well I'm glad Grebo didn't receive my CD judging by that harsh review!

 

I hope whoever got mine at least enjoys some of the tracks a bit, I know they're not really the best songs but my faves are a bit too cheap for this. (plus I originally put Jenny Mayhem on the CD before realising it was too good for this and it had to go to BJSC :kink:)

I had a hard enough time putting together my CD (can't wait for the review though!). I always felt like I have tons of music, and tons of fairly unknown music, but when I was looking through my music for this, I kinda realized that I probably don't have as much as I thought. Or maybe also a fair amount of the unknown stuff isn't really something I listen to a lot these days so I didn't include a lot of those ones. I ended up putting some songs on it that I don't even really listen to that much anymore, but I had to fill it with something. I tried my best I guess. I'd probably like to do this again (how often does it take place?), but my gosh, I don't know how hard it's going to be to put together one next time. I do have some ideas already though, stuff I've been discovering/re-discovering lately that's fairly unknown so a lot of those would definitely go in it next time.

well ain't that a bit awkward

Erm no not really.

 

I rate every track out of a hundred for UP. BJSC and Nuggets and I regularly give out points to tracks that score quite low for me.

 

It's all relative you see.

I quite enjoyed my CD ('3') after one run-through. Will give it another blast over the next few days and hopefully have the review done by the weekend.

Harve my review was based on my reaction to each track and I really didn't like any of it that much. That is why I said someone else should review it and do it justice.

 

Nobody should ever be sorry about their musical taste. I'm not and a lot of it certainly doesn't coincide with a lot of other people on here.

 

 

As for The Radio Dept I have listened to them a total of 21 times, 16 of which was for the same track. The other five tracks I only listened to once then never again because I didn't like them back in 2005 and 2010. Why would I recognize a track I listened to once four years ago?

 

I stand by my review as you stand by the music you like. As it should be.

 

I am totally shocked by that Iberia track. God I hate (most) remixes. Stripped away the glorious drums and turned it into a run of the mill dance track by the end.

Erm no not really.

 

I rate every track out of a hundred for UP. BJSC and Nuggets and I regularly give out points to tracks that score quite low for me.

 

It's all relative you see.

then the remaining 20 or so songs of the competition were worse than or exactly 4/10? erm okay

a reminder that y'all have until, er, Friday. good luck.

 

mine coming tonight all being well.

Struggling through mine unfortunately (not really my type of music) but I will persevere.

 

Mattias had my album by the way so will post a tracklisting and will air my views on his comments! ^_^

Should have mine done tomorrow afternoon-ish. Every time I start it I get distracted by cats on tumblr. :(

Apologies for the delay, etc -

 

Buzzjack CD Swap

 

1. We open with something that sounds like an artistic, Kylie Minogue b-side. It’s okay. 5/10.

2. Phew, only took two songs until we get to some guitar. Has a Mercury Rev-lite feel to it. 7/10.

3. Ooh, trip-hop, but sounding like it comes from the 21st century. Like Bjork, only I can actually make out what she’s ruddy singing. Me gusta mucha. 9/10

4. Another female-led trip-hop track. A bit more poppy, and still rather nice. I’m starting to worry that I’ve liked so many tracks in a row. 9/10.

5. The run ends. Some boring female led twiddly electronic ballcocks. 2/10.

6. Balearic sounding stuff, which I’m very sure actually is Bjork. Similar to 2&3, but this one doesn’t really do anything for me. 5/10.

7. This one has Grimes-y synth-pop bobbins going on here, but it’s an instrumental. Pleasant enough, but could do with some vocals. 7/10.

8. I’m starting to think that the person who compiled this has an incredibly soft spot for Bjork, this couldn’t be more Bjork if it moved to Iceland and starred in a film about turning into a whale (although it isn’t her). Okay. 5/10.

