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Post by Rob W on Mar 12, 2017 13:56:25 GMT
Dear All.
Apologies for the lateness of this section of the forum. Must do better!!
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Post by eddiecustard on Mar 20, 2017 1:15:41 GMT
Tim and Julie – Dress Related Pay
You’ve hit the bullseye with this one, Tim and Julie – it’s one of your best ever. A low, filthy sounding guitar on the verse and an epic, psychedelic chorus tinged with just the right amount of organ are the high points. Have you done the dropped D tuning on the guitar? It sounds like a lower register than normal. There’s a very likable ascending guitar run in the middle of the chorus, moving the song upwards. The singing is crystal clear and hits the spot beautifully. A nice bit of organ in the second verse works well dynamically to distinguish it slightly from the first verse, and once we’ve heard that great chorus, we’re itching for it to come back – a sure sign of a superior pop song. All the elements are in place; inventive playing, a good bridge and a skillful resolution back into the final chorus. Well done – brilliant.
Stephen Clarke – Firing Line
Excellent, wistful opening on the guitar, which sounds a little flamenco. The crooning in the verse sounds great - bit music hall, bit Charles Aznavour. I like the rhyme of pyjamas and Bahamas. The guitar lick at the end of chorus is something I used to hear in assemblies at school. Is it from Peer Gynt by Grieg or something by Tchaikovsky? I understand the appeal of staying in pyjamas – I do it often, frequently while playing the piano. As usual, the high quality of the songs makes us forget that there are only a couple of instruments playing, which is indicative of the skill you use to maintain the pacing, interest and dynamics.
Phil Sanderson – A Thing About Thongs
Another marvelous title and intriguing concept from Phil. But what to make of the song? On first listen I found it quite disconcerting - the breathy, half-spoken vocal made me think that this narrator was a bad ‘un and had done something really awful. But the lyrics suggest that he simply enjoys walking around in public wearing a thong. Like the narrator, I’m a bit surprised that this would land him in crown court for a trial by jury, and then with a prison sentence. Are his actions much different to a bloke walking around in a pair of Speedos? Or a woman wearing a bikini?
There are some poignant lyrics – notably the bit about his children refusing to bring their friends round. I also like humour in the line: ‘Smaller items should cost less, but the items I buy come at great expense,’ and the bit: ‘I hope my family visits me in my new home with such high walls, a man … on guard, I bet he’d like to wear my smalls.’
What a great musical backing you’ve created here, Phil. I like the interlude after the chorus, with the ethereal guitar floating skywards. There really are some brilliant melodies right through, with a very effective leap to the chorus. I’m all for experimentation but I just wonder whether a more conventional singing style would make it sound less disturbing and more like a comedic, yet heartfelt plea for understanding and acceptance. You mentioned in your notes that you had planned to sing it differently - I’d love to hear that instead, because I think it’d turn it into something really special. In short, it’s close to greatness.
Tim and Glynn – Sybil’s Dress
There’s a trademark atmospheric and brooding opening here, with restrained drumming and a nice humming organ. You’ve done a string of these types of songs successfully lately, with The Girl on the Train sticking out as the peak. This one runs it close, and feels like a fond, nostalgic portrait. I usually find that your stuff is quite immediate, but this one is more of a grower. It took a few spins for the melodies to sink in but when they did they started to exert quite a grip. This is down to a nice chord sequence in the chorus, the dreamy guitar and deft combination of the voices. Very enjoyable.
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tandg
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by tandg on Mar 25, 2017 20:49:56 GMT
Tim & Julie – Dress Related Pay
Love the sound of this – the guitar sounds like it wants to burst out of the speakers and sit right in-your-face. As always with Tim and Julie’s songs, the concept is a great offbeat look at the world and rewards repeated listenings. The mixing is excellent – the voice sits just right and the harmonies are very well handled. For me this is one of your best pieces of recording, with good contrast in the middle 8 and real impact from beginning to end. It even has a great bit of Hammond style organ – what more could you possibly want?
