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General => Archive => General Music Archives => Topic started by: Bolsters on July 28, 2015, 09:39:16 AM

Title: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION★
Post by: Bolsters on July 28, 2015, 09:39:16 AM
Well, it took more than a year (or 371 days :lol), but it's finally my turn to host my very first roulette! So, jumping in and getting things rolling right away, the theme of this roulette (if you want to call it that) will be...


(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/rageSOMUCHrage24.jpg~original)
HEAD TO HEAD


For the entirety of this roulette, you will all be going head to head with other players. The rules in detail are as follows...


Rules
Rather than points, players will be awarded various stars based on their performance. The stars are as follows:

Submitting

Contestants

As mentioned, I'd like to get eight people on board to participate. A few people have been invited and their slots will be reserved until they either confirm their participation, or they confirm their participation. I didn't want to fill up the roulette with invited people before it even started, so I've only reserved three of the slots for that purpose and have only invited people whose roulettes I participated in. So, sorry if you feel left out because you didn't get that PM - I had at least nine people in mind for invites, which was a bit much since I didn't want the roulette to be any bigger than eight. :lol You were one of those other six whose roulettes I have not participated in. Probably.

I'd just like to get five more victimsvolunteers to fill these empty slots and then we'll see what happens. :o

Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SIGN UP NOW-
Post by: Crow on July 28, 2015, 09:45:34 AM
sign me up yes
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SIGN UP NOW-
Post by: Scorpion on July 28, 2015, 10:02:25 AM
I'd love to compete. I have a good idea how big your banned list will be and if nothing else, it will definitely be a challenge, so yeah.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SIGN UP NOW-
Post by: Sacul on July 28, 2015, 10:04:59 AM
I'm up for the challenge  :hat
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SIGN UP NOW-
Post by: Big Hath on July 28, 2015, 10:12:01 AM
sure, I'll join
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SIGN UP NOW-
Post by: jingle.boy on July 28, 2015, 10:49:12 AM
I'm in like Flynn.

You're all playing for 2nd place, bitches.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SIGN UP NOW-
Post by: Evermind on July 28, 2015, 11:47:18 AM
So it seems I've missed it just by an hour. :lol

Well, I'll be following anyway!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SIGN UP NOW-
Post by: jingle.boy on July 28, 2015, 11:48:58 AM
So it seems I've missed it just by an hour. :lol

Well, I'll be following anyway!

You might be in... I was one of the PM invites, so you might claim spot #5.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SIGN UP NOW-
Post by: Big Hath on July 28, 2015, 11:58:26 AM
I was also a PM invite, so there is probably room
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SIGN UP NOW-
Post by: Evermind on July 28, 2015, 12:00:23 PM
Uh oh, alright then, I'll join if there's room. This head to head system sounds fun.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SIGN UP NOW-
Post by: Elite on July 28, 2015, 01:22:39 PM
If you'll have me. I only send shitty music.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SIGN UP NOW-
Post by: Crow on July 28, 2015, 01:42:32 PM
i might just end up sending nothing prog at all it sounds like you have a big banned list and most of my obscure artists aren't prog  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SIGN UP NOW-
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on July 28, 2015, 01:46:51 PM
 :millahhhh
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SIGN UP NOW-
Post by: Bolsters on July 28, 2015, 09:36:44 PM
If you'll have me. I only send shitty music.
Then no, I won't have you. :neverusethis:

Alright, we're full. That was faster than I thought it would be. :lol

Since we're ready to start, I have randomly (https://www.random.org/) created the first round matchups and you guys can begin sending.


Round One: FIGHT!

Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs Sacul
jingle.boy vs Elite
Big Hath vs Parama
Scorpion vs Evermind



Banned Artists

Below is the list of artists that are banned. As mentioned in the OP I may (and probably will) still reject things not included here. I didn't want to discourage people from sending bands that I've listened to before and not gotten into if they feel that I'm missing out, or that they can change their mind, but I will reject certain songs or albums that I feel I am familiar with.

Anything sent in this roulette (regardless of my comments on it) is automatically banned.

Finally, my Last.fm profile can be viewed here (https://www.last.fm/user/Bolsters), for those interested in seeing what kind of stuff I am listening to lately.


Anyway, the banned list is as follows:

Quote
30 Seconds to Mars
81db
A Perfect Circle
A.C.T.
Abodean Skye
AC/DC
Ace of Base
Acke Hallgren
Adagio
Adrenaline Mob
Aeon Zen
Afro Celt Sound System
Aina
Airbag
Alice Cooper
Alice in Chains
Allen/Lande
Alpha Rev
Alter Bridge
Amadeus Awon’s Eon
Amaranthe
Anathema
Anciients
Android Lust
Andromeda
Angra
Animals as Leaders
Anubis
Apes With Hobbies
Appearance of Nothing
Arcane
Ariana Grande
Arion
Arjen Anthony Lucassen
Ark
Art of Illusion
Arwen
At Vance
Atlas Genius
Audioslave
Avantasia
Avenged Sevenfold
Avicii
Avril Lavigne
Ayreon
Banks
Beach House
Bear McCreary
Beautiful Sin
Bee Gees
Being
Belinda Carlisle
Beyond the Black
Beyond The Bridge
Big Big Train
Billy Joel
Bjřrn Riis
Black Label Society
Black Sabbath
Blackmill
Blackwelder
Blessed By A Broken Heart
Blue Stahli
Bon Jovi
Bonnie Tyler
Borealis
Broods
BT
Burnclear
Cain’s Offering
Caladan Brood
Carly Rae Jepsen
Carpenters
Celine Dion
Celldweller
Chris Cornell
Chris Joss
CHVRCHES
Circle of Illusion
Cold Chisel
Corrosion of Conformity
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Crowded House
Damnation Angels
Dave Kerzner
David Gilmour
David Maxim Micic
Def Leppard
Delain
Derek Sherinian
Dire Straits
Disturbed
Down
Dragon
Dream Theater
Dreamtale
E.S. Posthumus
Echolyn
Echosmith
Edenbridge
Edge of Sanity
Edguy
Effloresce
Electric Light Orchestra
Ellie Goulding
Elton John
Emma Louise
Enchant
Epica
Epysode
Escala
Eumeria
Europe
Eurythmics
Evanescence
Evergrey
Explorer’s Club
Fail Emotions
Fanticide
Fergie Frederiksen
Find Me
Fire Inc.
Flaming Row
Fleetwood Mac
Flying Colors
Foreigner
Foxes
Frameshift
Frost*
Genesis
Glass Mind
Gloryhammer
Guilt Machine
Guns N’ Roses
Guy Pearce
HAERTS
HAIM
Haken
Hammerfall
Hans Zimmer
Harem Scarem
Harmony
Hybrid
Illusion Suite
Incubus
Inner Odyssey
Iron Maiden
It Bites
Izz
James LaBrie
Jim Steinman
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Jamison
Jimmy Barnes
Joe Satriani
John Farnham
John Petrucci
Jordan Rudess
Jorn
Jorn Lande & Trond Holter
Journey
Kamelot
Kansas
Karnya
Katatonia
Katy Perry
Killswitch Engage
Kingcrow
Kishi Bashi
Kiske/Somerville
Klone
Koji Kondo
KXM
L.R.S.
Lacuna Coil
Lake of Mind
Lalu
Last Tribe
Laura Marling
Led Zeppelin
Level 10
Level 42
Levin Minnemann Rudess
Linkin Park
Liquid Tension Experiment
Liquid Trio Experiment
Live
London Grammar
Lonely Robot
Lorde
Lost in the Trees
Lost in Thought
Lykke Li
Madonna
Maestrick
Magic Pie
Magnus Karlsson (or Magnus Karlsson’s Free Fall)
Maroon 5
Massive Attack
Masterplan
Matchbox 20
Meat Loaf
Megadeth
Metallica
Metric
Michael Giacchino
Michael Jackson
Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock
Mind Odyssey
Mindfuel
MindMaze

Moon Safari
Mr. Bungle
Mree
MS MR
Ne Obliviscaris
Neal Morse
Neal Schon
Neon Sky
Neonfly
Nice Beaver
Night Ranger
Nightingale
Nobuo Uematsu
October Project
Odd Logic
One | Cinema
Opeth
OSI
Ozzy Osbourne
Pandora’s Box
Pantera
Pantommind
Passion Pit
Pearl Jam
Perfume
Peter Gabriel
Peterik & Scherer
Phideaux
Phil Collins
Pink Cream 69
Pink Floyd
Platypus
Porcupine Tree
Praying Mantis
Presto Ballet
Pretty Maids
Primal Fear
Project Arcadia
Psycrence
Pure Reason Revolution
Purity Ring
Pyramaze
Queen
Rage Against The Machine
Ravenblack Project
Red
Red Circuit
REM
Revolution Renaissance
Revolution Saints
Rhapsody / Rhapsondy of Fire
Riverside
Robert Plant
Roxette
Roy Orbison
Rush
Russell Allen
Ryn Weaver
Sarah Barielles
Savage Garden
Scandroid
Scorpions
Sergey Golovin
Serious Black
Seventh Key
Shadowquest
Shania Twain
Shattered Skies
Shineback
Shokran
Shpongle
Sia
Sieges Even
Silentlie
Skyharbor
Slash / Slash feat. The Conspirators
Slash’s Snakepit
Snow Patrol
Soilwork
Sonata Arctica
Sorcerer
SOTO
Soul Secret
Sound of Contact
Soundgarden
Spock’s Beard
Star One
Starbreaker
Steve Perry
Steven Wilson
Sting
Stratovarius
Stream of Passion
Susanne Sundfřr
Sweet & Lynch
Symphony X
Taylor Swift
Ten
Tennis
Teramaze
TesseracT
The Aristocrats
The Beatles
The Black Mages
The Choirboys
The Corrs
The Crystal Method
The Eagles
The Gentle Storm
The Glitch Mob
The Jelly Jam
The John Butler Trio
The Naked and Famous
The Neal Morse Band
The Police
The Reign of Kindo
The Screaming Jets
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra
The Who
The Winery Dogs
Thought Chamber
Thoughts Factory
Three Lions
Threshold
Thunderstone
Tom Petty / Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
To-Mera
Tool
Toto
Touchstone
Tove Lo
Transatlantic
Traveling Wilburys
Triosphere
Twilightning
Unisonic
Until Rain
Van Halen
Vanden Plas
Vanishing Point
Velvet Revolver
Voices from the Fuselage
Voicians
Von Hertzen Brothers
Voyager
Walk The Moon
W.E.T.
Whitesnake
Winger
Winter Rose
Wolfmother
Work of Art
Yasunori Mitsuda
Yngwie Malmsteen
zircon
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: jingle.boy on July 28, 2015, 09:39:59 PM
Hey Rich...

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/__99Ouxg_SWA/S9hI-4K-ReI/AAAAAAAAAhY/AImoJkxyRS8/s320/logo-1212626900.gif)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Crow on July 28, 2015, 09:55:51 PM
i am surprised to find lorde on the banned list
that's both encouraging and disappointing
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on July 28, 2015, 09:57:10 PM
sent
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Bolsters on July 28, 2015, 10:02:00 PM
sent
(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/1410233924555-great_job_star.png~original)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Crow on July 28, 2015, 10:02:45 PM
(https://www.farmlib.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/penny-article1.jpg)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Elite on July 29, 2015, 01:30:05 AM
Up against jingly already? Alright then, here we go..

By the way; that banned artists list is huge :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Bolsters on July 29, 2015, 02:03:39 AM
I took a bunch of stuff off of it aswell, things I figured there was no chance anyone would send anyway. Though looking back at it, I could have easily taken out a few more. Still, I wanted it to be as comprehensive as possible so that I (hopefully) don't have to reject too many submissions.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: jingle.boy on July 29, 2015, 04:14:28 AM
I took a bunch of stuff off of it aswell, things I figured there was no chance anyone would send anyway. Though looking back at it, I could have easily taken out a few more. Still, I wanted it to be as comprehensive as possible so that I (hopefully) don't have to reject too many submissions.

Yeah, definitely a few things in there I was hoping I might be able to use.  And I guess Live is so good, they had to be banned twice.

I'm traveling today until Friday, so might not be able to send until Friday night or Saturday (North American time).
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: mikemangioy on July 29, 2015, 05:03:30 AM
Following this roulette because the system is so cool.
I'll play next time!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Bolsters on July 29, 2015, 06:21:04 AM
I'm traveling today until Friday, so might not be able to send until Friday night or Saturday (North American time).
I'm not in any hurry for the first round anyway. But after that, I'll be expecting all of you to send punctually - public shaming for those who don't.

(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/watching.gif~original)

Following this roulette because the system is so cool.
I'll play next time!
I've got something completely different in the works for my v2. Yes, already. :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: jingle.boy on July 29, 2015, 06:48:48 AM
Better put yourself on the list now then.

And normally, I'll be real prompt. It'll be easier here than in Tim's, since you use Spotify. I figured out a way to share directly with you from there. Should be able to send before Friday.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Scorpion on July 29, 2015, 07:08:35 AM
Currently deciding between two songs.

Will send tonight or tomorrow morning.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Evermind on July 29, 2015, 08:10:12 AM
Currently deciding between two songs.

I doubt the choice will matter. ;)

I know what I'm sending (though it might get rejected I suppose). Just let me get back from work.

And hey Scorp, if you won't lose here, you've got to lose in 425's roulette.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Nekov on July 29, 2015, 08:33:49 AM
Hey Rich...

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/__99Ouxg_SWA/S9hI-4K-ReI/AAAAAAAAAhY/AImoJkxyRS8/s320/logo-1212626900.gif)

Ehh, am I the only one disturbed by the fact that jingle.boy seems ok with the idea of kicking disabled people?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Scorpion on July 29, 2015, 08:36:11 AM
Currently deciding between two songs.

I doubt the choice will matter. ;)

I know what I'm sending (though it might get rejected I suppose). Just let me get back from work.

And hey Scorp, if you won't lose here, you've got to lose in 425's roulette.

If that's the choice, then I'll gladly lose this round.

I've bounced back from worse starts before.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Evermind on July 29, 2015, 09:44:26 AM
Yeah, but I doubt I can beat you in 425's, you're two points ahead. And I won't play against you anymore in this roulette, so, that's probably my choice too. Would be nice to win 425's though. Don't think it will happen with the EP I've composed. :lol

Anyway, sent!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Scorpion on July 29, 2015, 09:54:02 AM
Eh, don't count yourself out. My EP will either be loved or give me the worst score that I will get in the whole roulette.

Also sent, to stay on topic. Can't believe that the band wasn't on the list, tbh. (I hope it doesn't get rejected.)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Crow on July 29, 2015, 10:12:58 AM
big hath, enjoy the easy win  :tup
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Evermind on July 29, 2015, 10:16:49 AM
Also sent, to stay on topic. Can't believe that the band wasn't on the list, tbh. (I hope it doesn't get rejected.)

Are you sure we didn't send the same band? Because you just voiced my exact thoughts.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Sacul on July 29, 2015, 10:30:02 AM
Also sent, to stay on topic. Can't believe that the band wasn't on the list, tbh. (I hope it doesn't get rejected.)

Are you sure we didn't send the same band? Because you just voiced my exact thoughts.
What Scorp said, but I'm sure nobody sent this artist ;D

In fact, I sent it in my opponent's roulette. With bad results :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Big Hath on July 29, 2015, 10:47:28 AM
big hath, enjoy the easy win  :tup

you do realize you are way ahead of me in 425's roulette?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Crow on July 29, 2015, 11:03:19 AM
I don't have a good feel for Bolsters' taste though, it seems pretty all-over-the-place
whereas I pretty much got 425 right off the bat  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: jingle.boy on July 29, 2015, 11:30:29 AM
Hey Rich...

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/__99Ouxg_SWA/S9hI-4K-ReI/AAAAAAAAAhY/AImoJkxyRS8/s320/logo-1212626900.gif)

Ehh, am I the only one disturbed by the fact that jingle.boy seems ok with the idea of kicking disabled people?

Only following in your footsteps - https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=32265.msg1284883#msg1284883
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Nekov on July 29, 2015, 11:59:25 AM
Goddammit
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: jingle.boy on July 29, 2015, 12:02:29 PM
Goddammit

I may not have a good memory, but it is long!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Elite on July 29, 2015, 02:24:15 PM
Busted :lol

Yo Chad, you ready to lose the first round?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: jingle.boy on July 29, 2015, 07:55:28 PM
Busted :lol

Yo Chad, you ready to lose the first round?

Sure... But it ain't gonna happen.  I'm kicking your ass, and in a manner that will surprise you.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Bolsters on July 29, 2015, 09:49:37 PM
Also sent, to stay on topic. Can't believe that the band wasn't on the list, tbh. (I hope it doesn't get rejected.)
Are you sure we didn't send the same band? Because you just voiced my exact thoughts.
Scorpion: I know I listened to a song or two on Youtube several years ago, but I don't even remember which song(s). So you're good.
Evermind: I have sampled the band you sent aswell and they didn't click (listened in part to two of their albums), but again that was years ago and I haven't heard anything from the same album as your song. So you're good, too.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Elite on July 30, 2015, 02:27:14 AM
Busted :lol

Yo Chad, you ready to lose the first round?

Sure... But it ain't gonna happen.  I'm kicking your ass, and in a manner that will surprise you.

Sent, with my fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Bolsters on July 30, 2015, 03:52:46 AM
One person has been asked to resend and another has not sent at all so far (no shaming though, as I said I am not in any hurry for the first round), but I am about to commence listening to submissions where I already have both of the songs in a matchup. :metal
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: jingle.boy on July 30, 2015, 08:14:16 PM
Boy, if that banned list has taught me anything, it's to not post in the 'what album are you listening to' thread in advance of a roulette I plan on participating in.   :lol

Will send shortly.  No guts, no glory.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Bolsters on July 30, 2015, 09:03:53 PM
Boy, if that banned list has taught me anything, it's to not post in the 'what album are you listening to' thread in advance of a roulette I plan on participating in.   :lol
Brent called it:

Chad..........influencing ears and then wondering why he can't use the music in roulettes since 2007.   :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: jingle.boy on July 30, 2015, 09:42:16 PM
Boy, if that banned list has taught me anything, it's to not post in the 'what album are you listening to' thread in advance of a roulette I plan on participating in.   :lol
Brent called it:

Chad..........influencing ears and then wondering why he can't use the music in roulettes since 2007.   :lol

Word.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -SEND ROUND 1-
Post by: Bolsters on July 30, 2015, 10:11:21 PM
I've listened to each track a few times (some more than others, since I decided to start listening when I had both songs in a matchup). First impressions are quite good. There are three contenders for the receipt of a gold star so far, two of them in one matchup, so unfortunately one will be coming away with only a pink star to show for their efforts. One person failed to hit the mark in a pretty big way, so he's lucky this isn't a score-out-of-ten roulette or he may have never been able to recover. :lol

I'm not going to make any promises about when I will post results, because I know I'll get shit if/when I don't deliver. :lol I'll post 'em when I've got 'em.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Evermind on July 30, 2015, 10:36:33 PM
Well now you're going to get shit for not setting any deadline for results. :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Sacul on July 30, 2015, 10:40:41 PM
Well now you're going to get shit for not setting any deadline for results. :lol
This. Don't make me bring pics of sad cats.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Crow on July 30, 2015, 10:42:43 PM
aww yes i failed to hit the mark
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Bolsters on July 30, 2015, 10:59:29 PM
Well now you're going to get shit for not setting any deadline for results. :lol
Well if I'm going to get shit either way, I might as well not set any deadlines purely out of spite. :neverusethis:

But seriously, :soon:. I have been jotting down thoughts on the songs from the very first listen, I just want to listen to them several more times so I'm not basing everything on first impressions. Overall because I'm making notes from the first listen and organising them as I go, I'd say you guys can expect a pretty fast turnaround. We'll see.

This. Don't make me bring pics of sad cats.
Hey, this roulette is all about stars not cats.
(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/Angry.png~original)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Elite on July 31, 2015, 12:35:25 AM
This sounds good :)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: mikemangioy on July 31, 2015, 03:32:51 AM
This. Don't make me bring pics of sad cats.

That's in my roulettes only  >:(
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Elite on July 31, 2015, 04:25:02 AM
That's in my roulettes only  >:(

No, it's not :neverusethis:

(https://www.pet360.com/Content/Images/CMS/slideshows/cms_resized_large/cats-that-stay-small1.lg.jpg)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: jingle.boy on July 31, 2015, 05:01:01 AM
(https://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd20/bigdpizzle/Christ-Not-this-again.jpg)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Crow on July 31, 2015, 07:34:28 AM
(https://s17.postimg.org/annfdbsen/5707682891_23940b57ee.jpg)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: bl5150 on July 31, 2015, 11:05:36 AM
(https://s2.postimg.org/js55nx7y1/Christ_Not_this_again2.jpg)


You rang?  :hat
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Bolsters on August 01, 2015, 04:35:25 AM
(https://s2.postimg.org/js55nx7y1/Christ_Not_this_again2.jpg)


You rang?  :hat
(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/841c5-lurch-smile.gif~original)


Full results tomorrow, but have some tidbits to tide you over. Make of them what you will.



