Daniel Eboli´s "Sapiens Ludens"

Monday, January 11, 2010

Artist: Markus McKroo

Title: project 13
Genre: ????

This is the simply the worst song I ever heard.

It is also the worst caption I ever heard.

It is also the worst playing skills I ever heard.

All in all, horrible work.

Please kill yourself Markus.

I´ve never hear such a bad thing like that.

Horrible is a compliment in this case.

Do not hear it! Severe brain damage is likely.

I hope to survive this absurd.

Artist: Thomas J Marchant

Title: Sin of Envy
Genre: Alternative

Sometimes I like Thomas J songs and sometimes I don´t.

In this case I don´t liked it.

Why?

Because it doesn´t got that experimental felling you can find in his songs.

Perhaps it is too clean? Lol.

The chords progression is too childish to me, too happy. The 3/4 valse rhythm is too.. hummm... unapropriate for the ocasion, in my opinion.

I would like something more agressive and not so normal.

Drums sound is weak.

It is not like the TJM songs I know.

Could be better.

Please Thomas, come back, I urge you.

Artist: SOUFTRAX ENTERTAINMENT

Title: Things You Do
Genre: Hiphop RnB

Guess what, there is no lyrics posted at the artists page. I wonder why.

Thisa is a soft beat with melodic female vocals and some rap.

Not bad but it is poor.

Nothing amazing going on here, it is just another hiphop song.

The female vocals are ok, got some expression but she is not breeding right. Also there are some notes inthe harmonization simply out of key. This happens sometimes ate the solo voice too.

The rap voice is timid, great lack of confidence.

The base, as usual, seems to be not imporatnt at all. It is poor and weak.

Overall sound not bad but weak.

Could be better.

Artist: Brett Howe

Title: Learn To Love Again
Genre: Acoustic

Another great one from Mr. Howe.

It is not particularly well engineered nop, it is preety much "from the bedroom" with hiss and noises, but it got life.

It is a simple love song. Simples chords, simple lyrics and the beauty of the vocal performance by Brett Howe.

The lyrics:

"...I'm just thinking about yesterday
And i still wish it could still be that way
If we could pick up all the broken pieces,
what would you say?

If we could learn to love again ..."

Simplicity is the most complex thing in music.

Here you have it in a magic way.

Artist: Boulevard Prose

Title: Against The World Alone
Genre: HipHop

Imagine that, there is no lyrics posted at the artist´s page. I don´t understand 100% with the weird accent. How can I ave an opinion if I don´t understand?

Thiis another hiphop song in a repetitive and boring base. Two chords all the time. Obviously music is not important here. Why not mute the instruments and leave just the drums?

The voice? Excellent performed, I like it a lot. It is a shame I can´t understand it. The voice sound is also excellent.

Unfortunately it is just someone rapping on top of anything. The music doesn´t matter here, could be anything.

It is not enough to me.

Could be better, a lot better.

Artist: Black Chamber

Title: Stalker
Genre: Experimental hiphop beat

All experimental music is great to me. The simple act of an artist running this path is absolutelly great to me. I hope someday I can do the same.

At first you can say it is just noise and a beat. But it is not.

The author post something that can help the understanding: "This is the mellow version of another song of mine called 'prey'. This time from the perspective of the stalker"

Yes, I can hear it and imagining a predator "stalking" the prey with the coldness of an animal.

There is some interesting, how can I say, screaming distorted noises. Sometimes it sounds like a guitar but I bet it is not.

Captive ambiences in a dense atmosphere.

Frighten and cold.

Interesting work for the experimental genre.

Could work great with a creepy rap singer like Cristopher Lee.

I can imagine also about Jon Bushaway wroting something and Larry Ludwick delivering the voice.

Imagine that?

Artist: Tomas David Hood

Title: ) The Offering (BMI
Genre: Guitar instrumental easy listening

Interesting info at the artist´s page:

"» highest in charts: # 1 (194,847 songs currently listed in Rock)
» highest in sub-genre: # 1 (41,741 songs currently listed in Rock > Rock General)
» today's position: # 9 in Rock
» today's position in sub-genre: # 3 in Rock General..."

First of all it is not rock.

I wonder if the fact that the author is a paying member at SC have something to do with the charts.

Let´s face it, #1 among 194,000 songs is a bit forced.

I´ve heard lots of songs better that this one at the genre that dont even got the top ten. I could give here a lot of examples.

This song is not bad but is boring as hell. Makes me yawn.

Guitar performance is ok but needs serious corrections on so called "digitations". Also, the choice of scales are not working to my ears.

I like the chords the author used here but the absent of a bass makes it difficult to understand.