Stephen Clarke – Firing Line
You really are amassing an amazing collection of playable songs. Of all of us, I suspect you could put together a set list and could actually perform most of your songs. As usual, this is sharply witty and encourages sing along, while having enough twists of melody to retain originality and unpredictability. I love the octave-apart harmonies and the guitar playing is really accomplished. You make it sound so easy and you pull off the classical twist at the end of the chorus brilliantly.
Christian Duffin – Her Favourite Shirt
Your harmonies get better and better – the absolute highlight of a really accomplished piece are the chorus vocals. There is some lovely playing – the piano in particular works really well and the melancholy feel of the lyrics isn’t overdone. The song actually is quite an uplifting piece of work and is definitely the song I was most likely to find myself humming during the last couple of weeks.
Phil Sanderson – A Thing about Thongs
Now we’ve got to know Phil a bit from playing together in the band, so this song came as a bit of a shock. We will always see Phil in a different light as a result. Thank God the big bass guitar covers his smalls! Perhaps we should add this to the set-list. I’m sure Glyn would love to sing this one.
As always with your songs this has a really unusual sound to it – the mix of instruments has a flowing sound that is unique to you and there is so much to listen out for – the picked and strummed acoustics, string sounds and the distorted guitar on the break all sit together really well. Because the lyrics are so central to this one, you’ve put your voice up front and with the sort of whispered sound that you have, the effect is really disconcerting – almost like a voice-over. Fascinating, funny and disturbing all at once. Great stuff.
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Post by philsanderson on Mar 25, 2017 22:49:03 GMT
Dress Related Pay
Groovy powerful opening Tim! Guitar part nicely to the fore with a tasty Hammond organ ( or 2) vying for star instrument of the month. Each month certain song(s) seem to demand a video, and this month you’ve won that one hands down. Only trouble is, I can’t get the image of you cycling to work on a winter’s morning out of my head! ( actually more a feeling of guilt on my part for not getting on my bike, after all we have virtually the same journey, only mine’s somewhat shorter, so have even less of an excuse.)
Firing Line
Absolutely love the opening, and the rhythm and mood of the main section is quite intoxicating and an instant winner. The mix/sound on this song feels different to some of your other songs. Your ‘slightly higher’ (?) vocal parts are really good here. I’ve listened to ‘Firing Line’ an awful lot these past two weeks, and I’ll be listening to the song again before the weekend is out, I’m sure!
Her Favourite Shirt
Maracatastic! Perfectly judged backing vocals on chorus section, and they sit well above the instruments. Your trademark excellent chord changes are present again. I always enjoy the challenge of trying to work them out. Before I assimilated the lyrics I got a more melancholic feel from the music, but on subsequent listening a more positive feeling comes over.
Me
I might at some stage re-record a ‘clearer’ vocal version, but have a ridiculous backlog of other vocal parts to work on and throat and voice slightly knackered again as it’s right at the end of a long term!
Sybil’s Dress
The maybe unintentional dusky, sometimes fragile voice throughout song is really excellent. I like the intermingling with Tim’s voice ( always sounds great live, too!). The keyboard sounds ( especially the warm brass ) are excellently judged again with the guitar part hovering over them ( I think I may have written similar things about a previous song or two of yours!) Repeated listenings sort of draw the listener in. I only wish that there were an extra section at end after a solo ( guitar, maybe ?)
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Post by timwarner on Mar 27, 2017 7:15:51 GMT
Bugger! I didn't get to vote and my notes are half finished. Sorry, I got my dates wrong.
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Post by stephen on Mar 27, 2017 11:38:23 GMT
Me neither, I didn't get to vote - I thought we had till the end of the month? Congrats to the joint winners, and here are some brief comments, for what they're worth.
T&J - Dress Related Pay You say your riff is a bit obvious but I don't think it matters, because it's played full-on and dirty, and when the songs takes off into the chorus the song gets a whole new melodic energy, sort of Bluresque, with the distorted guitar carrying the minor chords brilliantly. Very well delivered vocals, and the sentiments are spot-on, too - I'm so tired of having to wear high heels at work.
