This month all the submissions were very good, and they were completely different from each other. It wasn’t easy task to choose top five. Had I done it after of before my coffee moment, the results could have been totally different.
It’s also pleasure to notice that talent is much higher nowadays than what it was some years ago when I was more active. It also makes me think ”who am I to comment these songs?” As all of you have reached a level that I won’t ever reach. But, as most of the songs in the world are made to be listened by normal people, I guess there’s some point to be able to hear subjective comments from some of them. But don’t take these comments too seriously. I wasn’t systematic, I just listened to your songs couple of times in a different days, and I let the thoughts wander freely to the paper. I didn’t read your explanations and I didn’t check if there was any discussions about your songs. So I may be repeating issues that some other have already taken up.
Nowadays it’s much more pleasant to write comments than a couple of years ago. I like the fact that one doesn’t have to rank a position to each and every song. It’s pleasure to pick 5 top places, but it was painful to define who’s going to be the last. This current system is nice.
Chasey24, Harvest Sunset
Excellent opening. I like that very much. Then comes something even better, but it happens to be very similar to the main hook and guitar line from Sting’s ”Fields of Cold”.
But when I listen to your work in other parts, its genre slides loosely and interestingly from one genre to another. In addition, you seem to have made some great and bold key modulations. In other words, you clearly know your stuff and you know how to dive deep into the sources of music. Furthermore, you have an ability develop different musical ideas wonderfully into your own coherent work. So, it's a shame that you accidentally happened to pick up the same string of notes to be the main hook of song that Sting had previously made into a mega-hit.
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Crispy, Flexing The Harvest
(This is a copy-paste of my previous comment.)
You must have been in your previous life Frank Farian.
Main riff is very cool.
All the variations of the main theme work very nicely.
Although I cannot show any exact weak point but somehow around 2/3 my attention seems to drop a little. I guess the final climax is missing. Maybe the slow part around 2:40 could bring a bigger change and clear new motif (now it's more like a moment of rest) and then explode into final chorus with a new drum groove. And to make it a big hit you may need a couple of Cariban ladies to do the singing part and dancing.
But overall: very well done. You surely have ear and talent for this genre.
(Some bonus points for the best explanation to connect the song and its unrelated name together.)
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Elcubano, season cycle
This is skilfully done composition for two guitars. You manage to describe how nature wakens up and blossoms. I like it.
Maybe the slow and bright down strum repeats too much. It’s maybe too bright, and it could be tamed a bit.
Then come interesting parts around 0.50. There’s some sort of mornings in the background. To me it sounds as if you’re describing how the ghosts of ancestors participate the life in an old country mansion.
The electric guitar comes in nicely. Soon after that brightness of acoustic guitars begins to bother me. As if it competes and tries to mask the electric guitar.
I like very much those rapid parts, for example 2.30.
Ghosts come back around 4.40. Now they are more scary.
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EsteveCorbera, Els Fruit De La Tardor
The start is great. It sounds to me like nature coming back to life in spring after winter. After this, the pads seem to tell about the unfurling growth of the plants. Nature begins to flourish.
This has a great down-to-earth vibe throughout. Overall, this composition feels to be like a precision tool that is made to tickle one special emotional area in mind.
Another alternative interpretation that came to my mind: The hot air balloon slowly rises from the ground to the heights. Until something happens and the ball starts to sink back down. Apparently no one was hurt.
I have a weak sense of synth sounds. I’m in a process where I try to learn how to make them and how to use them. So I have no expertise In that area. Usually, synth sounds feel foreign to me, but in this case I especially liked these sounds you have made.
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IkeHmope, Harvest Morning
(This is a copy-paste of my previous comment.)
Actually this song is very good. It's funny and simple, but musically it's not a joke at all. It's not easy to make simple songs with melody hooks that one can remember afterwards. This one really stuck to my brains. I have nothing to complain in melody lines, etc. So, when it comes to songwriting, I think you have done excellent job.
But when it comes to an arrangement, you could work more on that area or take the role of conductor. I'm pretty sure each instrument part on its own is fine as it is. But now when they're playing all together, it sounds like the Harvest Festival has hit midnight, and they're playing against each other.
Even though you have to pay for the whole band, that doesn't mean they all have to play at the same time. I would try to use the mute button and create separate areas where each instrument has its own place of dominance. If a horn has something nice to say in the background, don't cover it with other instruments. That way there would be more sonical variations, etc.
