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Partial CD / Demo Assessment
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Sample Evaluation and
Critique | |
| We think you'll
find that our demo and CD
critique, assessment, and evaluation reports go
far beyond what other A&R professionals
provide for the fee. We go into great detail
in all categories of the record. Our evaluation reports
come with a full "Money Back Guarantee" Here is just
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#1: Song
Title: “16
AGAIN” |
|
Overall
Rating:  ( Five stars
being the
best)
Strength of
Material :
This song
has a good beat and nice riff. I Like the Back-vocal
arrangements. The theme is a tad clichés but still has
obvious unique qualities. There is a good
transition between the verses and chorus. The hook and
post chorus sections are very bouncy and catchy. By far the
chorus melody is memorable. The halftime
break in the verse is very unique and could help you to
create a signature sound if ideas like these are
expanded upon in your future material. The song has
strength within its particular genre.
Performance:
This song works
very well within the pop genre and the style will appeal
to the younger teen pop crowd. Although you
talk about being 16 again I
believe that’s the demographic to which this will
appeal.
This is not necessarily a bad thing but you
should be careful here. The teenagers
are the ones who buy the records and downloads. Your performance
is seasoned and very professional. It’s strong and
produced well.
The rhythm section is tight. Not much else to say
due to the simplicity of the parts; however the feel is
preserved by the rhythmic soundness of the background
tracks.
Music
Production:
I like the
back-vocal arrangements a lot in this one. It’s mixed very
well. The
vocal delay and reverb effects might be a bit
dated.
However it does define the style a bit, so it
works with this song. Over all, the
instrumentation and placement of parts in the mix is
very professional for a pop song. The use of the
siren effect in the last chorus, along with the other
various editing techniques add a lot to the performance
and keep the energy up. Utilize this
sparingly though, understanding that only very bouncy
playful songs like this one lend themselves to these
sounds and effects.
Quality of
Recording:
Sounds very
professional.
Mixed very well. Dynamics
are good and the mastering quality is evident in this
song.
Overall for a home recording it’s very good.
Arrangement:
I like the
back-vocal arrangements in this song a lot. Very
pop-like.
They work very well with the other important
elements of the track. The vocal opening
is a bit dry and does not come in with enough
force.
While the idea is clever, I think that beginning
this song with an instrumental hook or riff might fit
better. The end of the second verse is a refreshing
change and is something to utilize more often in the
composition of material. Transitions are
performed smoothly and the chord structure flows well
through each part. The bridge that comes at 30 seconds
in is a great break in the motion and cuts down on
stereotypical mapping. You might try
using this part as a pre-chorus later in the song
instead of breaking up both verses with it.
Instrumentation:
The guitar is
solid and the bass plays its role well. The guitar solo
is simplistic yet energetic and well thought out. The drum part is
logical for this song and the verse riff played by the
rhythm guitar and bass gives the verse power and
motion.
Always keep motion in mind when writing an upbeat
song like this.
Any specific riffs or patterns you can base a
section off of will help make the song more memorable,
marketable, and can make familiar chord changes
interesting.
Commercial
Appeal:
The topic of
the song is a little weak, but the nostalgic hook is
okay.
Remember your target audience when writing. If you plan on
having teenagers listen to your music, they may not be
able to relate to the thoughts portrayed in this
song.
Marketability:
Not quite radio
material in my opinion, but very close. The key elements
are in place for the most part with the hook and
verse.
However, you must be careful with guitar solos in
top 40 singles.
This one is going in the right direction, but the
lyrics hold back the melodies full potential. Also, the verse
melody does not necessarily capture the audience. While a verse
should work as a tension builder to the chorus, don’t be
afraid to write a catchy hook-like verse melody or
lyrical arrangement that will also be remembered by the
listener.
Songwriting
Technique &
Lyric
Critique:
Referencing the
hook for the title is always a safe bet. The subject
matter of the song is a little weak for mainstream
music.
Although most pop music has very literal lyrics
that are easily interpreted, it would never hurt to
explore bigger topics and different lyrical
concepts.
Also, don’t be afraid to write words with more
attitude and finesse. Remember, as a
pop star, your fans will want clever and witty lyrics to
sing along to.
A unique lyrical style is also a why to make
yourself stand out amongst other artist when presenting
your music to major labels and publishing
companies.
A word or phrase that is slightly out of the norm
might help someone remember the song the first time they
hear it.
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you! The feedback has been exceptionally helpful on many
levels and I can't pass on my thanks
enough!"