"One thing that I really like about this song is the way it builds. Starting off with just piano and softly spoken vocals the song slowly creeps up in pace and dynamics"


"Vocally the song starts off strong aswell, with a juxtaposition of high-pitched aaah's and subtle, slightly aggressive yelling in the background"


"I'm a fan of good harmonies, I'm definitely a fan of well-constructed counterpoint, I'm a fan of acapella sections - and this song has plenty of all of those things"


"The drumming in particular has a more modern indie rock vibe to it I think, and so the song is more of a blend of modern indie rock with some older rock influence"


"It has that bouncy bassline, the funky electric guitars, and some soft keys fleshing out the sound"


"I liked the slightly minimalist approach to the drums throughout the song, which I think helped to give it more of an orchestral feel than a rock or metal one"


"I find it especially disappointing that the song was released in 2007 because the production sounds like a subpar 90's electronic track at best"


"Overall this song is very Opeth-esque, but with more variety in the instrumentation and less emphasis on being heavy"


"I still don't really know what the fuck "fedoracore" is supposed to mean"
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Elite on August 01, 2015, 05:20:33 AM
If I had to choose which of these I personally think applies the most to the song I sent, I'd go with the 'minimalistic drums, giving it an orchestral feel'. And you said you liked that, which I interpret as a good thing.

Or I could be way off, of course.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 01, 2015, 05:29:36 AM
"It has that bouncy bassline, the funky electric guitars, and some soft keys fleshing out the sound"

I got a c-note that says this is mine. 

Bonus stars for correct predictions?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 01, 2015, 05:30:03 AM
Oh, and I noticed you turned off your last.fm scrobbling.  Tricky little fucker, aren't ya?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Bolsters on August 01, 2015, 05:42:37 AM
Oh, and I noticed you turned off your last.fm scrobbling.  Tricky little fucker, aren't ya?
:ninja:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Sacul on August 01, 2015, 09:21:47 AM
Quote
"I find it especially disappointing that the song was released in 2007 because the production sounds like a subpar 90's electronic track at best"
Well this is mine, no doubt :lol To be fair, that's an intended thing - he wanted to recreate lots of tunes from his teen days. And he was/still is pretty obscure so I guess he just uses his computer and not expensive equipment. Tbh I think it sounds great.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Crow on August 01, 2015, 09:26:39 AM
"The drumming in particular has a more modern indie rock vibe to it I think, and so the song is more of a blend of modern indie rock with some older rock influence"
yarr this is mine
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Bolsters on August 01, 2015, 09:43:53 AM
Quote
"I find it especially disappointing that the song was released in 2007 because the production sounds like a subpar 90's electronic track at best"
Well this is mine, no doubt :lol To be fair, that's an intended thing - he wanted to recreate lots of tunes from his teen days. And he was/still is pretty obscure so I guess he just uses his computer and not expensive equipment. Tbh I think it sounds great.
All I can say then, is that he was successful. :lol I can be a bit of a production-whore in general, but I'm especially picky (and hard to please) when it comes to electronic music. I don't think expensive equipment is necessary, either - just the right amount of effort.

The current writeup for your song is a little scathing and I do feel bad doing it, but I'm not the kind of person to sugarcoat that sort of thing and I want all feedback I give in this roulette to be completely honest. For what it's worth I have every confidence that you will send me great things in this roulette - this song just isn't going to be one of them.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 01, 2015, 09:48:01 AM
Guess we know what kinda star Shadow Ninja is getting.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Elite on August 01, 2015, 10:08:42 AM
Yes...

Now say something bad about jingly's song! :biggrin:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Sacul on August 01, 2015, 10:15:12 AM
Quote
"I find it especially disappointing that the song was released in 2007 because the production sounds like a subpar 90's electronic track at best"
Well this is mine, no doubt :lol To be fair, that's an intended thing - he wanted to recreate lots of tunes from his teen days. And he was/still is pretty obscure so I guess he just uses his computer and not expensive equipment. Tbh I think it sounds great.
All I can say then, is that he was successful. :lol I can be a bit of a production-whore in general, but I'm especially picky (and hard to please) when it comes to electronic music. I don't think expensive equipment is necessary, either - just the right amount of effort.
Damnit :lol . Curious thing, he's pretty famous yet there are few pics of him, nor nobody know where he lives, other than in London. Guess that obscurity made him popular.

Guess we know what kinda star Shadow Ninja is getting.
:'(
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Evermind on August 01, 2015, 03:18:10 PM
Quote
"One thing that I really like about this song is the way it builds. Starting off with just piano and softly spoken vocals the song slowly creeps up in pace and dynamics"

This seems like my song indeed. Starting slowly with the majestic piano riff and then descends into madness with some harsh and borderline growl vocals and weird flute inclusions here and there.

Oh, and if I recall correctly, Elite should know this one indeed. He's the one who's sending it in a lot of roulettes.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on August 01, 2015, 03:24:22 PM
pretty sure the one about a cappella stuff is mine
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Sacul on August 01, 2015, 04:13:56 PM
Quote
"One thing that I really like about this song is the way it builds. Starting off with just piano and softly spoken vocals the song slowly creeps up in pace and dynamics"

This seems like my song indeed. Starting slowly with the majestic piano riff and then descends into madness with some harsh and borderline growl vocals and weird flute inclusions here and there.
Why the hell didn't you send this one in my roulette instead of power metal?  :angry:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Elite on August 01, 2015, 04:30:50 PM
Quote
"One thing that I really like about this song is the way it builds. Starting off with just piano and softly spoken vocals the song slowly creeps up in pace and dynamics"

This seems like my song indeed. Starting slowly with the majestic piano riff and then descends into madness with some harsh and borderline growl vocals and weird flute inclusions here and there.

Oh, and if I recall correctly, Elite should know this one indeed. He's the one who's sending it in a lot of roulettes.

Is that so?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: Bolsters on August 01, 2015, 07:16:53 PM
Alright, I feel that I've given all of the songs plenty of listens, and I've managed to type out a whole lot more than I had planned to or thought that I would want to. Although my writeups still kind of suck. So, here are the results for Round 1.


Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs Sacul

Shadow Ninja 2.0
Before I started listening to the songs, I thought I'd do a bit of reading about what I'd already been sent while I waited for more people to submit. Being the first to do so, the band of your submission was unsurprisingly the first that I looked into. Upon loading up the band's Last.fm page and noticing that the most popular tags for this artist were things like steampunk and fedoracore, my initial reaction was along the lines of "I don't know what that means. What the hell has he sent me?" :lol Photos of the band (https://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/100268233/Steam+Powered+Giraffe+spg2014+by+Beth+Riley.jpg) didn't really help much, either. I definitely knew it would be strange, I knew it would probably be fun to listen to, and I had an idea of what vaudeville is - but beyond that, I was not really sure what to expect.

And that's pretty much what I got - it's perhaps not as strange as I was expecting (that could be a good thing, though), but it's certainly a fun song. That musical theatricality is quite strong, and I think the piano especially invokes the 1800's in both its style and that honky-tonk sound. I think where the song shines the most though is in its vocal performances. Besides being fond of their voices, I'm a fan of good harmonies, I'm definitely a fan of well-constructed counterpoint, I'm a fan of acapella sections - and this song has plenty of all of those things, done well.

I still don't really know what the fuck fedoracore is supposed to mean, but I think I might like it.


Sacul
I have to be honest, I had a hard time with this song. While I do listen to some electronic music, I am generally much harder to please when listening to those genres. Unfortunately, this song epitomises a lot of the things I don't like about most electronic music. It's quite repetitive, it has only one drum beat which, while not too dull, is not all that interesting, and the song is lazily produced - the hi-hats (I did notice there are several) for example are very plain, they have identical velocity every time and there is no pattern to them so they are basically a metronome. I'm not sure what the crackling was meant to do - I don't mind that sort of thing, but in this song it seemed a little overbearing. I find it especially disappointing that the song was released in 2007 because the production sounds like a subpar 90's electronic track at best.

So that this isn't completely negative (sorry about that :(), the lo-fi, almost mellotron-like strings weren't too bad, and the various sound effects I thought were utilised well, which is rarely the case when there's a lot of different ones popping up all throughout the song. But overall, I'm afraid that this song has failed to hit the mark...big time.



jingle.boy vs Elite

jingle.boy
First off, I just have to say that this isn't at all the kind of thing I expected you to send. :lol I'm familiar with a couple of Duran Duran songs (like probably everyone is), but to the best of my recollection, this isn't one that I know. I probably would have heard it before - I used to listen to the radio and watch music videos on TV when I was a kid, and this song was a #1 hit only a year before I was born. I'm actually surprised that I didn't recognise it to be honest, but I guess it was a really long time ago that I was listening to this kind of stuff. I'm still familiar with songs such as Hungry Like The Wolf and Come Undone - which would have been banned had you sent them, along with a couple of other Duran Duran songs.

You need not have been concerned about my reaction to something like this, either - I listened to this stuff when I was younger because I liked it. This kind of thing might sound foreign and strange and could be a little hard to swallow for some of the people on this forum younger than yourself (which is a hell of a lot of people :jingleboy:), but to me it's none of those things. I get that feeling of nostalgia from music like this too, as it's what I grew up with.

Unsurprisingly, this song screams 80's. It has that bouncy bassline, the funky electric guitars, and some soft keys fleshing out the sound. The first half of each verse and the chorus all plays to these strengths and vocally it's great. The vox in the second half of each verse (starting with the line "Why don't you use it") and in a couple of other parts of the song I didn't like so much, due to the whiney, almost nasal timbre the singer's voice takes on, which I found a little grating. But I'm probably just nitpicking at this point, really. The production is outstanding aswell, like a lot of stuff was back in the 80's.

All in all, a good submission. I should at the very least buy a compilation album of these guys.


Elite
As you so keenly deduced, I do infact like heavy music and female voices. So this appears as though it was a rather strategic choice by the looks of it, no doubt due to who you were up against for this particular round. ;)

Instrumentally, I liked what was going on. The combination of the drone-like organ playing in the lower register and the fast-paced string samples worked, and I liked the slightly minimalist approach to the drums throughout the song, which I think helped to give it more of an orchestral feel than a rock or metal one. There's some good stripping away of elements and building the song back up aswell. Criticisms include a pretty average production (fair warning, I can be a bit of a production-whore at times) and the vocalist, while good enough most of the time was not great - she lacked any real power in her voice (which I felt could have really added a lot to the song) and there were a few notes here and there where she flubbed it a bit.

Overall I'd say this song was good, but not great; I liked it, but nothing blew me away. You're in the right ballpark though.



Big Hath vs Parama

Big Hath
I probably heard something from Devin Townsend long before this, but I do know that I recently (as of last year) listened to some of his music when the discography thread was started. I listened to and did not mind Ocean Machine (which is why you had to resubmit), but I never even got around to listening to it a second time. I followed up that album with his next, Infinity, but I didn't really like that one at all. I think someone posted in the discography thread that people new to Devin's music should continue listening after Infinity, and I was going to, but I didn't bother for some reason.

This song makes a really good first impression. The crunchy single-chord introduction reminds me a little of The Mirror. Vocally the song starts off strong aswell, with a juxtaposition of high-pitched aaah's and subtle, slightly aggressive yelling in the background. This prevails throughout the song, but with Devin and her alternating between being lead and backing each other up. I wasn't expecting female vox at all, but I liked the combination of hers and Devin's vocals in the song, besides just having Devin himself alternate between cleaner and screamier vocals (which he still does anyway). Also it's Anneke. :heart One thing I consistently have liked about what little of Devin's music I have heard, is the vocals. My very first introduction to him was The Human Experiment and I like his performance on that album aswell. This song is varied sufficiently, too - while it mostly conforms to the verse-chorus-verse structure, the song breaks free of this in places and introduces new things. I also liked the drumming, in particular the little cymbal bursts in the section after the three minute mark.


Parama
Like Elite's song, this was not bad, but I wasn't blown away, and you had some stiff competition this round. The introduction with the repetitive organ jumping up and down reminded me of...something, but I could never quite put my finger on what. There's a lot in this song that reminds me of a 70's rock style - the bass and vocals especially, but also the guitar a bit - but it doesn't mimic the style too much to the point that I think the band is trying too hard to achieve the sound or that I think the song sounds unoriginal. The drumming in particular has a more modern indie rock vibe to it I think, and so the song is more of a blend of modern indie rock with some older rock influence - which is good, because most of the indie rock I've heard (which admittedly is not all that much) is usually either one or the other. The bass was another highlight throughout the song, with some good basslines and I liked the synthyness of it in the intro and the slightly overdriven sound in the rest of the song. Vocally the chorus didn't appeal to me all that much, but I otherwise enjoyed the up and down scat parts and the unison between the two vocalists during the verses.



Scorpion vs Evermind

Scorpion
As I mentioned, I have listened to these guys before, and I believe it was not long after I first signed up to DTF, back in 2011. Which song or songs I listened to or why I didn't move forward and listen to more, I don't even remember. :lol Listening to this song, I can't figure out what the problem was. Put simply, this song is pretty friggin' good, so maybe I listened to the wrong song or my tastes at the time had not expanded enough for this to make the cut.

Anyway, this song...It's heavy, but it isn't excessive in its heaviness. It also counterpoints the heavier sections with beautiful, melodic passages rife with pianos and strings, and a little bit of mellotron aswell. There was also a synth solo which I wasn't expecting, adding to the aural combinations the song provides. There's a lot those big, fuzzy guitar chords for depth and texture but some good riffage when it's needed, particularly in the latter half of the track. Overall this song is very Opeth-esque, but with more variety in the instrumentation and less emphasis on being heavy.

Vocally, I was a fan of everything although the harsh vocals towards the end were borderline. While I do listen to and like music with harsh vocals, I can be pretty hard (even almost impossible) to please where they are concerned. The harsh vocals in this song were more guttural which I generally don't like. But, they didn't detract from the song at all, which is a good indication of how strong a submission this was. So much so that you've managed to nab the first gold star of the roulette, infact. :tup


Evermind
Pain of Salvation is a band I was 100% certain someone would send, and yet another band I have listened to several years ago. When I was first getting into progressive metal around 2003 or so, Pain of Salvation was one of the earliest examples of the genre that I listened to. At the time Remedy Lane was their latest album, so I listened to a few songs from that (no idea which ones). Whatever I listened to never clicked though, so I didn't bother exploring the band any further. Several years later, likely due to the influence of this forum, I sampled a track or two from one of the Road Salts (not sure which one) but again, nothing clicked. This is also why I opted to leave bands like Pain of Salvation out of my banned list; I might not have been in the right frame of mind back then, or my tastes have changed enough since that my opinion could today be completely different, or maybe I would like some albums and not others.

One thing that I really like about this song is the way it builds. Starting off with just piano and softly spoken vocals the song slowly creeps up in pace and dynamics, adding strings and cymbals before it gets to the 1:30 minute mark, where it all drops away sans the vocalist, before the instruments come back in one by one building to a great moment just before 2:00 where all the drums kick in, and the violins break free and take off in an ascending and then slowly descending run - probably my favourite part of the song right there. The song continues to become more aggressive after this, the vocals especially, which I wasn't too fond of towards the end of the track. But musically it remained strong, I dug the addition of a flute during the final minute or so of the band rocking out.



So, there we have the conclusion to Round 1. In all, it was a strong round and I'm impressed that submissions were so strong right from the beginning. A couple of the songs that weren't in a position to earn stars, I'm probably going to investigate further after the roulette anyway. I'm slightly optimistic about the rest of this roulette now -  don't disappoint me.

I hadn't planned on doing this, but I thought a ranking of each round might be something you guys were interested in, so you can see how you did against all of the other players and not just your competitor for the round. Since this has no bearing on anything, there may be ties. Round 1 looked something like this:

Scorpion
Evermind / Big Hath
Shadow Ninja 2.0 / jingle.chad
Parama
Elite
Sacul

Finally, here are the scores so far. It'll be obvious for the first few rounds who is currently on top, but I'm hoping that as the roulette goes on and a bunch of different stars are earned by each of you, this becomes less clear. I have no intention of revealing the point values of each star before the end of the roulette, but feel free to speculate or argue amongst yourselves about who is performing better than who. :neverusethis:

Quote from: SCOREBOARD
(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/score_r1.png~original)



Round 2: En Garde!

Here's who each of you is fighting to the deathplaying against in the next round:

Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs Elite
jingle.boy vs Evermind
Big Hath vs Scorpion
Parama vs Sacul
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Sacul on August 01, 2015, 07:26:47 PM
Last place yay  :rollin
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Crow on August 01, 2015, 07:52:02 PM
oh well  :lol
i can't be pissed losing to devin townsend anyways
also rip the pain of salvation entry, certainly a good one

and if you really like heavy which you apparently do I can definitely tailor a few entries in that direction
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on August 01, 2015, 08:18:43 PM
sent
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Sacul on August 01, 2015, 08:49:19 PM
sent
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 01, 2015, 10:35:35 PM
1 down; 6 to go.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Big Hath on August 01, 2015, 11:38:20 PM
alright, glad you enjoyed that one.  Go back and listen to the song I sent from Ocean Machine, I think you'll like it as well.

Great, now I'm up against last rounds overall winner!  Round 2 sent.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Crow on August 02, 2015, 12:33:10 AM
which ocean machine song did you send, out of curiosity?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Elite on August 02, 2015, 01:42:20 AM
I lost to the freaking Reflex!? :lol my god, that song sends me back to my childhood holidays in France!

Okay, this will be interesting next, I'll have to delve a little into my music collection to find stuff that's not on the banned list.
Also, Evermind, you stole my favourite PoS song, but that's alright :)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Evermind on August 02, 2015, 03:04:09 AM
Also, Evermind, you stole my favourite PoS song, but that's alright :)

And I still lost the round. Fuck you Scorp. :lol I'll get you in Buddyhunter's though.

I think I know what to send in Round 2, and if it doesn't get rejected... well, that will be the first loss for you, Chad.

Edit: sent! I'm 90% sure it'll be rejected though.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: wolfking on August 02, 2015, 04:01:33 AM
Da Reflex!  Fuck yeah! You got some big fucking balls Chad.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Big Hath on August 02, 2015, 06:09:52 AM
which ocean machine song did you send, out of curiosity?

Life
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Bolsters on August 02, 2015, 06:24:38 AM
alright, glad you enjoyed that one.  Go back and listen to the song I sent from Ocean Machine, I think you'll like it as well.
I should probably listen to the whole album again, really. But I am going to start with Addicted and then move on to the other Project albums, first. Although I decided not to listen to any albums as a result of this roulette until it's over. I've got a heap of things bookmarked on Spotify already though, for when the time comes.

Also, Evermind, you stole my favourite PoS song, but that's alright :)
And I still lost the round. Fuck you Scorp. :lol I'll get you in Buddyhunter's though.
Yeah, you got boned kind of hard here unfortunately. :lol Yours and Big Hath's songs were also contenders for the gold star, but Big Hath at least got away with a silver seeing as he was in another matchup.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Evermind on August 02, 2015, 07:16:12 AM
Alright, my song got rejected so Chad still has a chance to win I guess. :angel:

Sent another one.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Bolsters on August 02, 2015, 07:23:38 AM
Alright, my song got rejected so Chad still has a chance to win I guess. :angel:
You never know, the second one might be better - that was the case for Big Hath last round, and it paid off for him.

Chad will probably be disappointed you sent what you did - before the roulette began, I was pretty sure this band would be one of the things he would send me, and I'm almost positive he would have had them in mind - he has over 1,000 scrobbles of their songs on Last.fm. So, I think it will be especially frustrating for jingle.chad if you do win here. :biggrin:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 02, 2015, 08:24:57 AM
I lost to the freaking Reflex!? :lol my god, that song sends me back to my childhood holidays in France!

(https://commitnesstofitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Drop-the-mic.gif)

Da Reflex!  Fuck yeah! You got some big fucking balls Chad.

(https://s2.quickmeme.com/img/68/683001fb67745b07d647564d9897ba8a56c9b1ecefbf1437d398c8b45ab364cf.jpg)

Chad will probably be disappointed you sent what you did - before the roulette began, I was pretty sure this band would be one of the things he would send me, and I'm almost positive he would have had them in mind - he has over 1,000 scrobbles of their songs on Last.fm. So, I think it will be especially frustrating for jingle.chad if you do win here. :biggrin:

Pretty certain I can guess who it would be - based on who I've got 1000+ scrobbles for, and who isn't on your banned list.  No problem though.  Now I just gotta figure out how I want to compete.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Evermind on August 02, 2015, 08:25:43 AM
It's no big secret or anything. It's in my signature.

Oh, and if Chad wins, I guess I would be the king of pink stars. Because this song should get me at least that.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette v. How does this work? halp. -ROUND 1 LISTENING-
Post by: TAC on August 02, 2015, 05:58:07 PM
jingle.boy
  • Duran Duran - The Reflex
WTF is this?
I know a place you'd be thrown out of for submitting this! :lol

:roulettewhore[/list]
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 02, 2015, 06:10:25 PM
It's called knowing your audience.  I got a star, didn't I?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Bolsters on August 02, 2015, 10:19:18 PM
All but 2 submissions received so far.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 03, 2015, 04:41:23 AM
Ok, made my selection.  Sending momentarily.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Bolsters on August 03, 2015, 05:55:09 AM
Just waiting on the arachnid to send now.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Scorpion on August 03, 2015, 10:36:33 AM
Not anymore.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Elite on August 04, 2015, 07:41:07 AM
Elite posting from his holiday destination! Results when? :)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Bolsters on August 04, 2015, 07:47:54 AM
Elite posting from his holiday destination! Results when? :)
I was typing up the following post just as you replied, explaining that. ;)


Results for Round 2 will be up tomorrow. I definitely need to give some of these songs a few more listens and fix up the writeups. As last time though, have some early tidbits:


"This song is perhaps slightly more bland, since it doesn't really have as much variety in the dynamics, and the vocals were not as strong. Even after having listened to it about 6-8 times, I still find it largely forgettable."