9. Sounds like something from Thom Yorke’s solo album. Why I don’t like as much as I should, I don’t know. 4/10.

10. The closest to a “rock” song so far. Decent verses, but lacks a chorus. 5/10

11. Not really my thing at all. More female sung electro-twaddle. 3/10.

12. A nice, piano-pop song. Quite possibly Birdy. Can’t really fault it. 8/10.

13. Some weird-psych loopy stuff. Loses marks for naughty language from the offset. 2/10

14. And a nice uplifting track to finish us off, which once again might be Kylie. A nice calm ending to this compilation. 7/10.

 

So all in all, some good, some not so good. Most looking forward to seeing what 2&3 were, and whether the person who compiled this really did stick to songs by Kylie Minogue on it.

 

I need to do this tomorrow, it's the only evening I'm at home for the entire week. :/

Here we are: this was Crépuscule. Apologies if the comments are shite, I was doing about four things at once this evening!

 

Obviously I know whose CD it was so I will let them reveal themselves... did enjoy overall, a 7/10 affair with no awful songs so thank you!

 

01 Synth drops like raindrops over a growing orchestral backdrop, hints of a smooth female vocal before she comes in properly, dissonant over and beneath the synth. "'Cause we are nearly civilised," she drawls - the voice is familiar but I can't place it. Has an air somewhere between Suzanne Vega and Bjork, a sort of fierce staccato voice with hints of wildness. Doesn't really change tempo but there's something quite intoxicating about it. Seems quite conventional on the surface but twists parts of the composition in interesting ways. 8/10

 

02 Also starts with a single, repeating synth note, a bit deeper this time, and soon squelches into closer, higher noises. Builds up a rhythm of different sounds, a bit like a Scandinavian carnival. Male vocal now, foreign, slightly vague, as if he's hiding behind the noises. Chorus reduces him to "ba da dum" humming, which seems a bit lame. Again, keeps at a steady, pleasant pace, but this one feels like it needed a quick somewhere. More voices join the non-chorus at the end and it all sounds a bit laddy for the last section. 6/10

 

03 Similar synth noises, though quieter - might be the track quality but this sounds like it's actually from and not just inspired by the '80s. Higher synths give it an eerie, alien feel, as do the high vocals that sometimes are barely audible. Doesn't go anywhere. Seeing a theme. Is nearly 7 minutes and bored after 2. 3/10

 

04 Wall of noise grows to wake me up. After three seconds, a voice bursts in - it's Gaga! It's 'Paparazzi'! One of her finest songs for my money, so not unwelcome. And it did come with a warning from the maker. This remix surrounds her vocals with that wall of sound, buzzing away, and some computer blips, some drum machine that doesn't keep to a tune. The vocal is really foregrounded, a slight echo to it, embossed almost. Disappears into the dark fizz of sound. 7/10 cause it's not Stuart Price.

 

05 Some boomboxing beat rap! Still the same sort of spacey synths low in the background. Female vocals swirl in, breathy as if she's trapped in a glass tube or something. Sensual but rather dispassionate. Again, keeps to a steady beat. Kind of fades into an abrupt end. 6/10

 

06 Ticking beat to start, a bit more adrenaline flowing. Slightly submerges a familiar high pitched dance refrain. Chorus has a cool retro beat to it. Plods along the same way but it's a good toe-tapper with a nice sheen over the top. 7/10

 

07 Moodier, more solemn and eerie start to this one, synths stretching and wavering. Some trickle lightly, menacingly behind a morbid, limpid female vocal, almost disembodied. Guitars kick in a cacophony of sound for a more passionate chorus, voices chanting in unison, before it slips back into the creeping music that seems to hold this woman prisoner. 6/10

 

08 Strident synth beat steps onto icy sonic landscape. Instantly take against the vocals, a man's voice that sounds like he's losing his voice. Yet then when the chorus hits it sounds like Melody Club, and I like them, and this sounds like the sort of song they'd sing; maybe it is them? The production is nice, again quite an even pace, but the vocals don't fit into it very well. 6/10

 