Pipa
Vanderburg
www.treasureinmybackyard.com
|
|
#2: Song
Title: “MY
ROMEO” |
|
Overall Rating:
(Five stars being the best) Overall …I really
like this
song!
Strength of
Material:
The chorus is well written,
and makes good use of melodic repetition. The vocal
performance is strong and dead on with pitch, which is
an obvious must for this genre. The production
is also what makes this song come alive. The wall of
background lends itself very well to the overall
effect.
Performance:
The vocals sound good, but
don’t be afraid to break out of the box in some
spots. It
sounds like you have a lot more to offer, especially in
a very intimate style such as this one. Make it
personal, and express yourself. Also, developing
your vocal improvisation will make it easier to hear
good melody changes in the
studio.
Music
Production:
Although the
drums belong in the background for this type of ballad,
I believe bringing them up a bit would add a great deal
of power to the climax points. The backing vocals are
extremely smooth and layout a light blanket of harmony
for the melody to lie on top of. This is an
important concept to understand in recording pop music
and it seems evident that the producer knows
this.
Quality of
Recording:
Piano is recorded
wonderfully.
But the beginning has a quiet hiss. Not too
noticeable, except at a loud volume. The vocals are
very present yet slightly ambient. This creates a
very powerful tone and adds to the song greatly.
Arrangement:
The intro is well written and
sets out the vibe for the rest of the song. This is an
important function of the intro. The going
straight into to the chorus from there works well for
this song.
The structure builds well, just like a pop ballad
of this nature should. It is always
good to understand what role each song on the album
plays and how to write accordingly. In this case,
this song would be showcasing your ability to write and
perform a gentle yet power-packed
song
Instrumentation:
The strings are a very nice
touch for a ballad like this one. The bass drum
and guitar parts are structured well. I like the drum
sound implemented very much. The fuzz guitar solo in the
bridge is very epic and a good choice for this
genre.
Using the piano as the tonal foundation of a
piece is often difficult to master, but this song is
very close.
Try adding a small noticeable line or counter
melody in the piano arrangement to give the listener an
even more memorable verse. That will also
prevent the song from sounding too
generic.
Commercial
Appeal:
Due to the
nature of the lyrics, as I discussed previously, I do
not believe this song is quite there for major radio
airplay.
But, it serves as a
wonderful album track that fans will love. With that said,
I would not place this song in the number two slot on
your record.
Somewhere deeper in around the sixth or seventh
track would probably be best, in order to give the listener
more time to get a general feel for what you normally do
as an artist.
This also involves the flow of a record, which
should always be a topic of discussion with your
producer and mastering
engineer.
Marketability:
This song does a great job of
showcasing you, the artist. This is your
chance to define yourself as a person, songwriter, and
performer.
Make use of a powerful song like this one to
boost the image and lifestyle you are selling to the
public.
Songwriting Technique
&
Lyric Critique:
The “You’re my Romeo” tag is
a great songwriting tool to bridge sections
together.
However, once again, the lyrics are what I like
to call “bubble-gummy,” meaning they are almost too
over-the-top mainstream. Fans will
appreciate slightly abstract wording that gives them
something to think about but still has the same message.
Overall
though I must say I think the story you are telling and
how you portray it in your words is very strong. A great story
put well into song
lyrics.
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“Your
evaluation was fair and extremely helpful in identifying
where
we are as a band.
Your highly descriptive commentary and thorough
rating system have really opened our eyes and will add
great value to our careers by allowing us to focus on
shoring up our weaknesses while further enhancing our
strengths.
For this, we thank you. The assessment
was well worth it!!!”
Joseph
Greene
BURN
www.myspace.com/burnky
|
|
#3: Song
Title: “TREASURE IN MY
BACKYARD” |
|
Overall Rating: (Five stars
being the best)
Strength of Material:
The intro to this song is
very powerful and strong. Nice riff. I like the
repeated use of the riff through out. The chorus is
okay, but sort of lacks the “sing-back” factor, when a
listener can sing the chorus back after only hearing the
song once.
This is a good tool to use when testing out new
material. There are a lot of different things going on
in this track.
Maybe a few too many. I think maybe
limiting the number of bridge changes, etc. and
simplifying somewhat may better suit the overall
commercial effect.
Performance:
The vocal performance is not
as strong as on some of the other songs. But still very
good. The lead
vocal in the middle of the chorus seems somewhat dry and
dole.