The synth strings sound is weak for my taste, it is not working for me either.

Overall sound is crisp and clear. Excellent work at the mixing desk.

I have to be honest as usual, it is well done but I did not liked it.

Artist: Radoslav Zdravkovic

Title: Christmas TV Commercial
Genre: Classical

It is great to see so many classical music composers.

This piece is supposed to be in a christmas commercial. I believe it is just a demo from an artist trying to "get into the market".

For a TV commercial? Humm, it is fine I guess, having in mind that commercial´s music is preety bad.

The melody and arrangements here are nice but it sounds a bit fake to my ears. I believe it is need a lot of post processing work to make classical music with samples in order to sound convincing enough.

The percussion parts in this piece are just perfect, sounds really realistic. I can say the same about the celesta, very realistic.

I cannot say the same about the woodwinds. It is really hard to make it convincing.

Musical composition is very good but the sound needs some improvement on sound.

Artist: Bright Midnight

Title: Good Night
Genre: Rock

When you know an artist you want to hear something familiar. You know what to expect.

This is the case for me here. I reviewed some songs of Bright Midnight and I am preety much familiar with his sonority/composing style.

Perhaps this song, when listened by a 100% fresh ear, could point to a different point of view. It could sound totaly unexpected and unusual to the first time listener and , perhaps, too weird.

I agree with myself, lol, but knowing the artist´s music for a while I think it is very easy listening.

It is different, yes, I can still hear the british vibe (the author is american), the long and dense reverbs, the vintage sounding instruments.

It is a modern vision of what was the psichodelic music of the 70´s, wich is coming back like a tractor nowadays.

I think this "remaking" feeling is great. Music nowadays is so poor.

Anyway, great music from a great and unique artist.

Difficult to hear at first but good.

Artist: Simone Stella

Title: Suite by Georg Friderich Handel
Genre: Classical

First of all, Simone Stella is a guy.

Natural from Italy, he got an extensive and impressive bio. Check out at http://www.onclassical.com/artists/stella/

I have some pros and cons about this artist:

The music:

Perfect! Excellent interpretation, greatly performed. Technical expression is absolutely flawless. Perfectly performed.

Also, if it is not enough, it got tons of feeling. You can really hear an expression of the soul here.

It is not music for everyone, no. I believe you have to have a lot of knowledge to understand those pieces, wich are great buy the way.

Worth the listening but...

Technology:

The mp3 sounds baaaaaad! ( baaaaad means very bad really)

The streaming is a mp3 at 96khz. Could work for hiphop or pop music, but for classical...hummmm...it doesn´t work.

The author kindly request this review and I am honoured to be contacted by such a talented musician. I feel obligated to be honest.

Why someone would request a review of bad sounding songs? I wonder...of course it will have an influence at the opinion of the listener.

Also there is this annoying voice at the end of each song: "This is an audio file by bla bla bla...". Doesn´t help either, I think I know where I am listening to the songs, I don´t need to be reminded. After 15 songs I just wanted to kill her.

Excellent interpretation by an excellent musician in horrible quality streaming at a terribly bad maintained web site.

Comon!!! 96K files? For classical music?

Give me a break!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Artist: Thomas J Marchant

Title: Baby, You're In The Wrong
Genre: Alternative : Shoegaze

Mr. Marchand is a peculiar composer.

I know I can´t expect pristine sounding tunes from him.

I am begining to accept him better everytime I listen to his songs.

This time is not different.

At the first listening I did not like the way it sounds. Too dense.

But after three or four listenings I begun to enjoy the experience.

Mr. Marchand is not a particularly good singer but I have to say he got an unique style and timbre. The lofi taste that stays in his voice with the processes he uses, the long and dense reverb, the equalizer design, add a characteristic to the voice that is hard to pass unnoticed.

Hearing closely you can note the confidence in his voice.

The lyrics he is, as usual, a very intimate and personal experience of the author:

"...you call me all sorts of things
when my name is just thomas
it always hurts
because i'm only ever honest

with each passing day
you just give me sh**
and let me tell you
i don't like it one bit

and i know that
you're in the wrong
but it never hurts to say
i'm sorry..."

The music is nothing special but the voice and the lyrics are unique.

Another interesting piece from an unique artist.

Looking for something different?

You just found it here.

It is Thomas J Marchand.

By the way, what the hell is a shoegaze??

Artist: John Venkiah

Title: It Feels So Good
Genre: Pop/Funk/R'n'B/Disco

John Venkiah, as far as I understand from his bio, is a 23 years old musician studying to be a batchelor in jazz piano in Malmö, Sweden.

You can hear in this píece he is an excellent and refined composer.