09 Slow, inviting start - low noises draw me in. Harsher noises start to clash above but it stays quiet, as if we're preparing for something. Not really any vocals, just some distorted calls, but the song is quite rhythmic, a really twisting appeal to the way it moves. 9/10

 

10 "Who got the keys to the jeep?" Also quite slow and rhythmic, a nice casual jam, such a laid back vibe. The rap verses are soft and slow under the production, some sort of wailing man. Again, doesn't really go anywhere, but it's nice all the same. 7/10

 

11 Something more sensual. It's in French, for a start; a whisper over some sad accordion and gentle piano. Not sung at any point, with the whisper staying at a sort of M&S advert coyness, but it has an air of melancholy about it that's quite appealing to me. 7/10

 

12 Thin female voice, quite fragile, dominates over a strummed guitar. No synths?! Quite sad and sweet; a closer to bring us back to earth. She's over us. 7/10

Edited October 29, 201410 yr by randomfurlong

Thanks for the review, Randy! Glad you liked most of it! :D The majority of it was actually a playlist I threw together for a walk home one evening. I tried not to keep the songs sounding the same hence a few odd ones (Sylvester and Bermuda Triangle were thrown in to break it up a bit) but how you could you not have a little wiggle to Sylvester? :o :D Thanks again!

 

01 Esthero - Nearly Civilized

02 Hubbabubbaklubb - Mopedbart

03 Sylvester - I Need Somebody To Love Tonight

04 Blvck Ceiling - Photos

05 Goloka - Save Me Tonight

06 The African Dream - Make A Livin'

07 Bendik - Kjenner Ingenting

08 Bermuda Triangle - It Feels Good

09 Traumer - Slow Run

10 Falcons - Vroom

11 Patricia Kaas - Mon Piano Rouge

12 Elia - Leaving

I tried my best at writing this, so bear with me. I'm glad the CD had plenty of variety, and I tend to be generous with rating things so whoever made this should be pleased.

 

'A Bit Of Your Time'

 

1. Hearing the vocal made me immediately think either Bon Iver or something similar. Then the beat comes in which is different from what I was expecting, a nice surprise really! Maybe it’s a remix? It’s pretty subtle so I’m not sure. 8/10

2. Promising intro. The organ, or whatever that is, is the strongest part of the song for me. Not just at the end but through the whole thing. The vocals are underwhelming I'm afraid, though the melody in the chorus makes up for it a bit. 8/10, so not bad!

3. Has my head bobbing only 20 seconds in. Very interesting choice of rhythm/instrumentation. A great blend of textures here! Interested to find out if I've heard of this artist or not, I can't quite place the voice well enough to guess. Anyway, very nice. 9.5/10

4. Kinda nondescript. It's not bad but there's not much too it besides some good piano. Too much vocal effects, I'd rather be able to make out the words. 5.5/10

5. YES those drums at the start. Another song with a great intro. The rest of it follows suit, my favorite of what I've heard so far! Well, it does go on for a few too many minutes so maybe not quite. EDIT- Later I realized this was entered in BJSC :kink: so I'm well aware now it's School of Seven Bells, whom I'd heard of but never listened to. Overall I really like it. 9/10

Sooooo I'll go ahead and guess Grebo, since this is his BJSC entry. I did listen to this before listening to BJSC but maybe I shouldn't have waited so long to do my review. Oh well! :lol:

6. I've heard enough J-Pop/K-Pop that sounds like this that it surprises me to hear the words are in English. Lovely female vocal that sounds familiar but I'm not sure. Has a lot going for it: very upbeat with hand claps and pretty guitar. Loved it. 9.5/10

7. Mysterious and fairly dark-sounding. Not sure what else to say but I enjoyed it. Especially the drums. 9/10

8. Interesting rhythm and textures. I really don't like this kind of vocal effect but can easily forgive when everything around it sounds so good. 9.5/10

9. Nice intro, the rest is too repetitive and was disappointing. 6/10

10. For the first couple of minutes I thought it might be Bon Iver again! Takes too long to get going but when it does, I like it and notice my foot tapping along. I'm again surprised at where the song goes, this time from an acoustic beginning to a much rockier second-half. 7/10

11. YES. I'm only a casual dance fan but this is an undeniable tune. Definitely one of my favorites on the CD so far, and one I'm most likely to revisit later. Back into 9.5/10 territory. Still holding out hope for a 10, given the quality so far I think it could happen!