However, as the song goes on, the vocal
performance gains energy and sounds better.
Music Production:
Vocal panning
gets carried away in a few spots, but the idea is good.
Lead vocal does not sound as natural in some parts. In the mix, the
vocals are too loud, bass too low in spots. Guitars sound a
bit too thin and can sound shrill at higher
volumes.
The lead guitar riff in the beginning has trouble
sinking into the mix smoothly. Melody in chorus
needs more direct support, as the lead vocal can sound
unconfident on some notes. Over, use more
animation in your voice to bring out the excitement of
the music.
Quality of Recording:
The bass tone is a little too
edgy. A few
notes pop out and that could easily be fixed with
automation.
Overall, the tonal signal is good and the use of
professional equipment is
evident.
Arrangement:
When the chorus
comes in after the intro, it is not apparent that that
is in fact the chorus. I would suggest
putting the chorus first or just doing away with the
first chorus all together, as it can be a bit
misleading.
Also, the instrumental hook does not need to come
after the first chorus as well. This is a little
too repetitive. The ending is not powerful enough in my
view. The
song sounds like it should end at 3:23, before the
extended end.
While this part sounds very nice, it is too much
of a random idea because it has not been established
earlier in the song. Think of the
ending to a song like the conclusion to a well-written
essay: It
should sum up the most important ideas touched upon in
the introduction and body of the
text.
Instrumentation:
The basic rhythm section
holds up the song well, but the horn/synth effects are
unneeded.
Let the melody and voice stand on a more natural
backdrop. I
think that would help the song take on a new
appeal. For
the most part, they just take up space in the mix. The synth lines
over the verse and chorus should either be brought up a
bit or taken away completely. Try using that
part as another catchy counter melody that the listener
can sing to when it comes
in.
Commercial Appeal:
Some of the instrumental
sections are catchy and fun, but maybe a bit
over-the-top (especially the end). Extended
derivatives from the main ideas of song are looked down
upon for radio hits. They should be
used sparingly, and should never last too long unless it
is the emphasis of the
song.
Marketability:
The hook is not quite strong
enough lyrically or melodically for a break-through
single. It
would also be hard for a listener to define the genre or
style you are going for if they listened to this song
first.
Songwriting Technique
&
Lyric Critique:
The lyrics speak well with
the music.
Matching up the mode of a song with the right
lyrics is a skill that is hard to master. The use of the
word “ass” is usually a turn off for a listener in this
genre. It
is much unexpected and does not fit your image. However, if you
are going to use this, make sure you mean it, and give
your image a more aggressive look and feel. That way, the
use of these words will not contradict the vibe your
listeners receive.
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“I recently received my Priority
Gold Evaluation and Assessment. The critique was very
detailed and extremely reassuring in letting me know
that I have a commercially marketable product with a
strong potential for breaking into the mainstream. Based on the strength of my
critique, I am interested in working with Allure on an
independent basis for consultative and management
services, and also wish to have my product shopped to Major and Large
Independent Labels.Please let me know what
recommendations you may have for moving things to the
next level and what is needed from me in order to
initiate a working
relationship.I look forward to working with you. Thank you for your
time.”
Billy
Blackburn
www.billyblackburn.com
|
|
#4: Song
Title: “SO
IN LOVE (With
You)” |
|
Five star scoring
system: (Five being the
best)
Strength of
Material:
The bridge ties
every thing together very nicely for this one. It creates just
the right amount of tension and spaciousness before
finishing it out with the hook again. The vibe that
this song has is special, and you should work to make
more of you material stand out like this one. By “special” I
mean it is also very convincing to the listener. It does not
sound like you are trying to take off of other pop songs
or mix up the vibes of other radio hits to make your
own. This
sounds to me like it is your signature sound coming
through, and that is something you should always think
about when writing.
Performance:
Vocal falsettos
are very well done and add a great texture to the
melody.
Drums and bass are in the pocket and groove well
together.
Music
Production:
The production creates a very
unique atmosphere for this song. It plays an
important role in making it sound convincing. The one thing
that should be looked into is the definition of the
chord changes.
They are good ones, and could be brought up with
the rhythm guitar and the bass volume and
equalization.
The reverb and delays are used a lot better in
this song.
They create a naturally smooth sound that fits
the context of the music, without masking the singer’s
original tone.
Quality of Recording:
The recording is crisp and
has a full, warm sound. No other
suggestions on this
one.