"Instrumentation in this song is good - from the soft piano chords spaced apart that are allowed to sustain and decay, to the slightly energetic broken acoustic guitar chords, the violins that fill up all the empty space in the mix, and the minimalistic, almost marching-band-like snare rolls...this is a well constructed and beautiful sounding folk ballad."


"But there was nothing about this track that really stood out, that made me think "fuck, why wasn't I listening to these guys before? Why aren't I listening to more of it right now?""


"The attitude of the vocalist during a lot of this song was probably the thing that most gave this song a slight punk feel - she's got that distinct attitude in her pronunciation."


"I also like the overdriven sound - when playing softly the notes are (mostly) clean, but then as he strikes notes harder they become really fuzzy."


"I'm not a musician, but it sounds like it might be sevenths, which gives the riff an almost dissonant sound and, along with the time signature and changing drum patterns, this creates a nice staccato, almost frantic feel."


"The song lets up during the first part of each verse, keeping it simple with a drum beat, softer strings and the lead vox, and its brief instrumental section is on the mellow side aswell, but it's otherwise competely brazen and unrelenting with its balls-to-the-wall attitude."


"While this can be at times a somewhat beautiful song, for me it's a bit same-y overall and I think it drags on for a bit too long."
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Bolsters on August 04, 2015, 07:57:04 AM
I almost forgot to post this. Since everybody else is doing it and I've succumbed to peer pressure, here is how each of your submissions ranks against the others. I'll probably post this with the tidbits so that the results posts can be a little shorter.


Shadow Ninja 2.0

jingle.chad

Big Hath

Parama

Scorpion

Sacul

Evermind

Elite
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Sacul on August 04, 2015, 08:44:33 AM
The second bit is mine, for sure - I hope the last one isn't  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Bolsters on August 04, 2015, 08:45:37 AM
The second bit is mine, for sure - I hope the last one isn't  :lol
There's one tidbit from each song there - so you're good. :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Crow on August 04, 2015, 09:41:38 AM
not: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
this round as a whole from these tidbits seems disappointing to you though  :lol
it'll probably be #3 but i'm sad
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Bolsters on August 04, 2015, 09:50:35 AM
not: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
this round as a whole from these tidbits seems disappointing to you though  :lol
it'll probably be #3 but i'm sad
Nope, yours is not #3.

I guess this round was a little disappointing compared to the first, sure. As the rankings indicate, only two people managed to best their first submission (although one came really really really close)...and let's face it, Sacul had nowhere to go but up anyway. :D
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Crow on August 04, 2015, 09:51:32 AM
i get why oceansize doesn't ever tend to do well in roulettes but it's sad because they're actually the best band ever
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Evermind on August 04, 2015, 10:18:15 AM
Mine could be first, third and fourth.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Elite on August 04, 2015, 01:17:30 PM
I have no idea which one is mine, but since you said you liked my track better than last, here's me hope for a star this time :)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 04, 2015, 02:33:58 PM
"While this can be at times a somewhat beautiful song, for me it's a bit same-y overall and I think it drags on for a bit too long."

I got a c-note that says this is mine.  Stunning it rates below The Reflex.  I'd put your flame-retardant suit on before making your post. 

Shocking that all of us (save Lucas and Rich) did worse - though... Lucas only had one direction to go.  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Sacul on August 04, 2015, 02:54:59 PM
Had this gone worse, I'd have started tying a noose :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Crow on August 04, 2015, 03:32:24 PM
well i'd have been happy at least  :hat
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Sacul on August 04, 2015, 04:11:53 PM
 :'(
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Bolsters on August 04, 2015, 07:55:07 PM
Mine could be first, third and fourth.
It's none of those.

"While this can be at times a somewhat beautiful song, for me it's a bit same-y overall and I think it drags on for a bit too long."
I got a c-note that says this is mine.  Stunning it rates below The Reflex.  I'd put your flame-retardant suit on before making your post.
Nope, you're wrong aswell.

Shocking that all of us (save Lucas and Rich) did worse - though... Lucas only had one direction to go.  :lol
I already made that joke. :yeahright
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Bolsters on August 04, 2015, 08:38:48 PM
Got your Round 2 results right here, bitches. I'm not entirely happy with a couple of the writeups but they aren't going to get any better.


Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs Elite

Shadow Ninja 2.0
I've seen videos like this before, though whether or not I have seen this guy in particular I do not know. Anyway, these are really cool people to watch play, because they do so much more than just play the gee-tar well - being able to utilise the guitar as a percussive instrument to create a myriad of different sounds while simultaneously playing it takes a high degree of skill, I'd imagine, not to mention needing a good ear to be able to play notes and bend them by rotating the tuners. I also like the overdriven sound - when playing softly the notes are (mostly) clean, but then as he strikes notes harder they become really fuzzy. That sort of control over your dynamics when playing is, again, not something I'd imagine you pick up straight away when you start playing the guitar.

The only caveat to something like this is that, while it has that wow-factor and it's incredibly entertaining to watch (I've even forwarded it to a guitarist friend of mine already), the music itself isn't really entertaining enough for me to want to listen to it. All of the entertainment value is in watching the performance and realising what kind of talent and imagination is necessary to create it. That's not to say I didn't actually like the song: due to the way Jon plays there's some good variety in this song, especially given that it is vocals and acoustic guitar only. I think the mellower parts like the verses where he plays with the tuners are really good. But then there's a lot in the song that is about the performance first, since this is, after all, mostly about the spectacle, and that makes the video more entertaining but brings the song itself down, and although it's a relatively short song and he introduces new sounds as it progresses, the song does drag a bit. Although again, the performance itself doesn't drag or get boring at all.

I'm going to separate the song from the performance and try to base my decision on the song itself only, and so you don't earn a star as a result because I liked Elite's song more. However this was still a good submission, I enjoyed watching it immensely and am glad that you did share it with me.


Elite
I'd heard of this band before, but I don't think I had ever listened to any of their music. What we have here is an energetic progressive rock song that wastes no time getting started - from the very first second this song establishes itself with a cool riff that involves alternating between two intervals, and is reminiscent of the intro to Bulls On Parade. I'm not a musician, but it sounds like it might be sevenths, which gives the riff an almost dissonant sound and, along with the time signature and changing drum patterns, this creates a nice staccato, almost frantic feel. The keyboard that appears has a pretty original sound for this kind of music which is a plus, because a lot of prog rock (and metal) bands get caught up using the same or very similar sounds. Here, the keys almost sound like something I'd expect more in an ambient electronica track than a rockin' prog track. After the intro things become less frantic and the drums groove more. I like the how the vocal melodies here and in the prechorus jump up in places. This guy has a nice falsetto too, which is showcased especially well in the prechorus and chorus of the song. The stacatto reappears throughout the song, but this time with the vocals, making the "to condemn or to crown" line a particular standout. The thick reverb on everything was an interesting way to close the song, too.



jingle.boy vs Evermind

jingle.boy
This is another band I tried to get into many years ago, and failed. It is also another band I figured someone would be sending in this roulette (there's been a few already and I have no doubt there are many more to follow :lol). I know I've heard a few songs from Become, I know I've heard most if not all of Waiting in the Wings, and I know I've heard the title track on The Great Escape. When exactly, I don't really remember. Why I didn't get into this band, I don't really remember that, either.

Listening to this song, I think I might have an idea though. There's nothing bad here, really - as far as progressive metal goes, it's got everything you would want. It's got both heavy and lighter sections. It's got riffs. It's got piano. It's got plenty of synths and even a bit of organ. Vocally it's not bad, you are right I am somewhat familiar with Tommy Karevik and I don't mind his voice. The reason I probably didn't explore these guys further? What you'd expect this song to have, is pretty much all that it has. Don't get me wrong - it's done reasonably well, I did enjoy it, I will bookmark this album and listen to it after the roulette. But there was nothing about this track that really stood out, that made me think "fuck, why wasn't I listening to these guys before? Why aren't I listening to more of it right now?". I liked this song, but I wasn't excited by it too much; I thought it was a bit on the generic side for the mostpart, and I'm a lot harder to please. You also told me when you sent that these guys write amazing verses, but I'm not really hearing it.

My favourite bits: The bass playing throughout the majority of the song was quite good. The intro was nice before the distorted guitars and synth solo came in, shame it was so short. The final parts of the song with vox were also quite good.


Evermind
Surprising fact: This is again a band I tried to get into at some point in history, with the album Once...and also the Endless Forms album, which I didn't realise when I asked you to resubmit your Once submission, so I am glad you didn't pick something from that album when you sent a new song or I'd have had to ask you to resend again. :lol They obviously didn't click at the time, but I've gotten a song from you that I have never heard before, so let's see what happened while I listened to it.

This track makes a much better first impression than I remember any of the other Nightwish tracks I've heard making. It starts off with the orchestral instrumentation, with some violins playing a riff and what I believe is the cello playing a low, droning, rather ominous note underneath. But this track wastes no time introducing some crunchy as fuck guitar, accented by the drums to give it punch and impact. It takes off completely from there and gets into a really nice, heavy groove accompanied by a choir, singing the same riff as the strings earlier, that cut above the metal instrumentation. The song lets up during the first part of each verse, keeping it simple with a drum beat, softer strings and the lead vox, and its brief instrumental section is on the mellow side aswell, but it's otherwise competely brazen and unrelenting with its balls-to-the-wall attitude. When it comes to the combination of heavy metal music, string sections, and choirs, this is the kind of thing that gets me wet. Vocally, I especially liked how the choir was utilised here, I liked how the male backing vox added a bit of depth to the lead vocals, and the lead singer herself wasn't bad either.

You got a gold star this round, and you got to beat Chad. Don't let him forget it. :neverusethis:



Big Hath vs Scorpion

Big Hath
I'd heard of this band, but I knew next to nothing about them - so little infact that I actually thought they were an indie rock band. :lol This song certainly was not that - it was a pretty straight up hard rock song, with a slight punk influence. Truth be told, I'm actually surprised this is something you're into (you do listen to this, right?). But, it was a nice surprise.

The attitude of the vocalist during a lot of this song was probably the thing that most gave this song a slight punk feel - she's got that distinct attitude in her pronunciation that I attribute with those styles. At times she reminded me a bit of Avril Lavigne, as she often employs the same vocal technique in her songs (yes, I listen to Avril Lavigne - her first album though, and certainly not that Hello Kitty bullshit :lol). I liked the verses especially here, where the song wasn't as upfront and there was more breathing room. The clean electric guitar with wah was a nice addition here, since that is a little atypical for a song like this (as far as my experience goes, anyway). The song itself was a bit straightforward - no real surprises here - but it rocks, it's catchy...I enjoyed it a lot.


Scorpion
I should probably just start to copy/paste what I've previously said about bands I tried to get into at the past and how I was pretty sure they would be sent in this roulette. I'm just going to skip talking about what or when I gave this band a chance and just get straight to the point. :\

Shadow Gallery is a band that always thought of as a straightforward, predictable progressive metal band. They do what they do, they might even do it reasonably well, but they've nothing to offer beyond what I would expect from the genre. I'm afraid that this song hasn't really changed my mind at all. I liked it a bit more than previous things I've heard from them - I think a lot of that has to do with the fact I listened to this song more than once, though, because this track improved with repeated listens. That fact alone is the reason why I will explore Shadow Gallery more after the roulette.

A lot of what I had to say about Chad's submission this round comes into play here, aswell. This song is perhaps slightly more bland, since it doesn't really have as much variety in the dynamics, and the vocals were not as strong. Even after having listened to it about 10-12 times, I still find it largely forgettable. But on to the things I do like; The piano in this song, during the intro and chorus in particular, was more reminiscent of AOR to me than metal which, granted, is at least somewhat unique and created an interesting combination of styles. The chorus was probably highlight of the song, but it was still good, not great. The beginning of the instrumental section before the guitar/synth solos was decent aswell. What I didn't feel so much: The riffage was here, but it was fairly run-of-the-mill stuff and none of it stood out at all. Vocally the song was a bit hit-or-miss (mostly miss) aswell.

I'll check this album out, but you haven't impressed me enough to earn a star this time, I'm afraid.



Parama vs Sacul

Parama
I'd heard of this band, but I didn't remember if I ever got around to listening to them. According to my Last.fm I listened to a song called "Commemorative 9/11 T-Shirt" more than two years ago, but I don't remember anything about it. So I know at the very least I listened to something, and it didn't click enough at the time for me to explore the band further. Let's see if you changed my mind at all. :biggrin:

The short answer before I elaborate is: Maybe. I've never really been able to get into post-rock, but I'd say this song has done better than any other attempt I've made at making me stop and think "Should I be listening to more of this?" though, so you get some props for that alone.

Having said that, while this can be at times a somewhat beautiful song, for me it's a bit same-y overall (despite having a reasonable number of sections for an 8+ minute song) and I think it drags on for a bit too long. The intro and first verse is quite strong, I like the slightly frantic feel to the riff and the hi-hats. Around the 1:04 mark the guitar takes on a different but similar ostinato which is brought to life with a delay that also bounces it around in the stereo image a bit, to great effect. The song goes on with this for another couple of minutes before it becomes a little more aggressive, but while there are things I like here such as the use of wah and what sounds like a violin, it's probably the least exciting part of the song for me. I like when the cleaner beginnings return for the outro, which is decent. If the song were shorter and had less or none of the aggressive bit in the middle, I'd rate it a lot higher.

So yeah, like almost every submission so far I will definitely check this album out when all is said and done, but outside of maybe finding a couple of songs that I like, I don't have high expectations.


Sacul
What we have here is a nice, relaxing singer/songwriter type song with some folk influence. I don't listen to much of this sort of thing, but there's an artist called Mree that I listen to, and this reminds me of what she does quite a bit (have you heard of her?). I wouldn't say I like this more than anything Mree does, but it isn't bad at all.

Instrumentation in this song is good - from the soft piano chords spaced apart that are allowed to sustain and decay, to the slightly energetic broken acoustic guitar chords, the violins that fill up all the empty space in the mix, and the minimalistic, almost marching-band-like snare rolls...this is a well constructed and beautiful sounding folk ballad. Despite liking all of that, I think the highlight here is the vocals - Marketa has a soft, dreamy texture to her voice during the verses, which is isolated and unaccompanied, but she uses harmonies well when more emphasis is needed on her voice. Adding further to that, she layers several of these harmonies in the choruses and latter parts of the track to create a gorgeous sound that spans the stereo image and widens it, making the these sections sound "larger" than others.

I know you were discouraged after the last round, but you have done a lot to redeem yourself. Keep it up. :tup



It was perhaps a little bit more mixed than the first round, but still plenty of solid submissions from you guys. Keep it up. Chad's words when sending his song were "Strength vs strength against Ruslan", but Ruslan managed to fight back and show superior strength. Sacul grabs his first star (of many?) after a rocky start, leaving Parama the only contestant yet to score. But it's still anyone's game at this point, and with 5 more rounds Parama has ample opportunity to stick it to some of you.

Here's how you all ranked against one another for Round 2:

Evermind
Big Hath
Elite / Sacul
jingle.chad
Shadow Ninja 2.0 / Parama / Scorpion

Here is the new and improved scoreboard. People who earned stars in the last round, for the most part, didn't manage to get much of anything here and so things have evened out a little bit. With the first round it was obvious who was winning, but after just one additional round things are starting to look a little unclear, and who is doing better than who is starting to become harder to discern. Well, for you guys that is - I know precisely how many points each of you has and what the ranking is so far. :-*

Quote from: SCOREBOARD
(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/score_r2.png~original)



Round 3: Rumble!

Matchups for the third round will be:

Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs Evermind
jingle.boy vs Big Hath
Scorpion vs Sacul
Parama vs Elite
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on August 04, 2015, 08:44:01 PM
oh nooooooo

Will send almost immediately.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Sacul on August 04, 2015, 09:03:50 PM
Marketa made one last year's best albums, and that song might be my favourite from it, glad you liked it.

Oh, now double match against Elite and Scorpion?  :o
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Bolsters on August 04, 2015, 09:10:43 PM
Marketa made one last year's best albums, and that song might be my favourite from it, glad you liked it.

Oh, now double match against Elite and Scorpion?  :o
Yeah sorry, already fixed that. :mehlin
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: bl5150 on August 04, 2015, 09:18:51 PM
 Following and shit to see if Chad can better his Duran Duran rating.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 04, 2015, 09:28:16 PM
Brain fart on my part... I meant to say that Seventh Wonder (that song in particular) has a great chorus.  Odd song Nightwish song to send (imo), but still a good one, and even better live.

Traveling (again) this week, so I might be delayed a day or two to figure out what I'm sending.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Sacul on August 04, 2015, 09:34:59 PM
Marketa made one last year's best albums, and that song might be my favourite from it, glad you liked it.

Oh, now double match against Elite and Scorpion?  :o
Yeah sorry, already fixed that. :mehlin
No prob dude.

Oh, against Scorpion, then? THIS WILL BE YOUR PERDITION  :flame: .

Edit: Sent  :coolio
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Crow on August 04, 2015, 10:11:07 PM
new goal: zero stars all roulette  :hat
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Bolsters on August 04, 2015, 10:12:56 PM
Brain fart on my part... I meant to say that Seventh Wonder (that song in particular) has a great chorus.
That does make a lot more sense.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Crow on August 04, 2015, 10:14:08 PM
also Frames is a top 5 album for me so if you dislike it i'll probably just... die or something
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 1 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 2-
Post by: Big Hath on August 04, 2015, 10:15:32 PM
whew, I was sweating that out a bit.  Nice to get a star!

I almost sent Seventh Wonder this round as well, though a different song.

Truth be told, I'm actually surprised this is something you're into (you do listen to this, right?). But, it was a nice surprise.

most definitely.  I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan or anything but I've listened to a good bit of Paramore.  I actually first heard of them when this song appeared on a songlist of one of the Rock Band games.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Bolsters on August 04, 2015, 11:00:04 PM
Well, half of the entries are in already. :omg:


(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/star-great-job.jpg~original)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Bolsters on August 05, 2015, 11:15:22 PM
One was asked to resubmit, but I'm otherwise waiting on the remaining four.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 05, 2015, 11:22:35 PM
Will send tomorrow.  As I mentioned in Tim's thread, my travel is throwing a wrench into my timeliness of submissions.  Think I know what I want to send, just one final review tomorrow morning, and I'll send (hopefully before my dinner with chknpotpie).
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Bolsters on August 05, 2015, 11:28:57 PM
Will send tomorrow.  As I mentioned in Tim's thread, my travel is throwing a wrench into my timeliness of submissions.  Think I know what I want to send, just one final review tomorrow morning, and I'll send (hopefully before my dinner with chknpotpie).
I've been following TAC's roulette so I was aware of your particular situation. No worries.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Evermind on August 05, 2015, 11:35:29 PM
Yeah, I've got some troubles here too, I'll try to send today but it can also be tomorrow.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 06, 2015, 06:59:19 AM
Sent.  Let's see how this one works out.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Elite on August 06, 2015, 03:30:34 PM
I sent earlier today.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Bolsters on August 06, 2015, 09:28:13 PM
Yep, you're all in.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Bolsters on August 07, 2015, 09:59:58 PM
Here are the tidbits and personal rankings for Round 3. Results proper will be posted later tonight (could technically be tomorrow depending on your timezones).



"This was easily the most difficult song of the bunch to get a read on. A lot of the time it's quite good, however its biggest problem I think is that it sounds like someone with Attention Defecit Disorder wrote it - it jumps wildly from one thing to the next, rarely giving any of its sections time to really establish themselves and with zero fucks given."


"Things get more interesting after the halfway mark though with a nice instrumental section leading up to the guitar solo. The first time I listened to the song I wasn't feeling it as much, until this part of the song, when I was completely sold."


"This track is unsurprisingly similar in many ways to the aforementioned song. It has the same four-to-the-floor kick, it sounds like it might be at roughly the same tempo, and a lot of the ways it builds up to something is basically the same. It is perhaps too similar and too much the same, though."


"The ever-increasing volume of the guitarist furiously picking a note during the choruses, I liked. Vocally things weren't bad either, especially the chorus."


"I wasn't expecting it, really, and thought the song would just continue on as it had already up to that point with rock instrumentation."


"I did like it, but it wasn't all that impressive to me. The drums were a particular disappointment, as I don't like the way they're mixed and the beats are quite repetitive."


"This song sounded incredibly familiar at some points but then completely foreign at others. As a whole the song is pretty serviceable. It's not actually bad at anything, but I'm not on the edge of my seat at any point of it."


"I don't think there was a single thing here that didn't throwback to the era. The clean guitar during the intro sounds like something Jimmy Page might have used. There's plenty of organ going on aswell which further exemplifies the 70's rock sound."




Shadow Ninja 2.0

jingle.chad

Big Hath

Parama

Scorpion

Sacul

Evermind

Elite
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Evermind on August 07, 2015, 10:09:05 PM
Mine is probably about the drums. I don't even remember how the drums sound in my song. :lol

Well, I expected my song to score last in the rankings, but my first two songs were great, so maybe that'll be enough to secure me some kind of star. And even if not, well... it's only the star.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 07, 2015, 10:15:44 PM

"Things get more interesting after the halfway mark though with a nice instrumental section leading up to the guitar solo. The first time I listened to the song I wasn't feeling it as much, until this part of the song, when I was completely sold."


