Sorry for dragging ass about it (Currently setting up for a move), but here are my comments for the comp submissions:
1. DF - Saving and Enslaving the World (from Mr. Dave)
- Loving the experimental sound of this. The guitars are the highlight. I wish the quality was a little better, but it adds to the character of the song.
2. Dave, Evan and Jef - sail to the sun (from Mr. Dave)
- This is my favorite submission from Mr. Dave. The dreamy quality of the elements presented here work together very well and give me an emotion that feels like it's experienced through half-opened eyes on the edge of sleep while drifting, lost, in the middle of an ocean on nothing more than a leaking raft. The vocals remind me of MewithoutYou, but they really fit the song and I don't think there should, or could, have been any way around the necessity of doing it that way. It's perfect. Again, I wish the quality would have been better... mostly just so I could hear the instruments more clearly, even through the necessary distortion, but it's still an excellent track. This goes in the playlist without a second thought.
3. Panda Go Panda - Rather Warm, But Wet (from Mr. Dave)
- Liking the funky flavor mixed with the ashes here... Would fit perfectly as an intermission song on an album. Makes me want to bust out my old DJ Spooky album and do a mashup with some abstract turntablism.
4. Unchained Ballad - Somber Ways
- Nice, lazy atmosphere with an edge of just the right amount of "creepy". It feels less like a song than a really wide ambient pad. Which isn't a bad thing at all. I might have to hire UB to make some atmo structures for me.
5. Unchained Ballad - The Wanderer
- I liked the vocal clip inserts. They added a focal point and let the guitars become a background to them. In this form, this could really serve as an intro.
6. Unchained Ballad - Whale
- This one had some good ideas as an ambient atmosphere. I want to process it to death!
Gimme.
7. Vatos Locos Guitarristas - Los Caballeros del san Mondell (from Tore)
- This song made me smile the entire time. The imperfections were charming, the song doesn't take itself too seriously, the vocal inserts sound great, and I can't figure out whether someone is playing drums with horse hooves or what. The singing comes in, the horse neigh, and this is the point where I actually LOL (in a good way). If you are depressed, you should listen to this song. I don't see how it couldn't put a smile on your face.
8. Mette Marit - Flammenes Regent (from Tore)
- This one definitely brings back memories of this sound way back when. I can relate to what went into this, and although it's most certainly a dated sound, it feels pleasantly nostalgic to me. Makes me want to bust out all my old Electronic tunes and relive the whole thing.
9. Milo - Going Home (from Tore)
- All I can think of are those flash games at Miniclip.com!!! Haha... it's soooo online flash game. This is practically the essence of online flash game music. Fantastic.
10. Space is the Place - Life Metal (from +81)
- (didn't download the new version of the comp. Sorry! Maybe if you can provide a link so I don't have to download the entire thing again?)
11. Space is the Place - The Coral Sea (from +81)
- Immediately liked it because of the Nintendo-Fi sound. Reminded me of The Postal Service without vocals. Love the melody. It makes me want to play with Legos. Then that whale synth comes in, and wow, that's a cool synth. Good transitions throughout. I just feel like there should be something else to add contrast to the song. Maybe some 8-bit drums, or some vocals... something to switch focal points. Anyway, it was a nice tune and it's my top pick from +81.
12. Space is the Place - Blood & Milk (from +81)
- The music was good. Liked it plenty. The vocals kind of distracted my attention though with the left-panning and key issues. Very good choices for the music and progression though.
13. Stone Birds - A Breeze On the Sea
- OMG... I don't think I've ever been this surprised at something before. Stone Birds, you really knocked this out of the park and this is not only my favorite submission by you and everything I've heard by you, but possibly my favorite submission in the whole compilation. Keep in mind, I'm reviewing the "accidental" version without the samples. I heard both versions, and I like this better and the "intermission" quality of it. The only problem I come up against is towards the end how the singing gets a little bit out of hand... But in the beginning and middle, especially your vocals and how they bent around the music and landed in all the right places, there was a moment that was perfect. I absolutely loved half of this song. If you ever do another version of this song with the singing fixed in the later half and maybe extend the song, I would buy this. Great work.
14. Stone Birds - Flying Machines
- I really like how the vocals used that Oriental-sounding string line to make the vibe presented here. This really highlights the sonic quality of the vocals, even if they're imperfect in tune. I get hints of Chino Moreno, and that's a big positive for me, as I love the Deftones.
15. Stone Birds - Saviour
- Another good submission. The depth and separation of elements are all balanced and sound really good. The musical ideas presented here are nice. The vocal tune is the only thing that detracts from this, but the production quality is excellent. Stone Birds, you have surprised me yet again.
16. Krill-Whale-Human - Boardroom (from Janszoon)
- When I listened to this, it was my first time hearing anything from Jans.. and how eclectic this is! It's my second time cracking a laugh during this comp, and it's because that "brrr" sample. Haha. And I do not mean this in a bad way. The song is fun. The vocals are awesome.. nicely set apart from everything else in tone and emotion. Interesting song, no doubt.
17. Krill-Whale-Human - Mega-Awesome Dragon (from Janszoon)
- Loved the pianos. Made me want to make an underground Hiphop track based solely on them. Nice introduction of the IDM-style percussive elements. I almost feel like this is a secret song on Mario Bros. 2. I love the fun aspect of this.
18. Vegangelica - Evergreen
- I liked the old school sound to this. There be a ton of lyrics, holy crap... I liked the melody changes in the chorus and how the vocals played into it. The violins were a nice addition when they came in.
19. Vegangelica - Free
- I just realized that I have created a massive comparison of Vegangelica to Peggy Hill from King Of The Hill. I don't know why. That is now what this song means.
20. Vegangelica - Isle
- Best submission of Vegangelica songs IMO, and the lyrics, although as dense as how many deer there would be in one spot if you burnt down a forest and funneled the only exit through the opening of a 20 ounce Sprite bottle, they're interesting, and her voice is fun and the music is put together well.
21. The Disintegration Tapes - Identity Song [Demo] (from Rickenbacker)
- Nice punk voice! I think that's pretty much all there is in the song to comment on.
22. The Bullet - Out 2 Haunt U (from The Bullet)
- I don't mean to perpetuate a downward trajectory with my comments, but I didn't like any of this. At all. I wouldn't call it music, and I don't really like listening to a nearly 13 minute long random collection of sound effects, so this did nothing for me. Sorry The Bullet. It would have been more damaging to have lied.
23. AFDEX16 - Funkology (from Antonio)
- Nice licks. Nice licks. Nice licks. Nice licks. Nice licks. Nice licks. Nice licks.
24. AFDEX16 - House of Dead (from Antonio)
- The acid-style bassline is cool. The sound is a lot dated, but the ideas work in the context of the song.
25. AFDEX16 - Warhead_Weapon of Mass Destruction (from Antonio)
- Another cool bassline.
26. Lawn Chronicles - Negating Expectations (from wolverinewolfweiselpigeon)
- Absolutely stunning. The vocals are perfect. I did not know WWWP could sing. If WWWP's vocals and Vegangelica's vocals got into a fight, WWWP's vocals would win. The lyrics are good as well. The progression works well, the mixing is good except maybe the harmonica could be turned down a bit.
Love the harmonies. Seriously, this is a huge surprise. Excellent submission from WWWP.
27. Freebase Dali - 1up
- Utter crap. Peeing on Spin Magazine sounds more aesthetic.
28. Freebase Dali - Caesura
- Sounds like a cat stuck in a dryer with crappy, unfashionable clothes. Awful. This guy should be banned.