Arrangement:
The distorted chord in the
beginning has nothing to do with the vibe of the song
and should be taken out in my opinion. The song would
probably sound best just extending the fade into the
verse using more ambient yet tonally centered effects in
the key of the chorus. The different feel that each
section has gives the track a wonderful sense of
flow. It
also helps keep each part fresh when it comes around
again. The
bridge is placed perfectly between choruses. Getting
back into the chorus from a bridge is hard to do well,
and this song does a good job of sliding back in,
instead of trying to snap back into a wall of
sound.
Instrumentation:
The synth effects are perfect
for a song like this one. The parts are
well written and well placed. The bass part in
the verse seems a little exposed, and could possibly be
due to the method with which it is being played. A bass part for
an arrangement like this one should be fingered not
picked. If
it was picked, then it just needs to be equalized
smoother for less fret
noise.
Commercial Appeal:
While this song will probably
not become a top 40 hit single, it can gain you
recognition from industry bigwigs. Record companies
want to hear something that sounds familiar, even when
they have never heard it before. Unfortunately,
this song lacks an unforgettable
hook.
Marketability: The presence your voice has in this song
is a huge step up from some of the other tunes. Realistically,
you sound more comfortable in this type of song, and
listeners and Record companies alike can pick up on
that.
Songwriting Technique
&
Lyric Critique:
The chord structure for this
song creates a solid foundation. While the
sections are common, the transition chords turnarounds,
and inversions created by the bass part are nice
variations to traditionally generic chords. The lyrics fit
the music well once again. They paint a
nice picture and tell a story, which are two very good
things.
They are still a bit dry and bubble-gummy at
times, but better overall. Also keep in
mind that the title of a song does not always have to
come from a line in the chorus. You can you a
word or phrase from the verse or bridge if you feel it
captures the emotion of the song in a different
light.
Especially for a song that you do not plan on
pushing as your single, this would be a great
opportunity to dig deep for some abstract
ideas.
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“Thanks for
the positve feedback, it truly uplifts my spirits and
hopes.”
Rey
Harry
SHA
www.shaskillz.com
|
|
#5: Song
Title: “DONE
LISTENING” |
|
Five star scoring
system:
(Five being the
best)
Strength of Material:
The song has nice
transitional changes but they can at times confuse the
listener. I
think there is a bit too much going on. Slightly
overproduced.
I’m not sure that this song quite gets a point
across.
It’s definitely not as strong as many others on
the album.
Performance:
The vocal performance is calm
and even.
It tells a story well, which is the point of a
song like this.
The vocals in the bridge, although buried in the
mix a bit, are very aggressive and show a brighter side
of the vocalist.
Take that energy and put it into all the other up
beat numbers to boost your vocal authority. You are a solo
artist and you need to take command of each song you
perform and make it your
own.
Music
Production:
I think more
could have been done with the post-production of the
intro. It
seems very thin and does not establish a vibe off the
bat. That
is the purpose of an intro and this one does not do the
rest of the song justice. The harmonies are right on, helping
with the transitions and impact points. They also
provide a comfortable cushion of harmony to support the
lead vocal.
The bridge is a little muddy and
unrecognizable. There is too much going on, and the
mix is detrimental to the writing in this cast. The bass needs
to be automated better in the intro, and will overwhelm
the listener in headphones at a loud volume. The rest of the song is better with
bass. The
rhythm can get lost in vocal heavy parts, mostly because
background vocals can be too loud at times. The general
stereo placement of parts in good though. The ambient instrument tracks
are used well on this track. Lastly, the
bridge needs to have a louder vocal hook to it. It is difficult
to focus on the singer in that passage as it
stands.
Quality of Recording:
The acoustic guitar does not
sound as full as in other songs, and there is a lot of
high-end noise in the verse section. However, this is
probably due to the part it is playing. The drums sound
unnatural, but you can get away with it until the
bridge, when it becomes noticeably affected. The vocals sound
professional, and give the song some
clout.
Arrangement:
The verse leads well into the
pre-chorus.
The pre-chorus is a great tonal setup for the
chorus. The
first half of the first chorus where the bottom drops
out is very different and catches the listener’s
attention.
Writing more variations like this keeps people
intrigued, but does not loss their attention with an
abundance of different thoughts. The bridge is a great
idea, but needs some instrumentation and melodic
work. The
riff is very confusing to the ear, and hard to base a
catchy vocal on.
The soft out chorus sounds like it should lead to
another chorus.
This might be the place for an instrumental
fade.