I got a  c-note that says this is mine.

I'm bound to be right at some point.   :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Crow on August 07, 2015, 10:17:40 PM
i actually forgot what i sent, woops
whoever was against jingle in this round already knows they lost tho  :lol

WAIT I JUST REMEMBERED WHAT I SENT okay
but i can't tell which of these at all are mine  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Evermind on August 07, 2015, 10:36:41 PM
whoever was against jingle in this round already knows they lost tho 

Yeah, well, he can't always lose, gotta get a win or two too. :neverusethis:

Actually, I think he might get a gold star, depends on what Elite sent.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Big Hath on August 07, 2015, 10:50:54 PM
ha, and I felt much better about this round than the previous two.  Oh well.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Crow on August 07, 2015, 10:56:17 PM
My personal ratings thus far for what it's worth xD
1. Trail of Fire
2. Under the Pines
3. Round 3

and what i have planned for Round 4 is probably right on par with Under the Pines, I doubt I'm gonna send a song better than Trail of Fire but I might, who knows  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Sacul on August 07, 2015, 11:26:15 PM
Damn it  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Elite on August 08, 2015, 02:13:23 AM
Well, my songs keep getting better, though from the tidbits, the first one has to be mine, abd that one isn't as positive as some of the others. We'll see!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Bolsters on August 08, 2015, 04:04:52 AM
Mine is probably about the drums. I don't even remember how the drums sound in my song. :lol
Nothing about the drums in your tidbit.

"Things get more interesting after the halfway mark though with a nice instrumental section leading up to the guitar solo. The first time I listened to the song I wasn't feeling it as much, until this part of the song, when I was completely sold."
I got a  c-note that says this is mine.

I'm bound to be right at some point.   :lol
That's the second time out of three you've been right. But if you're waiting on those c-notes to pay the electricity bill or something, I'd sugget you buy some candles.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Scorpion on August 08, 2015, 04:37:38 AM
Dammit.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 08, 2015, 05:02:11 AM
Actually, I think he might get a gold star, depends on what Elite sent.

Not necessarily... just because this was the best song I've sent so far, doesn't mean it was the best of the round.  You got a goldie last round, but it was only your 2nd best song.  You could very well get the gold star again.

That's the second time out of three you've been right.

Two out of three aint bad.  Wait... he's on the banned list :neverusethis:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 2 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 3-
Post by: Bolsters on August 08, 2015, 06:40:20 AM
Results for the third round of the roulette. FINALLY.


Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs Evermind

Shadow Ninja 2.0
This song was a bit of a grower. At first I really only liked the percussion and wasn't too fond of the production, but it got better. The percussion starts off more low key and revolves around the bass drum and other lower-tuned drums (was there a talking drum in there too?) for the verses, and the higher tuned percussion comes to the forefront for the choruses and breakdown. This effectively makes the verses less busy and creates a change in dynamics. The ever-increasing volume of the guitarist furiously picking a note during the choruses, I liked. Vocally things weren't bad either, especially the chorus.

Anyway, this was a fine song and I liked it, but I don't feel it is as strong as the other silver star recipients thus far. Therefore I have decided to give you the first bronze star of the roulette. Congrats? :lol


Evermind
These guys must have really, really liked the 70's. :lol I don't think there was a single thing here that didn't throwback to the era. The clean guitar during the intro sounds like something Jimmy Page might have used. There's plenty of organ going on aswell which further exemplifies the 70's rock sound. This song takes its time to build up, which isn't a bad thing as the first half of the song doesn't drag at all. However, after the halfway mark the song dragged a bit I thought, as it stayed where it was at that point, and the guitar solos seem like they were never going to end. :lol Vocally I didn't mind the female vox, but the male backing vox in the latter half of the song weren't too great. Luckily, they are short-lived.



jingle.boy vs Big Hath

jingle.boy
Styx is one of those classic rock bands that slipped under my radar a bit. I'm aware of the big hits like Renegade and Come Sail Away, but I was never inclined to explore the band further. So, did you correct that mistake, or confirm that I was right in the first place? Well, I definitely think I should be checking these guys out, now.

What we have here is a solid power ballad. It's mostly dominated by piano, but the guitar comes in as necessary. I like the chorus especially, the vocals are almost Queen-like and the song reminds me a bit of Night Ranger at this point. Things get more interesting after the halfway mark though with a fantastic instrumental section leading up to the guitar solo. The first time I listened to the song I wasn't feeling it so much, until this part of the song, when I was completely sold.

I'm still not sold on DeYoung though. The intro and verses are probably the weaker points of the song and I think it has a lot to do with his vocals. I'm just not that big a fan of him in these parts, and he is the same in Come Sail Away, which is likely a reason I never bothered checking this band out more at any point over the years. I wouldn't call him bad, but I'm probably never going to be a big fan, either.

Anyway, this was a great 70's power ballad and I am definitely going to check these guys out more after the roulette.


Big Hath
During the first few seconds of listening, I almost considered rejecting this song. At the very beginning the first line is "You Say..." and in the space before the next line I immediately thought "I only hear what I want to". :lol But as the song progressed, I realised that I didnt actually recognise anything other than that. I tried searching online to find out if this was used in a movie or TV show that I might have watched, but my best guess is that the first part of the song was used in a TV ad or something here on Australian TV back in the 90's. Maybe an ad trying to sell the CD? :lol It was a bit bizzare actually, having one instantly recognisable part repeated throughout the song and then not knowing anything else. Or perhaps it's like Chad's Duran Duran entry where I have probably heard the song as a whole but it was so long ago that I don't remember it (or in this case, I barely remember it). Either way, it was certainly not familiar enough to me to warrant asking for something else.

The 90's was a pretty good time for female pop singer/songwriters apparently, and I am aware of a lot of them and own some compilations by some of them. Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories appear to have slipped under my radar though. No doubt because of the above, this song sounded incredibly familiar at some points but then completely foreign at others. As a whole the song is pretty serviceable. It's not actually bad at anything, but I'm not on the edge of my seat at any point of it. I think the verses are my favourite part, and Lisa Loeb has that 90's singing style going on - which is no surprise since this song is from 1994.



Scorpion vs Sacul

Scorpion
I'm quite familiar with Becoming Insane, and although I'm not normally into that sort of straightforward trance, that particular song has enough going on besides the incessant four-to-the-floor to hold my interest, although it's not something I can listen to very often. I've never felt compelled to explore IM further though, so I was curious to find out what this song was like.

This track is unsurprisingly similar in many ways to the aforementioned song. It has the same four-to-the-floor kick, it sounds like it might be at roughly the same tempo, and a lot of the ways it builds up to something is basically the same. It is perhaps too similar and too much the same (the same use of EQ sweeps, bass drops, lo-fi, and hi-hats), though. This song has some great production moments which is something that I expected since it's also a highlight of Becoming Insane. The gated vocals in the intro are really cool, the breakdown in the middle of the song is a breath of fresh air right where it's needed in an otherwise straightforward and repetitive song, and the extended guitar solo following on after helps.

Unfortunately the song is a little too much like I expected it to be, and doesn't match Becoming Insane, so it hasn't really changed my mind about looking into Infected Mushroom's music more.


Sacul
I'm sure I listened to Janelle Monae at some point either last year or the year before, because of someone on DTF. I'm not sure which songs I listened to, but whatever they were, it wasn't doing it for me at the time. That was at the cusp of my interest in modern pop music though, and now that I'm listening to Taylor Swift and have Katy Perry's face as an avatar, maybe my tastes have expanded enough for me to change my mind about Janelle.

It must have been quite a while since I heard a Janelle Monae song, because this is a little different that what I was expecting. I guess I thought it would be pop with some R&B influence, but instead it's more R&B with a pop infuence. Which isn't a bad thing, but I think it might have appealed to me more had it been the other way around. Anyway, as a vocalist Janelle is great, definitely the kind of thing I like. The music she sings over, not so much. I did like it, but it wasn't all that impressive to me. The drums were a particular disappointment, as I don't like the way they're mixed, the beats are quite repetitive, and a little too "busy". The organs were really good though, probably the second best thing about the song behind Janelle's vocals. Third best, the outro.

Although I did like the song and didn't exactly dislike it, like the Ninja's submission I don't feel that it is anywhere near as strong as any of the other silver star recipients. Therefore, I am giving you the second bronze star of the roulette.



Parama vs Elite

Parama
This song had a little surprise for me. This song starts out pretty mellow, with some heavily delayed guitar and fairly dry, lo-fi EQed vocals. Things pick up a bit when the vocals are brought up and the drum beat begins. I never really warmed up to this section at all; it works, but it's a bit dull.

However, that somewhat surprising turn starts just after the halfway mark, when a fat synth bass begins the song's transformation into something more electronic for the chorus. I wasn't expecting it, really, and thought the song would just continue on as it had already up to that point with rock instrumentation. The song picks up even more when the "Wake Up" bit starts, which continues until the song strips everything back to the delayed guitar and a kick drum before ending.

Overall this wasn't a bad song, but I'm not getting all that excited about it when I listen to it.


Elite
+1 to the list of things I figured would come my way this roulette. I had heard some Leprous before, but I think only a song or two from Coal and the title track of Bilateral.

At first, this was easily the most difficult song of the bunch to get a read on. A lot of the time it's quite good, however its biggest problem I think is that it sounds like someone with Attention Defecit Disorder wrote it - it jumps wildly from one thing to the next, rarely giving any of its sections time to really establish themselves and with zero fucks given. Pretty much all of these sections sound pretty good, and it's a shame some of the more brief ones weren't given more room to breathe and stand on their own. It's better once you know the song a little better too, the first time it sounded a bit of a mess. I liked what was going on vocally at pretty much any point. Even with a bunch of listens under my belt I still don't feel like I know this song all that well, which is both good and bad I think. It's good because there is a lot of depth and things to discover here, but it's also bad because I'm supposed to form an opinion of this song in a timely manner while also trying to do the same for seven other people; this is not an easy song to "get" within just a couple of days.

However, these few drawbacks aren't huge, and I found that they bothered me less and less the more I listened to the song; this track was a huge grower. I think maybe that's why I haven't gotten into Leprous before - I listened to a song or two, but only bothered listening to them once each. I'll have to remedy that after the roulette.

I don't want to get caught up describing too much of this song, so I'm just going to throw out a few of my favourite bits.
- Really nice, frantic intro. Interesting synth sound, quite unusual, which I like.
- Verses are good. I like the clicky percussion, I like that the synth is still here but with a rather unforgiving lowpass filter on it.
- Chorus is strong vocally, especially when he goes into the falsetto. Nice chunky guitar sound too.
- Ambient sections are all good, and are a welcome change of pace in an otherwise frantic, full-on prog metal song. The one that starts around the halfway mark is a particular standout, and I like the way it builds back up for the outro.

At first you were going to lose to Parama. Then, you were going to get the star...but a bronze one. A little later, I felt you did deserve the silver. And then more recently I thought, nah...this is probably the best track I got this round, this is a gold star song. So you are very fortunate that I listened to the song as many times as I did. :lol



Ranking for this round:

Elite
jingle.boy
Big Hath
Shadow Ninja 2.0
Sacul / Evermind / Parama
Scorpion

The scoreboard as of Round 3:

Quote from: SCOREBOARD
(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/score_r3.png~original)



Round 4: Spar!

Matchups for Round 4 are...

Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs Parama
jingle.boy vs Scorpion
Big Hath vs Elite
Sacul vs Evermind
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 08, 2015, 07:00:42 AM
So, counting for how "valuable" each star is, Elite/Evermind are first and second, and me/Big Hath/Scrop tied for third??  The only thing I think we can all agree on, is Parama is in last. :lol

Glad you liked Styx.  DeYoung I guess is a grower vocally.  Have a go with the rest of Pieces of Eight - fantastic album and great place to start.

Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Bolsters on August 08, 2015, 07:07:19 AM
So, counting for how "valuable" each star is, Elite/Evermind are first and second, and me/Big Hath/Scrop tied for third??  The only thing I think we can all agree on, is Parama is in last. :lol
This is not too far off. One hint: You/Hath/Scrop are not all tied. ;)

Glad you liked Styx.  DeYoung I guess is a grower vocally.  Have a go with the rest of Pieces of Eight - fantastic album and great place to start.
Definitely. Deyoung was really my only gripe with the song and like I said I didn't really dislike him all that much. He's certainly not going to get in the way of my enjoyment of their music if this song is any indication. I was probably nitpicking a bit, really. I've got the album in my ever increasing list of Spotify playlists for when the times comes.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Elite on August 08, 2015, 07:15:33 AM
Thanks for listening to Forced Entry more than once :lol
I can imagine that it's insanely hard to get into when you haven't heard the band before. That said, I've heard the song more than a hundred times and I still hear new things with every listen. There's so much to that song and I think it's what makes it brilliant. It's a lot at first, but you'll recognise the different parts more easily when you get familiar with the track. I knew it was risky, but it payed off well :)

As for the stars, here's a guess:
Gold star: 5 points
Silver star: 3 points
Bronze star: 2 points
Purple star: 1 point
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Bolsters on August 08, 2015, 07:30:19 AM
As for the stars, here's a guess:
Gold star: 5 points
Silver star: 3 points
Bronze star: 2 points
Purple star: 1 point
The only thing you got right was their order.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 08, 2015, 08:46:47 AM
As for the stars, here's a guess:
Gold star: 5 points
Silver star: 3 points
Bronze star: 2 points
Purple star: 1 point
The only thing you got right was their order.

 :rollin :rollin
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on August 08, 2015, 09:22:26 AM
sent
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Sacul on August 08, 2015, 09:49:16 AM
I've always thought the focus on that song was on her vocal lines - never payed attention to what's going on behind tbh.

Btw, do you like experimental stuff?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Crow on August 08, 2015, 10:04:33 AM
As someone just getting into Leprous, Forced Entry was the only Bilateral track that I immediately liked upon listening, though I still prefer The Valley and a lot of stuff from The Congregation  :lol

anyways sending rn, if I lose every round do I win by reverse victory?  :hat
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Crow on August 08, 2015, 09:08:48 PM
i am not sure if I should've sent the song i sent or a different one from the same artist, i was stuck between two that i like a lot ugh
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Bolsters on August 08, 2015, 09:29:31 PM
Btw, do you like experimental stuff?
Could be hit or miss.

i am not sure if I should've sent the song i sent or a different one from the same artist, i was stuck between two that i like a lot ugh
It was all for naught anyway, because the artist was already banned. :loser:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Crow on August 08, 2015, 09:52:49 PM
well R I P  :rollin

one of the few artists i have who doesn't even have any physical releases and they're banned anyways
(air atlantic was the other one i was thinking of tho would that have scored higher or lower)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Evermind on August 08, 2015, 09:58:48 PM
Kind of expected that.

Alright, I won't be sending before I get home, which should happen in two days from now on. Sorry folks.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Sacul on August 08, 2015, 09:59:39 PM
Sent some experimental art-pop with drone ;D
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Elite on August 09, 2015, 03:15:07 AM
Alright, I won't be sending before I get home, which should happen in two days from now on. Sorry folks.

No problem at all (at least for me). I'm on holiday anyway. I just sent :)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Bolsters on August 09, 2015, 07:43:49 AM
(air atlantic was the other one i was thinking of tho would that have scored higher or lower)
Out of those two songs, you probably made the right choice.

Alright, I won't be sending before I get home, which should happen in two days from now on. Sorry folks.
No problem. I've been getting through the rounds pretty quick so far, extending this one by a couple of days will probably help me out a bit anyway.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Elite on August 11, 2015, 04:07:27 AM
How are we doing here? :)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Bolsters on August 11, 2015, 04:47:25 AM
One person still hasn't sent, but he has a legitimate reason for not having done so. I've listened to the other 7 songs a few times already though, some good stuff in here.

No approximate deadline because I don't know when exactly I'll be getting that last song.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Bolsters on August 11, 2015, 06:02:49 AM
Writeups are pretty much done for those seven, so I don't see any reason not to post the tidbits.


"The keyboard sounds are cheesy as absolute fuck for the mostpart though, they sound really cheap and the song could have been better had they been of higher quality, but some managed to work well enough."


"I like the electric guitar here, where the guitarist starts off palm muting but slowly raises his hand from the strings, allowing the riff to come to life free of muting."


"The track meanders around rather pointlessly for its entire duration, and there are a lot of random noises, distortion/feedback, and abnormal vocalisations."


"However at the half way point things get significantly better. The song slows down a little after that and remains pretty good - probably because the song is slower paced, the drums/guitar aren't playing as rapidly, the vocals are far more interesting, and the song grooves a whole lot more."


"The first three quarters of this song: It's orchestral bliss. I like orchestral stuff, violins and cellos being particular favourites, and there is plenty of great stuff from these instruments here. I also like the inclusion of acoustic guitar with orchestral instrumentation, and there is some nice steelstring playing accompanying the orchestra."


"This song made a good first impression. The first thing that stood out was the production; someone in the Youtube comments said it was "tasty as fuck" and I'd have a hard time disagreeing with that. The acoustic guitars and the drums especially sound great, love the cymbal sound, and the slightly raw vocal sound works in this song aswell."


"The heavier part in the second half of the song is strong aswell, although I don't like the overly-screamy vocals here at all. Fortunately this style isn't utilised outside of this section and only for a few stanzas - had this been a more prominent style throughout the song I wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much."
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 11, 2015, 07:16:31 AM
"The keyboard sounds are cheesy as absolute fuck for the mostpart though, they sound really cheap and the song could have been better had they been of higher quality, but some managed to work well enough."

Mine, all mine.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: TAC on August 11, 2015, 07:53:18 AM
"The keyboard sounds are cheesy as absolute fuck for the mostpart though, they sound really cheap and the song could have been better had they been of higher quality, but some managed to work well enough."

Mine, all mine.
Obviously! ;D
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Evermind on August 11, 2015, 07:59:57 AM
Sorry guys, it's me who's holding up everyone. But now I'm home and ready to win against whoever I'm playing this round.

Will send in a few minutes.

Edit: sent! This should be enough to provide me at least a pink star, but you never know.

Quote
The track meanders around rather pointlessly for its entire duration, and there are a lot of random noises, distortion/feedback, and abnormal vocalisations.

This must be either Parama, Shadow Ninja or Sacul. They love this stuff. :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Bolsters on August 11, 2015, 08:35:34 AM
Alright, here's the scoop. I'll listen to Evermind's song a bit now and then go to bed. Tomorrow afternoon when I get the chance, I'll listen to it some more, and probably a few of the other songs aswell. I will likely post results at that point, unless I need to mull over my decision a bit, in which case I'll post later that evening. So let's say...about 16-18 hours from this post.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Bolsters on August 11, 2015, 08:37:34 AM
Quote
The track meanders around rather pointlessly for its entire duration, and there are a lot of random noises, distortion/feedback, and abnormal vocalisations.

This must be either Parama, Shadow Ninja or Sacul. They love this stuff. :lol
Coincidentally, that's what you're up against.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Crow on August 11, 2015, 08:41:41 AM
"However at the half way point things get significantly better. The song slows down a little after that and remains pretty good - probably because the song is slower paced, the drums/guitar aren't playing as rapidly, the vocals are far more interesting, and the song grooves a whole lot more."
yeah this is mine but i'm sad because that implies that the first half isn't as good, which is untrue >:T
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 11, 2015, 09:01:40 AM
Alright, here's the scoop. I'll listen to Evermind's song a bit now and then go to bed. Tomorrow afternoon when I get the chance, I'll listen to it some more, and probably a few of the other songs aswell. I will likely post results at that point, unless I need to mull over my decision a bit, in which case I'll post later that evening. So let's say...about 16-18 hours from this post.

No need to rush.  Give it all the time it requires.  You're running a good pace, so a couple of extra days to give Ruslan's entry the requisite attention it deserves is ok by me.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Elite on August 11, 2015, 12:12:43 PM
I have no idea which of these todbits is mine. They all don't really make sense with the song I sent, perhaps in context of the rest of the write-up it will.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Sacul on August 11, 2015, 01:24:52 PM
"The track meanders around rather pointlessly for its entire duration, and there are a lot of random noises, distortion/feedback, and abnormal vocalisations."
This is mine!  :lol :facepalm:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on August 11, 2015, 02:30:50 PM
Quote
The track meanders around rather pointlessly for its entire duration, and there are a lot of random noises, distortion/feedback, and abnormal vocalisations.

This must be either Parama, Shadow Ninja or Sacul. They love this stuff. :lol

I take this as a compliment. :lol

It's not mine, though. Almost completely certain the last one is mine.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Sacul on August 11, 2015, 02:50:14 PM
Quote
The track meanders around rather pointlessly for its entire duration, and there are a lot of random noises, distortion/feedback, and abnormal vocalisations.

This must be either Parama, Shadow Ninja or Sacul. They love this stuff. :lol

I take this as a compliment. :lol
Same here  :biggrin: . But I don't really think it meanders at all, more like evolving constantly, adding new effects and layers of sounds. It's a great track that I dunno why I thought Bolsters would dig  :rollin
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Crow on August 11, 2015, 02:54:13 PM
ok good i lost to shadow ninja too, only three more rounds left to lose
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Elite on August 11, 2015, 03:56:00 PM
It's probably the second one.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Bolsters on August 12, 2015, 02:52:55 AM
Personal ranking time.


