Round 7 Results!!!
Shadow Ninja - Homestuck - Moonsetter
I can tell there's a real connetion to this series and fully understand why you'd send this. At first I didn't but I get it. It would be like me sending you the music from the Flying Battery zone or Lava Reef zone from Sonic the Hedgehog. You'd listen and think WTF, but to me those game soundtracks just take me back to childhood and the nostalgia is real and safe. So if it's the same, I really get it. So, I can't score too harshly.
Score - 7.0
Reaper - Kaki King - Happy As A Dead Pig In The Sunshine
The acoustic side of the guitar was something I could never get into, I just found it boring. So, this was pleasant enough and she certainly has good chops and a good sense of melody and especially rhythm too. The rhythm in this is what stuck out the most. I can appreciate what's going on here but I'm not one to go back an listen to more of this stuff. It's a shame I can't as I should one day expand what I can do on the guitar because this would be harder than any shred solo you could give me so props to her. Solid but nothing I'm coming back to unless my tastes really change. Appreciate the submission though.
Score - 7.5
Lonk - Alestorm - Drink
This reminded me of a Children of Bodom cover in a lot of ways straight off the bat. Now, I know the band name but didn't know they were quite like this. I like the submission based on positive criteria, that was quite amusing. All in all it was a fun listen, I didn't have any issues with it. The chorus was surprisingly catchy though and some entertaining lyrics. This is a hard one to rate, it's just a novelty I know, but it's fun, appreciate the thought process behind it.
Score - 7.75
Litho - Non-Human Level - Windows on the World
Litho going for the word criteria to avoid the positivity so definitely something different for the round. I'm not sure being different from the rest helps it though. This is pretty good melodeath but just feels like another band that play solid, generic melodeath. There is certainly nothing new here that I haven't heard before. Saying that, I appreciated everything here, the groove is nice and the longer solo section had some cool shit going on. Not much more to say, solid.
Score - 8.0
lonestar - Nemophila - AMA-TE-RAS
Props for picking this for the subject matter. This definitely has a positive party like vibe going on in it which is cool. The verses were a bit too funky for me but I appreciated the heaviness of the guitars and the slight growls here and there. The chorus was fun and pretty catchy. I'm sure something like this would have been a decent hit over there. The middle nu-metal bit was great and her vocals here are awesome, would have liked more of this. It's a fine song. Not sure it's something I'd explore but appreciate the submission.
Score - 8.0
Puppies - Moon Safari - Forever, For You
Firstly, kudos to you for absolutely nailing the theme. This certainly was a very uplifting bright piece. As mentioned in the impressions, this though goes a little too far out of my comfort zone. I don't really hear synth era Rush in this at all, to me this sounds like something really 70's to me. Don't get me wrong, it's nice and pleasant but a bit too....fluffy for me. But there were things I really enjoyed, that sax solo was wonderful and the guitar solo around 7:30 was really tremendous. Love the change in vibe here, that was wonderful. A ballsy submission I congratulate you and I think your score was helped by how well you nailed the theme.
Score - 8.0
romdrums - Mutemath - Typical
This was another easy listening piece that was enjoyable having on in the background but the melodies were enough to prick my ears. The verses remind me of the whole American 90's scene and even the chorus which is really pleasant and catchy reminds me a little of that scene. The melodies here are really nice and the whole vibe is excellent and I really enjoyed it. It kind of doesn't get out of first gear though and I'm not sure if that's a bad thing as the performances and production are pleasant enough to carry it through. The main guitar riff is very hooky too and in between the chorus melodies it all works nicely. Probably not as impactful as some of the other submissions, but I didn't mind this at all.
Score - 8.25
Indi - DarWin - Eternal Life
Member award bonus - Reb Beach
This one I was torn on. There is certainly a strong vibe going through this round with the more laid back styles with nice chorus melodies. This one fits that bill too. I'm not the biggest fan of the vocals here and the verses either were hit or miss. The chorus warmed on me though as the listens went on. The more you listen to the more it sticks with you, but then that double time change into that Guthrie solo, holy shit, that's where its at. I actually think the rest of the song is probably better than what I'm saying it is because its contrasted to this solo section. Govan steals the show here, this guy is a genius. So, has to get the Reb Beach award right?
