tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809231066058459051.post271845185380172022..comments2024-03-27T15:51:01.828-04:00Comments on Spintunes Contest: Spintunes #5 Round 4 Review: Mark MerittSpinTunes Contesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08323426356442346223noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809231066058459051.post-29287325880821756962012-08-21T15:38:04.419-04:002012-08-21T15:38:04.419-04:00Glad you liked the review :)And I'm glad you s...Glad you liked the review :)<br><br>And I'm glad you set me straight re: homonyms and homophones! I don't consider you snarky. In my defense, I distinctly remember being (mis-)taught about this in elementary school. I'm glad you've finally fixed what my elementary school got wrong for me :)Mark S. Meritthttp://theoffhandband.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809231066058459051.post-56021976101778456432012-08-21T15:35:39.704-04:002012-08-21T15:35:39.704-04:00You bet re: shadow reviews!"Foot in the Sand&...You bet re: shadow reviews!<br><br>"Foot in the Sand" will always have a special place in the hearts of many, especially those who really know it best :)Mark S. Meritthttp://theoffhandband.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809231066058459051.post-17240698704036318172012-08-21T09:51:23.388-04:002012-08-21T09:51:23.388-04:00Thanks for the detailed review, Mark! Lots of very...Thanks for the detailed review, Mark! Lots of very helpful suggestions, and we in fact are thinking about how we can re-record when I have my studio built out (better acoustics) to get Zoe past the breathing problems. Maybe break up the recording into pieces so she can breathe freshly for each one.<br><br>At the risk of appearing snarky though, I'm going to have to go ahead and dedicate the second verse of "Pi Day" to you: https://sites.google.com/site/briangraymusic/songs/pi-dayBrian Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12509251504386245931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809231066058459051.post-23011435842105829212012-08-21T00:24:32.676-04:002012-08-21T00:24:32.676-04:00I second many of Dave's comments: as someone ...I second many of Dave's comments: as someone who often finds himself in the shadow category after a round or two (though we're getting better as we sucker...er, recruit more folks to work with us), getting feedback for a shadow entry is much appreciated, even if it's along the lines of "Ooo, you really shouldn't have done that song. No, seriously. Please stop." So thanks for taking the time to comment.<br><br>And the BYD/DL masterpiece "Foot in the Sand" deserves either top-flight honors or rock-bottom last, IMHO. Kudos to Dave for recognizing true genius when he hears it and bringing forth the pearl from BYD's collective oyster; shoot for Good, Bad, but never Boring whenever possible. And don't worry, I stand ready to vomit up more crazed punk-flavored splunge at the drop of a safety pin. You lucky bastards.Al of BYDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809231066058459051.post-50566877327305730822012-08-19T17:52:43.777-04:002012-08-19T17:52:43.777-04:00Points docked from me for not being specific enoug...Points docked from me for not being specific enough about the pedestal :)<br><br>Thanks re: the judging. Ditto all I said to Dave about the time I put in. If I have time, and I hope I will, you can bet I'd look forward to being back on the other side as a songwriter :)<br><br>And thanks, of course, for all your great contributions, song and otherwise.Mark S. Meritthttp://theoffhandband.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809231066058459051.post-73435791786523209012012-08-19T16:21:31.693-04:002012-08-19T16:21:31.693-04:00Wait, wait, wait... I "surely wouldn't w...Wait, wait, wait... I "surely wouldn't want a pedestal"?!? I'm not certain that's automatically true -- would a pedestal help me reach my gutters easier in the fall? What kind of a pedestal IS it? Is it something like granite or marble -- something that might increase the property value of my home? Or -- barring that -- could I at least get it in Spartan colors? I dunno, a pedestal might be NICE to have around on occasion! (I'd ask, "Can I put my feet up on it" . . . but then again, I suppose that actually what you're SUPPOSED to do, isn't it?)<br><br>--------------------------------<br><br>(Anyway...)<br><br>Hey, Mark!<br><br>Wanted to thank you for all of the time and attention you put into judging SpinTunes. You certainly went above-and-beyond the call -- I'm sure that the participants appreciated having someone put such thought into feedback, and I KNOW that Travis appreciates not having to "chase" you around when judges' deadlines loomed. Look forward to having you back in the ranks of the songwriters, too!