The chords progression here are simply perfect. Shows a very well taste from the composer. At the same time it is very easy listening.

Also his singing skills are great, excellent vocal performance! ( I assume he produced, play and sung in this piece)

The pianos, both acoustic and electric are awesome. Amazing piano performance.

I like everything in this song.

It reminds me a lot Michael Jackson´s old songs. And this you will not hear from me everyday.

I have just one thing to say in a constructive way: Perhaps the mix/mastering could be improved. It sounds a bit "airy" to mee. Too much in the highs for my ears.

Other than that it is just a perfect song.

Well done.

5 stars!!

Artist: MzMUFFIN

Title: Underwater
Genre: Pop?

I really don´t want to flame anyone here. Said that I hope the author understand my point of view wich is not unique. It is jus an honest opinion.

This song is not working for me.

A two chords base for 3 minutes and nothing more is not the type of song that will convince me.

The base is not just two chords eternally, it is also extremelly bad. No, to be bad it have to be a lot better than that, it is beyond bad, it is beyond horrible.

I have to say that the author needs urgent singing lessons. She is not breeding properly and her pronunciation is horrible.

Singing is an art and needs years of practice and dedication to achieve a nice result.

As I said before, I am not here to flame anyone but I sid I would provide honest opinions.

I cannot say it is good.

Maybe the lyrics is not bad...but it is not good either.

I will not give a BOOOOOO because I think that the author do not have the understanding of how bad the song is.

Anyway, a BOOOOO is needded here.

BOOOOOOOO

Sorry, I didn´t like it at all.

Artist: Richard Pascoe

Title: Digital Sky
Genre: House

A great sounding tune for those who like the genre.

It is a smooth and soft song.

I can see it working well on the dance floor.

The author is not trying to overwhelm the listener. A rare thing.

It got simple and effective arrangements.

The bass line is very pleasant.

It is almost a lounge kind of music.

It is not poluted and the overall sound is great.

Very nice work.

I like it.

Artist: AllusionkmsjrBeats

Title: From The Club To The Streets
Genre: Hip Hop

The author wrote: "...First beat with real sounding instruments."

Real instruments? Where? Only rough samples of instruments.

Very bad sounding tune. Mixing is horrible here.

The arrangement is boring as hell.

Drums are not working at all.

Too repetitive.

Needs a lot of work.

BOOOOOOOOOOO

Artist: Big King (US)

Title: Badazzled Blue Eyed Dreamer
Genre: World

Here is a dificult one for me to review.

Quote from the song´s page: "A song I wrote for my daughter when she was 9 months old. Its written from her point of view - what she feels and dreams about as she explores her world. Emotions like wonder, amazement, happiness, fear, frustration, confusion, elation and peace."

How can I say it is bad?

After reading that, I think it really got a childish flavour. The simplicity is working and it is a very musical piece.

I have to be honest and say it is not working for me.

It sounds to my ears like restaurant music. What can I do?

Anyway, being musical is a lot more that we can say about the music of today.

I think a child could understand this piece and like it.

Perhaps not for me, I am too rough with my taste.

Artist: Ron Vogel

Title: I saw die
Genre: Rock

Powerfull epic song.

It makes me reminds me two of my prefered bands of my youth: Whitesnake and Queensryche.

I have to say I don´t like the hammond sound and line. It could be deleted in my opinion.

Other than that it is a very nice piece of composition.

Well arranged, well performed.

Excellent chords progression.

Maybe the overall sound could be a bit more deep and crisp. A matter of taste?

The lyrics were posted in the song´s page, for my luck:

"Moisture in the air, the tough smell of freedom.
Entrancing, as a cold pair of eyes
I hit the brakes, and you hit the dash...as sudden as a lightning flash
Your enlightened soul floats up into the air
As I run my fingers thought your blood soaked hair
You just smile, then you close your eyes
I hear thunder roll and look up to the skies..."

Excellent concept beautifully writen.

Well done.

I like everything in this song except for the hammond part.

Well done.

Artist: Ratchet (US)

Title: One More Season
Genre: Rock

A nice work in the hard rock genre.

The author post this at the song info: "The walls created by others are nothing more but a launch pad... "

Very nice. I wish I could read the lyrics cause I can´t understand 100% of the lyrics.

What more can I say about this song?

Well, it is a bit outdated in my opinion. I really don´t believe in this kind of concept but it sounds like it was done in the mid 90´s.

Is it bad? Not necessarilly if you like the genre.

Overall sound is a bit dull to my ears, I would prefer to hear a more clean and crisp mix. Perhaps it is just a matter of taste.

A nice song in a dead genre.