CD - Her Favourite Shirt You should put these songs together into a concept album about the melancholy of modern urban life. Great harmonies, especially on the "woos", and excellent basslines, with those perfectly timed slides up the neck. Really tightly arranged, too, lots of light and shade, and I like the way you've included two (very different) instrumental breaks, with your trademark slightly distorted guitar that I look forward to in every song. Great hook line, unmistakably yours.
PS- Thong Song It reminds me of when my kids were small, there was a song about a bloke who loves thongs - I said he had a lisp and was singing about "songs". I also used to sing loudly over the chorus of Beck's "I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me", changing the ending to "why don't you tickle me". Anyway, this one is totally batty - I love the line "thing about thongs", and there are some great rhymes (especially walls and smalls), and it's a really good melody in the chorus that develops really organically. I hope the head of your school and the governors never hear it, but by the time you bring out your album you won't care.
T&G Sybil's Dress Nice atmospheric opening, great lilting melody, and the nostalgic feel perfectly matches the theme. Some very nice vocal and instrumental touches, like the harmonies on "yesterday" and the electric piano between lines in the verses. Lifts really well into the chorus, which distils all the melancholy of the song into the great blue chord on "dawn".
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Post by timwarner on Mar 27, 2017 13:39:33 GMT
Stephen - Living on the firing line
Lovely guitar intro that reminds me of Zappa’s Sleep Dirt. It gives way to a sunny, lazy, jazzy feel. The feel is so easy and natural. The feel from this is just so good, I’m finding it very hard to listen to the words. I like the reference to Peer Gynt. Couldn’t give at toss the reference to clothes is not particularly strong. It’s a good song.
Christian - Her Favourite Shirt
Strong opening phrase and a great, McCartneyesque bass line. Lovely guitar sound. As usual, the melody guides it’s way through an interesting set of chords and there’s some really good backing vocal lines. The breakdown to piano-only is very good and so’s the guitar solo. All the parts are there but, I don’t seem to connect to the subject matter. All the women I know would, on leaving, hack all a lover’s clothes to bits and piss in his beer.
Phil - A Thing About Thongs
The whole feel of this is deeply unsettling and/or very funny. I think it should disqualify you from being a teacher. The whole idea of someone going their own way, ignoring what everyone else thinks reminds me of ‘The Silence Of The Lambs’ where Dr Lecter just didn’t see why normal rules is something he should worry about if he didn’t agree with them. It’s a really strong chorus so I’m fascinated and haunted by it which, to me, is an ideal mix.
Tim & Glyn - Sybil’s Dress
This feels like something Elbow might do, if the had a female vocalist. What I mean by that is, it’s not a vehicle to show off any virtuosity but it is precise and doesn’t necessarily demand all your attention (we play quite a bit of Elbow at work and it doesn’t disturb anyone). It means I can hear it on two levels because there’s plenty in it when you listen to it. It’s smart, grown-up stuff.
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Post by eddiecustard on Mar 29, 2017 19:01:11 GMT
Tim - in my song the bloke may not have left; he could have died, but I take your point. Anyhow - we'll done to you and Phil. I think you'd pick up more votes between you if the Retrospective Voting Committee was convened.
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Post by timwarner on Mar 30, 2017 13:50:31 GMT
Thanks, Christian. It did occur to me that the poor chap may have died but, it wasn't my first thought. It would have made a very good video though, you could have had a beautiful woman lounging around in a man's shirt, looking a bit sad and wistful.
Had I got my voting in, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have finished on nil points but, I think I'd probably have pushed Phil into an outright win. Sorry Phil, those are the breaks!
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tandg
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by tandg on Apr 1, 2017 12:39:51 GMT
It really is a virtual forum when even the voting is virtual! Well done Tim and Phil - well deserved. We're a bit nervous about the thong though. We're playing on Good Friday at The Bell in Castle Hedingham (8.30pm onwards in the bar) if anyone's about perhaps they could bring Phil a pair of trousers!
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