Shadow Ninja 2.0

jingle.chad

Big Hath

Parama

Scorpion

Sacul

Evermind

Elite
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Evermind on August 12, 2015, 02:58:17 AM
Not enough appreciation for my song, I would say.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Bolsters on August 12, 2015, 03:03:37 AM
Not enough appreciation for my song, I would say.
What makes you say that?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Evermind on August 12, 2015, 03:17:23 AM
Well, I rank it best of the four I sent in your roulette. I should wait for the full results though, you're right.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 4 ONGOING-
Post by: Bolsters on August 12, 2015, 05:00:02 AM
Results of the fourth round in the roulette.


Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs Parama

Shadow Ninja 2.0
This song was a pleasant surprise. When I see things on Last.fm tagged "metalcore" I usually expect not to like it. This song was not like that at all though, because it was actually quite good.

The intro is great. There's some good softly delivered vocals and a harmony I liked, and the piano is nice and does a good job building up to where the song takes off and starts proper. The next section was also good, the vocalist being the standout, although I think the strings are a bit heavy on the low end at times and they stand out in a bad way in a couple of places. The drumming is good here, too.

The heavier part in the second half of the song is strong aswell, although I don't like the overly-screamy vocals here at all. Fortunately this style isn't utilised outside of this section and only for a few stanzas - had this been a more prominent style throughout the song I wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much. There is screaming right at the end, but it's not as extreme and I actually like the way it is used there.


Parama
This wasn't a bad song. I like the vocals at the start, but otherwise the first half of the song wasn't really doing it for me - vocally things remained decent, but the music was a bit repetitive and uninteresting to me, the guitars especially, and I wasn't fond of the piano, the organ playing, or the drums. :lol However at the half way point things get significantly better, at the point where the "Holy Ghosts" bit returns for the chorus. The song slows down a little after that and remains pretty good - probably because the song is slower paced, the drums/guitar aren't playing as rapidly, the vocals are far more interesting, and the song grooves a whole lot more. Unfortunately the song goes back to the faster paced bit for its conclusion.

Had the whole song been built around that bit in the middle, I'd have rated it a lot higher. But unfortunately this is the second track you've sent me where I'm impressed by one part of it and put off by the rest. What is even more unfortunate: Your losing streak continues. :(



jingle.boy vs Scorpion

jingle.boy
You said "Let's take a chance here" when sending this song, but I'm not entirely sure why. ??? There was nothing particularly out of the ordinary here, although maybe you thought it would be too ordinary? Also this song has James LaBrie singing on it, and yet somehow this project slipped right under my radar. So hearing his voice upon playing the track was a bit of a surprise.

So, the song. It ain't that bad, I guess. The keyboard sounds are cheesy as absolute fuck for the mostpart though, they sound really cheap and the song could have been better had they been of higher quality, but some managed to work well enough. The percussion during the verses sounds like it's keyboard aswell (?), but even if it isn't it still didn't sound very good and felt a little out of place. Everything else about the song is sufficient. Not one of JLB's best performances but he doesn't ham it up all that much at least.

Like I said, ain't that bad. But nothing really stood out, except for the negative.


Scorpion
You got off to a great start in this roulette, but struggled to succeed in subsequent rounds. Is this the round things are turned back around?

The first three quarters of this song: It's orchestral bliss. I like orchestral stuff, violins and cellos being particular favourites, and there is plenty of great stuff from these instruments here. I also like the inclusion of acoustic guitar with orchestral instrumentation, and there is some nice acoustic guitar playing accompanying the orchestra. Anyway, as I said I like violins and cellos and both are utilised well here - the cello is dark and ominous, and the violins/violas are busy and do their own thing creating some almost-counterpoint-like mments, but then also come together to create some harmonies or to create some slight dissonance. I'm liking the vocals a lot here aswell.

That's the first three quarters. The last couple of minutes things rock a lot harder. Slowly the song builds up and the distorted electric guitar in particular builds really nicely. The glitchy section was great too - I generally don't like songs that are built entirely around glitching, but when it's in moderation or is contained to one section like it is here, I like it a lot. It was perhaps a little out of place in this song and definitely unexpected, but it was well executed.

The brass was a bit hit or miss though - the first time I listened to the song, I wasn't even sure if the horns that appear around the halfway mark were real or sampled, and there were a few other places that one of the brass instruments really stood out in a bad way. But I realised rather quickly that they weren't samples, so I guess it was the way they were recorded or mixed that I didn't like. The horns at the half way mark and the brass during buildup just after the 6:00 mark stood out the most in this negative way. But, that's really my only gripe with this song. Still, it's only a small gripe.

You might not want to know this, but your song was without a doubt going to be the gold star winner...that is, before Evermind's late submission came in. :laugh:



Big Hath vs Elite

Big Hath
I'd heard of Kevin Gilbert, but I couldn't remember if I had ever listened to any of his music. If I hadn't, I probably should have though, because this was a rather good pop rock track with, as you said, a slight progressive edge.

This song made a good first impression. The production is interesting (in a good way); there's a slightly raw sound to everything (the vocals especially) and it works quite well in this song well. The acoustic guitar riff underlying most of the song is a good one, the drumming is solid, the vocal melodies are catchy.


Elite
Continuing on the Progressive Metal path, Elite chose to send me another song from the genre, most likely in the hopes of scoring another star.

This progressive metal track was a different beast from the last, and not in a bad way. There's a lot more mood here and a bit of melancholy. The intro sets the tone with some not-that-bright clean electric guitar and busy drumming before being joined by a smooth distorted electric, accompanied by the bass which does a really good job fattening the sound. This is brief however before the song strips back for the verse. I like the electric guitar here, where the guitarist starts off palm muting but slowly raises his hand from the strings, allowing the riff to come to life free of muting. The chorus sees the return of the heavier sound from before, with the guitars providing texture by playing some huge, distorted chords. A little after the halfway mark the song remains heavy but is more riff-centric than previously, which is a welcome change at that point. Vocally the song is pretty good. The song maintains a nice groove throughout. Not a fan of the fadeout closing the track, however, but everything else works.

All in all, there are no big surprises to be had here, but this is a more than decent prog metal track that I enjoyed listening to.



Sacul vs Evermind

Sacul
I'm not sure artpop is something I've listened to much of. I am pretty certain that nothing I listen to is considered artpop, so I was very curious about this song. Would this song be a big winner, or would it fall flat?

I'm going to say...flat. This is rather avant-garde (to me, anyway) and to be honest I'm not exactly sure where the pop part comes in. Music doesn't have to be pop or pop influenced for me to like it, but I still didn't really like this song, anyway. The drone you mentioned is here and I'm not a fan of it at all. The track meanders around rather pointlessly for its entire duration, and there are a lot of random noises, distortion/feedback, and abnormal vocalisations which while well executed, missed the mark with me. I find it quite pretentious for the mostpart aswell, like it's being weird and random just because it has to be in order to be considered "artistic" or "experimental".

While all the things in this track are not things I dislike on principle, I generally enjoy them more when used sparsleythroughout a song and in moderation. Stuff like the distortion/feedback especially can be quite good depending on how it is utilised. This song was nothing but that stuff from beginning to end though, and they appear to be the focus of the song, as opposed to just using those techniques to accentuate something or provide variety.

Overall, this song sounds more like someone trying really, really hard to make something experimental more than it actually sounds experimental. There's nothing really out of the box as far as the recording or production, and all of the techniques that went into making it are uncomplicated and not exactly original, so it's just a mix of things messily thrown together. Though I suppose if I were pressed to name a song that I thought truly was "experimental" I'd struggle to come up with anything, so what the hell do I know. :lol


Evermind
I liked this song a lot, and it's worth a whole lot more than a pink star, well done. :lol Also the song does start abruptly as you mentioned, but I'm glad you also linked me to the live version with the extended introduction because it was a rather good introduction to the song.

Anyway, I liked this ballad a lot. The intro is especially nice due to the combination of Jon's singing, his piano paying (and the piano sound is quite good to boot), and the choir singers fleshing the sound out. It becomes fittingly uplifting through the chorus. The piano leading between this and the violin solo section was good. I'm a big fan of violins, so I liked the violin solo, but perhaps not as much as the section after where the other orchestral instrumentation comes in. There's some nice pizzicato scattered about aswell. The recording/mixing on this track is top notch stuff - I think I mentioned somewhere that I can be a bit of a production-whore at times, and I can't fault this recording at all. Everything sounds great, and the wide dynamics really brings the song to life. The fact that it isn't compressed much also helps to preserve the nuance and dynamics in the players' performances.

Your submission may have been a little late compared to everyone else, but you sent a song that made a fantastic first impression and it only got better from there, so it didn't really matter that I had a couple of days extra to listen to everyone elses' songs.



We're officially more than halfway through the roulette. Elite seems to have dialed in to something and it's paying off for him. Scorpion's struggle to impress again has ended. Parama still hasn't gotten a damn thing to show for his efforts. :( Evermind becomes the first person to win a second gold star - but is it enough for him to take the lead, or not? What do the final three rounds hold in store for everyone? What do they hold in store for me? Answers to these questions...:soon:

Songs ranked this round:

Evermind
Scorpion
Elite
Shadow Ninja 2.0 / Big Hath
jingle.boy / Parama
Sacul

Quote from: SCOREBOARD
(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/score_r4.png~original)



Round 5: Evade!

Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs Big Hath
jingle.boy vs Sacul
Parama vs Scorpion
Evermind vs Elite
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 12, 2015, 05:34:31 AM
Seems as though Ruslan is the one that's dialed in... 2 gold's and a pink.

Well, as Tim posted in his thread, time to not think anymore - it's not helping me.  Might also go with the Costanza approach.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Bolsters on August 12, 2015, 05:48:46 AM
Well, as Tim posted in his thread, time to not think anymore - it's not helping me.  Might also go with the Costanza approach.
If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Evermind on August 12, 2015, 07:53:44 AM
Hell yeah! I take my words about "not enough appreciation" back. :angel:  Oh, and if it wasn't for Scorp, I would've probably had three gold stars, not that stupid pink one, so I think it's only fair he didn't get his gold star this round.

One small thing about the writeup though:

Quote
Anyway, I liked this ballad a lot. The intro is especially nice due to the combination of Jon's singing, his piano paying (and the piano sound is quite good to boot), and the choir singers fleshing the sound out.

The lead singer is Miller Anderson. Jon Lord doesn't sing, only plays piano here.

So now I've got this important matchup against Elite, I need to dwell on my choice a bit. Will send tomorrow.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Bolsters on August 12, 2015, 08:04:00 AM
One small thing about the writeup though:

Quote
Anyway, I liked this ballad a lot. The intro is especially nice due to the combination of Jon's singing, his piano paying (and the piano sound is quite good to boot), and the choir singers fleshing the sound out.
The lead singer is Miller Anderson. Jon Lord doesn't sing, only plays piano here.
Thanks for the correction, I hadn't gotten around to reading about the artist/album yet. :blush
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Evermind on August 12, 2015, 08:07:09 AM
Hey, no problem.

The part about Miller Anderson was in the PM I've sent you though. ;D
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Sacul on August 12, 2015, 08:44:59 AM
Ok I promise I'll send something more straightforward :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 12, 2015, 08:59:31 AM
Ok I promise I'll send something more straightforward :lol

And I promise to send something not quite "cheesy as absolute fuck"
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Bolsters on August 12, 2015, 09:08:57 AM
Ok I promise I'll send something more straightforward :lol
And I promise to send something not quite "cheesy as absolute fuck"
I hope Sacul is better at keeping his promises than you are. :neverusethis:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Crow on August 12, 2015, 10:25:05 AM
to be fair Widower probably is a better song than Benson Hedges but both are pretty great  :lol

i'm tempted to just send stuff i know is way out of your comfort zone and see what happens though  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 12, 2015, 10:39:52 AM
To be fair, I made that comment before you rejected my first two attempts.  Shut up and like what I like dammit!  :getoffmylawn:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Sacul on August 12, 2015, 11:08:14 AM
Sent some tasty dj0nt.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Elite on August 12, 2015, 01:05:10 PM
Glad you liked 'em. I was surprised that I didn't find Karnivool on your list, since you're Australian as well. I recommend the full album, if you're interested in hearing more from them. As I stated in my PM, the sing I sent is probably mot the best on the album, but it's one of the more accessible ones.

With the current standings, this could be the most important round for me so far, so like Evermind, I'm going to have a look at what to send, but I'll try to send shortly!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Crow on August 12, 2015, 01:06:29 PM
Sound Awake is a pretty decent album but I honestly can't remember what Umbra sounds like 'cause about half the album is really forgettable to me  :lol
Set Fire to the Hive, Deadman, and Change are all pretty good though
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Elite on August 12, 2015, 01:14:53 PM
Sound Awake is amazing, especially the second half, from Umbra on :)

EDIT: lol, I just realiser that's more than half the album. Seriously, this album is pretty flawless to me. I think I stated in another roulette that SFTTH is actually one of the songs on the album I don't regard as highly as some of the others.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Crow on August 12, 2015, 01:16:14 PM
i wish i dug it more than i did because i'm like the only one who doesn't but ehh  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Elite on August 12, 2015, 01:17:21 PM
Yay for collective replying and editing posts :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Bolsters on August 12, 2015, 09:27:54 PM
Half of you are in.

I was surprised that I didn't find Karnivool on your list, since you're Australian as well.
I use the internet to find new music, and I don't go out of my way to look for or listen to local acts. So while I had heard of the band I'm not entirely certain if I'd taken the time to listen to them before or not.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Crow on August 12, 2015, 09:46:01 PM
i'll send in an australian prog metal song in one of the last two rounds then ok
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Evermind on August 13, 2015, 07:00:00 AM
Sent a song I absolutely love. If I lose this round, it better be against some amazing tune.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Bolsters on August 13, 2015, 07:22:27 AM
I'm just waiting on Scorpion and Elite now.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 13, 2015, 08:37:33 AM
I'm just waiting on Scorpion and Elite now.

Per usual in the roulette's they participate in... :neverusethis:

What the fuck guys... it's been, like what?  15 hours since results were posted!  Get on with it already.   :lol :lol

Green there's no mistaking my intent.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Scorpion on August 13, 2015, 08:42:40 AM
Only Elite now.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Bolsters on August 13, 2015, 08:49:53 AM
I'm just letting everyone know that I have almost all of the entries, and who it is that hasn't sent yet. No criticism towards them yet because as you say, it hasn't been all that long.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 13, 2015, 09:10:08 AM
I'm just letting everyone know that I have almost all of the entries, and who it is that hasn't sent yet. No criticism towards them yet because as you say, it hasn't been all that long.

Hence why I put it in green.  I know that I get worked up in the roulette's I participate in when it's a week+ between results and submission, or weeks+ to get results.  I was poking as much fun at myself as I was Tommy and Richie Rich.

The pace of this - by organizer and participants alike - has been excellent.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: Elite on August 13, 2015, 03:40:33 PM
Sent a song I absolutely love. If I lose this round, it better be against some amazing tune.

Oh boy, no (extra) pressure. Sending soon!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 14, 2015, 09:39:11 PM
Some great stuff and some not so great stuff this round. Two of you managed to send your best song so far this time...any ideas on who those people might be? :justjen
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 14, 2015, 09:42:44 PM
Some great stuff and some not so great stuff this round. Two of you managed to send your best song so far this time...any ideas on who those people might be? :justjen

I got a c-note that says it wasn't me.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Sacul on August 14, 2015, 09:43:48 PM
Not me.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on August 14, 2015, 09:47:34 PM
i am the star

its me
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Big Hath on August 14, 2015, 09:51:28 PM
the song I sent is one of my favorites, but I seem to have the Costanza instinct in roulettes lately so I don't have high hopes
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Elite on August 14, 2015, 11:09:39 PM
Okay then. It's me.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Crow on August 14, 2015, 11:47:36 PM
i've sent nothing you've really liked so I have to assume this is your favorite entry from me, i forgot what i sent
EDIT: I remember what I sent now, yeah if you hate this i'll cry
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Evermind on August 15, 2015, 12:23:20 AM
I do think it's my best song so far, but I don't think you would agree. So no, I don't think it's me.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Crow on August 15, 2015, 12:31:36 AM
1. Trail of Fire
2. Round 5
3. Benson Hedges
4. Under The Pines
5. Sleep Shake

fwiw
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 15, 2015, 04:32:01 AM
Some great stuff and some not so great stuff this round. Two of you managed to send your best song so far this time...any ideas on who those people might be? :justjen
I got a c-note that says it wasn't me.
You're 3 out of 4 now, so no more Meat Loaf references.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 15, 2015, 04:44:23 AM
Some great stuff and some not so great stuff this round. Two of you managed to send your best song so far this time...any ideas on who those people might be? :justjen
I got a c-note that says it wasn't me.
You're 3 out of 4 now, so no more Meat Loaf references.

For crying out loud...
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 15, 2015, 10:00:22 AM
Tidbits n' personal rankings n' shit. Definitely a little spoilery this time though.



"I think the hi-hats in particular were the worst, because it's the exact same hi-hat sound at the exact same volume on every 8th in every bar for the entire fucking song."


"I thought the female vox were pretty decent but nothing overly special at first, but she grew on me the more I listened to the song. She's a lot stronger in the choruses and with her harmonies than in the verses. I did like the first verse though with the combination of autotune and a vocoder for a robotic yet still melodic vocal style."


"This song has a lot of variety and originality. The unique instrumentation is utilised well, and the song has dynamic shifts between rocking pretty hard to softer sections driven more by the brass."


"Things take a more interesting turn after the second chorus, where the progressive rock leanings I mentioned come to the forefront - the bass and drums contributing the most to this. There's also cool build up here and some scat before the guitar solo, after which things get a bit heavier."


"I'm reminded a little of Anathema by this, which is probably the only thing I listen to that is remotely similar. Instrumentally the song is quite nice. It's quite ambient for the most part and has a nice ethereal, dreamy sort of sound to it, thanks in part to the slow pace, minimal instrumentation, and the tons of reverb on everything."


"This is a very calming, relaxing song. It's just acoustic guitar, bass, and vocals for the mostpart, although there are some clean guitar licks intermittently, some incredibly subtle drumming, and a few string section parts here and there. There's also a clarient, the inclusion of which is probably my favourite thing about the song."


"It's nice and heavy, and there's some good riffage throughout. I like the intro with the additional percussion and the bass playing in particular. The breakdown after the second chorus leading up to the guitar solo was quite good, probably my favourie part of the song."


"The end of the chorus is another strong point, where everything strips away sans the vocals and piano, and then comes in the part where the guitar plays that previous piano motiff from the intro. This is the big :metal part of the song."




Shadow Ninja 2.0

jingle.chad

Big Hath

Parama

Scorpion

Sacul

Evermind

Elite
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Crow on August 15, 2015, 10:09:43 AM
"This song has a lot of variety and originality. The unique instrumentation is utilised well, and the song has dynamic shifts between rocking pretty hard to softer sections driven more by the brass."
yup
and yet i still lose to scorpion
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Evermind on August 15, 2015, 10:11:14 AM
Quote
"This is a very calming, relaxing song. It's just acoustic guitar, bass, and vocals for the mostpart, although there are some clean guitar licks intermittently, some incredibly subtle drumming, and a few string section parts here and there. There's also a clarient, the inclusion of which is probably my favourite thing about the song."

This is almost certainly mine. Anyone else sent a ballad with clarinet? Oh, and don't forget the song is also incredibly sad in the lyrics department!

Seeing how Elite's song ranked, I think we both have fair chances of winning our matchup. I just hope it's a silver, not a bronze.

Quote
Parama

    ???
    Bodies Of Water - Under The Pines
    fun. - Benson Hedges
    Thomas Giles - Sleep Shake
    Oceansize - Trail of Fire
    Redemption - Walls

Little bit of spoilers here I presume. :lol

edit: Or maybe not, seeing the post below. I'm confused now.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Crow on August 15, 2015, 10:12:54 AM
also i don't remember sending in redemption - walls and having you hate it

but i'm ok with that

(i don't listen to redemption ??? )
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Elite on August 15, 2015, 01:13:22 PM
also i don't remember sending in redemption - walls and having you hate it

but i'm ok with that

(i don't listen to redemption ??? )

:lol


Also lol for my song ranking. Bah! That track got a perfect score in a different roulette :(
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Crow on August 15, 2015, 01:17:28 PM
i listened to like one or two redemption songs and was like "wow this is disgustingly generic"
i mean yeah not gonna judge the entire band off two songs, but  :lol

someone can send a good one in my roulette and i'll probably give it low points and hate the band forever after that
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Sacul on August 15, 2015, 02:13:55 PM
i listened to like one or two redemption songs and was like "wow this is disgustingly generic"
i mean yeah not gonna judge the entire band off two songs, but  :lol
This.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on August 15, 2015, 03:17:19 PM
Walls is their best song, and is quite awesome.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Sacul on August 15, 2015, 03:24:18 PM
Oh well, I did fine at least  ;D
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 15, 2015, 07:06:42 PM
Well, this is just going from bad to worse.  Costanza approach clearly was not the 'right' approach.  The blurb about female vocalist is the only thing that fits mine.

Well, now that I've lulled you all into a false sense of security, time to grab those last two gold stars.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 15, 2015, 09:41:43 PM
also i don't remember sending in redemption - walls and having you hate it

but i'm ok with that

(i don't listen to redemption ??? )
Sorry about that. No idea how it got added to your list. :mehlin

Well, this is just going from bad to worse.  Costanza approach clearly was not the 'right' approach.  The blurb about female vocalist is the only thing that fits mine.
There must be one more that fits yours, because there's nothing about female vocalists in your tidbit.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 16, 2015, 04:55:27 AM
^ son of a bitch.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 16, 2015, 05:00:29 AM
Round Five results will more than likely get posted later tonight, I'm just mulling over one particular decision.

