Read on for Gray's full reviews:
Last round was a good crop of songs, this round was another level. I was extremely excited by this challenge and how the different artists would approach it, you did not disappoint. Also super enjoyed how much non-English showed up, always a fan of variety. Fantastic work, Spintunas! General note: I think fading out songs is almost never as compelling as writing a proper ending and this round was no exception. As my old lecturer put it: "fade outs are so wrong and yet at the same time so wrong".
“BucketHat” Bobby Matheson - Time Enough At Last (Vellichor): There's a lovely set of lyrics that evoke the magic of used book shops. There's also a thudding rock song with exciting dynamics and wailing chorus. Unfortunately the latter doesn't evoke the former nor do I think it was supposed to. Velli-core, I guess? It's cute but lacks the emotional impact vellichor could bring.
Also In Blue - Please: That xylophone pattern is so absorbing, strong melody with a resigned verse that lifts to a chorus that goes everywhere. Good set of lyrics, especially liked the turns of phrase in the second verse. Love how the instrumental kicks on in the long outro. Really think this song needed lots of obscenities, though. ;)
Balance Lost - Lost: Dig the deep vocals that leave room for the backing vocals to lift the song in the chorus, really strong melody. The touches of piano and strings gel well with the guitars and strong beat. The lyrics do a great job of evoking a clear scene to set the mood.
Berni Armstrong - Sleep: The seemingly endless sinking in the music perfectly captures drifting off to sleep whilst evoking the threat of the lyrics. The song is too long and the lyrics feel like an info dump at times when they work far better when building character, needs to lose a few sections, liked the harmonies in the last sections and would have liked more.
Brother Baker feat. Father - Free: I think this is the most sensational chorus in the round, those harmonies are to die for. I don't think the production quite captures the power of the drums or guitars which are excellent. Great poetry in the lyrics, needs a little fine tuning to give a slightly clearer interpretation in the bio.
Bubba & The Ghost of the Kraken - Hideaway: Love the dynamics in this one, how the layered rhythms of verse break apart to let the simplicity and relief of the chorus soar. The excellent vocal harmonies power the strong melody, there's a lot of truth and detail in the lyrics. I understand the restraint of the instruments but I felt there was room for more detail to lift the song to the next level.
Cavedwellers - Owzat! (Dismissed): I genuinely don't know how you can write a better song about cricket but I suppose you have another two rounds to prove me wrong. The music is fantastic, love the riff, great progression in the arrangement, catchy chorus but the real triumph is the emotional impact from lyrics that are pure cricket but still connect on a broader emotional level.
chewmeupspitmeout - Love Song: This evokes everything you are aimed for, enjoyed the pop synths and beat, loved the electricity of the guitar, the low drawl of the vocals is a valiant effort which lacks presence. Lyrically the story and lyrics aren't compelling enough, it's not really a song about love so the emphasis of the repetition feels odd.
Daniel Sitler - Awkward: This is an excellent entry. The vocals are earnest and searching as they struggle to define the characters and their relationship. Lovely arrangement that builds only to restrain during the perfectly delivered chorus, the clean guitar is the standout of the backing.
Good Niche Gracious - Katzenfrühstück: The lyrics and chorus are an extremely simple and fun concept. Separately the melody and music are solid with a good variety of synths, the bass is a standout. Together they build a threat during the verse which needs a ridiculous chorus musically to sell the vocals that just isn't there. Switching languages rather than advancing the story is a waste of a verse in a song with so few lyrics.
Governing Dynamics - Predestination: Fantastic mix of timbres, each instrument is distinct and comes together in an awesome soundscape. There is lots of really excellent poetry about predestination in the lyrics but it needs more identity to give them impact. The vocals were good but felt like you were holding back too much.
Hot Pink Halo - Phosphorescence: The music is super cool, the relentless beat with almost slow tremolo sounds like a ticking clock, that theme of fleeting time impossible to hold onto in the lyrics worked well. Not enough of the song bio's explanation is present in the lyrics to justify the chorus word. The melody during the verse and pre-chorus sounds uncertain, like its in the wrong key.
Ironbark - Désolé: This is so fragile and elegant, the lyrics tell a beautiful melancholic story which is delivered wonderfully through an isolated vocal performance. The accordion winds around the guitar with the occasional pizzicato to provide an excellent backing, any more and it would be too much.
James Young - War: The vocal delivery is great, the war cry is powerful, production is fantastic, love that bass especially. I think the lyrics are too general, it's needs more character or story, some stronger imagery to evoke more of an emotional response.
Jealous Brother - Oumuamua: This is a strong melody with a great chorus, there's sparkle in the guitars and backing vocals but could do with a little more progression in the arrangement. I don't think the twin ideas of the Oumuamua as the object of desire and science are ever blended together well enough in the lyrics, "You left a trail too small for me to see" is the smartest line, needed a lot more like that.
Jeff Walker - Unforgivable: Strong beat drives the song, the excellent guitar solo transitions into a mournful cry which helps build the regret present in all elements of the song. Its a powerful choice for the chorus which says everything about what happened without spelling out anything, clever use of language throughout the lyrics.
Jerkatorium - Yeah: This is a cool take on the challenge! I like the whistles and bells, good melody, its a great arrangement, love how it progresses, the backing vocals and lead guitar build to a strong finish. It lacks an emotional punch, if the lyrics were more cynical and bitter it might get there but I think/hope this is in good fun so perhaps the vocals need to be more lively. (Ah, all my anxieties as a judge!)
