "on" with one of them as he should have been? Lyrics are ok. Nice fuzzy guitar sound. A little too repetitive. drums are buried under the weight of the low-end guitars. you just hear a tiny little snare peeking out from all these fuzzy guitars. I did find myself unconsciously tapping my foot while writing this, which is a good thing.

Rhythm - 6
Melody - 6
Lyrics - 6
Hook - 6
Production/Arrangement - 6
Performance - 6
Total:  36

Felix Frost - The Frost Mine
The Devo-esq intro is kinda cool, but went on too long. When the verse finally comes in I immediately clutch my ears in horror.
The verse melody is repetitive and boring, and drowning effects, making it touch to make out what is going on.
Then the chorus comes in. Everything becomes more cohesive. I even like it. There are some really neat parts to this tune, and it is unique.
There is something there. I'm just not sure what it is.

Rhythm - 6
Melody - 6
Lyrics - 7
Hook - 4
Production/Arrangement - 4
Performance - 8
Total: 35

Ross Durand - Win
Ross' song was a pain for me to judge. When I took each element individually, I couldn't find that much to pick on.
When taken in total though, the song just didn't do anything for me.
The chorus made me cringe a bit,  but I can't really pick out why.
For some reason I couldn't help but imagine Dirk Diggler and Reed Rothchild in the studio when I heard this tune. Except Ross sings way better than Dirk Diggler.

Rhythm - 5
Melody - 6
Lyrics - 6
Hook -5
Production/Arrangement - 6
Performance - 6
Total:  34

The Chocolate Chips - Nothing Can Stop You
So I imagine this songwriting session went something like this:
"Dude, check out this awesome intro and chorus I wrote"
"WOAH DUDE! That is WICKED! You know what we should do? Put that with this really shitty, boring verse I wrote!"
"Dude, lets do it!"
Really, that is a great chorus. It hits you in the face right from the get go, but then the verse comes in and just whole song just shits the bed.
The don't even fit together. The transitions are awkward. The build around 2:45 would have been super sweet, but it was not performed well, so it fell flat.
Do this song over after the competition. Come up with a better verse and ix the transitions and performance issues and I think it will be a rocking tune.


Rhythm - 6
Melody - 5
Lyrics - 5
Hook - 7
Production/Arrangement - 4
Performance - 6
Total:  34

Caravan Ray - Pump It Up
Interesting rhythm. Crappy, insipid lyrics. This is catchy, but in the way that has the potential to drive someone to an act of homicide (which would probably be rules justifiable).

Rhythm - 6
Melody - 5
Lyrics - 3
Hook - 6
Production/Arrangement - 6
Performance - 7
Total: 33

Glen Raphael - Pump Down The Volume
Production is annoying. The compressor you put on the guitar is not set properly. All I hear is pick attack. From what little guitar I can hear, it sounds like a neat guitar part.
The synth is VERY annoying. Catchy chorus. Turn down the delay, and reverb on your voice. It's swirling around too much. Try setting timing the delay to the BPM of the song.

Rhythm - 5
Melody - 6
Lyrics - 5
Hook - 6
Production/Arrangement - 4
Performance - 6
Total: 32

Menage a Tune - Run!
The Lead singer sounds like the unholy progeny of Geddy Lee and my great grandmother. Not bad, just… weird.  The background vocals are terrible. It's like you wanted to put a harmony in there but didn't know how to harmonize.
Solo is not weak. I did find this song going thru my head the next day, so you did something right.

Rhythm -5
Melody - 5
Lyrics - 5
Hook - 6
Production/Arrangement - 5
Performance - 5
Total: 31

Jailhouse Payback - Kick Your Routine
Weak chorus, awkward transition from chorus to the second verse - it was too jarring to me.
How many choruses does this song have? It sounds like two, but neither is very interesting.

Rhythm -4
Melody -5
Lyrics - 5
Hook - 4
Production/Arrangement - 4
Performance - 6
Total: 28

Rats Of The Sky - Dance To The Groove Libido
Annoying synth. Performance is good for what it is. I think one of these guys accidentally made some sort of mouth noise that hinted at a melody. Maybe he was just chewing his gum too lousy.
I tried not to count that against them. I pretty much hate hip-hop, but being the consummate professional, I persevered and somehow slogged thru this tune to it's horrific, auto-tuned finale.