Artist: Matte Kudasai

Title: Water
Genre: Instrumentals : Game & Soundtrack

Very enthusiastic electronic track.

Putted unders game and soundtrack genre. I wonder if it is just a way to gather inspiration or what.

Anyway, I can see it in a game soundtrack. In fact I can see it in a movie or theater soundtrack.

It is very visual music.

Drums are greatly programed, excellent work.

Synths are excellent as well.

I have nothing to add.

This is a great job, sounds great!

5 stars!!

Artist: Brett Howe

Title: Can't Let You Fade
Genre: Acoustic

Another one from Mr. Howe. Another great one, I must say.

Here is an author wich is a natural composer.

Songs from the heart where even the not so great production do not jeopardize the greatness of the composition.

I am a fan of love songs. This one is a very good love song.

"...Can't you see that I just want to love you
cause if we do it right, i think we got it made
And no matter where you go
I cant let you fade, I cant let you fade..."

Only an acoustic guitar and a good singer. What else do you need?

Excellent love song made with simplicity. Extremely hard to achieve. Rare are the ove songs that sounds great. This one does.

Excellent work!

5 stars

Artist: Maestro Productionz

Title: What Army
Genre: Orchestarl HipHop

This is something diffenrent from the genre.

Orchestra and hiphop.

The orchestra sounds like a real orchestra. This with a hiphop beat

Sounds great! Majestic.

Makes me bounce.

An unique style in a so saturated genre.

The orchestra "riffs" are great. Powerfull and dense.

Only Orchestra and the beat.

Fits like a glove and it is unique

Excellent work.

5 Stars!!

Artist: Ron Gragg

Title: That's Why (We Sing)
Genre: Rock : Instrumental Rock

Mr. Gragg is a nice person. Polite and gentile. Just for this he have my respect and admiration.

Said that, I expect he wants the usual honesty I try to bring here at my reviews. I have to be honest no matter what.

This song shows that Mr Gragg is a good musician.

Good guitar player but a terrible producer, I must say.

I really wanted to say good things about this song but I can´t.

Drums got a terrible sound and sometimes are out of beat (or all the rest of instruments are out of beat? I can´t say)

There is nothing much to say.

I like the riffs, reminds me a bit of early Rush songs but it sounds bad.

Anyway, being a nice person is half way done.

Rare things these days.

I hope Mr Gragg can spend some hours studying and lapidating his producer skills.

Could be better

Artist: DJ Wizza

Title: I Got This (Arabian Banga)
Genre: Hiphop

Dj´s "making" music. What do you expect?

It is a copy/paste work.

Absolutelly none musical knowledge.

The author enters and exits the song key like if it a good thing, Well , I have to say: it is not!

On top of that, an annoying eletronic voice saying "DJ wizza productions" each 20 seconds.

BOOOOOOOOO

Horrible stealed work.

BOOOOOOOOOO

Trash can

Artist: Karma Police (UK)

Title: (DnB Remix) Moon March
Genre: Electronic

This one reminds me a lot some of Jean MIchel Jarre songs.

Excellent synth work.

The choice of elements here are just great!

Very well dosed, solid composition.

Excellent sounding tune. Great work at the mixing desk (even if it is a virtual one). Crisp and clear.

Perfect song for the electronic genre.

Shows an enourmous maturity from the author

Very good. Nothing to add.

Perfect work!

5 minutes of pure good taste.

5 stars!!

Artist: The Empires

Title: A Better Way
Genre: Rock

Oh god, I don´t know what to think here.

I just know I have to be honest here.

To be honest, this song is horrible.

Badly performed, badly arranged, badly composed, badly recorded, badly mixed, badly mastered.

Sounds terrible.

BOOOOOOOO

Artist: Mid-Kid Productions

Title: Losing You
Genre: Instrumental Hiphop

The author puts it under "Instrumentals/hardcore". Wel, it is instrumental but it is far from being hardcore.

Well, How can I be nice here? I will try.

I like the sounds used here. Overall sound is big and powerfull. Rythms are well constructed. Everything sounds fine.

I am wondering: at what level this is really composed or it is just a copy/paste production?.

Is the author a musician or a mosaic artist?

Drums are too well done to my ears. In other hand the harmonic/melodic part is weak.

It seems a work of a person that got not much musical background.

I don´t know if I like it or hate it. I can´t have an opinion if I don´t have more information.

I appears to my ears that it is a copy/paste work because it sounds good but it got a lack of maturity wich implies it is not a 100% original work.

Good? Yes, it is.

Original? I really don´t know but I hope so.

If it is original it is a nice work for the crowded/saturated genre but it is like trying to sell bananas in 1.000 hectare free bananas plantation.