12. A driving rock tune :wub: I've been waiting for a song like this and I love it. 8.5/10

13. Mellow. Not bad but I don't really have much else to say about it! The music's great, however the vocals are very soft and the words are tough to figure out which always bothers me. Probably not something I'd vote for if it were in Unknown Pleasures. 7/10

14. Loooove the chorus, mostly for the 'drop' or whatever you wanna call it. (Rule of thumb: I'm only pretending to know what I'm talking about.) With a running time of 2:39 it's just not long enough! 8/10

15. Ooh, is this garage?? (See 'rule of thumb') Very nice but after five listens I can't seem to think of anything more descriptive. At the very least I'm enjoying it for variety's sake but really it's quite good. 8/10

16. Immediately in love with the vocal, the music behind it is great too. Would rank this in my top 5 for the CD. LOVE the lyrics! The chorus is reminiscent of Paper Planes/Bad Girls but the verses are sung much more sweetly. Very interested to know who this is. 9/10

17. Very captivating with an array of sounds that blend wonderfully. Despite its subtle nature I'm hooked right away but even more so when the strings come in. Vocals are beautifully soothing too. You know what...giving this a 10/10. It's stunning.

18. Wow I'm pretty sure I know who's singing this, think Jordan think.....builds very nicely in the second half. Eventually I hear "dance yourself clean" and can't resist googling...it's MS MR! Been far too long since I listened to her. A great choice to end with. 8.5/10

 

Overall: 8.3/10. Sounds about right!

Apologies for the delay, etc -

 

Buzzjack CD Swap

 

1. We open with something that sounds like an artistic, Kylie Minogue b-side. It’s okay. 5/10.

2. Phew, only took two songs until we get to some guitar. Has a Mercury Rev-lite feel to it. 7/10.

3. Ooh, trip-hop, but sounding like it comes from the 21st century. Like Bjork, only I can actually make out what she’s ruddy singing. Me gusta mucha. 9/10

4. Another female-led trip-hop track. A bit more poppy, and still rather nice. I’m starting to worry that I’ve liked so many tracks in a row. 9/10.

5. The run ends. Some boring female led twiddly electronic ballcocks. 2/10.

6. Balearic sounding stuff, which I’m very sure actually is Bjork. Similar to 2&3, but this one doesn’t really do anything for me. 5/10.

7. This one has Grimes-y synth-pop bobbins going on here, but it’s an instrumental. Pleasant enough, but could do with some vocals. 7/10.

8. I’m starting to think that the person who compiled this has an incredibly soft spot for Bjork, this couldn’t be more Bjork if it moved to Iceland and starred in a film about turning into a whale (although it isn’t her). Okay. 5/10.

9. Sounds like something from Thom Yorke’s solo album. Why I don’t like as much as I should, I don’t know. 4/10.

10. The closest to a “rock” song so far. Decent verses, but lacks a chorus. 5/10

11. Not really my thing at all. More female sung electro-twaddle. 3/10.

12. A nice, piano-pop song. Quite possibly Birdy. Can’t really fault it. 8/10.

13. Some weird-psych loopy stuff. Loses marks for naughty language from the offset. 2/10

14. And a nice uplifting track to finish us off, which once again might be Kylie. A nice calm ending to this compilation. 7/10.

 

So all in all, some good, some not so good. Most looking forward to seeing what 2&3 were, and whether the person who compiled this really did stick to songs by Kylie Minogue on it.