Rhythm -5
Melody -2
Lyrics -6
Hook - 3
Production/Arrangement - 3
Performance - 7
Total: 26

Jeremy Lambright - Shut Up And Dance
This did not inspire me to work out. It did inspire me to break out my old Tangerine Dream albums though. I dig your vibe man. Too bad you couldn't finish this one.

Rhythm - 7
Melody - 1
Lyrics - 0
Hook - 1
Production/Arrangement - 8
Performance - 8
Total: 25

SHADOWS

Jeffrey Powers - If I finish This Workout I Can Go Get A Beer
Amusing, if unoriginal. Im pretty sure this chord progression and melody line has been used a few bazillion times in the past.
You lose points because I almost pee'd my pants at the "YAY!" part.

Rhythm - 6
Melody - 4
Lyrics - 5
Hook - 3
Production/Arrangement - 6
Performance - 6
Total:  30

Dr. Lindyke - A Tune For You
Good tune. Lyrics amused me. So few instruments in the mix that you probably didn't need to pan the piano into one speaker. Stereo would have been more better.

Rhythm - 6
Melody - 7
Lyrics - 7
Hook - 6
Production/Arrangement - 5
Performance - 7
Total: 38

Dr. Lindyke - Monastic Workout
Two songs? And one in Latin? You show off. :)

Rhythm - 6
Melody - 6
Lyrics - as I don't speak Latin I have no idea how to judge these lyrics.
Hook - 1
Production/Arrangement - 7
Performance - 8
Total:  33

Menage a Tune - Rat Race
This is like the ugly step sister of the other song you entered.

Rhythm -3
Melody - 4
Lyrics -4
Hook - 4
Production/Arrangement - 3
Performance - 4
Total:  26

Zoe Gray - Mine
Cute. You sound like you are a young girl between the ages of 8 and 12. If you are in fact in your 20's or 30's you might want to seek medical attention. Lyrically, the verses are great. The Choruses not so much.
The Vocals are adorable. Some of the timing is off here and there. If you are between 8 and 12, this is forgiven, and you are to be commended on doing such a great job.
If you are in your 20's or 30's you should do better next time. Remember me when you rule the world with an Iron Fist. I for one welcome our new pre-pubescent overlord.

Rhythm - 7
Melody - 7
Lyrics - 6
Hook - 7
Production/Arrangement - 6
Performance - 7
Total: 40

Spintunes #5 Round 2 Review: Mick Bordet

1. Mariah Mercedes - Hurricane
The rock arrangement is straightforward and keeps things simple for Mariah's throaty howl to take centre stage where it belongs, but keeps a pace that suggests a slow run, probably in slow-motion through a storm, along a lakeside as the waves break over. Yes, this fits the challenge perfectly, feels very cinematic and is probably my favourite of this round. I enjoyed the little eye-of-the-storm moment where everything seems to fall away and apart before the last gusts of the hurricane return.
9/10

15. The Chocolate Chips - Nothing Can Stop You
Serious riffage! String noise! What a start! Then the tone changes with a echo-laden vocal that feels and sounds like Roy Harper's "I'm in love with you", then the riff is back, not as intense, but still effective. I'm fairly sure there is a two minute long guitar solo in there trying to get out, but it never does. The reverb on the vocal makes it hard to make out some verses, but the lyrics are not the strong part of the song, so I can let that pass.
8/10

11. RC - Get Up
Here's another upbeat 80's rock number, with a crisp arrangement, some sweet guitar licks and layered vocals. It drives along at a good tempo, encourages the listener to "get up, we got things to do" and , despite the singer's desire to find out who is saying those lines and "I'll track 'em down then I'll hit 'em with a hammer", it does feel genuinely motivational. So very cheerful. Maybe too cheerful.
8/10