Score - 8.0 + 0.5 = 8.5
Stadler - The Who - Love Reign O'er Me
As mentioned, I'm not a Who fan, but they are another old school band that I don't mind when they come on the radio but never delved any further. I only knew this song from the Redemption cover but I'd have to go back, but this is probably better. Definitely has a calm, thick atmosphere. Not sure I really feel the positive vibes but I can see it from that side. I just think the atmosphere of the whole thing leaves more of a moodier darker vibe for me. It's a great song, I can't say anything bad here. maybe I should add a Who album to my list to check out afterwards too.
Score - 8.5
ariich - Equilibrium - Die Weide und der Fluss
I've seen this name quite a lot and thought they were more folkish metal which we have seen can be hit or miss. I'm fine with the folkish elements being tied the theme here even though, the melodies give off that viking heroic like theme which is cool. Once it gets going though, this was fun. The vocals here are really strong and mix nicely with the major key melodies, more than they usually would for me. I think they have a good knack here in creating uplifting melodies but still draping everything in some darkish tones which is well done. I enjoyed the sped up middle section too, quite epic. All in all, while pretty standard for the style, I still found a lot to like here. Cool key change near the end too and a nice gallop to finish.
Score - 8.75
Dr. DTVT - Marillion - Rich
Now I know you said this was something different from them but I may actually own a Marillion album but I can't recall a thing from them. Anyway the relevance is is that this isn't what I expected. This sounds heavily influenced by the 90's Brit pop thing so I looked it up and no surprise this came out in 1999, Anyway, not the biggest fan of the verses but that chorus is catchy as hell, really nice. Appreciate the little guitar solo in there too to break it up. It could have been cut down a little in length but can see what they were going for. Great production, great performances and that chorus is wonderful. Cool submission indeed. Might have to find that CD I have somewhere.
Score - 8.75
Evermind - Pshycework
Both songs you sent were probably on a par to be honest but this one got the chocolates. As mentioned I can tell you struggled with the theme but I gave you a pass here because your main submission would have worked fine. Now, this is pretty solid ripping prog metal. It's the generic prog metal I said I was over but I still really enjoyed this one quite a bit. The vocalist is very strong and the riffing is quite cool, especially during the verses, quite intricate and understated. Halfway through I get Angra vibes too with that chorus like section before the solo. The guitar melodies here are quite good too. The darker solo section was a nice change of pace and some really simple but cool playing here. Overall, this was great but didnt quite blow me away. The full album though I think will be worth a spin.
Score - 8.75
Crow - The Hirsch Effekt - Agitation
The more I listened to this one, the more I enjoyed it. When that arpreggiated guitar opens up I knew I could sit back and really enjoy the next 9 minutes. It in no way feels 9 minutes either. The verse groove that starts at 1:37 is fantastic, love that. I really am not the biggest fan of music sung in other languages but I didn't care here. To me the vocals and melodies for some reason feel like another instrument and the singers voice is fantastic especially in that soaring chorus part. Probably not a positive song on a whole but it made me feel safe and comfortable which is fine by me. The whole thing just flows and breathes really nicely too. I was surprised I liked this so much.
Score - 9.0
King - Haken - Lovebite
I'm on the record for calling these guys Hacken. I can't stand them honestly. It didn't help when I listened through their stuff for Tim's roulette a while back, so going into this I was already rolling my eyes. However, I thought this was actually quite fucking good. Still not a fan of the vocalist but that chorus is quite fantastic. The verses I could take or leave but really, they are fine. The chorus again though, so good. Also, that section before the solo, man that has Subsignal/Sieges Even written all over it, cool stuff. The guitar solo, that's a highlight, it's short but very creative, melodic and memorable and adds something else again to the song. I see this is their newest album too. Looks like I'll have to let my guard down more and check it out.
Score - 9.0
TAC - Future Indefinite - Taste of Freedom
Now this is an interesting take on the theme and at first when you said it was a guy looking forward to dying, I was taken aback. Reading the lyrics though, you certainly struck a nerve. I won't go too deep but after my accident I've had some outrageous thoughts and thinking which still happen to this day and it pretty much relates to the lyrics at play here. I look at things differently and some of the thoughts I have now in relation to death, fate etc are quite profound and black and scare me sometimes. So I won't go any further here but I can to a point relate to subject matter here is a dark positive manner. It's funny the subject matter relates to the word 'freedom,' which I can scaringly relate to also in relation to the lyrics. With the song, this is right up my alley. Wonderful melodic death metal and enjoyable each listen. The last couple of minutes are epic and leave me wanting more.
