Kingschmegland: Shudder to Think - X-French Tee Shirt 7.5/10+1= 8.5/10 (bonus for time signatures)I really didn’t know what to make of this song. It was quirky and weird, which I do enjoy, but this just didn’t click with me. I did like the odd time signatures… there were some I couldn’t figure out, and they kept the downbeat consistent where it was like 7/16+9/16 = 4/4 or something (if that makes sense)... I really didn’t analyze it that much. That said, I really never knew where this song was going, it seemed keyless. It’s not that it wasn’t enjoyable, but in a very strong round this one was the weakest submission.
Sacul: Devin Townshend - Bad Devil 8/10+1= 9/10 (bonus for brass)This was a very odd song. Not odd in a completely bad way, it just wasn’t what I expected. The vocals seem a little out of place in this… and what I mean by that is the not-quite-growly-but-still-growly vocals at the beginning. I guess that was the bad devil? It just didn’t fit with the rest of the song. The rest of it was fun but really didn’t have anything stand out to me to make it memorable, which is tough because in such a strong round this one was a weaker submission. Still, it helped to make me want to explore a little bit more of his music, so you can take that what you will.
Scorpion: Savatage - All That I Bleed 8.5/10While I’m not familiar with this band, the sound was what I expected, as I’m fairly familiar with TSO. Savatage is TSO without the Orchestra. It was a very good power ballad, lots of emotion and very strong vocal presence. It didn’t grab me as much as a few of the other songs, but it was very enjoyable, especially the way the song starts with the quiet piano ballad and builds up to the end, then ending where it began with the piano. I guess the song’s weakness is it tends to be a little cliche, but then again, TSO tends to go that route sometimes.
TAC: Michael Kiske - Do I Remember A Life? 8.5/10+1=9.5/10 (bonus for brass)Man his vocals are powerful here. Very VERY strong upper range, which is good for a rock singer. I do enjoy the use of the classical instruments intersperced with the rock band here. It just tends to drag on for a bit. It does maintain my interest, but then the very slow piano at the end is where it loses me. If you are going to have a piano solo at the end I would like a little bit more elaboration than very minimalistic chords. All in all decent song though.
Bolsters: Fire Inc. - Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young 9/10When I saw Jim Steinmann wrote the song, I wasn’t surprised the song sounded the way it did. Like if Jim Steinmann wrote a musical, this would be a mass number. With lasers and futuristic looking sets with smoke and people with wild hair. And leather. Yeah. Don’t enter my mind
. Anyways, this was very enjoyable and encompasses a lot of what I like about 80s power pop or power rock… like one of the few ways this could have been made better is having Bonnie Tyler sing it (Total Eclipse of the Heart… more Steinmann!). Good fun song.
Evermind: Axel Rudi Pell - The Clown Is Dead 9/10This song is VERY well done. It could stand to be 2 minutes shorter though (it’s somewhat repetative… yes I know the clown is dead, you’ve sung it 3732 times already). I would NOT cut the piano solo at the end. That was very beautiful and emotive. Just a few repeats of the chorus here and there. Other than that I find no fault with this song, it is VERY well done and I enjoyed it more with every listen.
Parama: Devin Townsend - Funeral 9/10I really liked the chord progressions at the beginning, and then it just kept building up and up until BOOM you heard the vocals and this wall of sound that totally is unexpected when you just hear the title of the song. His vocals are harsh, but it’s enjoyable not only because it fits the song genre, but because there is a discernable melody within the harshness… THAT I really don’t have a problem with. So the harshness works very well here. My only issue with it is that there were times in the evolution of the song it seemed a little slow moving (not tempo wise, but transitioning to the next section) so I ended up zoning out and then forgetting what I just listened to, which tends to happen if it’s a little repetitive not just with material but with motives. It wasn’t so bad that I didn’t enjoy it, but I still don’t think I’ve heard everything in the song and I’ve heard it like 5-6 times now.
Big Hath: Yanni - Acroyali/Standing in Motion 9/10+1=10/10 (bonus for world music/new age)This was more enjoyable than what I thought it would be. I mean, it was nice. I can’t get much past that, which is why it isn’t higher. But it’s a very good nice. It was pumped up for what the genre of music is. I probably would like to hear more of his music, but it’s a little cliche and he’s probably the kind of person where a lot of his music sounds similar. It reminds me of John Tesh. I did enjoy it though.
Lonestar: Jadis - Touch 9.5/10This song encompasses a LOT of what I love from the 80s. There’s a particular sound that resonates with me on a subconscious level… it’s really hard to explain. However, this song gets it. The almost “Futuristic” intro leading into that driving drums, and the chord changes are so good… the synth backing everything up having an almost ethereal quality. It’s just… happy. I love it. Great submission.
Tyrias: Sigur Ros - Svefn-e-englar 9.5/10I imagine a dark stage. Deep blue lighting. Smoke. Back lit bright lights causing the band to be silouhuetted. I don’t know. Haha my mind is being weird again
. There’s an air of alternative 90s rock here… but it’s slowed way down. I know the singer is known for his falsetto and he’s phenomenal here. This song sucked me in from the getgo. The one downfall of the song is that motive he sings is very repetitive… but it works because of the type of song it is. I hope to hear more of their music soon.
Tomislav95: Shadow Gallery - Crystalline Dream 9.5/10This feels like it should be in an adventure/fantasy film or video game. There’s a quality here that I really enjoy, simlilar to the Jadis. It’s hard to explain… it’s also the reason why I really like Images era Dream Theater. I don’t know if it’s the mix or the type of instrumentation, but it’s very well done. I like how the vocals are almost subdued (they don’t get super high). It works very well.
Jingle.boy: Gowan - A Criminal Mind 10/10This song definitely grew on me. Initially I was like this sounds like it should be in a Jean Claude Van Damme movie (listen to On My Own Alone (Bloodsport) or Fight For Love (Kickboxer) by Stan Bush and you’ll see what I mean). That’s not a bad thing, as I adore both of those movies. It’s almost cheesy, but it isn’t. It’s really effective. The synth repeat of the solo is PERFECT. This song just struck a chord with me that none of the others quite did. Well done.
In looking at the scores, there’s not a lot of dramatic change, but many lower scoring people sent solid stuff and closed the gap.
Hath: 49
Bolsters: 48
Lonestar: 48
King: 47
Sacul: 46.5
Parama: 46
Evermind: 46
Tyrias: 46
TAC: 45
Jingle.boy: 45
Tomislav: 44.5
Scorpion: 44.5
Poll
Topic: Splent's Controversial Roulette v.1.0.11 - R10 RESULTS!! FINAL ROUND COMMENCING (Read 89349 times)