Round 1 ResultsTAC – “Twilight” – Drifting Sun
“I much preferred the instrumental passages to the vocal sections. A bit cheesy, but the band’s embrace of it is respectable.”From the beginning, this song reeks of cheese… However, I do appreciate some good cheese here and there. I’m definitely not a fan of the vocals here, just not my style. The guitar work is wonderful though. 3 solos? Gah damn! My favorite parts of this song, for sure. If it was accompanied by better vocals and was a bit shorter, I’d probably like it much more. I think it gets better as it goes on. Still not bad by any means, but I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to this one. Average.
5.5/10
Stadler – “The Court of the Crimson King” – The Claypool Lennon Delirium
“Interesting, to say the least. Favorite part is the yummy bass work. Not sure if I’m a fan of the vocals, but I love the instrumental parts.”Honestly, I was very much looking forward to this one. I’m so divided on how I feel about it. It’s impossible for me to not compare it to the original given how much I love KC’s version. The production sounds amazing, the bass guitar is evidently present at the forefront and it sounds fucking fantastic, the obvious highlight. However, as soon as the vocals come in, I shudder. They really were not what I was expecting. Then again, I don’t know what I was expecting. I just know they’re not for me and I really don’t like them. If this was an instrumental cover, it would certainly be one of the highest scoring submissions this round. Unfortunately, for me, it’s not.
5.5/10
Tomislav95 – “Summon the Fire” – The Comet Is Coming
“Well, this is cool. Haven’t really heard much like this before. If I have, it would likely be from a video game.”
On first listen, I enjoyed this quite a bit. After that, nothing really stuck out to me, and I found it to be stale, like some average bakery bread from my local Walmart. I find the last minute or so to be particularly annoying. I’m not sure why, but after each listen, it never grew on me. I do find this to be quite original and at the least, entertaining. It’s a song I’d dance to, if I were to do such a thing. I’m willing to bet this song you submitted is not the best from this album, so I’m still interested in checking other songs out.
6/10
Train of Naught – “Arp” – Arcane Roots
“A nice blend of elements from different genres. I’m not sure how I feel about the vocals yet, but I do enjoy this so far.”This is a prime example of a song that I just feel… “Eh”. There’s no real flaw I see with this, but I also don’t find myself enjoying it as most other submissions. Perhaps, this might be a grower? To follow up with the first impression, I do very much enjoy the vocals, but I suppose I’m not particularly invested in anything else. The electronic elements are “just kinda there” for me. When the drums and guitars ensue, it becomes more enjoyable. But that’s pretty much all I have. I’m curious to check this album out though, since you give it so much praise.
6.5/10
Kattelox – “Even Though the Stars Don’t Shine” – Subsignal
“For some reason, this song reminds me of something I’d hear in the 80s. The riff shortly after the intro is reminiscent of a Haken song. Nice.”I could not help but think of Haken’s “1985” when that sweet ass guitar riff comes in. I love that song, by the way. As for this one, I enjoy mostly everything about it. I find it a tad cheesy, but I think it’s the good kind, like an explosive slice of pepper jack. It’s not normally something I’d listen to, but it’s pretty badass. The vocalist is quite good and all other members sound just as tight. I was surprised to see how new this is, because it sounds much, much older. This one puts a smile on my face. Nice.
7/10
Kwyjibo – “What You Give” – Tesla
“This sounds very familiar to me and like some music I used to listen to in my younger years. A hint of nostalgia; makes me feel good!”I appreciate this song much more than I thought I would. When the vocals first came in, I thought, “Oh boy, here we go.” However, I was pleasantly surprised. The vocal melodies are actually great and accompany the guitar quite well. My only major gripe is that this song feels a bit long. Actually, really long. I don’t think it has any business being over seven minutes. Other than that, I do like it. I don’t know how well this will age. I feel like I’d have to be in the mood for it, but it does create feelings of nostalgia for me. I fucking love/hate nostalgia.
7/10
Cyril – “This Armistice” – The Receiving End of Sirens
“Oh, how far this artist has come. Not something I typically listen to, but there are certain elements I appreciate in the latter half, specifically the vocal melodies.”OK. This is the one I was most excited for because I absolutely adore Casey Crescenzo. For the past 5 years or so, The Dear Hunter has arguably been my favorite band and continue to impress me year in, year out. I always heard such great things about this album but never took the time to listen to it. There are elements here I love, and some not quite as much. I’m typically not into the post-hardcore genre (if that’s what this is). I find the vocal harmonies to be a bit juvenile and a bit too dramatic. However, the last minute or two of this song is incredible. I love the reference to the album title and it’s so catchy. It makes me appreciate how far this dude has come, as I believe TDH’s Act I came out soon after. I like this song as an origin story for Mr. Crescenzo but I don’t see myself ever being in the mood for this type of music.
