Here it is, fellas, the final round! For half of you
. To those that leave us, you've sent some great tracks and will make me check several albums so thanks for playing
Elite:
Kayo Dot -
All the Pain in All the Wide WorldThis song is a mess in plenty of senses, the most noticeable for me being the production, too compressed and muddy but I guess that was the idea. The second and most important one, is the songwriting: this is just all over the place, with Toby rambling, instrumentation meandering more and more. I don't understand what this song was trying to do other than maybe establish a kind of psychedelic, synthwave-y atmosphere, probably inspired after watching Drive (while thinking it was a good movie
). So... yeah, this is just one giant mess that hardly has any identifiable sections, filled with bland melodies, and that overstays its welcome. It doesn't inspire any negative feelings - just bores me a lot.
2.5/5Parama:
Spectral Lore -
The Veiled GardenActually the beginning of this song is pretty interesting, for the first 3 minutes, despite not being much up my alley. Then I get a little bored but things get cool in that ambient section at around minute 6. The buildup is well done, then it breaks into heavy guitars, and... blast beats. And more black metal of course. For another 6 minutes in which I've lost the little interest I had. Sure, I'll give it that the songwriting is pretty varied here, but black metal is a sound and aesthetic I don't like from the go, one that just subtracts by default so unless there's something that really compensates for it, it's likely it won't get a good score from me.
This track certainly feels more accomplished and ambitious than most black metal I've listened to, so I see why you love this record so much. Sadly, it's not really my thing but I'll give it some merit.
3/5Bolsters:
Purity Ring -
begin againThis is a pretty repetitive song, using very few melodies and lyrics that rhyme too much. Hooks feel kind of cheap and generic. I don't like the trap-influenced beats on this track nor how processed the vocals and keys feel. But, it's not really a bad piece. Despite its shortcomings, I find the production to be decent, and overall it's enjoyable - more of the passive kind you'd get by something on the background. Just another pop song.
3/5kingshmegland:
DADA -
Star You AreWhen the guitars appeared, almost thought this would be a lame adult contemporary track or something
. Anyways, I don't understand the lyrics too much but they seem to be about a toxic relationship, or a creepy follower/stalker? Kinda contrasts with the soft instrumentation in a nice way. Which is pretty cool but way overshadowed by the acoustic guitars in the mix imo. Certainly the vocal harmonies are quite well arranged and pleasing... when the melodies are. Parts like 'I wanted too much' feel kind awkward and the singer's voice becomes a little grating.
Other than that... it feels like a pretty simple ballad in terms of structure and arrangements. I'm not sure there's much special about this track.
3.5/5home:
Ólafur Arnalds -
Tomorrow's SongThis style reminds me of some of Nils Frahm output, lovely piano songs with some sounds from the instrument, the chair, hammers hitting the strings, etc. And this... is nice little song, but just that. Could easily have been part of a soundtrack as it is comfy and pleasant to listen to, but rather forgettable. I feel this guy has way better tunes on him.
3.5/5Train of Naught:
Kauan -
KitI'm a little conflicted with this one - it has such great beginning, with a lovely ambient section with interesting samples, and a great buildup, tinged with melancholy. Love the electric guitar on this track, mostly the clean playing. And there are some excellent vocal harmonies. Yeah it's pretty nice. Until... the second breakdown, with the acoustic guitars and the slow metal music building up. To end up in... nice riffs but lame growls, instrumentation nowhere close as intense as before. And the song ends up abruptly, but you already warned me of that. I don't know, has this track ended up earlier, would have definitely gotten more points from me.
+3.5/5Kattoelox:
Cat Stevens -
Where do the Children Play?I wonder why this guy wants to know the whereabouts of minors?
About the song, at first I was just bored because it felt like another folk song. But it's been slowly growing on me - I like how each chorus adds something small but interesting, the synths have a lovely sound, the occasional background vocals add up to the mood, and I like how the drums break in. It's a simple song, but a pretty comfy one.
On a side note, took me a while to realize this song is from 1970! Definitely a great version you sent me.
4/5Nekov:
Agnes Obel -
FamilarNow I realize where I had listened to this track before, was it a part of Dark's soundtrack, right? Seems you've been digging it
. Anyways, this track is pretty nice, I like the strings here, and her voice, while not singing in a very unique style, fits well the mood. The other vocals are a little weird, in the sense they feel somehow processed and unnatural, but again, they fit. Somehow it felt the whole track was about to build up to something or change in mood or structure near the end, and it didn't. Which is ok. Overall, nice lovely song.
4/5Tomislav95:
MGMT -
Little Dark AgeHeh, I remember this album was memed, because the day of release /mu/ was flooded with yellow posts
. Anyways to the music, we got some interesting synthpop with more discrete beats instead of the typical bombastic ones. Vocals are quite processed and along with synths, they all have a sound of their own, I'll give them that. It's kinda quirky and fun, trying to be spooky. And the little instrumental sections are pretty cool.
I guess my main complaint is that it feels a little repetitive, mostly the vocals varying very little in the melodies it sings. But I'll admit it grew on me quite a bit.
4/5ariich:
Oddarrang -
Central SunThis is quite the obscure but intriguing submission I always get in roulettes. I just can't think of a genre tag, it's kinda jazzy but also post-rock-ish but also uuhhhh folk something? It's definitely an atmospheric piece that for some reason would fit as a soundtrack to... something
. I really like the melodies played by the strings here and the vocal harmonies fit nicely. I don't know what else to say, it's a pretty interesting track and a creative one.
4/5Positions
Nekov 34.5
ariich 34
Bolsters 33.5
tomislav95 +33
kingshmegland +32.5
-----------------------------
Elite 32.5
Train of Naught +32
Parama 31
home 31
Katteolox 31
From three ties last round to a clean top 5 now, congratulations to those that have entered the EP round! I'll post rules soon, but they'll likely be the same as my previous roulette's. Start planning something, haven't defined a submission date yet so take your time.
Topic: Sacul's controversial roulette v3. Less frustration™️, A REAL WINNER AT LAST!!!! (Read 70166 times)