From dilvie on 01.01.2004, 19:27:
top40 radio -- average
quote:
so does that mean you 've judged the stuff on the basis of what 'stuck in your head' (ie, which tracks had the best hooks etc)?
No, it simply means that if you scored between 20-30, you're doing well enough that I think you deserve to be heard just as much as (or more than) many top40 radio acts.
I was looking for exactly what I scored the pieces on: good structure, good dynamics, an understanding of how melody and harmony fit into music (or in the case of ambient tracks, an understanding of how frequency movement can be used to develop a piece), quality technical production, etc...
I tried to make the reviews as un-biased and as detached from any specific genre preference as possible -- which isn't terribly difficult for me, because I appreciate all of the genres that were represented in the contest, including ambient/experimental/noise/concept (some of my favorite styles -- note your style score).
random settings...
quote:
nooooooo! *sarcasm* - i see you've read the txt file then... 
Actually, no. I just openned up the songs and started judging. I've read it now. I've seen that "concept" practiced by a friend, but it wasn't totally random -- he kept the sounds that sounded good, and didn't use the sounds that sounded bad -- true, not completely random, but at least his music didn't have clicks that gave me a head-ache. =)
quote:
i was quite pleased with (all) of the sounds i got.
ok so maybe i didnt love the clicking noise, but i didn't mind it, and i was going to stick to my origional plan, that the only way i would make the sounds (appart from the effects) was by selecting "randomize" (i wasnt' going to intentionally try to make a certian sound) - so i guess i could have got rid of the clicking, but then that wouldn't have been 'true' to the concept
You still could have rejected that sound all-together and kept clicking randomize until you got one that sounded good and *didn't* click. You could have stayed true to your concept, and still had a better piece on your hands in the end.
quote:
but yeah, i get your point... it probably would have sounded better without the clicking...
Exactly. =)
originality
quote:
yeah, that's what i was going for (the 'nominal' sound) the idea of "the world between worlds" (a reference from "the magician's nefew - cs lewis) is stagnant place where time stands still, which is why the music kind of idles along and doesn't 'stick out'
If you're specifically aiming to put your audience to sleep, don't be surprised when it works.
structure
quote:
i dont think i understand why you put a 2 for structure... i felt that the piece flowed quite nicely. - was it cos it didnt seem to have any 'direction'? or did it not thnk it flowed? or was it just that it wasnt exciting? (kinda regular like)?
Look up at the stars -- I don't know how much more between worlds you can get -- there's a literally symphony playing out up there with it's own ups and downs, twists and turns, peaks and valleys. Your song sounded too flat -- there weren't a lot of dynamics. There wasn't a well-crafted interplay between tension and release, order and chaos ... it just didn't happen for me.
Like I said before, when you specifically aim to create a piece with no direction, don't be surprised when you put your listeners to sleep. 
quote:
sweet, well i think that'll do me for now. sorry if i got over zelous defending my work... your comments were quite valid, even if i thought that they werent (the concept of the piece is as important as the piece. without understanding the concept....etc) - did that make sence?
I understand and respect what you were trying to do, but I'm going to offer you some advice -- take it or leave it. I offer it for your benefit, and it won't hurt my feelings at all if you decide to ignore me.
Concept means absolutely nothing if the piece doesn't stand on its own without a textfile exlpaining, "I've just hit 'randomize' and arranged the sounds..."
If the piece isn't musically, or artistically, or emotionally, or technically compelling, it's just noise. Your piece had a lot of potential, but I was never really sucked into your world between worlds by it -- the picture just wasn't properly fleshed out in some places, and in others, there were glaring problems (such as the clicking) that made the environment un-inviting.
Space has dynamics -- the ocean has dynamics -- even places where things are litterally adrift between worlds have real dynamics that could create a compelling structure, rhythmic and movement in harmonic frequencies, some subtle interplay between tension and release.
I didn't score your piece the way I did because I didn't get your concept -- I scored it the way I did because I believe that you could have done it better, and some things led me to believe that you just didn't put your whole heart into it the way you need to in order to place well in a contest full of such great talents.
You did good -- but many other contenders did great. Don't be afraid to really work at a piece until everything works for you -- until you love every little sound and nuance in the piece. Go out on a limb. Put your heart and soul into a piece. The world between worlds is a sort of limbo -- but it's not lifeless and flat, and if it is, it's not a good subject for music.
- Eric
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Native Pug-ins
I'm used to listening ambient & trance, and songs in excess of 8 minutes are very OK by my standards. Just listen to the extra track on Queen's Made in heaven (CD) to see what I mean. Now THATS what I call a good, surprising structure 