Instrumentation:
The intro and verse
instrumentation leave the song sounding very thin and
open. This
does not set up the bridge well, making it seem out of
place for this song. The piano lick
at the pre-chorus is a nice touch, and ties the hook
together well.
The extra rhythm guitars crowd the mix in the
hook, but that may be a matter of levels.
Commercial Appeal:
Because the vocal is to low
and ambient in the chorus and bridge, a direct hook
cannot stand out.
Obviously, without a direct hook, there can be no
single.
This song also lacks a musical hook of any sort
besides the piano lick deep in the
background
Marketability:
Between the bridge and verse,
one can almost hear two different songs/vibes. This makes a
song hard to sell.
Once again, you must decide what images you wish
to portray with your songs keep with that throughout the
entire song.
Songwriting Technique
&
Lyric Critique:
The chord
structure for the bridge is slightly unappealing upon
first listen.
For a pop artist, it is not a good idea to write
in such a manner often, seeing how you may only have
three minutes and thirty seconds to win over a new fan.
The lyrics are better for this song, but unfortunately
they do not have an undeniable melody to ride on. Try using
different rhyme schemes other than standard line-
to-line rhyme.
This may be something that takes a while, but it
could help your writing process down the
line. |
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|
#6: Song
Title: “NOT AFRAID TO SAY” |
|
Overall Rating:
(Five stars being the
best)
Strength of Material:
The guitar and bass
performances are the strongest parts of this song
overall.
The vocal lines are beautiful and well thought
out, but it almost sounds like the melody was not
written for a singer (this will be addressed under
performance)
Performance:
The vocals are good, but
sound a little thin on some of the passing tones in the
melody. The
melody for this song may be a little busy and jumpy, but
it could be pulled of with a bigger production. Smooth out the
chorus phrasing and that should help. The guitar and
bass performance is very gentle, just like it should be
in a song of this nature. The guitar solo
is performed with a relaxed feel and with
expression.
A song like this is all about expression. As a singer, you
should listen closely to instrumental solos like this
one, and take some stylistic techniques from them. After all, your
voice is an instrument in
itself.
Music Production:
The bass and guitars in some
spots drown the percussion out. Don’t be afraid
to boost the drums like .5db to get that full sound out
of them and keep the groove going strong. Also, the rhythm
guitar jumps out a little under the solo, and the duel
guitar parts during the second half of the song need
some slight volume adjustments to work better together.
Quality of Recording:
Everything is recorded at a
good level and you have a clear sound on each
instrument.
The guitars could sound a bit more round in
general, but they balance well and have a rich
tone. The
bass could be louder to support the chords, especially
with different chord patterns such as
these.
Arrangement:
The instrumental arrangement
starts out perfectly in the first verse. However, the
parts begin to get a little busy and run over each
other, taking away form their power and majesty. I kept expecting
this song to lead somewhere big, with a large out
chorus, but it never really reached a definite climax of
emotion.
Try thinking of each song as a line on a graph in
order to understand where the impact points are vs.
where they should be. Then arrange the
structure accordingly. The song does
not build enough and thus loses the attention of the
listener. I
cannot stress enough how important this is, especially
with a song that is over five minutes
long.
Instrumentation:
The introduction generates a
nice vibe, but the some of the instrumentation gets in
the way of the groove. The acoustic
guitars are well chosen for the song but the parts clash
a bit in the third minute of the song. The use of the
synth to lay down a wall of harmony is the right idea,
but there is no substitute for live strings in a piece
like this.
A real string quartet would blend so nicely with
the percussion and would allow you to bring the part up
in the mix instead of trying to hide
it.
Commercial Appeal:
This is not the type of song
that you would gain notoriety from, but it is a
wonderful musical expansion to your catalog. It does not fit
with the other pop songs on the album and will generally
confuse Major Label A & R people. The last thing
you want to do is confuse them about who you are as an
artist. But
it definitely shows your versatility, which is important
too.
Marketability:
This will gain you respect as
a well-rounded artist who is versed in many different
styles. But
be careful, if that is not the image you are going for,
then this song is a bad choice for your record. A cover of a
standard in this style might be a thought in the future,
but not when you are trying to establish yourself on a
larger scale.
Songwriting Technique
&
Lyric Critique:
The guitar and
vocal melodies are well written and it is obvious that
the composer of this song is talented in this certain
style of music.
The lyrics are good, and make good use of the
melody.
