Here are your rankings from Ethan Ivey:
Read on for Ethan's reviews!
For this round, I’m leaning into the prompt since it’s more technical. I’ll be listening to whether your tempo is altered for an added effect because I feel like doing that would be against the spirit of the long vs short note values. I often found myself really needing to listen for the prompt since many of the long/short notes just melded into the standard sounding melodies.
Past that, how easy your song is to listen to, the message, compositional elements, etc all play their part.
The Long and Short of It: Write and record a song that makes prominent and creative use of rhythmic contrast between long and short note values.
We Happy Few - Winter Waits, Summer Spins
This is a bop. I like the jarring changes between sections. I hear the long vs short most prominently in the intro, which sets up the song nicely. I like that the quicker sounding short notes were primarily in the Summer section and longer notes in the Winter section. It makes it feel like a partner song and now that I have had that thought, all I want is for the two parts to be overlaid together in a way that works. I am not sure it would the way it’s written but that’s probably good since Summer and Winter aren’t supposed to mix anyway, unless you live in the midwest.
The lyrics are exclusively imagery. Except for setting up the feeling of Summer and Winter, there’s no narrative focus. I’d have liked to hear more of an instrumental contrast between those ideas given the lack of narrative but that might be a project for after the time limit. The sound you do have is cool and feels like a party.
▷ - 48
There are lots of little moments in here that I really like. Pretty much every time you offset the lyrics a little for emphasis, I buy back in (ie. “flow for ev er”). I hear more sectional contrast between your characters more than dedicated rhythmic contrast of long and short. You seem to have worked the prompt at a more macro level than I was expecting. There are moments that it comes through very clearly to my ears. I wonder if less movement within the meat of the music might allow you to vary the rhythmic back and forth a little more.
I’m not sure what the conversation is meant to be about except to take it entirely literally. I enjoy your process and appreciate your creativity.
Joy Sitler - Throwing A Party
Nice job including the prompt Directly into your lyrics. If you’re going to text paint the word “long”, you might as well extend the amount of time you spend on that word every time you do it for added effect. Maybe it wouldn’t fit here but those things are always fun to try.
For the purposes of the prompt, I’m not considering the intro being slower than the rest of the song as a step in that direction because that feels like cheating. Otherwise, I’m not entirely sure what your process was for the long vs short. Some of your lyrics were longer than your instrumental but I’m still feeling like I’m reaching to count that as a genuine step toward the prompt.
The narrative of your two entries are tied very closely together. I’d be interested to see you branch out in round three.
This Big Old Endless Sky - The One About The Housing Affordability Crisis
I hear the prompt directly right away, especially when your lyrics come in. I’d still ask for more variation between long and short. Specifically, I’d love to hear the longs be longer. If I stop actively thinking about the prompt, it’s easy to forget about.
The production is cleaner than round one and I appreciate you highlighting your voice more than before.
I’m about to buy a house and FEEL this song in my bones, though my situation is not as dire as the one you highlight.
David Taro - Longevity
I am a big proponent of morse code beep sounds in music. It fits well with the long vs short prompt. You can also include some secret messages. I’m not good enough at morse code to know whether you did that or not, but I’m going to assume you did for maximum fun.
I hear the prompt here pretty clearly and enjoy the sound you came up with here. It’s easy listening and well balanced. The text painting with longevity being the longest word every time it comes in works for me. Nice job! The solo rocks.
The Dutch Widows - Hie The Night
I hear the prompt between sections. The shift is not jarring but makes me tap my toe a little differently. Subtle and cool.
This one circles itself throughout and doesn’t really go anywhere until it turns up a bit around 2:30. This one became an ear worm throughout the week, though I wish I would have had more than “headlight” stuck in my head.
I’m left unsure what message you’re trying to tell, except maybe that the headlines are all the same? That part comes through clearly enough.
Stacking Theory - The Mistake
I hear the prompt here throughout and very prominently in certain moments. Also bonus points for including the title of the prompt in your lyrics.