Anyway, I received a PM from one contestant in which he states that he will not be online again until Friday. I have got his Round Six submission so that won't be delayed, but I was thinking that I might extend the length of both Rounds Six and Seven. Specifically, I'm going to give you guys a little more time between the rounds to select songs, since these are the last two rounds (barring a tie). So after this round, if you want to take a little longer to pick out a song to send for Round Six, go ahead and do so.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 16, 2015, 08:07:17 AM
Round 5 results.


Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs Big Hath

Shadow Ninja 2.0
I'm reminded a little of Anathema by this, which is probably the only thing I listen to that is remotely similar. Instrumentally the song is quite nice. It's quite ambient for the most part and has a nice ethereal, dreamy sort of sound to it, thanks in part to the slow pace, minimal instrumentation, and the tons of reverb on everything. The string section was a particular standout (more violins!), as is the vocalist. It's a beautiful song that builds up very well.

On the negative, I really didn't like the excessive distortion on the buildup towards the end of the song, and on the whole the song does drag a bit, although it remains enjoyable throughout for the mostpart. The production is on the poor side and I think it detracts from the beauty of the song (that's not to say it isn't beautiful already, but I think the effect could have been enhanced with cleaner production). The production is good enough in the first half but the song suffers as a result of it more in the second half when the song gets louder.

I thought hard about it and without all that fuzz and distortion on everything at the conclusion to the song that turns it into mostly noise, it more than likely would have achieved silver, because that was the one thing that detracted from the song for me in a really big way and had a huge impact on my overall enjoyment of the song. So while this isn't a bad song, I liked it, and while I will more than likely explore these guys further...I'm going with a bronze here. :(


Big Hath
Redemption are unsurprisingly another progressive metal band I tried to get into at some point many years ago, but didn't. So far I've received quite a few submissions along these lines, and some have been hits while others haven't. Question is, where does this song fall?

I'm going with "somewhere in the middle but closer to a miss". This wasn't a bad song by any means and I definitely intend to check the band out after the roulette, but there are no real surprises and not really much to make this stand out above other progressive metal songs, either. The song was a bit of a grower though, so there's that, just not enough of one.

The good: It's nice and heavy, and there's some good riffage here and there. I like the intro with the additional percussion and the bass playing in particular. The breakdown after the second chorus leading up to the guitar solo was quite good, probably my favourie part of the song.

The bad: It's filled to the brim with songwriting techniques I've heard in multitudes of progressive metal songs. The keyboard sounds are likewise something I've heard a lot of in the genre. On the whole the song lacks originality, and it's a little same-y and repetitive. The singer is fairly average, nothing I could get excited about. The production is okay, not bad, but nothing great.

I guess that this song is just a little too familiar, even though I've never heard it before. I will check out the album though.



jingle.boy vs Sacul

jingle.boy
Apparently "do the opposite" means "do something that you've already done" to you, because this is now the second time sent you have sent me some 80's pop. :lol I guess you thought you could match the same success you did in the first round with Duran Duran? Well, I'm afraid not.

While The Reflex had all of the charm of the 80's sound, and is catchy and incredibly well produced, for the mostpart this song seems to contain a lot more 80's tropes and doesn't achieve the same level of charm that The Reflex does. The gated reverb on the snare, the repetitive bassline, the somewhat annoying, straightforward and mechanical hi-hats...sometimes these things work, but there was a severe lack of variation on the track, and it made some of these things stand out more as cons than pros. I think the hi-hats in particular were the worst, because it's the exact same hi-hat sound at the exact same volume on every 8th in every bar for the entire fucking song. :lol Although to be fair, the other drums don't change much at all either, but the hi-hat stood out the most. Anyway, I liked the bass during the part after the chorus. Synths weren't bad but not great either. The vocalists were capable but nothing special, the delivery of the female vox in particular was average at best and not anything to get excited about.

So all in all there were some things to like here, but it the track was a bit too repetitive and doesn't have the highs or much of the charm that a lot of other 80's pop music has.

I know this was your second resend since I knew the first two songs, but for what it's worth you wouldn't have beaten Sacul with either of those songs, anyway. If you're going to follow the Costanza approach for the remaining two rounds, I've got a suggestion for you...Opposite George probably isn't going to cut it, I'd switch to Marine Biologist George; give no fucks and just climb up onto the whale and pull out the golf ball already.


Sacul
This is the kind of thing I've been waiting for you to send. What took you so long? :lol

While the song starts out nice and ambiently, it wastes no time getting to the crunchy djent chords. :metal There's some subtle electronic influence with the synths, during the verses in particular, which I expected since David Maxim Micic is involved here. I love that shit in djent. The song is very strong melodically, which is pretty much a requirement for me with the genre. Vocally things are good; I thought the female vox were pretty decent but nothing overly special at first, but she grew on me the more I listened to the song. She's a lot stronger in the choruses and with her harmonies than in the verses. I did like the first verse though with the combination of autotune and a vocoder for a robotic yet still melodic vocal style. The way her harmonies overlap in places creating a subtle counterpoint sounds a lot like what Micic does in his solo stuff aswell. The harsh screams are the same and add depth to the areas they are used and are again reminiscent of his solo work. Even with all these similarities, it's not exactly the same as that; his solo stuff is far more eclectic, but the more straightforward approach to this song isn't a detraction against it. The blastbeat parts were probably my least favourite thing, but there's only a couple of them and they are short so they don't impact my enjoyment of the song as a whole all too much.

Overall this song is everything I'd expect from something David Maxim Micic is involved in, but with less of an erratic structure and a much stronger pop sensibility about it, masterfully produced so that it is completely seamless. The "screw you, fuck you, I'ma hate you" part was surprising on first listen, because it was so unexpected. :lol The "I know, you know, yeah we both know" line is good too, and lyrics like this really reflect the playfulness this song exhibits. I like that it doesn't take itself too seriously.

Conclusion: Best song you've sent so far, one of the best of the entire roulette, gold star. :hefdaddy



Scorpion vs Parama

Scorpion
It's funny you should send Savatage, because I've been following TAC's roulette and was thinking about listening to some of their music after my own. Savatage is another band I sampled, but a lot longer ago than the others that I've received. I'm pretty sure Savatage was one of the earlier metal bands I looked into on the cusp of becoming a metalhead. This would have been high school, so around 1999/2000 or so, if I had to guess. I remember liking Hall of the Mountain King a lot (the song) but the album as a whole didn't connect, so I went no further. I was very curious to see how I'd feel about this song - on one hand, I got into metal a lot more in the later of my highschool years and afterwards, so maybe this band would appeal to me more now than they did at the time. On the other hand, as time goes on I become more and more particular about what appeals to me and what doesn't, so there was the possibility that Savatage would have missed their chance already, as it were.

Well, I can tell you now that they didn't miss their chance, because this song is pretty great. It's got a lot of the "classic metal" sound I expected, but is significantly more sophisticated, almost progressive in scope. The piano especially really takes the song to another level that it otherwise would not be able to achieve.

The intro really sets up what is going to come quite well, once the guitar comes in and joins the piano. I like when the guitar plays chords and the piano plays a motiff that will later be a guitar riff prominent in the song - really nice foreshadowing. The verses are a strong part of the song, with the consistently-spaced piano and the guitar intermittently playing chords and being accentuated by the drums. The end of the chorus is another strong point, where everything strips away sans the vocals and piano, and then comes in the part where the guitar plays that previous piano motiff from the intro. This is the big :metal part of the song. The guitar solo is serviceable, pretty standard classic metal stuff, but the accompaniment is solid and fleshed out a bit more with some strings.

On the whole, this is a great track and one of the better things you've sent me in the roulette. However, Parama has managed to pull out something that is juuuust barely ahead of yours. So, you'll have to be content with a pink star this time.


Parama
Some of you probably saw this coming so it's no big surprise, but I'll say it anyway: Congratulations, you've finally nabbed a star! :tup

This song (band?) is quite unique, and in a really good way. What we have is a masterful blend of progressive rock with infusions of jazz through the use of a horn section. There's also some violin, so I can only assume you read the writeups for your competitors last round to try and get something on target. Well, it worked.

The song begins abruptly, and throws the listened in the deep end; the prog rock is here, and so are the horns, no messing around. The song lightens up, held together with a nice fat bass and the horn section becomes more prominent. The verses see the return of the guitar, playing stabbing chords in unison with the horns while the drummer lays out a groove underneath. The chorus rocks a lot harder while the brass flesh out the sound in the background. There's some violin scattered throughout and a violin solo in the latter half. I like how everything is more subdued for the first half of the violin solo but then comes to life for the second. Vocally things are really good aswell, although some of the backing vocals when introduced create a slightly cacophonous sound. Not that big of a deal though.

This song has a lot of variety and originality. The unique instrumentation is utilised well, and the song has dynamic shifts between rocking pretty hard to softer sections driven more by the brass. Overall the originality of the instrumentation, the utilisation of said instrumentation, and the fact that it is catchy and enjoyable to listen to, makes this a really strong submission.



Evermind vs Elite

Evermind
You noticed that Dire Straits is part of my banned list, but not Mark Knopfler's solo career. That's due to the fact that I'm a casual fan of Dire Straits at best; I've got a compilation and nothing more, although coincidentally I was listening to Brothers in Arms on Spotify a few weeks ago (as part of my following the 80's classic albums thread) and while I don't mind most of what I've heard, it's not something I want to listen to all that often. As such, I've never felt compelled to look into Knopfler's solo stuff at all.

You decided to try your luck with another ballad, but this time it hasn't worked out. Don't get me wrong, this is a good song, but it didn't come even remotely close to matching the quality of the previous ballad you sent me (my opinion, of course).

This is a very calming, relaxing song. It's just acoustic guitar, bass, and vocals for the mostpart, although there are some clean guitar licks intermittently (which I'd expect from Knopfler), some incredibly subtle drumming, and a few string section parts here and there. There's also a clarient, the inclusion of which is probably my favourite thing about the song.

I guess the only thing that detracts from this song is that this is all it is. It's a very nice song, it sounds great (another thing I'd expect from Knopfler) and it is quite beautiful. But I just don't get all that excited about listening to it - not because it's too relaxed and I want it to be more exciting, but because it never really achieves any great highs. Also I'm not sure if it's controversial to say or not, but I've never been a big fan of Mark Knopfler as a vocalist, so there's that.

Overall a very nice relaxing, and enjoyable track. But for me it just doesn't have that "something extra" to make it great.


Elite
Since Evermind couldn't stop him this round, Elite continues his streak, getting a fourth star in a row. :o

This song is a different beast from the last two you sent me, which is good. This is more like alternative rock/metal with some progressive rock leanings, and even some grunge vibes. Instrumentally and vocally this is a bit grunge-like during the chorus and the first half of the song. Things take a more interesting turn after the second chorus, where the progressive rock leanings I mentioned come to the forefront - the bass and drums contributing the most to this. There's also cool build up here and some scat before the guitar solo, after which things get a bit heavier. Overall this is a solid instrumental section, which is probably my favourite part of the song. The outro is pretty cool too.

At first I was thinking bronze for this track, but dat middle section & outro...and this song was yet another grower. So a silver star for you (again!).



PARAMA GOT A STAR AND IT WAS A GOOD ONE. Has hell frozen over? Is the world about to end? Elite's hot streak continues, as he receives his fourth successive star. Scrop takes a hit, having the third best song of the round but getting away with only a pink star.

Your rankings for the round:

Sacul
Parama
Scorpion
Elite
Shadow Ninja 2.0 / Evermind
Big Hath / jingle.boy

Quote from: SCOREBOARD
(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/score_r5.png~original)



Round 6: Brawl!

Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs jingle.boy
Big Hath vs Sacul
Parama vs Evermind
Scorpion vs Elite



To reiterate: I'm extending the period between rounds for the final two, so if you want to take some extra time to consider your options, now is your chance. Without giving away too much...there's only one person at the moment who cannot possibly win (sorry Parama :(), so even this far in, it's still anyone's game. Those of you who are more competitive might also want to consider who you will play against in these final two rounds - you only play against each of the others once, remember, and now that you see the Round 6 matchups you should all know (or be able to easily figure out) who you are up against in Round 7.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Evermind on August 16, 2015, 08:12:29 AM
Hey Scorp, welcome to the club!

Disappointed I've lost this one. I've got some people in roulettes saying the track I sent lacks "something extra", and I disagree completely. Well, whatever.

Will send something tomorrow.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: bl5150 on August 16, 2015, 08:31:37 AM
The guitar solo in Gutter Ballet is "serviceable" - who are you.....Yngwie Malmsteen ?  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 16, 2015, 08:44:23 AM
jingle.boy
  • Animotion - Obsession
Apparently "do the opposite" means "do something that you've already done" to you, because this is now the second time sent you have sent me some 80's pop. :lol I guess you thought you could match the same success you did in the first round with Duran Duran? Well, I'm afraid not.

Exactly.  My initial thought was "no way I should do this twice", so Opposite-George said "do it". 

*song assessment*

Totally fair.

I know this was your second resend since I knew the first two songs, but for what it's worth you wouldn't have beaten Sacul with either of those songs, anyway.

Well then, no worries.  No shame in losing to someone who hit it out of the park.

If you're going to follow the Costanza approach for the remaining two rounds, I've got a suggestion for you...Opposite George probably isn't going to cut it, I'd switch to Marine Biologist George; give no fucks and just climb up onto the whale and pull out the golf ball already.

Actually, I'm going to go with Art Vandelay/architect-George... and just embrace who I want to be.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: King Postwhore on August 16, 2015, 08:47:06 AM
Chad is my obsession.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Bolsters on August 16, 2015, 08:53:03 AM
The guitar solo in Gutter Ballet is "serviceable" - who are you.....Yngwie Malmsteen ?  :lol
A solo doesn't have to be shred to impress me - if anything, I prefer when solos aren't like that. Give me something melodic any day. I just didn't find the solo in Gutter Ballet to be memorable at all, and it sounds like a lot of other solos in metal songs from around that time to me so there was nothing unique about it. There was nothing about it that made me think "this is a cool solo" at any point; it's just there.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: bl5150 on August 16, 2015, 08:59:10 AM
Fair enough...........one of my favourite solos ever , and not just because it "shreds".  I referred to Malmsteen not because Gutter Ballet is shred anyway - just because he would call anything he didn't play on "serviceable" :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Bolsters on August 16, 2015, 09:03:14 AM
Fair enough...........one of my favourite solos ever , and not just because it "shreds".  I referred to Malmsteen not because Gutter Ballet is shred anyway - just because he would call anything he didn't play on "serviceable" :lol
Knowing him he'd have something much more colourful and condescending than "serviceable" to say, I think. :lol

I wouldn't call Gutter Ballet's solo shred, really, I just thought you were implying that I didn't like it because it wasn't shred (due to the Yngwie reference).
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Crow on August 16, 2015, 10:18:32 AM
i actually intended to send in TYS at some point anyways, I always do if nobody beats me to it  :lol
(I've also sent Under The Pines in like every roulette I've participated in, too  :lol )

anyways i need to find something weird that you'll hate

edit:
I might send Evermind's least favorite of my entries from his roulette in this round, because
1. i think you might like it a lot
2. it's fun to spite him  :lol

it's not very weird though unfortunately
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Sacul on August 16, 2015, 10:39:09 AM
Oh boy yes  :o

Tbh I'd have sent you better stuff had I had a better grasp of your tastes  :lol Will send straightforward stuff from now on.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on August 16, 2015, 11:48:48 AM
Dang, thought that'd be a winner. Alas.

Sent.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Big Hath on August 16, 2015, 11:56:36 AM
at this rate, Bolsters is going to start taking stars away from me
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Evermind on August 16, 2015, 12:10:42 PM
edit:
I might send Evermind's least favorite of my entries from his roulette in this round, because
1. i think you might like it a lot
2. it's fun to spite him  :lol

it's not very weird though unfortunately

I don't even remember what it was. Caligula's Horse?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Crow on August 16, 2015, 12:15:50 PM
if you don't remember then that's perfect  :hat
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 16, 2015, 12:20:03 PM
at this rate, Bolsters is going to start taking stars away from me

You and me both brutha!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Crow on August 16, 2015, 12:50:56 PM
i sent in a song but i actually wanna listen to the entire album it's off of because i never actually did that let's see if i can find something i like more
i mean what i sent is a solid 9/10 at least anyways but  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Elite on August 16, 2015, 04:47:51 PM
Short one, because I din't have much time: yay!

Back home tuesday afternoon, will send then.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Evermind on August 17, 2015, 02:43:13 AM
Are the live entries from the official live albums allowed or should we stick to the studio versions of the songs?

Edit: Also sent round 6.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Bolsters on August 17, 2015, 02:56:52 AM
Are the live entries from the official live albums allowed or should we stick to the studio versions of the songs?
Songs from live albums are fine. You may want to consider the quality of the recording, though.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Sacul on August 17, 2015, 02:48:42 PM
Sent  ;D

Also, what the hell is that awful avatar Evermind? A Winger album? :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Crow on August 17, 2015, 02:55:08 PM
go look in TAC's roulette thread  :rollin
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Big Hath on August 17, 2015, 02:57:03 PM
Bolsters, just checking to make sure you saw I sent a new song for this round.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Bolsters on August 17, 2015, 09:38:22 PM
Bolsters, just checking to make sure you saw I sent a new song for this round.
I did.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Crow on August 18, 2015, 07:04:21 PM
i am officially pumped for impressions
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Sacul on August 18, 2015, 07:58:23 PM
i am officially pumped for impressions
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: wolfking on August 18, 2015, 08:04:14 PM
Also, what the hell is that awful avatar Evermind? A Winger album? :lol

(https://whatistheexcel.com/wooobooru/_images/cce818891e697386353f28c59c1e1472/11090%20-%20Raw%20autoplay_gif%20gif%20sunglasses%20the_rock%20wwf.gif)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Sacul on August 18, 2015, 09:58:40 PM
u mad bro? come fite me irl  :angry:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Bolsters on August 18, 2015, 10:01:42 PM
i am officially pumped for impressions
Most of you didn't take the opportunity to take additional time to select a song but a couple of you did, so you'll be waiting a few days before any impressions are posted.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: wolfking on August 18, 2015, 10:02:08 PM
u mad bro? come fite me irl  :angry:

(https://whatistheexcel.com/wooobooru/_images/cce818891e697386353f28c59c1e1472/11090%20-%20Raw%20autoplay_gif%20gif%20sunglasses%20the_rock%20wwf.gif)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Sacul on August 18, 2015, 10:06:04 PM
(https://images.rapgenius.com/7fb62e28b39c4ac0997ee055838feada.672x272x6.gif)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: wolfking on August 18, 2015, 10:12:31 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/6P1D3p8.gif)




























































(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/06/ac/98/06ac98a0cc123dfde190daca1239788e.jpg)


Flawless victory.

Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Crow on August 18, 2015, 10:16:22 PM
i can't stand the suspense

jumps out window
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Bolsters on August 19, 2015, 03:01:26 AM
Everyone is in now, and I've listened to all the songs a couple of times. Who's confident this time around?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Evermind on August 19, 2015, 03:47:12 AM
I'm reasonably confident.

I'm also rooting for Scorp to win a silver star. I don't need Rich getting another star if I want to win this. :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Elite on August 19, 2015, 05:48:26 AM
But I love the song I sent. Unless Scorp sends something brilliant, I think I deserve the silver star :)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Crow on August 19, 2015, 06:47:24 AM
i am so confident that i'm gonna end up with your least favorite of all my entries
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 LISTENING★
Post by: TAC on August 19, 2015, 03:47:01 PM
jingle.boy
  • Animotion - Obsession

 :lol

(https://i.imgflip.com/kn2li.jpg)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Elite on August 20, 2015, 03:18:21 AM
:caffeine:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Bolsters on August 20, 2015, 03:36:50 AM
Round 6 results will be posted tomorrow, but here are your tidbits and personal rankings.



"What I didn't like...the vocalist is #1. He has an annoying nasal sound during the verses, and while he starts of alright at first in the chrous, his voice takes on a more grating whiney sound towards the end."


"I think my only real criticism is that the song easily could have been longer; it's eight an a half minutes and yet it somehow seems too short, it left me wanting more."


"The instrumentation is kept simple, with the song being driven mostly by the vocals and piano, with the addition of a bass and some electronic beats."


"The vocalist was annoying a lot of the time but decent at others, though never approaching a performance that stands out in a positive way. There were a few scat parts here and there, some of which I found annoying."


"Things only get better as the song progresses and the dynamics build, and the introduction of a piano was inevitable (but welcomed)."


"The vocalist has a very alternative/grunge kind of singing style which isn't bad but doesn't resonate with me all that much. The song is on the repetitive side and all of the sections kind of blur together a bit, even the instrumental section after the second chorus doesn't offer much of anything in the way of change."


"Nice intro that wastes no time getting into the thick of things. The clean guitar sounds good here, and the distorted rhythm guitar isn't far behind. I like the alternating between riffing and the big chords, then leaving space for the clean guitar before starting up again. This technique along with the vocalist's singing style reminds me of Rush quite a bit."


"Anyway, while this wasn't a bad song by any means, it was fairly same-y and repetitive. The riff in the verses is okay, but nothing great and the chorus is quite dull. The instrumental section is one of the better parts of the song but still nothing all that special."