<br><br>:-)<br><br>EdricEdric Haleenhttp://happinessboard.com/Edric_Haleen.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809231066058459051.post-67808853292511744622012-08-18T23:51:59.371-04:002012-08-18T23:51:59.371-04:00If I'd done with that submission I ranked last...If I'd done with that submission I ranked last in my reviews what you did with it in yours and Big-Brother-like wiped it out of history (and isn't that what most of us would really prefer for it anyway), then "Foot in the Sand" would have been "last on my list," so maybe that can be at least some small consolation to help you come to terms with the technical reality of my rankings :)<br><br>I did catch the "Prometheus" note in your song bio, and having seen (and liked) the flick I saw what you meant. Cool riffing on those ideas.<br><br>Fair enough re: Edric, and yet I'm not the only one who felt he didn't pay off enough on this one. Consistently strong as he is, and as much praise as he so often deserves, he doesn't deserve (and himself surely wouldn't want) a pedestal. No need to self-efface by assuming that he'd always do better than you with a related idea. Ya never know. And I'm sure that's what Edric would say.<br><br>I can totally understand why a judge or anyone else might choose to not review shadows and why even if they did they might not rank them. Since so many in the community talk about the value of feedback and the opportunity for contribution and artistic growth, and since I personally really value that aspect of things here, I feel like, well, not that I actually owe it, but that it'd be a real missed opportunity for something meaningful if I didn't review and rank everything when I'm judging. As much added work and time as it was, I felt good doing it.<br><br>Can't expect everyone to like or agree with or otherwise appreciate how a judge reviews any more than a songwriter can expect it for all their submissions, but just like with songs it's still nice to know when at least some people appreciate what I had to say in the reviews, so thanks.<br><br>And thanks to you, Dave (and your invisible partner), for regularly giving everyone both great songs AND thoughtful commentary.Mark S. Meritthttp://theoffhandband.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809231066058459051.post-30874535875036804512012-08-18T21:24:32.402-04:002012-08-18T21:24:32.402-04:00Oh, and I shall say this on Edric's behalf, th...Oh, and I shall say this on Edric's behalf, though I'm quite certain he would stop me if he could. We have occasionally had similar ideas, and his execution is invariably superior. IF someone ELSE had mentioned this idea, then I would have second thoughts as to its originality. But MY having mentioned it is simply further evidence of the superlative nature of Edric's creative instinct compared to that of lesser mortals.<br><br>*ahem*<br>Dave Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08617556290378317379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809231066058459051.post-70973072391214134502012-08-18T21:12:50.666-04:002012-08-18T21:12:50.666-04:00I am terribly disappointed that the Dudes and myse...I am terribly disappointed that the Dudes and myself did not make last place with the punk rock tour de force that is "Foot in the Sand". I am sorely tempted to quit writing punk rock songs altogether. That will show you... you'll be sorry! I can only hope that Tom and Allan find the strength to go on without me.<br><br>I pretty much got what I wanted out of "Carbon Footprint"... it's not knee-slapping funny, and it's not totally serious. It's supposed to be, "Oh, I get it," in an inwardly-smiling intellectual way. I haven't read Galapagos, though I've heard of it. I'll probably pick it up and read it on your recommendation. I like Vonnegut. A good bit of the inspiration here came from the opening scene of the movie "Prometheus", in which an alien "Architect" literally does return to the ocean. I applied that to current events and threw in a little Waterworld.<br><br>I'm impressed that you've taken time every round to rank the shadows. As a shadower I don't expect it, writing as I do for the joy of writing. When I review I don't rank them because I really don't expect them for myself. However, you do, and having been in your seat I know it's a lot of effort that you didn't HAVE to put in, and quite a bonus to those who've shadowed. Thanks for the hard work, and for calling them as you see them.Dave Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08617556290378317379noreply@blogger.com