7.5/10
senecadawg2 – “Affection” – Cigarettes After Sex
“This song is like taking a long, deep breath. Ahhhh”I do know of this artist already through my sister, but I’m unfamiliar with their music. So much space to breathe is created with this one. A very beautiful song that makes me want to listen to what else they have to offer. Vocals were a bit of an acquired taste, but after some listens, they clicked. I imagine seeing this live would be a serene experience. In some cases, I find music like this to be a bit boring, but the slow-paced mellowness works very well here.
8/10
Lethean – “Leathean” – Katatonia
“I really like the dark mood and atmosphere of this one. Simple and straightforward, but well done.”Self-absorbed, much? In all seriousness, this is a pretty great song. There’s nothing I’d say that’s out of the ordinary, but I love their sound. I had an older CD of theirs a while back, and like I told you, I enjoyed a few of their songs. I just never listened to them enough to put them on my banned list. Their vocalist sort of reminds me of Mikael from Opeth, which is a good thing. They sound very cohesive and this song doesn’t try to be something it’s not. This shows that simple and straightforward can be a great thing. I definitely want to continue listening to this band! And hey, you’re not the only one who submitted a song from them…
8/10
Elite – “Devonian: Nascent” – The Ocean, Katatonia
“This song is one badass journey.”My dumbass thought this was related to Devin Townsend when I saw “Devonian”. Luckily, it’s not. This song fucking rocks. 11 minutes of building tension. Obviously, I already commented on my appreciation for Katatonia’s vocals. It’s no different here, they fit the song so well. I know virtually nothing about The Ocean but I have seen this album receive lots of praise. As someone who is very selective when it comes to harsh vocals, I was unsure how I felt about them here, at first. After sitting with it, I really dig the intensity of them, but my favorite part of this song is definitely the first half. Great song, overall.
8.5/10
Evermind – “Disappear” – Bjørn Riis
“Beautiful, moody track with gentle vocals and a tasty guitar solo. Right up my alley. Take notes, folks.”Heavy, in the right way. These are the types of submissions I truly appreciate. I have an affinity for sad music, hence why Steven Wilson is my favorite artist. This reminds me a lot of his music, lyrically and musically, but not in a way where it feels too familiar. Like I mentioned in my first impression, this song evokes so much sadness and pain. His soft, gentle vocals are hypnotizing in the most beautiful way. The climax of this song around the midway mark is surreal. Amazing details that surface with each listen. Beautiful!
9/10
Sacul – “Killing Time” – Nicolas Jaar
“This reminds me of aliens having passionate sex. So sweet, so beautiful, something I never thought I’d hear.”This is the alien sex one. What a gorgeous track. There are sounds here that I never thought I’d hear. Who knew the sound of broken glass (a clock, probably) could be so mesmerizing? From the start, this track captures my attention and doesn’t let go for the duration. It sounds like the future, and the future is bleak. The industrial-esque percussion thumping throughout matched with the extraterrestrial melody creates such an alluring intensity. I’m extremely curious to hear what other offerings this guy has. Sign me up.
9/10
Puppies_On_Acid – “Neverland” – Marillion
“Been wanting to check this group out for a while. And here we are. Much going on, lots to digest. Positive experience. We’ll see what happens after multiple listens.”My only familiarity with Marillion is that I owned a physical copy of Misplaced Childhood before ultimately ridding of my CD collection. Therefore, I’ve never actually heard any of their music. It appears they have a wide discography encapsulating an evolution of their sound throughout the years. 10+ prog songs tend to take a long time for me to digest them. In the context of a quickly-paced roulette, that can potentially backfire. This song clicked instantly for me. I love everything about it. The vocals are amazing, the guitar solo is outstanding, and the atmosphere of this song is so magical. I may be the only one, but when listening to this, I get major Division Bell vibes. There’s a certain mood within that album that gives me similar vibes to this. This song feels epic and is definitely going to be in my rotation! Good fuckin’ choice.
9/10
Standings After Round 1:1. Puppies_On_Acid - 9 Points
Sacul - 9 Points
Evermind - 9 Points
4. Elite - 8.5 Points
5. Lethean - 8 Points
senecadawg2 - 8 Points
7. Cyril - 7.5 Points
8. Kwyjibo - 7 Points
Kattelox - 7 Points
10. Train of Naught - 6.5 Points
11.
Tomislav95 - 6 Points
12.
Stadler - 5.5 Points
TAC - 5.5 Points
Obviously, it's still very early. TAC, Stadler, and Tomislav95 start at the bottom. Don't get too comfortable there or you'll see the exit after round 3
As for the top, there's a three way tie between Puppies, Sacul, and Evermind. Keep up the good shit!
Please go ahead and send me your R2 Submissions ASAP. I'll update the OP with the standings and banned artists.
Poll
Topic: FlyingBIZKIT's Roulette V3. REFER TO ROULETTE TRACKER THREAD (Read 20117 times)