Shadow Ninja 2.0

jingle.chad

Big Hath

Parama

Scorpion

Sacul

Evermind

Elite
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Elite on August 20, 2015, 04:15:38 AM
Well, shit. My tidbits is probably one of those which describes a nasal vocalist.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Evermind on August 20, 2015, 04:33:08 AM
I thought the nasal vocalist was mine until I scrolled and saw I did alright in the rankings. I guess mine is this then:

Quote
"I think my only real criticism is that the song easily could have been longer; it's eight an a half minutes and yet it somehow seems too short, it left me wanting more."

Anyway, I definitely won the match-up. The only question now is: did I get my third gold star or not? :angel:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Sacul on August 20, 2015, 04:45:10 AM
Damnit :lol . Hope the thing about the singer ain't mine, 'cause he's awesome.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Crow on August 20, 2015, 08:17:52 AM
it got worse  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Big Hath on August 20, 2015, 08:42:35 AM
ACK!  I give up.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Crow on August 20, 2015, 08:43:55 AM
i still can't read Bolsters' taste at all honestly, I'm just gonna send something completely unlikely to win next round because it's the only territory I haven't really explored at all with my entries beside the obvious progressive metal territory  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Sacul on August 20, 2015, 09:28:54 AM
i still can't read Bolsters' taste at all honestly, I'm just gonna send something completely unlikely to win next round because it's the only territory I haven't really explored at all with my entries beside the obvious progressive metal territory  :lol
I think he just prefers straightforward, direct songs. And dislikes noise, and a bad production. That's why he disliked I Have Walked This Body  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Crow on August 20, 2015, 09:31:46 AM
the only song I've sent that wasn't straightforward is Trail of Fire, and I don't think any of my submissions have bad production  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Bolsters on August 20, 2015, 09:56:31 AM
I expected everyone to have a hard time getting a grip on what appeals to me, even the guys who probably thought they had me figured out (I think Chad felt that way...at first :lol). Infact it's one of the reasons I took so long to sign up to do a roulette in the first place, because I knew that my roulette would likely be frustrating and demoralising for most of the people involved in it.

I mean, you say I like straightforward stuff and that's definitely true, but on the other hand some of the more bleak reviews I've given out in the roulette so far are to songs that were too straightforward - some straightforward tracks scored very well here but others were complete disasters. And it's not like there aren't a couple of unusual things in my library or that I am incapable of appreciating the unusual, but that doesn't mean everything that is unusual is going to appeal to me. I think the only rule to successfully sending me songs that I will like is that there are no rules to follow; Just throw shit and see what sticks. I'm pretty sure that's all Shadow Ninja did and he still managed to get four stars in five rounds.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Elite on August 20, 2015, 10:02:23 AM
And what I did as well, probably, although my last two entries didn't have the impact I hope they would have.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Crow on August 20, 2015, 10:03:11 AM
well my entries have been pretty all over the place but they've mostly been disastrous misses  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Evermind on August 20, 2015, 10:24:19 AM
I would say more keyboards / piano driven songs over the guitar driven ones, and if there's some unusual instrument like violin, cello or a flute / clarinet it's all for the best. At least that's what I figured.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 20, 2015, 12:29:06 PM
The only question now is: did I get my third gold star or not? :angel:

No, you didn't. Told you guys was grabbing the last two stars.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 5 RESULTS IN, SEND ROUND 6★
Post by: Bolsters on August 20, 2015, 07:02:26 PM
I would say more keyboards / piano driven songs over the guitar driven ones, and if there's some unusual instrument like violin, cello or a flute / clarinet it's all for the best. At least that's what I figured.
I'm into guitars more than any other instrument, without a doubt. You're right that I tend to appreciate non-typical instrumentation though.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Bolsters on August 21, 2015, 03:52:53 AM
Round 6 results.


Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs jingle.boy

Shadow Ninja 2.0
This was a nice ballad. The instrumentation is kept simple, with the song being driven mostly by the vocals and piano, with the addition of a bass and some electronic beats. It was perhaps a little on the bland side however, as there isn't a lot of variety here, especially the beat (singular) which is the same throughout the entire song. Vocally I thought Ms. Fimm was capable but not great; I could hear the lack of confidence in her voice.

Nice song, but not enough to beat your opponent.


jingle.boy
You are right, this is definitely more your wheelhouse, and more along the lines of what I thought I would be receiving from you in this roulette.

So, this is basically just a well constructed, enjoyable neo-prog track. It is sufficiently epic, and there's some rocking out. It's a longer song, so I'm going to go with more of a bullet point approach (similar to what I did for Elite's Leprous song) to talk about a few of the things I liked because I think that will be an easier post to construct.

- Nice intro that wastes no time getting into the thick of things. The clean guitar sounds good here, and the distorted rhythm guitar isn't far behind. I like the alternating between riffing and the big chords, then leaving space for the clean guitar before starting up again. This technique along with the vocalist's singing style reminds me of Rush quite a bit.
- The drumming throughout the song is strong; it's interesting and busy, without being too technical. Bass playing is similar.
- I like the subtle things going on in the background with the percussion during the more peaceful section starting around the 3:30 mark.
- Love the build up of that section into the guitar solo and how the drumming comes in proper again at the same time.
- The big epic close to the song that I'd expect from something like this is here.

It doesn't really bring anything new to the table, but it's an enjoyable track. A star is you.



Big Hath vs Sacul

Big Hath
You know, I think your idea of taking stars away was a good one. :lol There wasn't much in this song that I liked. The clean, almost funky guitar during the verses was alright. The drumming was decent.

What I didn't like...the vocalist is #1. He has an annoying nasal sound during the verses, and while he starts of alright at first in the chrous, his voice takes on a more grating whiney sound towards the end. There were some parts where he sings very softly that were alright though. The song is incredibly bland, the guitar playing and song structure especially. Nothing about this song is able to hold my interest.


Sacul
Mastodon is a band that had been on my radar, and I am pretty sure I looked into them some years ago. I was under the impression before listening to this song that it was going to be more extreme; a lot heavier, harsh/scream vocals, maybe some blastbeats...all that sort of stuff. So I was (pleasantly) surprised when it wasn't like that at all. Perhaps this song/album is more toned down or I'm just remembering the band's music incorrectly?

Anyway, while this wasn't a bad song by any means, it was fairly same-y and repetitive. The song starts off full-on and stays that way the entire time, no breathing room or change in dynamics at all. The riff in the verses is okay, but nothing great and the chorus is quite dull. The instrumental section is one of the better parts of the song but still nothing all that special. I'm not impressed by the vocals at any point in the song either. The production is so-so, being muddy at times and being grating at others (like at 3:34, the tone of both the lead and rhythm guitars).

You mentioned your desire to send more straightforward stuff, but I think this time you've overshot and gone way too far in that direction. Your song was barely better than the one Big Hath sent, but since I didn't really like it all that much, you're getting a bronze.



Parama vs Evermind

Parama
This is certainly one of the more unique things I've received so far. It's like soul music with 80's hip hop beats and sound effects. This was another track that was quite repetitive throughout, again bolstered (:neverusethis:) by having the same beat throughout the entire song. The vocalist was annoying a lot of the time but decent at others, though never approaching a performance that stands out in a positive way. There were a few scat parts here and there, some of which I found annoying (3:04 being the prime example).

Yeah, so...overall, I was not impressed.


Evermind
I'm sure I have heard a couple of IQ songs before, but like many things I gave them a pass at the time. I was fairly certain this song was not one of them, so let's see if my mind can be changed yet again.

The intro is quite good, with a simple droning note carrying things while some strings flesh it all out. The laid-back piano and soft vocal style appeals to me also, especially when the string section comes back in. The bass sounds quite good and I like this section where it drives the song with the drums. The little licks the bass player throws in now and then are great. It's epic as fuck once the strings return. The marimba is a unique and welcome addition aswell. Approaching the six minute mark, things get heavier. There's a nice synth build up before the band starts rocking out, and the strings take on a slightly mellotron-like, lo-fi sound. The key change (at least I think it's one?) around 7:40 is a nice changeup. I think my only real criticism is that the song easily could have been longer; it's eight and a half minutes and yet it somehow seems too short, it left me wanting more.

This was a strong submission, and I enjoyed it immensely. RJ would be proud. :tup



Scorpion vs Elite

Scorpion
Instrumental stuff has a tendancy to be a bit hit or miss with me, especially when it's a guitarist's solo album or whatever. So I was curious to see whether this song would hit the mark or not.

The song starts off nicely, with a serene soundscape. The clean guitar that starts after a minute and a half or so sounds pretty good, as do the lead licks. The lead melodies that drive the song once it starts proper are good - there's no virtuosity or showing off here, it's purely about the melodies and playing "for the song" which is a big plus. Things only get better as the song progresses and the dynamics build, and the introduction of a piano was inevitable (but welcomed). As the song builds in dynamics, I'm getting major 70's vibes - from the lead guitar especially, but the intermittent organ playing enhances this effect.

So yes, I generally have a harder time getting into guitar instrumentals, but this whole song is full of great melodic, tasteful playing, and does a great job building up to its climax. So well done.


Elite
Continuing with the alternative route I see, and a band that I don't recall listening to before.

This is a pretty raw, almost "live-in-the-studio" kind of song. It starts out with the drummer smacking his sticks together to count in the beginning of the song after which it starts properly and at first is good, with some twangy clean guitars playing broken chords. The vocalist has a very alternative/grunge kind of singing style which isn't bad but doesn't resonate with me all that much. The song is on the repetitive side and all of the sections kind of blur together a bit, even the instrumental section after the second chorus doesn't offer much of anything in the way of change. There's quite a bit of distortion on vocals during the climax of the song, which I don't think was executed all that well; it almost sounds unintentional, but I'm not sure.

This is not a bad song but it's easily your weakest, and so Scrop has finally put an end to your winning streak here.



This was a pretty mixed round. A couple of people who have been struggling manage to impress enough to win stars, but a few others only managed to dig themselves deeper. Elite's winning streak has finally ended. Evermind impresses yet again and achieves a third gold star - and remains the only contestant so far who has multiple. Last round I mentioned that Parama was the only person statistically unable to win, but now some more have joined him...I'll leave you all to speculate about how many people and who they might be.

Songs of the round ranked:

Evermind
jingle.boy
Scorpion
Shadow Ninja 2.0
Elite
Sacul
Big Hath
Parama

Quote from: SCOREBOARD
(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/score_r6.png~original)



Round 7: The Final Battle!

Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs Scorpion
jingle.boy vs Parama
Big Hath vs Evermind
Sacul vs Elite
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Evermind on August 21, 2015, 04:20:21 AM
Who needs them silver stars when you can get gold ones?

Alright, I just need to send something to earn one more gold star and I think that will secure the win for me. In fact I have one song in mind, will think about it and send soon.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Elite on August 21, 2015, 04:30:57 AM
I'm not sure about the 'Air' EP, bit the 'Earth' EP by Thrice is definitely recorded live in the studio. It's a shame you didn't like it, for I think it's a great track. I reckon I'm still statistically able to win, so I'll do my best to nail this final round.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Evermind on August 21, 2015, 04:41:44 AM
I'm not sure about the 'Air' EP, bit the 'Earth' EP by Thrice is definitely recorded live in the studio. It's a shame you didn't like it, for I think it's a great track. I reckon I'm still statistically able to win, so I'll do my best to nail this final round.

I reckon you might be in the lead now. For all we know, the gold star is worth only one point more than silver, and the pink star equals 0.1 point.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Bolsters on August 21, 2015, 04:46:08 AM
The pink star is rather low in value compared to the gold, but I assure you it's worth more than that. :lol

I think you guys will be surprised at their values, actually.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 21, 2015, 05:30:40 AM
I'm certain I'm statistically eliminated from any chance of victory - which is fine, Ruslan, Rich and Scrop are clearly scratching you where you itch.

Ya know, Road of Bones consistently does awesome in Roulette's, and I enjoy the song... but I just don't get why everyone gushes over it.  There are so many more IQ tracks that (imo) are much better.  And the album... really didn't think much of it. 

:dunno:... tastes!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Bolsters on August 21, 2015, 05:34:55 AM
I quite liked it. I mean, it's not the best song of the entire roulette or anything, but it was without doubt the best song of the round.

I'll listen to Road of Bones first, but I'm open to suggestions for the second album to listen to, if you think they've got better.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Evermind on August 21, 2015, 05:49:42 AM
I think The Road of Bones (the track) is a great introduction to IQ. It's not their best song or anything, but for the purposes of roulettes, I think it does its job just fine.

And in fact I do think The Road of Bones is their best album. I think I wrote my reasoning in my Top 50 albums thread more than half a year ago, and it's still pretty much the same.

I'm certain I'm statistically eliminated from any chance of victory - which is fine, Ruslan, Rich and Scrop are clearly scratching you where you itch.

Big Hath and Parama both can't win, that's for sure, as for the third candidate... guess it's either you or Shadow Ninja. Depends on the bronze star value.

Anyway, I need Parama to win his match with any star actually (even gold will do), and both Shadow Ninja and Sacul to win their match with bronze. Don't disappoint me guys. ;D

And of course I need to get at least silver against Big Hath.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on August 21, 2015, 06:38:13 AM
these comments about Fair To Midland are unacceptable
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 21, 2015, 07:00:31 AM
Final round submitted.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Bolsters on August 21, 2015, 07:06:13 AM
Final round submitted.
To where? I'm not seeing anything.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 21, 2015, 07:09:13 AM
Final round submitted.
To where? I'm not seeing anything.

Spotify.  Need a re-do?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Bolsters on August 21, 2015, 07:10:04 AM
Final round submitted.
To where? I'm not seeing anything.
Spotify.  Need a re-do?
Yeah. My inbox is empty.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 21, 2015, 07:15:54 AM
Final round submitted.
To where? I'm not seeing anything.
Spotify.  Need a re-do?
Yeah. My inbox is empty.

Sent.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Bolsters on August 21, 2015, 07:18:27 AM
Final round submitted.
To where? I'm not seeing anything.
Spotify.  Need a re-do?
Yeah. My inbox is empty.
Sent.
Yeah, it finally showed up...three times. :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Crow on August 21, 2015, 08:27:09 AM
yeah The Road of Bones is a pretty cool song

it's like, all the songs I'm losing to are songs I know, somehow  :lol
Marketa Irglova is the only of the 5 songs I've lost to that I'm unfamiliar with

anyways sending a gold star song that you'll hate, I guess, might as well
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Sacul on August 21, 2015, 09:12:00 AM
Sent one of my all-time favorites.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Bolsters on August 21, 2015, 09:24:18 AM
Sent one of my all-time favorites.
Well at least by now I know that you're prepared for disappointment. :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Evermind on August 21, 2015, 10:38:46 AM
Alright, since my winning song got rejected, I need some time to think on this. Will send either tomorrow or on Sunday.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Elite on August 21, 2015, 10:46:55 AM
What song was it, if I may ask?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ACCEPTING ROUND 7 SUBMISSIONS★
Post by: Evermind on August 21, 2015, 10:56:57 AM
Amadeus Awad - Temporary

The closer from his latest (awesome) album, released yesterday. It's not on YouTube, or I would've included the link. I'm over the moon about this record right now. But as it turned out, "Amadeus Awon’s Eon" from the banned list includes his solo work too. :-\

You can check out this Behind the Scenes video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aowRMUGGsew) though, if you're interested.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 6 RESULTS IN, SEND FINAL ROUND SONGS★
Post by: Bolsters on August 22, 2015, 12:34:09 AM
I'll listen to that album once a stream appears.

I've got 4/8 submissions for the final round so far but there's no rush.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 6 RESULTS IN, SEND FINAL ROUND SONGS★
Post by: Elite on August 22, 2015, 04:15:15 AM
Of course there's no Rush, they're in the banned artists list.














:neverusethis:
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 6 RESULTS IN, SEND FINAL ROUND SONGS★
Post by: Bolsters on August 22, 2015, 04:33:46 AM
Of course there's no Rush, they're in the banned artists list.

(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar.png~original)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 6 RESULTS IN, SEND FINAL ROUND SONGS★
Post by: Big Hath on August 22, 2015, 09:48:18 PM
sent  :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 6 RESULTS IN, SEND FINAL ROUND SONGS★
Post by: Evermind on August 23, 2015, 03:50:00 AM
I briefly thought about sending one of my favourite ballads of all time yet again, but seeing how that worked with 50% chance of success, I'm going with all out orchestral epic approach.

Sending now, hopefully it won't get rejected.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 6 RESULTS IN, SEND FINAL ROUND SONGS★
Post by: Bolsters on August 23, 2015, 08:42:45 AM
I'm just waiting on Elite and Scrop to send now.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -SEND ROUND 5-
Post by: jingle.boy on August 23, 2015, 09:41:20 AM
I'm getting an incredible sense of deja vu.

I'm just waiting on Scorpion and Elite now.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 6 RESULTS IN, SEND FINAL ROUND SONGS★
Post by: Crow on August 23, 2015, 10:59:56 AM
jingle i hope your star is gold this round
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 6 RESULTS IN, SEND FINAL ROUND SONGS★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 23, 2015, 11:04:37 AM
jingle i hope your star is gold this round

That makes two of us!!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★ROUND 6 RESULTS IN, SEND FINAL ROUND SONGS★
Post by: Bolsters on August 23, 2015, 10:06:08 PM
jingle i hope your star is gold this round
That makes two of us!!
You'd be the only two. (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original)

Elite is now the only person who hasn't sent me anything.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★SEND YOUR FINAL SONG NOW★
Post by: Elite on August 24, 2015, 05:44:17 AM
Sorry, I was away all weekend. Sending this afternoon (within 3-4 hours).
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★SEND YOUR FINAL SONG NOW★
Post by: Bolsters on August 24, 2015, 09:47:26 AM
Sorry, I was away all weekend. Sending this afternoon (within 3-4 hours).
Liar. ;D
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★SEND YOUR FINAL SONG NOW★
Post by: Elite on August 24, 2015, 09:57:57 AM
What? :|






OKAY SORRY I WAS 10 MINUTES TOO LATE :(
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 25, 2015, 11:23:14 PM
Tidbit time. I'll save the personal rankings until after the Round 7 results.



"My biggest criticism is the vocalist I think, I just didn't like him at all. I guess for this sort of alternative rock stuff he's fairly typical, but he just wasn't doing it for me. The guitar was nice when it was clean, but when distorted it was fairly drab."


"I liked the piano ostinato at first but since it also repeats throughout the entire song, even more than the drum beat, I was sick of it before I even finished my first listen through the song."


"This song was as bombastic and unrelenting as I expected it to be. What I wasn't expecting was for there to be as much eastern influence as there is. Right from the start, we have a short introduction driven by the eastern instrumentation, with some strings joining them."


"Some lovely soft organs fill out the sound. There's some strong 70's prog rock influence here for the mostpart, with all the prominent organ playing and the wah on the guitar in places, but it isn't so inspired by the decade that I find it uninteresting."


"So the first half of the song isn't bad; it's a nice slow build, the vocalist is capable and suits this style of song perfectly, and there's some string section action here and there."


"I like how the song builds from here, with the piano increasing in volume as the singer does the same."


"Anyway, this was some pretty solid metal. Nothing groundbreaking or surprising, but well made and enjoyable. The mix is good here too, with highlights being a really fat bass sound with lots of low end, and the drums."


"The vocalist suits this music perfectly, with a softer, husky approach in the verses but putting in more energy for the more upbeat choruses."
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Crow on August 26, 2015, 12:12:45 AM
"My biggest criticism is the vocalist I think, I just didn't like him at all. I guess for this sort of alternative rock stuff he's fairly typical, but he just wasn't doing it for me. The guitar was nice when it was clean, but when distorted it was fairly drab."

"So the first half of the song isn't bad; it's a nice slow build, the vocalist is capable and suits this style of song perfectly, and there's some string section action here and there."
one of these two, probably the latter bcuz all of that fits my song well
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Elite on August 26, 2015, 12:20:56 AM
Wow, these aren't all that positive.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 12:26:06 AM
It's about half and half, I'd say.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Crow on August 26, 2015, 12:31:32 AM
half getting a star and half not, woo!

jingle's getting a juicy gold for sure
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 12:50:32 AM
jingle's getting a juicy gold for sure
I wouldn't bet on that. (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Elite on August 26, 2015, 01:24:42 AM
I don't think I will win this roulette. I would like to though.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Evermind on August 26, 2015, 02:46:40 AM
"This song was as bombastic and unrelenting as I expected it to be. What I wasn't expecting was for there to be as much eastern influence as there is. Right from the start, we have a short introduction driven by the eastern instrumentation, with some strings joining them."

This is 100% mine. Doesn't tell me anything about how I scored though, maybe you secretly hate eastern influences in music.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 03:22:42 AM
There's not much in my library that is eastern influenced, I'll say that much.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Evermind on August 26, 2015, 03:29:55 AM
Well, that doesn't mean anything too. There's not much in my library that has growls, but there are some songs with growls I really like.

I'll just wait for the results.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 03:47:58 AM
Well, that doesn't mean anything too. There's not much in my library that has growls, but there are some songs with growls I really like.

I'll just wait for the results.
;)


Any final stabs in the dark from anyone regarding the stars, before all is revealed?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Elite on August 26, 2015, 03:50:39 AM
I think when the results show up, I wish I had sent a different song.