I like the story behind this song. Getting fired sucks but there’s a sense of justice when the karma comes back. I also like the unresolved quality at the end.
This was another ear worm, though I’m still having trouble with my ear worms being one or two words and nothing else. It’s almost maddening.
Vehicles of Beware - Getting to the gig
I found myself tapping my foot right away.
Lyrically, this one scratches the itch in my brain. The way you layer the long and short parts of the lyrics together as a sort of partner song is what I was hoping people would do more of.
The message is something I share with my choral students frequently. All the rehearsal and other work that goes into a one-hour concert experience almost doesn’t feel worth it if you phone in those long moments. Trying to make the best of those rehearsals and finding the joy without an audience is essential.
Hot Pink Halo - Mark, Run
You hit the prompt throughout in the piano exactly the way I expected people to. Long shortshortshort ostinato patterns hit the nail right on the head. I like that you switch up the octaves for variation and develop that a little at a time before coming back to the familiar.
Vocally, you leveled up from round one. I feel like your voice is more prominent, even though it’s more sparse in this song. Harmonies are clean. This is what a round two experience should be and I’m glad you were able to get back in!
The way this ends with just droning long notes is perfect for what you’re going for.
The Moon Bureau - Fail Pyre
I was worried about the prompt until “moooooooore”. I could have used more of the long in long vs short but I’m assuming you very deliberately used that energy sparingly for maximum effect. It was effective
The overall sound here is oddly soothing and more upbeat than I’d expect given the message. I like that your voice is the primary force and especially like the patter-ness of the words. Your little electronic solo is cool. I like the line “rearranged your life into the fenguiest of shis”. I’m going to use that with my kids.
Nice entry! This one’s a bop.
Jim Tyrrell - Shadows
I was bought right in with this until the vocal came in and was so quiet. A rebalancing would do this wonders, especially when you’re singing so low in your range. I had to switch to headphones to hear the words. Own your voice and let it speak. It sounds good, there’s just not enough of it.
Your last line seems like something you could write a whole song about. I wonder if you thought of that, then decided on the rest. Lyrically, this is a cool narrative and sets an interesting scene. Another cool moment was come in dressed for battle and they leave without a fight.
If I try hard, I can hear the prompt. I wish it had been more highlighted but there are moments.
Celestial Drift - Southbound I-75
What a completely different entry than your round one. I had to go back and make sure I was listening to the same person. You leveled up.
I hear the prompt in the different lengths in the instrumental mostly but wonder how much of it just happened naturally and how much was just the result of good writing? Either way, I’ll give it to you. I especially hear it when you have those long rests in the instrumental.
This one was fun to listen to. The doppler effect at the end is a nice touch.
Siebass - It’s been a long time
I appreciate how you broke down your process in the song bio. It helps to know that the long/short you went for was deliberate. Some might think that’s cheating but I appreciated the effort. For transparency purposes, my first listen was without the bios open and I could still hear the prompt clearly throughout.
This is a generally pleasant song to listen to and becomes an ear worm with those “loooong times”. The vocals are clear, harmonies are clean, and balance is nice. The “falling” section is an interesting choice and felt jarring a bit but it didn’t take away from your intention. Including some cowbell was a perfect choice.
Jealous Brother - I Think You Know
The way the song jolts in the “I think you know better” sections was my favorite thing about it. All of those little moments meet the ask of the prompt and feel great in context. Your solo hit the nail on the head too. I love a good use of silence.
In this case, I don’t really know. I’m not entirely sure what the poetry of your lyrics are trying to express. This would have benefitted from at least a short bio but maybe that’s just me. Thankfully, we have other more discerning judges.
The overall tone and feel of the song is interesting and gets me moving.
Governing Dynamics - Fire In The Distance
I was going to comment about how I’m not hearing the prompt in this one, except as far as you’d expect in an interesting song. Maybe in the play between the voice and instrumental? Then, 1:54 happened and the clouds parted for a moment. The bridge feels different too. I feel like to meet the prompt, it should be a larger element in the song but that moment and the one at the end technically qualifies you.
