Morsults!
Romdrums
Harm’s Way (Spock’s Beard)....8.2
This song took me about 4 minutes to fully engage.
After a brief intro, I liked the first verses. Ah, is this the Medicate section from Octavarium? There’s a classy solo that starts around 4:00. These first few minutes are a slow build I think. After a soft spot, the song really comes alive at 6:49. I must say that the chorus is kind of a dud in this song. It’s feels like a mood killer in a way. I generally like the song though.
Waste Away(Spock’s Beard)....7.4
This is easy on the ears, but it reminds me of latter day Rush.
This is a fairly to the point song. Nothing wrong with that, but I think there are way more interesting songs in this round. I hear some latter day Rush in this..Test For Echo era maybe. Not my favorite vocal either.
8.2+7.4=15.6/2=7.8
Stadler
Weathering Sky....7.3
Kind of a heavy Beatles tune. Not into the Beatles though.
I honestly don’t have a lot to say about this song. It’s peasant enough and to the point.
Bird On A Wire.....7.8
Those are some cheesy ass keyboards.
Those keyboards at the beginning. Wow..what sound is that? The “I have a fire” part feels so 80’s to me. This reminds me a little of Shooting Star, and that’s not a bad thing. I like whole whole mid section going from the key solo to the guitar solo. Nice flutter at 4:44 to extend the section. Very cool. Ultimately, this song is a bit keyboard heavy for me, but that instrumental section is fantastic.
7.3+7.8=15.1/2=7.55
Buddy
The Call....8.3
Starts off as Styx, ends as DT. I don’t remember the middle.
After the Styx style intro, there’s a great JP solo again in the beginning. The verse/chorus is pretty unexciting, but things kick it up at 4:06. Nice vocal section at 4:52. Cool bass part and awesome MP drum fill. This whole instrumental section is excellent. Great solos all the way around. Instrumentally, I like long sections, but the vocal sections in this song are fairy weak, and it makes the song feel long.
Bird On A Wire...7.8
Those are some cheesy ass keyboards.
Those keyboards at the beginning. Wow..what sound is that? The “I have a fire” part feels so 80’s to me. This reminds me a little of Shooting Star, and that’s not a bad thing. I like whole whole mid section going from the key solo to the guitar solo. Nice flutter at 4:44 to extend the section. Very cool. Ultimately, this song is a bit keyboard heavy for me, but that instrumental section is fantastic.
8.3+7.8=16.1/2=8.05
425
The Call...8.3
Starts off as Styx, ends as DT. I don’t remember the middle.
After the Styx style intro, there’s a great JP solo again in the beginning. The verse/chorus is pretty unexciting, but things kick it up at 4:06. Nice vocal section at 4:52. Cool bass part and awesome MP drum fill. This whole instrumental section is excellent. Great solos all the way around. Instrumentally, I like long sections, but the vocal sections in this song are fairy weak, and it makes the song feel long.
Broken Sky/Long Day...8.6
I swear that’s a JP solo in this.
A mellow tune, but it’s really great. Might be my favorite vocal in the round. This is really a beautiful track. That’s not JP on the solo?? I like the part at 5:52 where the keyboards raise it up a bit right before the Long Day section. And the Long Day section is really great. More JP at the end!! I’d like to explore what was going on before these tracks. Fantastic and a favorite from the first listen.
8.3+8.6=16.9/2=8.45
Lonestar
Time Changer....7.4
This song kind of rocks but I don’t remember this being a Beach Boys round.
Cool bass led intro on this. Not crazy about the Time Changer vocal section, but damn the instrumentation is great. MP with some double bass, and some Rush type feels. I must say though that the song loses a bit of steam about halfway through. Too bad.
Author Of Confusion...7.4
I liked how beefy this was in the beginning and the end, but it was a bit light in the middle.
This song sure starts out chunky but goes mid tempo which really drags it out. Thankfully at 3:15, it picks up. I feel like this would be a good song for Ian Gillan. I understand the effects and reasons of the backing vocals, but I’m not a fan of it. The song kind of disappears for a bit in the middle. The thing is, even the beefy bits aren’t that interesting and they’re repetitive.
7.4+7.4=14.8/2=7.4
Professor
At The End Of The Day (Spock’s Beard)....8.2
It’s long, but it keeps moving through its different sections.
I like the orchestration of the intro, and the first couple of verses/choruses are pretty easy on the ears. I like the transition at 4:00. I like the short solo at 8:16. The next half dozen minutes shows the band weaving in and out of different sections, and I never feel like it meanders. I like the drumming in this song, switching from hi-hat to ride in all the right spots. This is a high quality track. Not my favorite, but there’s really not much to pick on.
I Am Your Father....7.9
Wow, that is heavy.
What a brilliant vocal. And amazing chorus. I love how the verse seemingly transitions into the chorus. It’s a really powerful technique. Really moving, but I have to say that lyrically, it’s a bit unfulfilling.
8.2+7.9=16.1/2=8.05
Ariich
The Call...8.3
Starts off as Styx, ends as DT. I don’t remember the middle.
After the Styx style intro, there’s a great JP solo again in the beginning. The verse/chorus is pretty unexciting, but things kick it up at 4:06. Nice vocal section at 4:52. Cool bass part and awesome MP drum fill. This whole instrumental section is excellent. Great solos all the way around. Instrumentally, I like long sections, but the vocal sections in this song are fairly weak, and it makes the song feel long.
Another Story To Tell....7.4
Hall & Oates round Yay! I did have some snarky comments that I decided to drop, but suffice to say that this was a miss. It's pleasant and all, and better than a couple of other tracks, but I'm disappointed with it.
8.3+7.4=15.7/2=7.85
HOF
Flow (Spock’s Beard)...7.5
I have no idea why this song had to be this long.
This song has a great feel to it. I love the lead guitar notes all over the first few minutes of this song. The vocal sections are nice enough, and I find the whole thing nice and kind of chill. The instrumental bit at 6:00 is cool. Great drumming and bass. Is that a YYZ drum fill at 6:21? The vocal part at 7:33 is a nice wind down of the song. Such a great ending just before 8:40.
WUT? It’s not over?? If the song ended right then and there, it’s would’ve been perfect. I feel like the song climaxed. The rest? It’s like laying with your girl after sex, when all you really want to do is get back to the game.
My Shoes Revisited(Spock’s Beard)....7.8
Great closing solo.
Revisited? Is this the end of a larger part? It kind of feels that way, and I think it ultimately hurts this submission. But somehow, this song is still pretty strong. Still that solo is phenomenal.
7.4+7.8=15.2/2=7.6
Kingshmegland
At the End of the Day (Spock’s Beard)....8.2
It’s long, but it keeps moving through its different sections.
I like the orchestration of the intro, and the first couple of verses/choruses are pretty easy on the ears. I like the transition at 4:00. I like the short solo at 8:16. The next half dozen minutes shows the band weaving in and out of different sections, and I never feel like it meanders. I like the drumming in this song, switching from hi-hat to ride in all the right spots. This is a high quality track. Not my favorite, but there’s really not much to pick on.
The Good Don't Last(Spock’s Beard)...7.5
This is a nice classy song. Not sure how it’ll end up though.
Sounds a lot like Styx in the beginning, especially when the acoustic guitar starts. Enjoyable parts throughout, and a nice solo towards the end. This song is pleasant to listen to. It’s kind of middle of the road here. Nothing I don’t like, but not necessarily anything that totally pulls me in though.
8.2+7.5=15.7/2=7.85