Putting lyrics to a melody can be tricky. If that is what
was done here, then it was done well. I recommend (if
you do not already do this) experimenting with writing
lyrics to a melody and vice versa. By helping you
find out which method works best for you as a
songwriter.
This will help prevent problems of vocal phrasing
when everything is put
together.
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|
#7: Song
Title: “DEAR DIARY”
|
|
Five star scoring
system:
(Five being the
best)
Strength of Material:
The feel of the song is well
done. The
vocal tone is also very big and smooth. These are by far
the best parts of the song. Overall, I think
this is one of your strongest and most convincing
songs.
Performance:
The syncopation in the verse
guitar parts in pretty tight. A slow reggae
groove like this is not always easy to keep, but it is
pretty together here. The guitar
should be a bit punchier for this style, but the bass is
right on.
The vocal hook is also performed well. The vocals in
the bridge are strong, and you should think about using
that breakout voice more often. The verse lines
are verse relaxed and flow well over the
groove.
Music Production:
The tremolo effect used
throughout the chorus is a great way to add
atmosphere.
It is placed very well. The horn/synth
line that follows the melody in the chorus is good
support.
The song is kept open in the verses, which makes
the pre-chorus and hook stand out more. Once again,
there is a great use of background harmonies to create a
transitional cushion into the hook.
Quality of Recording:
The guitar and bass tones are
perfect.
The horn sounds are very unnatural. It is not clear
if that is your intention or not. Real horns would
do wonders for the overall mood of the tune and would
brighten up the chorus. They would make
the song sound bigger in
general.
Arrangement:
The intro is well crafted
because it is taken from the chorus. The pre-chorus
is a nice transition to the hook. The chord change
for the pre-chorus is good because it lets the listener
know the song is going somewhere. The bridge
sounds like the musical climax, and therefore is placed
well.
However, the chorus at the end is not big enough
to go out on.
Also, if you plan to fade out gracefully with the
standard hook, then the powerful bridge should last for
longer.
Instrumentation:
As I said previously, live
horns would do wonders for this song. The synth line
behind the melody in the chorus is nice, and should
definitely stay there. The backing band
is raw in the verse, which is not a bad thing for this
style. It
is always good to show the listeners that you don’t need
a big production to support you vocally.
Commercial
Appeal:
Unfortunately this style is a
bit dated for a commercial hit. Also, the hook
is not big enough like I said before, and thus, will not
be remembered by a first time listener. However, the
unique vibe of the song is memorable and should be
marketed
accordingly.
Marketability:
This type of song helps you
bridge the gap from pop to other specific genres. With this
groove, the song should be pushed toward a
tropical/Caribbean market for licensing in commercials
or other genre specific
media.
Songwriting Technique
&
Lyric Critique:
The lyrical theme of a diary
used in this song is very good. Using or
referencing and object or idea like that is a great
songwriting tool.
It can help tie together the sections of a song,
entertain the audience through the use of metaphors or
creative wording, and lend itself to a stronger
statement all together.
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#8: Song
Title: “DON’T BE SORRY”
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Overall Rating: (Five stars
being the best)
Strength of Material:
Vocal performance and
instrumentation of this track are its backbone. The rhythm
section is grooving for the whole song, and the female
vocal is stylistically perfect, except for her lack of
vocal improvisation at the end of the song. It should go out
with a little more
emotion.
Performance:
The male vocal is okay, but
sounds a little bland in some spots. However, his
vocal improves at the end and adds a lot of energy and
enthusiasm.
If the female vocal had implemented the same
effect as the male vocal, this song would have a great
deal more power.
The unison vocals between the male and female
singers clash as somewhat, and the attacks are off in a
few spots.
Music Production:
The mix is pretty
professional.
The muted wah-wah guitar strumming in the
background is a great way to subtly inject groove into
the music.
This type of production calls for things like
that, and it is placed well in the mix. The harmonies in
the hook smooth everything out. The drums are at
a better level then most songs. Also, at about
two minutes and thirty seconds in, there is a vocal gap
in the bridge with nothing happening. This area needs
some kind of lick or melodic line over the
chords.
Quality of Recording:
The recording is very bright,
but with a solid bottom end. The bass is
smooth and the guitars are warm, but have a bright tone
to them as well.
Arrangement:
The song ends on an
unfinished note.
Maybe a fade out would work with this song
better. The
last solo vocal phrase is awkwardly placed. The mapping is
perfect for this style, and the pre-chorus plays its
role well.