This is a pleasant song with a good, topical message. I can’t imagine it sounding any other way. The looming threat of AI is a slow burn and is allowed to feel distant only for a moment. This song is a slow burn. Almost like hugging a loved one for the last time.
This is among my favorite songs you’ve ever submitted into Spintunes.
Pigfarmer Jr - Human Again
I heard the Beethoven - - - — sound before looking at your bio. Nice work. When elements of a song are clear without the description, you know that’s a win. This qualifies toward the prompt. The Bad News section hits it too.
The chord progression here is fitting for the message of the song. It sounds like Time by Hans Zimmer or am I making that up?
I feel like the bridge needed more just to give you an additional opportunity to start a line with any word other than “She” but what you have here works.
Ominous Ride - Hallucination
I like the feel of this one right away. My favorite part is when the lyrics come in and most everything else drops out. It’s the door being opened in the wall of sound.
The prompt works here and is easy to find. I like the subtle harmony in the vocals. The lyrics are cool and make me wish I was a better poet/better person to comment on poetry. It all fits.
This has a sense of being on something but thankfully I don’t need to be to enjoy it. Nice work!
Flintsteel - Stay Alive
This one feels like it belongs in an animated music video.
You’ve still got me with this metal feel, though it sounds oddly muted compared to what I was expecting. The solo is great. The lyrics feel generally metal. I wonder if another recording opportunity might allow you to let loose the way it seems like you want to.
I hear the prompt in the intro, in the text between sections, and in the solo. I wonder how much of that was a deliberate choice related to the prompt and how much just naturally happened.
Dream Bells - Caerus
You hit the prompt right away in the instrumental, though I’d love to hear more of the “short” in long vs short. You have that spoken bit but I’d love to have more.
I appreciate the way you layer your voice within the instrumental part and am especially thankful that it’s not quite as buried as your round one entry.
These lyrics are poetry but also have a narrative that I can follow. That is a rare gift.
Your instrumentation is very cool. Definitely gives a sense of something greater.
Möbius Strip Club - The Galaxy of You
I like the Galaxy sound in the intro and then how that develops through the vocals. It feels ultimately grounded but spacious. The prompt is clearly heard throughout.
Your vocal feels freer than your round 1 entry. I’m hearing passion especially in the sustained notes. Diction is clear so I’m not having to follow along with the written lyrics (though I still do for the most part in case I miss something). I think the harmony you added could have benefitted from another vocal timbre so it isn’t so stark.
“Beats a syncopated rhythm” is jarring in a good way. Pulls you out of the moment into a new one for a couple seconds, then back to normal.
Sober - Look Away
I love everything in 7/8 before I even hear it. You get bonus points for venturing into that space.
I hear the prompt in here even before reading your bio. That’s a win!
There’s passion in your vocals, but I find myself wanting more of them. The balance feels off somehow but I can’t put my finger on it. Your harmony is subtle and effective. Things feel clean.
This is a nice song overall and manages to feel level even with the diverse meters.
Piss Enema - Bedazzling Necrotic Flesh [SHADOW]
Nightmare fuel mixed with propane and a dash of gnashing.
Lyrically exquisite. You say so much with so few guttural sounds. I can feel your message seeping into my soul.
Jokes aside, there is intention here. You’re creating a feeling that tells its own story. It is a painful story but one that is worth a listen or two.
Joy Sitler - Breathe Her In [SHADOW]
I could see myself listening to this one outside of the realm of this competition. That’s a win! I almost wish this had been the entry and the other your shadow. I’m a big fan of the partner song element as a response to the prompt.
I like how much more subtle this is with the messaging. One of the judges commented in round one about how your song wasn’t relatable as they would have liked. This one hits that mark but also allows you the opportunity to express your authentic self. Great work.
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