Elite- Ulver - Tomorrow Never Knows 7.5/10 +1 = 8.5/10When I first saw the title I thought it was going to be a cover of The Beatles but it’s not at all. Glitchy, with some harsh noise thrown in. I can never really tell what direction the song goes in… it’s repetitive and yet it isn’t, but the change is so subtle that it’s almost hard to tell. The grinding beat is very enjoyable, but the evolution of the song is rather slow and then each transition is rather clunky. I like the ambient sound of the last 2 minutes very much, even with the glitchy sounds. However, again, it gets very repetitive.
Train of Naught - Closure in Moscow - Happy Days 7.5/10This song is just straightforward rock… it sounds like the Black Crowes or something. It’s high energy, pumped up, balls to the wall of sound rock. However, I just couldn’t really get into this song. I don’t know what it is… it does go on and on and doesn’t really go anywhere directionwise from what I could hear. It was like LOUD LOUD LOUD WE CAN’T GET LOUDER LETS JUST STAY HERE AND RAWWWWK. I don’t mind that but it gets old a little fast for me. I dare to bet this song would bring down the house live, though.
TAC - Theocracy- Bethehem 8/10What is this, Christian power metal that’s not Stryper? Wow. I actually like this and would like to explore their catalog a little bit more. Now I can add this to my metal Christmas playlist. That said, while I do like the sound, it gets very repetitive the 2nd half of the song, with the band singing the chorus about 5 times. The key change with chorus repeat makes it sound slightly praise and worshippy, which is what turned me off of Christian music over a decade ago. I like the added countermelodies, but it still feels like they are singing the same thing over and over and over again. Still, it works for what it is and isn’t unenjoyable. Good solid effort.
Tomislav - Wishbone Ash-The King Will Come 8/10We need more of this 70s sound in today’s rock. There are elements of so many bands I enjoy in this… Deep Purple especially. It gets a little repetitive, but there is some evolution there as the song goes on, especially in the B section and a great classic guitar solo. However, I feel the middle section drags on following that… just this quiet section that repeats for like a minute without anything going on. And doesn’t really build up or go anywhere, and then all of a sudden here’s the recap. Overall a pretty solid song though.
Fluffy - John Butler Trio-Ocean (Live at Red Rocks) 8/10 + 1 = 9/10The first time I heard this I was impressed but it just seemed to drag on and on without much change, but it grew on me a little bit. I do like acoustic guitar music. I think that Ocean is a good title for the piece, as it does ebb and flow like the ocean waves. The 2nd half of the song speeds up and adds extra energy, but I just lost interest after a while. The electric guitar finally comes in with about 3 minutes to go to the song, and I’m like THERE it is.. Because I only heard a tiny little bit of electric and drums up to that point. That said, I do enjoy it, but it probably could have been 3 minutes shorter and had more of an impact on me.
jingle.boy - Threshold-Clear 8.5/10A nice solid metal ballad. I really like the vocalist, has that tight bright powerful Dio-seque metal sound. I really don’t have anything critical to say about it except that it doesn’t really go anywhere. It sounds like he sings the same thing 3-4 times, which he does, but the song doesn’t build up or change keys or anything. It’s just there. That said, I do want to check out more from this band. I really like the singer and hope that his sound carries over to other tunes they do.
Parama - Julia Holter - Silhouette 8.5/10 +1 = 9.5/10This is kind of mysterious spacey ethereal almost synthy… the end of the song almost sounds Enya-esque, without the 4 billion overdubs. The calm laid back sound sometimes can be overplayed in todays music, but it works very effectively here. I actually really liked this song, it’s in a similar vein to the two Portishead songs that were submitted. I love the strings that are behind it, although initially I didn’t know if it was strings or a pad sound… then I heard the violin and I’m like oh. Pads WITH strings do make it a little difficult to tell sometimes. I wish the ending wasn’t so abrupt though.
Sacul - Portishead - Roads 8.5/10 +1=9.5/10Mysterious vocals are the clincher for me. The ambient music background gives me a picture of a dark room with the singer in it… It doesn’t really go anywhere for a while, just has a mysterious vibe to it that I enjoy… until the middle string section. That is just BEAUTIFUL, and upon my last listen added a half point on to it. It goes back to that mysterious vibe following it, and it’s really effective. Nice song.