13. Ménage a Tune - Run!
Shouldn't this be titled "Rush?"
The repeated riff and driving drums provide a suitable backdrop to this frantic race for the train (amongst other things), whilst the vocals sound suitably stressed in the verses. The backing vocals help fill out the choruses and sweeten the tone a little, which is otherwise on the harsh side (though this suits the lyrics). The piano break is perfectly timed and provides a moment's breath and a softer contrast before the last chorus takes us to the end.
8/10

4. Jailhouse Payback - Kick Your Routine
Now, this song is why I will never step over the threshold of a gym. The only think I want to do as I listen to this is punch the smug instructor to shut him up! I love the music - it has a really fun, up-tempo folk-rock feel that veers into pop and country on occasion, but the lyrics really make me tense. "Polymetric box jumps improve your stamina" - perhaps they do, but singing about them just seems wrong.
8/10

3. The Boffo Yux Dudes / Chris Cogott - Big, Bigger, Best
The BYD & CC are surely channeling the spirit of Saint Hubbins on this one - about as close to "Eye of the Tiger" as it is possible to get without selling your soul to the god of big hair. A wonderfully pompous 80's overload. I'm not sure that working-out towards a "shrivelled nutsack" would motivate me to partake in this particular excercise, but the lyrics certainly play to all the stereotypes of the over-pumped body builder. Tight instrumentation is essential to pull something like this off and the rhythm section holds together seamlessly. Nice volcano solos. Ending on a sprain seems appropriate.
7/10

7. Ross Durand - Win
A very clear arrangement, with vocals to the front and just-gritty-enough guitars, though the drums are a touch on the sparse side for the genre. A simple, but effective instrumental power chord section and heroic vocals make for an enjoyable package. The lyrics provide a general life-coach type motivation, with a gambling flavour - nothing too deep, but the sort of self-help positivity you might want to hear as you hit the treadmill.
7/10

5. Edric Haleen - One More Step
Edric takes a step outside his comfort zone, though the vocals are not such a departure as the music. There's even a guitar solo! (or at least a facsimile of one) Musically we're more in the realm of "Chariots of Fire" than the Spin's suggested rock anthems, but if that isn't motivational, then what is? The synth pads are just a bit too much cheese for my taste, but the final line leading into the guitar solo works well. Lyrically, things are kept open enough to work on at least three levels, but simple.
7/10

12. Felix Frost - The Frost Mine
Hmmmm. This starts off with a pounding beat and bracing wind effects, it's going to be motivational, I know it... Then, the beat drops out and we're back into Felixland, with gems and mines and being fired and... hang on... isn't this his round one song? No, it isn't, but there are certain thematic and stylistic similarities. If you didn't like Felix's round one song, then this won't change your opinion, though he has toned down the instrumentation a little this time around, with more rock-type sounds and fewer 8-bit sound effects. The chorus is an effective short grinding rock riff that meets the challenge well, it's just book-ended by that certain Frost thing.
7/10

10. Caravan Ray - Pump It Up
A chirpy electronic rhythm kicks off this anthem to chemically enhanced physiques. "Pump it in, pump it up" but " it doesn't matter that your testicles have atrophied to tiny little specs". Are we sensing a theme here about the effects of bodybuilding, at least according to SpinTuners? The song is sung with a sensuous, slightly seedy feel. It's a well put-together, effective dig at the gym world.
7/10

9. Godz Poodlz - In The Zone
A pleasant enough rock number, held back by some cloudy, muffled rhythm guitar that seems a bit too grungy for so upbeat a song. An interesting choice of focus for the lyrics, looking at that point of total immersion in an activity, 'the zone', which could arguably be the stage at which no motivation is required. There isn't much dynamic range in this, just a run from beginning to end. There is a moment where a droning guitar threatens to break through for a weird solo, but it doesn't get the chance, which is unfortunate as I think a change of pace would have helped.
7/10

6. Governing Dynamics - Forward
A slick-enough arrangement that doesn't really do much to inspire. This brings to mind a war film with tired ranks of troops stumbling onwards through rain and smoke towards their next battlefield. It's more about not giving up than actually pushing towards a goal, though there is plenty of leeway in the lyrics to allow for different interpretations. Musically it is standard modern rock fare, devoid of much in the way of variety or even an interesting instrumental. Well-performed, and probably awesome if this is your kind of thing. It just isn't mine.
6/10

