ST15R2 Reviews: Joe Lamb

If no-one minds too much - a few thoughts on this round. For songs about gratitude, there were so few obvious up-beat tracks it was puzzling. A HUGE majority either played it safe or just seemed to lacked imagination.

A word on vocals... We need to HEAR them. I get that a lot of people might see themselves mainly as musicians and not vocalists, but don't fall into the trap of thinking that "If I put a lot of reverb on it and put it lower in the mix" that it will sound better - a bad mix screws the whole song up, and vocals should be to the forefront.

My short reviews are below...

(note: Joe's reviews are in listening party order, with rank noted)

1. Glen Raphael — Work of the Programmers

DQ - Not an original tune. 

2. Zoe Gray — How to Sing

This is alright, but doesn't really grab me, lyric is a little repetitive, and isn't helped by being over-long with little diversity.  7th

3. Vom Vorton — Thank You Rafa & Agnes

Great opening, and a very nice mix. The vocals could have done with a little polishing, but a nice bouncy song.  4th

4. Good Guy Sojabe — Upward & Onward

For some reason this really reminds me of Vom's track! Vocals are a bit lost in the mix - a definite Pearl Jam vibe going on here, but that's not a bad thing... liked it.  2nd

5. PigFarmer, Jr. — So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish

Harmonies are very subdued (almost subliminal!) Vocals very lost, but a decent enough song. 8th

6. Mandibles — InDependence

Lovely guitar at the start of this. Harmonies again very lost in the mix in the first verse. A bit one paced, but I quite liked this. 9th

7. Brian Gray — Your Name

The instrumental was amazing for the intro but after that everything just fell away. I could 'feel' the ambition in this one, but don;t think it made it, and ended up being the show tune which comes just before just before the other show tune that takes you to the interval. 12th

8. Running Green Lights — Thanks for No(thing)

No thanks. 14th

9. Temnere — Not This Time

Excellent opening! But marred by lost vocals. (This sounded very TYR-like to me (not a bad thing!)) This song needs a thorough remix, but I really liked it. (Ending was bit naf though!)  :)  1st

10. Ominous Ride — Dodging Bullets

A great bass opening, but then it carried on to swamp the rest of the track (Mix was really bad) I think the melody of the harmonies was far better than that of the main vocal  10th

11. Faster Jackalope — Selfless Heart

Banjo aside... choose an instrument! :) I liked the song, but the constantly shifting instruments was a bit off-putting. 3rd

12. Third Cat — Looking for Light

I liked the song, but it was very unpolished. Given some work, this would work. 6th

13. Governing Dynamics — Guiding Star

The drums make this hard to listen to, It doesn't seem to go anywhere and so felt over-long  11th

14. Menage a Tune — I Wish (Jennifer's Song)

Vocals and the lyric need a bit of work - synths sound pretty good. Simplistic, but it works. 5th

15. Jocko Homomorphism — A New Id

Freezepop! The synth BIAB was pretty good, vocal and lyric was a bit rough and overall way too long.  13th

Sorry I didn't have time to really do the Shadows - but, honestly, ALL of them would have been placed higher than some of the main tracks. Marlon's would have been a bout middle table, And ALL of the rest would have been top end of the table.