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KukoBass, Hope will grow
I really like those melody lines that you’ve created. What amazes me is it doesn’t bother me at all, that you stick to one instrument only to carry the message. The reason for this is probably the fact that melody line flows naturally, and it still contains in itself so different parts, that I don’t start to need for a new sound to carry the melody.
Those synths support nicely the melody.
Overall sound is a bit rough and crunchy and unfinished, but to me that’s probably the main reason I like it.
Very well done and exactly to my taste.
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MellowBrowne, NeoFunk
This is perhaps the most special creation of this competition. The job is always under control. The band plays well together, and each member knows its role. From this song glows strong artistic self-confidence. The groove is nicely restrained but extremely balanced and controlled.
The specialty of the sound is those out-of-tune feeling synths that sizzle metallically. They bother me a little. Somehow they are hard and cold. The groove itself is very smooth and minimal, so maybe that's also why I would like more softness in the overall sound. Now that metallic hiss somehow spreads, sticks and becomes part of the sound of other instruments as well.
So, as it is, that sound is a bit foreign to me. However, since the 1950s, the development of popular music has been based on the fact that the new generation creates something that the previous generation cannot understand. Perhaps these experiences of mine only prove that you are on the right track and know what you are doing. So I encourage you to follow your own instincts in this matter.
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PonySho, Growing Pains
You have proven to be very talented in what you do. Even if you do it quickly with your left hand, the result is extraordinary.
In this case you showed a bag full of interesting details and solutions to problems that that one wouldn’t even have to encounter if you’re in charge of the project. The groove is amazing and faultless all through the song. Transitions from part to another are great, etc. There’s not a detail that won’t work.
But oddly, what happened to me? I ended up listening to all those details and great changes, but in the end, I didn’t hear the song or feel human behind. I guess that’s a risk what might happen when you’re in hurry and you’re equipped with such an amazing multipurpose tool that you have.
So, my guess is: if you manage not to turn into ”AI music machine”, but instead let internal human growing pains be part of the music you make, soon you’ll hit the big time.
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ryanc, Law of the Harvest
(This is a copy-paste of my previous comment.)
You have a really beautiful and sympathetic song here. The melody line is absolutely top notch, and you sing it very sensitively. The guitar riff is absolutely perfect, simple but effective and supports the song. Very good potential to be this month's winner!
So, the songwriting part is superb, but I think you should do something to those drums. It feels like the drummer is playing without listening to the song. The drums don't have the same emotional sensitivity that you bring to this song. Is it too cold and he tries to warm himself by playing too loud? It's hard to tell what the problem is with a quick listening. Maybe if you could decrease the velocity levels a bit, it might give way to more sensitive drum sounds. Or is the problem in the groove of the drum. I'd definitely try some drum groove with ghost notes or something.
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ThomC, Stories of The Sky
This is interesting mixture of traditional country music and orchestral pop. I guess the one of first ones to do the same was Glen Campbell in 70’s. In his case he also added more complicated chord progressions. You have woven together more sort of old-time country melodies with orchestral elements.
I have listened quite much country and bluegrass music from 40’s to 70’s. I guess I was 12 years old when I bought Hank Williams’ yellow double album. It’s still one of the best albums I’ve heard. So, with that background, I think you surely know what you do. That is to say, I have nothing to guide you, but a lot to learn from you. Anyway, here’s some thoughts that came to my mind while listening to this song.
The guitar riff is just spot on.
I like the fact that intro presents the chorus indicatively. Overall this is well composed country song. Also other instruments know their exact places and roles.
I feel that verse goes well in its simplicity, or because of that. Orchestral elements go surprisingly well with traditional country accompaniment. Verse creates a looming tension that something is about to happen in chorus. Main issue for me with this song is that for some reason the chorus doesn’t deliver what I was expecting it to do. It’s missing the bonus zeal and energy that it needs to have after the verse. So, paradoxically, my disappointment was due to the fact that you had done your job so greatly from the intro to the beginning of chorus.
The orchestral instrumental ending was a big surprise to me. That orchestral feeling is a bit pompous after otherwise old time down to earth approach. I still don't know if it was a genius solution or a mood dropper. I guess I would have kept this as more traditional country.
I feel you’re have the needed talent, and you’re about to make something very interesting in your chosen path. Maybe this song was something you just had to do quickly away to give room and care for your forthcoming masterpiece.
VOTES
► Show Spoiler
While choosing the top five, I emphasized the fact that this is SONGwriting competition. So, I wanted it to be song, and I wanted it to have human touch. And of course I cannot help that my musical preferences affect my choices.
01 KukoBass
02 crispy
03 ryanc
04 ThomC
05 Ike H-mope
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