The instrumentation for the verses builds a
tension and release mechanism with the hook. Starting the
song with the hook is a little confusing though, because
the hook is not strong enough to let the listener know
it is the hook opening the song up. They may think
that it comes right in on the verse at first.
Instrumentation:
The electric piano adds a
wonderful texture to the song, and works well with the
vibe that is being created with the electric
guitars.
Some of the lead guitar l feel interferes at time
in view of the fact that it’s being played behind verse
and chorus vocals.
Once again though … good use of the subtle
wah-wah chopping strum .. it really does create a great
grove.
Commercial Appeal:
The call and response vocal
performance is nice, but slightly dated. The duel idea
could work to your advantage if the other vocalist is
well known.
Marketability:
This song gives a great
picture of who you are as an artist. This song would
work well in an adult contemporary market.
Songwriting Technique
&
Lyric Critique:
The hook tends to drag on a
little with the rhythmic repetition. Normally this is
a good thing, but it can wear out the listener and is
not bold enough.
Also, put yourself in the place of your
listeners.
Would you sing that hook in the shower or in your
car? It’s
not definitive like the hooks in the other songs. However, the
rhythmic pattern works well for the verse and helps it
flow. The
concept of a hook directed toward someone is always
good, because it makes it easier to sing with attitude
and enthusiasm. Reaching out lyrically is a great
songwriting device, especially for love songs. They chord
changes flow well from section to section.
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#9: Song
Title: “CONFUSDE” |
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Overall Rating:
(Five stars
being the best)
Strength of
Material: The song is okay but not top 40
material. I
think this one sounds a little on the dated side but
could crossover to a modern feel with a few minor
changes.
The introduction is not very strong. The bass is a
surprise the way it enters. Although a bit
unorthodox I guess it works but it needs to be crisper
and more defined.
The song works as an album cut but nothing beyond
that.
Performance:
The performance varies depending
upon which portion we are talking about. The vocal
performances are good and lend themselves to your
overall ability. I’m not real happy with the band’s
performance here.
Your harmonies work well. I do like the
way the chorus takes off after the verse and sets the
flow and excitement in motion and adds a different feel
to the song.
Music
Production:
The drums at times seem to be
lagging behind the groove and throw off the flow and
motion. I’m
a little confused as to what is the pre-hook vs. the
hook. I
really don’t hear a clear hook here at all. The part where
the instruments lay off and come in a couple seconds
after the vocals is a good concept to add a little
interest although I don’t think it was quite tight
enough of a transition. I think the
bridge may let the listener
down.
Quality of
Recording:
The bass is a little bottomed
out. A bit
mushy. I
think it needs more high tones. The drum sound
is not properly eq’d and is not very good in my
opinion.
Overall, for
some reason I don’t think the recording qualities in
this particular track are as strong as in other cuts on
the record.
Arrangement:
The verse is a bit
repetitious. This is not necessarily a bad
thing
if it’s catchy enough. Although I
don’t believe it’s quite memorable enough to pull it
off. Transitions are not performed as
smoothly as they could be. The chord structure flows
okay through each part, however not as strongly as in
most of the other songs on the album.
Instrumentation:
Use of acoustic
guitar is very nice and flows well. The strumming
pattern works nicely with the flow of the
song.
The
acoustic lead is interesting and fits the sound. Nice
picking.
Some of the guitar transitions are not clean
though and probably should have been re-taken in some
cases. The
drums drag and take away from the
groove.
Commercial
Appeal:
Commercially speaking I think this
song would not make it on it’s own as a single. There is not a
strong hook to speak of and the song lends itself to an
album cut.
I don’t think it exhibits the qualities necessary
to be a commercially viable product.
Marketability:
Once again, as
a stand-alone tune this song just would not cut it as a
single and would therefore not be marketable as
such. It does exhibit some good qualities
but it is much better suited as an album
cut.
Songwriting Technique
&
Lyric
Critique:
The verse at times is a little too
wordy and it seems like you are trying to fit more words
into a verse or a chorus that you need to. Try to listen to all the words you
are using and try to find a way to verse it where you
are saying virtually the same thing only with less
wording.
This will provide and
deliver the same message but keep the song smoother and
more flowing.
Basically when a song is a little too wordy it
sounds it….. Like you’re trying to fit words in where
they don’t belong.
This is generally not very pleasing to the
listener’s ear and removes the sing-along element and
the ability for a listener to remember it. I think your
hook in this song is actually a pre-hook and should lead
into a more definitive one.