Here we go:

Gold star: 7 points
Silver star: 5 points
Bronze star: 3 points
Purple Star: 1 point
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette -ROUND 3 RESULTS, SEND ROUND 4-
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 03:52:24 AM
The only thing you got right was their order.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Elite on August 26, 2015, 04:44:59 AM
Well screw those stars then
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 26, 2015, 04:46:54 AM
jingle's getting a juicy gold for sure
I wouldn't bet on that. (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original)

Neither would I.  My entry had piano in it, so it could be good, or perhaps you were sick of it before it even finished.

Gold - 4
Silver - 3
Bronze - 2
Purple - 1
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Elite on August 26, 2015, 04:48:51 AM
Silver can't be 3 stars and Purple can't be 1 star, based on the two guesses I did. Therefore, I can say that, unless Bolsters uses half points, the only thing you got right was their order.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Evermind on August 26, 2015, 04:51:07 AM
Gold - 25
Silver - 20
Bronze - 15
Pink - 5

If I didn't get anything right,

Well screw those stars then

 :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 26, 2015, 04:51:18 AM
Silver can't be 3 stars and Purple can't be 1 star, based on the two guesses I did. Therefore, I can say that, unless Bolsters uses half points, the only thing you got right was their order.

 then...

Well screw those stars
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 05:03:20 AM
There are no half points, each star has a whole number for its value.

But again, no one has gotten anything right other than putting them in the correct order. :laugh:

If it helps (it won't), if you were to add up every star awarded to the eight of you throughout the roulette, you would have 221 points.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 26, 2015, 05:15:32 AM
There are no half points, each star has a whole number for its value.

But again, no one has gotten anything right other than putting them in the correct order. :laugh:

If it helps (it won't), if you were to add up every star awarded to the eight of you throughout the roulette, you would have 221 points.

Well, by that math, Gold has to be worth at least 20.  Need a few more correlations in order to build a formula.  I'll assign it to my kids for some math homework.   :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 05:21:36 AM
That'd be 140 points just from gold stars though, so the other stars would have to be pretty undervalued if that were true. Consider that there are already 14 silver stars just at the end of Round 6, and 20 non-gold stars total.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Evermind on August 26, 2015, 05:31:09 AM
Gold - 20
Silver - 4
Bronze - 3
Pink - 1

I can live with that. :lol

(I know pink can't be 1.)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 05:39:10 AM
That would add up to 223. Not bad. :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Evermind on August 26, 2015, 05:42:43 AM
That would add up to 223. Not bad. :lol

Hey, I didn't count it, so not bad indeed.

Edit: in fact, I just did.

So far we have:

6 Gold * 20 = 120
14 Silver * 4 = 56
4 Bronze * 3 = 12
2 Pink * 1 = 2

120 + 56 + 12 + 2 = 190

So let's say the next round will award 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze:

1 Gold * 20 = 20
2 Silver * 4 = 8
1 Bronze * 3 = 3

20 + 8 + 3 = 31

190 + 31 = 221

So it all adds up.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 05:51:03 AM
Edit: in fact, I just did.

So far we have:

6 Gold * 20 = 120
14 Silver * 4 = 56
4 Bronze * 3 = 12
2 Pink * 1 = 2

120 + 56 + 12 + 2 = 190

So let's say the next round will award 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze:

1 Gold * 20 = 20
2 Silver * 4 = 8
1 Bronze * 3 = 3

20 + 8 + 3 = 31

190 + 31 = 221

So it all adds up.
If there was going to be only one bronze and no pink stars in round 7 then yeah, it would add up then. That may not be the case though.

Edit: Round 6 adds up to 186, go crazy.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Elite on August 26, 2015, 06:44:43 AM
I don't think gold will be worth so much compared to the rest. Furthermore, bronze can not be worth 3 and nor can purple be worth 1.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Evermind on August 26, 2015, 06:47:02 AM
I don't think gold will be worth so much compared to the rest. Furthermore, bronze can not be worth 3 and nor can purple be worth 1.

I was kind of kidding.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Elite on August 26, 2015, 06:49:44 AM
Gold: 11
Silver: 7
Bronze: 4
Purple: 3

Last round will see 1 gold, 3 silvers and 1 purple.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 06:56:35 AM
Round 7 results: The Beginning of The End.


Shadow Ninja 2.0 vs Scorpion

Shadow Ninja 2.0
You pondered in your PM whether I'd heard these guys and not liked them, but that wasn't the case. Infact, I'd never even heard of them before. :lol But that was my loss, because this is some decent indie pop rock kind of stuff.

Things start off very nicely. The combination of lower register, dull sounding guitar notes and the brighter higher register notes is nice, and the distant-sounding oooh's from the vocalist flesh out the sound. The bass is mixed well and drives the verses. The vocalist suits this music perfectly, with a softer, husky approach in the verses but putting in more energy for the more upbeat choruses. The breakdown is probably the highlight of the song for me (starting with "but the rain won't fall for the both of us"), when the song strips back and the synths come to the forefront more before building back into the chorus.

Very nice.


Scorpion
Heard the band name, but I don't think I'd heard the music until now.

The song wastes no time getting to the point, starting up immediately with most of the instrumentation at once. As the verse starts everything strips back, and is backed by an industrial-sounding lo fidelity drum beat. There's some nice sounding organs in this track and some string section action at points aswell. The second verse differs from the first, eschewing the industrial drums and having the drummer play instead, and there are some sustained guitar notes playing over the top. The prechorus ("forgive me for your sins") is a good lead in not only to the chorus, but also the guitar solo.

Anyway, this was some pretty solid metal. Nothing groundbreaking or surprising, but well made and enjoyable. The mix is good here too, with highlights being a really fat bass sound with lots of low end, and the drums.

I had a tough decision with this matchup. It seemed like every time I listened to these songs, I wanted to switch around who won. :lol So I figured the loser deserved a pink star either way. I went with the Ninja in the end, so the pink is yours.



jingle.boy vs Parama

jingle.boy
So this was two tracks, with the first being an instrumental introduction to the album leading into Rude Awakening.

Epilogue (...is where we start) was nice, a pretty good way to open the album I'd say. I like the contrast between the synth-driven first half and the heavier, rock/metal-inspired second half of the song.

Then begins Rude Awakening, stripping everything back to just piano. I like how the song builds from here, with the piano increasing in volume as the singer does the same. There's a high-register string instrument in here which enhances these softer piano sections in the song. The singer isn't bad at all. The instrumental section is good, especially the organ/bass/synth bit before the brief guitar solo.

So, yeah. This was a good energetic progressive rock track.


Parama
This wasn't a bad song, but it was a bit of a struggle to sit through. So the first half of the song isn't bad; it's a nice slow build, the vocalist is capable and suits this style of song perfectly, and there's some string section action here and there. It's not fantastic, but it's nice. Once it reaches the 4:30 mark or so things get better, the drumming comes in, the strings come to life, it picks up quite a bit which is a welcome change at this point.

However...these few bars are repeated now, with very little variation, for the entire second half of the song - a solid four minutes. I mean, they're a good few bars but repeating them for four minutes just seems excessive and pointless. And it was rather disappointing because I liked this section at first, but it felt like the song got stuck and couldn't move on, and it desperately needed to.



Big Hath vs Evermind

Big Hath
So, Big Hath actually sent me a "grab-bag" of songs for the final round. :lol Meaning, I received six different songs from him and was told to pick one however I wanted. In the interests of fairness, I decided that chance (https://www.random.org/) was the best option; unbiased, unprejudiced, fair. So from those six the song that I used as Big Hath's submission ended up being this.

So, Beardfish. I am quite sure I have heard something from them before, but no idea what. It probably wasn't this song though, because I liked it, and I'd probably have looked into the band more if I had heard it.

The song starts off with the bass driving things, which also becomes more active when the guitar joins it. Some lovely soft organs fill out the sound. There's some strong 70's prog rock influence here for the mostpart, with all the prominent organ playing and the wah on the guitar in places, but it isn't so inspired by the decade that I find it uninteresting (I generally have a hard time getting into actual 70's prog rock bands). The vocalist and the bass player are the highlights throughout most of the song, and the organ solo was probably the only dull bit.

You didn't beat Evermind, but I'll give you a pink star for your effort.

I didn't want to get caught up listening to the other five while I was listening to all of the songs for this round, but when I was done with the writeups I gave them a quick listen. Though I only listened to them once each and I will be extremely brief, I just wanted to give you some feedback on them.



Evermind
Blind Guardian is a band I'm familiar with of course, but nothing this recent. I'd tried to get into them many years ago when I first started getting into power metal, but didn't like anything I'd heard. If I had to guess, I'd say this was around 2001-2002. I've also become much harder to please when it comes to power metal, usually favouring power metal that is combined with other styles (such as having a heavier, metal edge or such). So, I was interested to see whether this would appeal to me at all.

This song was as bombastic and unrelenting as I expected it to be. What I wasn't expecting was for there to be as much eastern influence as there is. Right from the start, we have a short introduction driven by the eastern instrumentation, with some strings joining them. Then the bombastic part I was waiting for begins with the crunchy guitars, and the strings becoming more prominent. This song isn't all about string sections though, as the brass section takes over around 1:26 briefly and then the guitar plays an eastern-inspired lead - this being one of my favourite sections of the entire song. The chorus is epic, which it absolutely had to be in a song like this so I'm glad they didn't screw it up. :lol The instrumental section is another highlight, when the metal subsides and the eastern bit comes back before building up into a symphonic-driven section and finally adding the brass, the drums, and the guitars. It's a nice slow build and a welcome change from the otherwise relentless metal sections.

I've no doubt you selected this song because of the combination of metal instrumentation, orchestra, and eastern instrumentation and influences, which is a combination of the typical metal/orchestra which I like, but also contains some non-typical instrumentation. A very sound tactic. ;)

It's somewhat cheesy for the mostpart and at times a tad generic (the drumming at times in particular, especially when it's just non-stop double kick), but it also contains original ideas and is epic in scope, so it is a very enjoyable listen.



Sacul vs Elite

Sacul
Well, you were probably expecting this so let's just get it out of the way now...I didn't really like this song much at all. :\

I guess my biggest gripe is that it's so repetitive. Infact, it may even win the (non-existant) award for most repetitive song I received the entire roulette. For one there's a single drum beat for the entire song, and while the subtle, almost glitchy manipulations of it in places are executed well enough, they don't really add much to the variety of the track. I liked the piano ostinato at first but since it also repeats throughout the entire song, even more than the drum beat, I was sick of it before I even finished my first listen through the song. The spoken word samples are used as a substitute for singing/rapping here apparently but they are a very poor substitute, as they don't really enhance the song at all. A couple of things do come in every now and then (like the funky wah guitar about half way through) but these minor and temporary additions aren't enough to prevent the track from being monotonous and bland.


Elite
Not sure if I'd heard Dredg before, to be honest. I'd heard of them of course but don't recall listening to anything.

So, this song wasn't that bad, but I didn't think it was great. Things start off nicely, I like the intro. When things become more exciting it's alright, but the chorus is a bit dull I thought. Things are better in the verses, with the bass and drums driving things and the delay on the clean guitar here works well. But as mentioned, I found the chorus a bit dull because it's just a big wall of distortion and I'm not a fan of the guitar tone in this song when it's distorted. The "I cannot find the other half" section after the second chorus wasn't bad.

My biggest criticism is the vocalist I think, I just didn't like him at all. I guess for this sort of alternative rock stuff he's fairly typical, but he just wasn't doing it for me. The guitar was nice when it was clean, but when distorted it was fairly drab.



Well that's it for the final round, and so the roulette is effectively over. I will be posting part 2 of the conclusion in a following reply to the thread.

Your songs for Round 7 ranked:

Evermind
jingle.boy / Shadow Ninja 2.0
Scorpion / Big Hath
Parama
Sacul

Quote from: SCOREBOARD
(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/score_r7.png~original)



So it's pretty obvious who won here, I think. :lol But, what are the values of the stars? You'll all just have to wait for me to post the final concluding messages of the roulette, won't you. (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original)

Here's the personal rankings though.



Shadow Ninja 2.0

jingle.chad

Big Hath

Parama

Scorpion

Sacul

Evermind

Elite
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★FINAL ROUND LISTENING★
Post by: Elite on August 26, 2015, 06:59:24 AM
My stars don't add up. It's unclear whether I got a silver or a bronze star in this final round.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION, PART ONE★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 07:02:01 AM
Sorry about that, it's fixed now. You get bronze.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION, PART ONE★
Post by: Elite on August 26, 2015, 07:03:38 AM
No, I want the silver one!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION, PART ONE★
Post by: Elite on August 26, 2015, 07:04:27 AM
By the way, I got the points for the stars right, admit it!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION, PART ONE★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 07:05:32 AM
By the way, I got the points for the stars right, admit it!
I admit nothing.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION, PART ONE★
Post by: Elite on August 26, 2015, 07:06:28 AM
You will in your concluding post.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION, PART ONE★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 26, 2015, 07:28:05 AM
You're a horrible person for ranking Duran Duran > Seventh Wonder.

You're absolutely spot on to rank Animotion at the bottom of my heap.

Congrats to the Rusky.  Funny how your best song didn't even win!  I guess that makes the Amorphis track the best submission in the roulette?
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION, PART ONE★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 07:31:01 AM
I guess that makes the Amorphis track the best submission in the roulette?
I wouldn't put too much stock in those rankings, I absolutely suck at things like that. Which is why you will never see a Bolsters™ Top 50 Albums thread. My mind just doesn't work in absolutes like that when it comes to music.

I kept changing my mind about how some of your songs would rank but I didn't want to change them and confuse people.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION, PART ONE★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 08:44:53 AM
So, that's the end of my first roulette. I enjoyed running this and my hope is that you guys enjoyed participating, despite some troubles a lot of you had along the way. :( I want to thank all of you for participating and sending me music. Each and every one of you sent great stuff and I'm going to be spending a lot of my time for the next few months exploring the artists that I discovered here.



So let's get the ball rolling shall we? In last place we have...

PARAMA

You had a hard time for almost the entire roulette and I am sorry for that. But someone has to come last unfortunately and this time it just happens to be you. I did get some really good songs from you however so you were still successful as far as I'm concerned, and a few of your tracks that received no reward I will still explore the artists further. There is actually a prize for coming in last place, and it is this balloon. Thanks for playing! :tup


(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/dark-pink-star-foil-helium-balloon_a.jpg~original)





















In third place we have...

(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/scrop-3-bronze.jpg~original)


Although you had a few misses, you landed enough hits to take third place - and deservedly so, because some of the best tracks I received in the roulette were from you. Sampo, Gutter Ballet, and Justice For Saint Mary in particular were the standouts, but I'll be exploring other artists you sent further aswell. Thanks for playing and congratulations!




















Coming in second is...

(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/elite-2-silver.jpg~original)


You were easily one of the most consistent players and so it's no surprise that you should come in second. You had a long winning streak going at one point, with four consecutive wins consisting of a single gold star and three silver ones. You also won the most matchups of any contestant (tied with Shadow Ninja), winning five of the seven. Thanks for playing and congratulations!




















And in a (not surprising at all) twist the winner of the roulette is...

(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/evermind-1-gold.jpg~original)


Evermind was on a rampage and no one was able to stop him. Not only was he the only player to receive more than one gold star, he actually collected four of them - and there were only seven in total, which makes this feat all the more impressive. Not only that, one of his best songs was awarded pink in the first round, but that didn't slow down his conquest in the slightest. Being able to consistently impress enough to get gold so often assured your victory, and many of the artists you sent are among the first I will explore starting...well, why not RIGHT NOW. Thanks for playing and congratulations! :hefdaddy












As for the rest of you, a sincere well done is in order for each of you. While some of you may have struggled to impress a few times more than the others, each and every one of you sent some great stuff aswell, so don't be too disappointed with your performance. I always consider myself successful if I get the host into a number of new artists even if I don't win, and all of you have done that here. Thanks for being a part of this roulette, and I hope you enjoyed participating as much as I enjoyed having you. :2metal:





So, I bet you're all wondering what those damned stars are worth, right? I wouldn't be surprised if some of you skipped all that shit about who won just to get down to here. Well, here's the table I kept and used to tally your scores for the roulette, which should tell you everything you need to know.

The forum is resizing these images due to their width, so just click on them to make them less blurry.

(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/score_final.png~original)

It would appear that I may have underestimated some of your mathmatical skills however, as the hints I have a few hours ago were enough for Elite to figure it all out. :rollin I think Evermind figured it out first though, as he posted 11-7-5-3 before making a ninja edit and removing it, possibly because he realised how close that was and didn't want to spoil the surprise. I am very curious to know how you got the values from just the totals I gave.

As for why they are valued the way they are...my reasoning was that each star should be worth slightly less than two of the star below it. I started with 7 for the silver star chosen for no particular reason at all and went from there. Originally (when I conceived this idea and constructed it several months ago), the gold star had a value of 13, but I thought this was a bit too far infront of the silver and I wanted to reward consistency as well as the best song of each round, so I brought it down to 11. The pink star was the last addition and at first it was worth only two points following the "worth two of the star below" rule. However, even though I wanted the pink star to be the lowest valued star, I thought two points was fairly low - especially considering the way I wanted to use it - and so it was changed to three points about a week before the roulette started. Although in hindsight, the way the pink star was awarded, it probably should have been between the silver and bronze in value rather than being the lowest. So, there you have it.

At some point during round two or three, I started making these tables because I thought it might be something you guys would be interested in. They are your star tallies and scores, ranked, as of the end of each round. Again, just click them to see them to remove the blur.

(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/table_r1.png~original)

(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/table_r2.png~original)

(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/table_r3.png~original)

(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/table_r4.png~original)

(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/table_r5.png~original)

(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/table_r6.png~original)

(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/table_r7.png~original)





Whelp, that's it.


THE END


(https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original) (https://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o669/bolsters/Roulette/tardstar-emot.png~original)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION★
Post by: Crow on August 26, 2015, 08:53:08 AM
yeah i mean i knew you don't like post-rock but i sent that anyways why not
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 26, 2015, 08:53:29 AM
Well run Roulette Dave.  Had a ton of fun in this - even if Angelmaker should've got a pink!  You're still a horrible person.   :rollin

And I think you're right, Pink should've earned more points than Bronze.

(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/bloodygta/images/e/ed/Pink.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110309204702)
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION★
Post by: Evermind on August 26, 2015, 09:00:38 AM
Quote
I think Evermind figured it out first though, as he posted 11-7-5-3 before making a ninja edit and removing it, possibly because he realised how close that was and didn't want to spoil the surprise. I am very curious to know how you got the values from just the totals I gave.

I made ninja edit because I realized the scores don't add up to 186 then, and I thought 4 would be too low for bronze and too close to pink, and I also had to go so I didn't have time for figuring it out totally.

I also thought it could be 9-8-4-2, in which case I was screwed with my gold stars and all, so I secretly hoped for 11-7-4-3 setup. :lol

Anyway, four gold stars mean I won more than half rounds in this roulette, so I would humbly say I deserved this win. :angel: And yeah, funny how my best song got me only pink, but that's how head-to-head system sometimes I guess.

Thank you Chad for congratulations and thank you Bolsters for running this. I had a fun time finding the holes in your banned list and I also really liked that star concept. (I might be a bit biased here since I won.) I'm glad you enjoyed most of my entries so much. Have fun exploring those bands. :tup

Oh, and also:

Quote
You're a horrible person for ranking Duran Duran > Seventh Wonder.

This big time. :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION★
Post by: Sacul on August 26, 2015, 09:03:44 AM
>DJ Shadow
>repetitive
>samples as a bad substitution of rap

I'm done with life :lol


Damnit Evermind, you're on fire. Well done!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 09:22:13 AM
Well run Roulette Dave.  Had a ton of fun in this - even if Angelmaker should've got a pink!  You're still a horrible person.   :rollin
I've never denied this.

>DJ Shadow
>repetitive
>samples as a bad substitution of rap

I'm done with life :lol
I was surprised you sent something like this after I'd slammed so many things for being repetitive. I figured you'd just given up. ;D
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION★
Post by: Sacul on August 26, 2015, 09:25:48 AM
Tbh I've never felt that song was repetitive at all. Just ever changing, adding new things here and there, and finishing where it started.  Btw, this roulette would have been easier for me had you explained a bit more about your tastes :lol.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION★
Post by: Evermind on August 26, 2015, 09:30:12 AM
I remember that DJ Shadow song from my roulette. I didn't like it either.

Also, I don't think winning two roulettes in a row qualifies as "on fire", but thank you anyway. ;D
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION★
Post by: Elite on August 26, 2015, 09:35:03 AM
Thanks for this excellent roulette. I had a lot of fun participating, even though second place sucks balls :lol

No seriously, this was sincerely one of the best roulettes I've been in, thanks!
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION★
Post by: jingle.boy on August 26, 2015, 10:51:38 AM
I remember that DJ Shadow song from my roulette. I didn't like it either.

Also, I don't think winning two roulettes in a row qualifies as "on fire", but thank you anyway. ;D

Once is an event; twice is a coincidence; thrice is a trend.
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION★
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on August 26, 2015, 12:39:49 PM
Imagine Dragons got quite a bit of radio play over here, but I guess that may not have been the case in Australia.

Anyway, congratulations, Evermind! Also, I'm glad you liked some of my songs, Bolsters, even if I never did top that first submission. :lol
Title: Re: Bolsters™ The Roulette ★THE CONCLUSION★
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 06:15:27 PM
Imagine Dragons got quite a bit of radio play over here, but I guess that may not have been the case in Australia.
They might have, I wouldn't really know as I don't listen to the radio.