Scorpion - Portishead - Glory Box 8.5/10This sounds like this could be sung in a smoky lounge. I love the quality of the singer here. The song has that soul sound that I REALLY dig especially in this soul-revitalized type of pop that’s been popping up the last few years or so. This has an old-school sound to it with the crackling LP-type filter that the music goes through. The edgy chorus does not overpower anything, showing the angst and anger the singer has, when finally cutting out so we can hear “I just wanna be a woman”. Even though the backing track repeats throughout the piece, it doesn’t drag on and become repetitive, showing it’s effectiveness. The song fades out, but it’s almost like the song and emotions go full circle here, so it works.
Bolsters - Afro Celt Sound System -Deep Channel 8.5/10 +1=9.5/10Nice blend of electronic music and Celtic music that I really enjoy and makes me wish I sent you something different in your roulette. There are times (especially near the end) where it almost sounds New Agey as well. One thing I really don’t like is how abrupt it ends… it doesn’t slow down, it’s just like OK, we’re done. I felt like the ending could have been smoother. However, nice track.
425 - Nightwish - Ghost Love Score (Live) 9/10 +1=10/10I’ve heard Nightwish before but it’s been years and I don’t remember anything specific other than there was a female singer and many of the songs sounded very similar. However, I must have not been paying attention. The beginning almost sounds 80s in it’s chord progressions and sounds and evolves to this powerful climax. Sometimes I think that the female singers in symphonic metal bands can sound somewhat affected singing in their head voice (this may be etched in my mind after seeing a pretty bad one that opened up for Symphony X about 10 years ago)... but this singer has a POWERFUL chest voice that really comes out when she belts those higher notes near the end.
Tyrias - Anathema-Untouchable Pt. 1 9/10Well once this is over I’ll check out Pt. 2 and beyond. I really like the intro. The voices in the chorus are awesome. Even though the thematic background material repeats throughout the entire song (or so it seems) it fits very well within the aspect of the song and I really don’t feel like it’s dragged out. The slow build up (addition of drums, additional vocals, additional melodies, builds up to a wonderful climax, and then slowly dies away with some beautiful strings. Me likey.
Lonestar- Voices from the Fuselage - Meteorites 9/10 Starts off nice and calm and then BAM. There’s some djent sound in this that I really enjoy. I really like the vocalist in this one as well, his voice is very clean and powerful, and it works very well in this type of song. The song flows well, evolves well, and I like how it switches from an ethereal ambient like sound to the heavier sound quite often. The song can be slightly repetitive, but it’s not so much where it takes away from the song. I would like to hear more.
Evermind - Jon Lord- Pictured Within 9/10 +1= 10/10Totally expected this type of song from you. What a beautiful solid ballad. The B section of the section is particularly powerful, and then when he sings “At the rain” and those arpeggiated chords come down as if it’s raining… and then the cello solo!!! And the French Horn solo with orchestra… I wonder if there is a choral arrangement of this, because it’s particularly beautiful. Or was this the closing credits song to a movie? The ending is very non-traditional. I love it.
Big Hath - Tower of Power - Squib Cakes 9.5/10 +1 = 10.5/10How have I not heard of this band? It’s like Chicago meets Sly and the Family Stone meets Deep Purple. Love this 70s brass ensemble stuff so much and wish there were more of it today. I could totlaly picture my brother in law, who is a reknowned trombonist, playing in a band like this after he retires from teaching this year. This is great, and I need to check out more of their stuff when this is over.
Kingshmegland - Haken - 1985 10/10I love the 80s feel of this song so much. Modern music with the old school sounds. The electronic drums are so great here. I feel like if Mr. Mister was a prog metal band this could be what they sounded like. This was overall my favorite song of the round, and I’m DEFINITELY diving into some more Haken after this roulette is done. I’ve been avoiding the Haken thread but may have to check it out and ask for some more suggestions upon where to start. Or I could just ask you
Train of Naught - 7.5
TAC - 8
Tomislav95 - 8
Elite - 8.5
Scopion - 8.5
Jingle.boy - 8.5
Fluffy - 9
Lonestar - 9
Tyrias - 9
Parama - 9.5
Sacul - 9.5
Bolsters - 9.5
425 - 10
Evermind - 10
Kingshmegland - 10
Big Hath - 10.5
Poll
Topic: Splent's Controversial Roulette v.1.0.11 - R10 RESULTS!! FINAL ROUND COMMENCING (Read 89620 times)