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#10: Song
Title: “I’LL NEVER
LEAVE” |
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Overall Rating:
(Five stars
being the best)
Strength of Material
:
In my opinion this track starts out
a little weak.
The effect is a nice touch but lends itself more
to internal sections as opposed to an opening
section. However interesting, and I’m sure
it’s intended to be slow paced it’s a little too laid
back. It
appears to even drag a bit. It’s dreamy and
that’s a good thing. I do like the
dreamy effect.
Performance:
Very good vocal
performance. I like your use of harmonies. The
back vocals also lend themselves to the strong parts of
the performance. I would make more use of back
vocals in other parts of the song. The overall
dreaminess works beautifully.
Music
Production:
The repetitive use of tremolo
kind of holds the song together. The bridge is
good vocally but is a little bit of a let down. Although it does
build well back into the verse. The vocals are
very present yet slightly ambient as like in a previous
ballad. The
use of the synth in the end is nice. It tends to
extend the dreaminess of the song. Although true
strings would be
better.
Quality of
Recording:
The overall quality is not
bad. I
think the instruments are recorded at good levels and a
professional mix is evident. Everything is
smooth with good
e.q.
Arrangement:
The back vocals after the title
hook being repeated is a very nice touch. I like this a
lot. The
bridge and transition back into the verse is very
melodic … love the
chord change.
Although at some points during this work I find
myself confused as to where we stand … what’s the verse, what’s the
bridge, chorus etc. You can tell but
it might not be obvious to the average listener. This may not
matter much but it is a point to be
considered.
Instrumentation:
Very interesting uses of
instruments in this track especially the
percussions.
They are definitely unorthodox in many ways. As long as you
keep this confined to one or possibly two tracks on an
album I think you’ll be okay but I wouldn’t go there on
a repeated basis. The tremolo effects are a good
touch. The
use of synth as the closer is nice but an actual string
quartet would work far better.
Commercial
Appeal:
Definitely an album cut but a
good one.
It once again shows your versatility. I believe the
song is appealing but not as a
single.
Marketability:
As indicated the song is not
an obvious radio hit but could be showcased in many
other ways.
Even on the radio but on specific indie markets
only. It
definitely does show your versatility as an
artist.
Songwriting Technique
&
Lyric Critique:
Your lyrical content is excellent
in this song.
I like the way one thought works off another
one. The
story you’re telling is very convincing and assuring in
my view to the person you are singing too.
Although the lyrics are simplistic and right to
the point I think in this selection you are beginning to
dig in a little bit to a more abstract concept as I
talked about earlier. Very
nice.
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Artist’s Image, Lead Vocal
Appeal, and Break-Through
Potential |
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Artist’s
Image:
The image you portray is
right on!
Your look is great and definitely is conducive to
the genre and the Rock & Roll – Pop scene in
general.
Image must be unforgettable. The more
memorable the better. I think there is
no question that you look and perform the part
well. Your
photo is stunning.
You look like a star. From reading
your bio it seems as though you’ve traveled a great
musical path that has brought you where you are
today.
Everything such as your letterhead and writing
and the way you do it is very professional. I think too …
You have paid your dues.
Lead vocal
appeal:
I think you have a wonderful
voice and vocal ability. Your vocal
performance is unique in many ways. You seem to have
a definite signature style of your own which is an
extremely important factor. You must have
this.
Labels don’t want somebody who sounds like
Madonna or anyone else for that matter. They want unique
…. style,
and a signature memorable vocal sound. I really think
you have this element on your
side.
Break-Through
Potential:
Without question you have
break through potential. I think it’s
just a matter now of the one or two smash break through
radio hits.
With a couple of undeniable hit songs I think
that everything, your look, image, band,
professionalism, and all else is in place. Your POP
style genre definitely lends itself to radio play as
there are a great number of radio stations specializing
in pop and much like yours. Your live performance, which
I cannot comment on, is the next most important
element.
This must be superior in every way. Without that,
and even with the hit song, your chances of being signed
by a major label are fair at best. Lastly you must
have proper representation as well. With all that in
place you have a great shot. But it all must
be in place.
Today’s market is far too competitive for
anything short of every single piece of the
puzzle.
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Overall Comments
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You’re on the right track for
sure. Keep
doing what you’re doing and work to improve yourself in
any and every way you can.
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BONUS Press/Media Kit
Evaluation (if included in
package) |
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N/A No press
kit submitted.
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Reviewer: Ron Hennely,
A&R – VP Artist Development
Word Count:
7,451
Pages:
18 |
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