UPDATE: Paul sent his reviews while I was away. Here they are:
So many great entries this round. I’m not sure if I liked it better or not if I could readily identify the source inspiration. And when I could I think I liked the entries better where the song didn’t sound too much like the source. Regardless, I tried not to bias ratings based on that. Excellent work by all and thanks so much for what you do!
Ominous Ride - Bohemian Burden (SHADOW)
Straight As across the board on this one. Great music and lyrics. Excellent execution and incredibly creative. Props for taking on such an epic song like “Bohemian Rhapsody” with all of its complexity which was nicely honored in your prequel. Many great lines with thoughtful images such as “turning diamonds into coal.” I love how the song builds and builds with dramatic effect. And I love the light piano work at the beginning in between the lyric lines. Another excellent submission.
Megalodon - 49 Ways (SHADOW)
This scored very high for me due to the witty (albeit vulgar) lyrics, undisputed creativity, and tight execution. The contrast between the Paul Simon inspiration track and the Ween or Zappa’s “Joe’s Garage” flavored prequel was just downright saucy.
Governing Dynamics – Disassembly
Very good music and lyrics and very creative. Truly excellent delivery. I really liked the pensive, brooding tone of this one. The guitar work really stood out. The connection to the inspiring source song was not at all apparent to me. This one had a real Radiohead vibe. Great job.
Jordan Carroll - When Will I Give You Up
Very good entry on all criteria. A fun upbeat song and an excellent representative of the genre attempted. A dulcet and melodic vocal on this one. Very catchy chorus and the plays with rhythm in the lyric verses really work here.
Dr. Lindyke - Empty Room (SHADOW)
Very good music, lyrics, execution and creative. Excellent keyboard work. Love the line “just a song without a tune.” A poignant song about the shared space left behind at the loss of a loved one. Simply beautiful.
Menage a Tune - I Needed You (SHADOW)
Music was very pretty approaching anthem-like. Really fine lyrics. I like the reinforcing construct: “saw you, really saw you; want you, really want to.” The last line is quite poignant: “See the light within your eyes; So when you look at me Mine will be Just as alive.” Very well done.
Edric Haleen - Sam: The Sentient SMSC
Incredibly creative with good music and very good lyrics and delivery. Really nailed the current cultural references and madness that truly must exist in the mind of a sentient text server. The rapped lyrics were incredibly tight and gave the tune a cadence by themselves. A very witty and cheeky composition. Superb.
Temnere - Eschelon
An excellent and convincing hard rocking track. I especially liked the punctuated construct of the lyrics. Musically suggestive of so many great musical elements and the keys give it a real Styx flavor. Very creative take as the prequel to the Rockwell tune with such a contrast in style and genre.
Micah Sommersmith - You Know About Me
After a few listens this left me wanting a little more musical variation but the lyrics were solid and well-delivered. I like the run together lines juxtaposed with the lines that were more spaced out. The instrumentation and key reminds me of Camper Van Beethoven.
Megalodon - Try It Once Jack
Very unique take as a prequel to the Steely Dan source inspiration. Very creative and lots of musical variation. Excellent performance especially the guitar solo. This had a real Zappa vibe for me. Well done.
Boy on the Wall - Today
Another unique approach as a prequel to “Yesterday.” Very creative and funny lyrics leveraging the “Newlywed Game” and the unforced errors that show created for couples. I think Emily should be very afraid.
Matchy Matchy - I Think You're OK (SHADOW)
Really nailed the Partridge Family genre. Love the harpsichord. Excellent delivery. I liked the awkward pause element and the lyrics were spot on. Very nice.
ShyFox - Miss Sunshine
The first few times I listened to this I didn’t make it for a Killers prequel so it didn’t have enough elements of the source to make that clear to me. Not sure if you were trying to be overt or not. Nonetheless, knowing it’s a “Mr. Brightside” prequel, the song makes total sense and has many references and song constructs that fit very nicely. A catchy tune with smart lyrics and very well delivered. Nice job!
Bubba and the No Longer Amiable Kraken - I Want You for the First Time
Definitely a great entry. The music nails the genre and is a fitting prequel to the source track. Very fun and creative. Nice use of the intentional bubble gum sound. Echoing vocals are great. A solid performance. Excellent!
Riker's Island - We Decide
Although the source inspiration was not at all apparent to me even after several listens, this was a good little entry both musically and lyrically. A nice companion if not prequel to “The Way” with some nice imagery in the lyrics. Several nice references back (forward?) to the source inspiration including “yellow brick road” with “paved in gold.” Well done.
Buckethat Bobby Matheson - Me or Jessie
This was one that was clearly inspired by the source material. The rhythm delivery of several of the lyrics mirrored the Rick Springfield song very nicely. A solid entry musically and lyrically. Nice.
Menage a Tune - The Lion Eats Today (SHADOW)
Another one where the source tune was readily identifiable. Creative use of the African dialect in the lyrics. Nice to know why the lion sleeps tonight. Answer: tasty, tasty zebra.
Glen Raphael - Do Ya Mess Around With Jim?
I liked that I could identify the source song but that it was musically different. Good lyrics and several lines had a nice quick paced flow which was a nice contrast with the rest of the song. Nice acoustic guitar solo work too. Well done.
Rob From Amersfoort - Have I Seen You Before?
I didn’t make the connection to the Suzanne Vega source track without being told, but like with other entries, once I knew the source, the song proved a nice companion to the inspiration. The song felt a little incomplete to me and perhaps could have been augmented with a solo break highlighting some unusual instrumentation which I think would suit your style nicely.
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Paul's rankings:| Artist | Paul |
| Governing Dynamics | 1 |
| Jordan Carroll | 2 |
| Edric Haleen | 3 |
| Temnere | 4 |
| Micah Sommersmith | 5 |
| Megalodon | 6 |
| Boy on the Wall | 7 |
| Shyfox | 8 |
| Bubba and the No Longer Amiable Kraken | 9 |
| Riker’s Island | 10 |
| Buckethat Bobby | 11 |
| Glen Raphael | 12 |
| Rob from Amersfoort | 13 |
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