8. Gorbzilla featuring The Gorbzookies - Superwoman
This starts of with a nice funky groove and the vocal kicks in, sounding good, but at some point (especially in the verses) the backing becomes too repetitive, cluttered and intrusive, especially the bass line, which really spoils the effect. More needs to be left out. The way that 'Superwoman' is sung is just TOO much like the 'Wonderwoman' from the classic TV show theme, which I also find distracting. The vocals are the high point, though the lyrics are rather repetitive. I did enjoy "even Kryptonite's not your Kryptonite", though.
6/10

2. Rats Of The Sky - Dance To The Groove Libido
Well, I preferred this rap to the Rats' last entry, but that's not saying much. This song feels much better arranged and there is an interesting variety of changes to keep my interest (which is quite a feat in any rap). There were actually some tunes in there and I liked the layered vocals in the last chorus, as well as the ending. I have to say that this doesn't feel too motivational to me, but I can imagine some people would find it good for working out too.
5/10

14. Glen Raphael - Pump Down The Volume
I'm going to give this the benefit of the doubt and accept that the muffled mix is intentional (since it is a song directed at noisy neighbours who are providing the music). There's a nice choppy guitar riff and some tasteful acoustic noodling over the top, but then there's not much else apart from the pounding bass drum and some occasional synthy sequences and effects. One-dimensional lyrics get the point across, but it's a joke that doesn't really bear repeated listening.
4/10

16. Jeremy Lambright - Shut Up And Dance
Okay, I feel motivated. Motivated to ask where the words are. You might argue that this is an instrumental, but it doesn't really have a melody apart from a synth line that sounds like it should come between two verses of that singing stuff. It is a song that doesn't have any words. Or as I prefer to call it... not a song.
2/10

Shadows:

18. Dr. Lindyke - A Tune For You (The SpinTunes Montage)
I have to award this the prize for "Most Knowingly Self-referential SpinTunes Song Ever". Great fun, meets the challenge and pokes a bit of fun at the whole SpinTunes lifestyle. Please re-record it without the distortion! This should surely become the official SpinTunes theme song, no?
8/10

19. Dr. Lindyke - Monastic Workout
Ever since hearing Judge Smith's "Requiem Mass for Rock Band", I have felt there is not enough Latin in rock. Thank goodness for the good Dr's second shadow! Despite lacking any accompaniment, or perhaps because of it, this actually feels like something I could work out to (if I did that kind of thing). I could certainly imagine cycling along the Danube to the strains of Dave's "Hollywood Monks". Just wonderful.
9/10

20. Ménage a Tune - Rat Race
Here's the runt of the litter from M-a-T. It shares some lyrics with their main song, but is not as slick and lacks the polish of "Run!" There are some sections where the vocals are noticeably out of time with each other and there is scattered feeling to the music. Things tighten up in the last section of choruses, but then it's all over. I must say that "Sometimes I wonder if the cheese is really worth it" is my single favourite line from this round of the challenge. It makes me smile every time I hear it.
6/10


17. Jeffrey Powers - If I Finish This Workout, I Can Go Get A Beer (Shadow)
The sentiment of this song is something I can sympathise with. Exercise first so you can enjoy your food/drink without guilt. It's a nice simple guitar/vocal folk song that would not sound out of place at a barn dance. Well-played and fun. The only issue is that the lyrics are really squeezed in where they don't fit, particularly in the latter verses. This makes them sound both rushed, unnatural and uncomfortable. Either the tempo needs to drop a little (perhaps as fatigue sets in and the beer beckons) or the words need trimmed and a more rhythmic selection made. Or both.
8/10


21. Zoe Gray - Mine
This is so much fun! A simple rock accompaniment with the voice of an angel who just happens to be an armoured giraffe-riding, unicorn flesh-eating psychopath intent on world domination. The Ohhhhh leading into the chorus is a nice touch and the bridge is just right. I would like to hear a slower version of this - it's just over too soon.
9/10