Unfortunately, the author is paying for the errors of the genre he choose.

Anyway, a nice hiphop work.

Artist: Bright Midnight

Title: American Prayer
Genre: Rock?

The author put this song under the genre "post punk". I don´t agree, I think it is a rock song in the vastness of the genre, of course.

I usually like Bright Midnight songs. I like this one aswell.

Perhaps the sound is a bit too dense in this case.

Perhaps the effects are just too much.

But it is not a bad song, really. On the contrary it is a nice piece of composition. Excellent poetry:

"...oh virtuous man, your wasting time
before she drives away in the cold dark night
oh gorgeous girl, its no trick
let him show you how much he cares

can you see these hopeful hands
they're ready to make their final stand
can you read the ridges and grooves
oh render me gentle, render me smooth..."

Got that unique british flavour from Bright Midnight, despite the fact he is an american guy according to his SC profile.

You will have here his unique sound, unique playing, unique vibe.

Very nice work from an unique artist.

Artist: Ian Dadon

Title: Out of Orbit
Genre: Rock/ Experimental

This is something a bit different from Mr Dadon.

Usually his songs are very acoustic like.

This one begins with an interesting eletronic drum loop. Makes you expect something very eletronic-post-industrial stuff.

But it is really a very musical composition.

It got an unique taste. It gives me the impression that the author is trying to explore different elements and flavour to find his own "voice" so to speak.

You can really sense an experimental vibe on it, and this is great in my opinion.

You will find here various elements from acoustic to eletronic. A kick drum with delays(echoes) that fits like a glove. I am trying always use delays on kick drums but it never worked. Well, it works magically here.

Even some shy(but effective) strings ensemble.

The lyrics are also very nice. Full of sensations. It is obviouslly something very personal.

"...Forget taste, forget casual
A fair amount on my back
To simulate and stimulate, the senses I never had

What is the plan, when stars collide?
Forcing to prove me right...
The little soul is out of bed
Ready to surprise..."

All of that with the excellent vocal performance (as usual) from Mr Dadon. This time with much less effects in the voice, wich is nice.

I am looking forward to hear more from this excellent new composer: Ian Dadon.

5 stars!!

Artist: Black The Sky

Title: Deicide
Genre: Metal

It is a great pleasure to me to review metal songs, I appreciate the genre very much.

It is much more a musicians work than the usual hiphop stuff. You can´t make metal songs wiht "control c/control v"

This song is a powerfull metal song. Check out the lyrics:

"Retribution,
Your decision,
This constant tunnel vision…
My God is better than your God.

And I carry on,
This constant form,
Watching waiting, we carry on…

Deicide, we’re killing your God..."

Excellent riffs, great arrangements, powerfull performances and great sound makes this piece a "must have".

Vocal performance is excellent, very good.

Excellent guitar work.

If you like the genre, this one got that In Flames/Disturbed flavour.

Great song, great band, great sound.

5 stars!!

Artist:     Just F.A.M. (Freshset)

Title:      Goodbye
Genre:     HipHop

This is the first review of the year.

Perhaps it is just the christmas spirit still rolling on me but the intro here appears to be very christmas like, if you know what I mean.

Thankfully, the author post up the lyrics in the artist´s page. This is a nice and rare attitude. Don´t ask me why.

"Freedom/ and unconditional times/ see them/ as they separate and die/ feel them/ as they shrivel up and cry/ that´s how I feel inside/ as the tears slide by/ my eyes/ I realize times have changed/ but im fine with how it turned out/ I´ll stay the same/ no matter what/ I won´t give into hate/ you can do me wrong/ clown my songs/ and act so fake/ but to me/ im still the winner in the end/ you claim to be Christian but your sinning and then/ some/ folks will mention/ names to replace your given/ a wench huh? Yup/ but I never learn my lesson/ for forgiveness is eternally within/ and pressure/ bursts pipes in my heart/ my love is gone/ farewell/ I´m movin on ..."

Yes, the message is nice. It is always nice when you spread the word about forgiveness, even if you are not a christian. I am not a religious person, by the way.

I have to be honest here, the song is boring to my ears. Makes me sleepy. I yawn a dozen times while listen to it, and it is 9:00 o´clock in the morning.

Overall sound is fine, vocal performance is ok (despite the "out of key/tune" voices in the refrain)

It is a piece that is not really making me jump. It doesn´t makes me happy aswell.

It doesn´t have a great sound or perfect arrangements.

I don´t know what to think.

It is fine but nothing else than fine.

Could be better.
Greetings,

I wish you a happy 2010 full of music and understanding.

Let´s work, huh?

Rules are the same: you request, I review.

Cheers!