Score - 9.0
Sacul - Talk Talk - Happiness is Easy
Member award bonus - Paul Taylor
Another band I know the name of but don't think I have heard anything from. I'm a bit of a Tears for Fears fan, Hall and Oates and in general love my 80's music. This has Tears For Fears The Working Hour vibes to it which is fine by me and I really liked this song. The vocals are interesting but really comforting and the childrens' vocals in the chorus were haunting as fuck to me. I think the positive link is a bit of a stretch to be honest especially with a song about religion but I can't escape the vibe of this one, it was fantastic. Love the saxaphone too, that just tops it all off. I love the key changes to the chrous too. Another thing to note, while it has the 80's vibe, it sounds ahead of its time too IMO. Anyway, really good creative music here and wonderful songwriting. Have a Paul Taylor award, the vibe was immense.
Score - 9.0 + 0.5 = 9.5
twosuitluke - Lizard band - Dragon
Now I still stand by my word that I had not heard a note of these guys before this. I had no idea what to expect, anything was possible but I honestly thought this song fucking ripped. I was certainly taken by surprise. How this fits the positive theme is fucking beyond me but it's getting a positive score so that will do. This felt fresh to me and while there's plenty of Tool rip offs and even Mastodon rip offs, I didn't really care, I thought the whole thing was unique in its own way and really creative and interesting and enough here to make me really really enjoy it. The song length wasn't a problem too, it was fine. It's hard to put into words why I liked it so much, it just felt.....new and seemed really organic with a stripped back sound and everyone really doing their part with every instrument complimenting each other. The hype is real, love it.
Score - 9.5
Jingle - Project Aegis - Collide and Spark
Member award - Kip Winger
Fucking finally is right! This is what I've been expecting from you all along. Now, I don't need credits to hear what's going on here. I wasn't a Theocracy fan at all but Mosiac is absolutely incredible so I know their sound pretty well now and this has their sound and Matt all over it. Nils kills it too. This is positive power metal with strong Tobi and Avantasia vibes in the chorus. What a fucking great chorus though. A shame this isn't a full on proper project though but at least I see there's two more songs I need to check out. The performances here are incredible and have to get the Kip Winger award I think here. Great pick and perfectly nailing the theme.
Score - 9.25 + 0.5 = 9.75
Round 7 scores;
Jingle - 9.75
twosuitluke - 9.5
Sacul - 9.5
TAC - 9.0
King - 9.0
Crow - 9.0
Evermind - 8.75
Dr. DTVT - 8.75
ariich - 8.75
Stadler - 8.5
Indi - 8.5
romdrums - 8.25
Puppies - 8.0
lonestar - 8.0
Litho - 8.0
Lonk - 7.75
Reaper - 7.5
Shadow Ninja - 7.0
Standings after round 7;
TAC - 8.25+9.25+9.25+9.0+9.0+9.25+9.0 = 63.0
Evermind - 9.0+9.25+9.0+8.75+8.5+9.25+8.75 = 62.5
Crow - 9.5+8.5+8.75+9.25+7.0+8.25+9.0 = 60.25
Puppies - 9.0+9.25+8.25+6.25+9.5+9.0+8.0 = 59.25
Litho - 9.0+9.0+8.0+7.5+7.75+9.25+8.0 = 58.5
Indiscipline - 9.0+8.25+9.5+8.25+8.25+7.0+8.5 = 58.75
Jingle - 8.75+8.75+7.75+8.25+8.25+5.5+9.75 = 57.0
ariich - 8.5+7.75+7.5+8.5+6.5+9.0+8.75 = 56.50
Dr. DTVT - 8.0+8.5+7.25+6.0+9.25+8.5+8.75 = 56.25
twosuitluke - 4.0+6.5+7.0+9.25+9.5+10.25+9.5 = 56.0
Stadler - 9.25+5.5+6.75+8.5+8.25+9.0+8.5 = 55.75
King - 7.5+5.0+8.0+8.5+7.5+8.0+9.0 = 53.5
Lonk - 7.75+4.5+7.75+6.75+7.0+8.75+7.75 = 50.25
romdrums - 5.5+6.25+5.25+6.5+7.5+10.25+8.25 = 49.5
lonestar - 6.0+5.75+3.5+7.75+8.25+9.5+8.0 = 48.75
Sacul - 9.5+8.0+5.0+8.0+4.5+3.5+9.5 = 48.0
Shadow Ninja - 4.0+7.0+5.25+6.5+6.75+5.5+7.0 = 42.0
Reaper - 5.0+4.0+7.25+6.25+4.5+4.5+7.5 = 39.0
Topic: Wolfking's Wonderful Winger roulette v.3 - Round 2 album listening commenced (Read 40717 times)