JW Hanberry - Maladjusted: The glaring synths, the creative effects and build up during the pre chorus all give this track good dynamic range. In the right way the song is jarring to reflect the chorus word which sells it. The chorus itself feels like the weak link, the vocal line is forgettable when it could do with some wild acoustic manipulation to make it unusual and striking.
Mandibles - Désirée: This is a phenomenally creative chorus, excellent choice of name, fantastic harmonies that evoke the singer's obsession. The lyrics grow more damaged and desperate throughout, love the myriad of rhythmic elements in the arrangement, guitar fills develop nicely.
Phlub - Tygart Dam: This is a good story which is way more depressing now that I know it's real. You put the challenge at the heart of the song, the double meaning is effective. Really enjoyed the arrangement, the flourishes in the banjo and mandolin give the song sparkle. Felt a little long, could have told the story in 4 verses rather than 5.
Siebass - Home: Great dynamics in this one, love how the tremolo strings and sparse piano build up with the vocals to the mournful cry of the chorus. I love the ugly details of real life in the lyrics, I think the bridge is particularly strong. Slightly too long overall, too many homes, take 30 seconds out?
Simon Purchase James - Existe los Regalos: The lyrics are wonderful and the Spanish sections are sung beautifully, hanging elegantly over some delightful guitar. Enjoyed the fluid tempo, loved the energy of the bridge. The spoken word English translation sections add nothing* to the song and stretch the track length too much.
(*It's hard because I understand this is essentially an English language contest. For me sticking a translation in the song bio would be fine, I don't even mind Google translating it myself. But do other judges feel the same way? Does a song need to stand on itself? Difficult.)
Single Pint of Failure - Alone: The song does an excellent job of telling this sad story, the regret in the details, some tender vocals in the verse capped with a chorus that makes my heart bleed, beautiful warmth in the backing. I think the song needs to come back around to cement the chorus even though ending on goodbye is also strong.
Sober - Home: This is a committed vocal performance delivering a decent melody with a melancholic chorus. The excellent whistling compliments a strong backing that never feels plodding. The addressee feels unclear, sometimes feels like the audience and sometimes a climate antagonist. Not sure the lyrics specially target "home" even though I know what you mean.
Stacking Theory - Breathe In and Hold It: I think this take on the challenge is interesting but a fine line to walk. There's a lot of good imagery in the lyrics but it is too vague to build anything, the lush chillness of the music reflects well the muted tone of the chorus without delivering a strong impact. Tricky.
Temnere - Deutsch: I laughed so hard when I translated this. This is a mighty vocal performance that sells the German lyrics, love the different voices. The music is powerful but the drums and guitar lack bite in the production, the chorus gives me goosebumps.
thanks, brain - Strange: I love horror so enjoyed how all the audio nods (theremin, organ, screams, etc) worked together to build this spoopy atmosphere. The verses needed something more, more of the vocal variety I could hear you going for. The personification of the singer's love of horror during the last verse is good, the horror references in the first two needed a story to better tie everything together.
The Alleviators - Sigh: I like how confusion of the pretty poetry in the verse simplifies and solidifies on the addressee in the pre-chorus to sell the chorus. It's a beautiful soundscape, lovely vocal harmonies throughout, tidy guitar work over some excellent drums.
The Evil Genius formerly known as Timmy - Maria: This song is focused and effective, the synths put in good work, there's a strong beat. The melody is good and the vocals are solid up until the bridge where they get lost, the lyrics in the bridge needed to develop the story or characters more.
The Pannacotta Army - Moar: The arrangement is a fantastic blend, the relentless beat drives the song perfectly and reflects the greed of the lyric's focus. It's a good melody with a catchy chorus, subtle backing vocals lift the lead well. The outro feels drawn out.
The Popped Hearts - The Second Best Time To Plant A Tree: This is a good melody with a triumphant chorus and fun guitar work throughout. The verse lyrics are evocative of another time and the reflection on the two lives of its characters is engaging. I feel like the chorus of 'today' and the title are not realised elsewhere in the song, it never feels like the lyrics explain them.
Tunes By LJ - Capital: This is a smooth groove, liquid gold vocals, like how the instrumentation switches up the dynamics between verse and chorus. The 5/4 absolutely helps achieves that uneasiness you were going for, love an interesting time signature. I love the lack of resolution in the outro.
Yeslessness - White Feather: I like the imagery in the lyrics, I like the characters it portrays in this difficult relationship, the effective guitars blend well with backing vocals. It lacks an emotional edge overall, the music is good but doesn't carry enough of an impact, the lyrics contrast but are too vague, they aren't harsh and soaring enough in equal measure.
Daniel Sitler - Not A Cello (Headphone Warning): Reading the lyrics is very funny, I've had my fair share equipment and instrument nightmares. The audio is horrible as you alright know. Really liked your proper entry so glad you just did this for fun. Unclear what symbol is not showing up in lyrics, kinda curious.
Mandrake - Magpies: Love the music, awesome synth pattern, cool soundscape. I like experimental, progressing is one thing but ultimately you should write the music you like. Spintunes is always going to require more from the lyrics, be more confident in your vocals.
Night Sky - Lonely Alexander: This is such a fun song, I love the riff, the saxophone is sharp, the shift into the bridge adds good variety. Solid story with plenty of vocal flair to give it sparkle, liked the characterisation. A few too many Californias, perhaps.
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