 

1. Charlotte Martin - Mission Control

Too bad you thought this was just okay, it's one of my favourites in here and seemed like a perfect way to kick things off. I also never would have thought Kylie for this! Amusing.

 

2. Pornopop - Centre

Artist name aside, this has a beautiful mysterious northern feel to it. If you gave it more listens, your mark for it could increase.

 

3. Puracane - Big Day

Glad you liked this so much, it really is a great chilled 'up' track. I have previously sent it to an online song contest once (not on Buzzjack - that forum is sadly dead now) and I believe it came fourth. In a way I wish I wouldn't have included it here due to having sent it to something previously, but you liked it so I'm glad I did.

 

4. Poe - Control

Another song with the word "control" in the title. Glad you liked this too. I'm not sure I would call it trip-hop, but I can see where you're coming from. Maybe we could call it "trip-rock"?

 

5. Audiac - Everybody's Sneaking, Baby

Did you really think the vocals were female? They're male! Too bad you didn't like this, although after submitting the playlist I did think maybe it wasn't the best choice. I still like it though, it's an interesting, slightly Radiohead-ish track. Also, the whole album, which presumably got its name from a scene in The Simpsons, 'Thank You For Not Discussing the Outside World', is just great pure weirdness.

 

6. Blue Foundation - As I Moved On

Nope, not Björk. I kinda wish I had included a song called 'End of the Day' by this band instead of this one though...

 

7. Autechre - Slip

I think it works perfectly as an instrumental. Love the sounds in this.

 

8. Flunk - Six Seven Times

lol well I am into Björk so maybe that does influence the rest of my music taste at times. Flunk is also a northern band (Norway) and I have noticed that many northern female singers have similar voices. That sort of cute, 'light' voice.

 

9. Moderat - Rusty Nails

You're right, it does sound like something Thom Yorke would do. Interesting production, too bad you didn't enjoy it as much as I do.

 

10. Mew - Special

Yeah I probably included this to have some more rock in the playlist.

 

11. Mandalay - All My Sins

This was probably a risk to include. One of the things I like about this track is that it has almost no melody in places, and yet still somehow works for me on an emotional level. It's interesting to note, Madonna once called Mandalay her favourite band!

 

12. Vanessa Carlton - London

Beautiful track, glad you liked it. The whole album 'Rabbits on the Run' is just as stunning as this, very different from her older work though. She has a new album coming out next year which she has described as sounding as if you're 'falling into a rabbit hole of sounds'. Very much looking forward to it.

 

13. The Frames - Ship Caught in the Bay

It really is kind of a slightly weird track, but that's one of the reasons I enjoy it.

 

14. Anja Garbarek - Can I Keep Him

I thought this beautiful relaxed track would be a perfect end to the CD. Not sure if you noticed, but there's a definite sonic theme within the last four tracks. With 'All My Sins', it got to a place of a lot of electronic punch that almost puts you in a trance, then 'London' is as if you're getting away from the trance and relaxing, then 'Ship Caught in the Bay' starts rather calmly and then at the end it just goes mental, and then finally 'Can I Keep Him' is the relaxed conclusion. It's like you were on a weird emotional trip at the end there.

I can never think of any kind of theme or even a decent flowing order to put these things in, so I just thought I'd share a bunch of my favourite songs from the previous 18 months or so, covering a wide range of styles and genres hoping that whoever it fell to would enjoy at least some of it and discover something that they liked, even if they found parts of it terrible.

 

Luckily it seems to have fallen into the right hands, incredibly pleasing to read such a positive review and listening back through the tracks as I write back about them makes me realise how much I love them all!

 

'A Bit Of Your Time'

 

1. Hearing the vocal made me immediately think either Bon Iver or something similar. Then the beat comes in which is different from what I was expecting, a nice surprise really! Maybe it’s a remix? It’s pretty subtle so I’m not sure. 8/10

 

- Discovered VCS when Dandy* entered Vapour into Nuggets at the beginning of the year, he's one of my favourite discoveries in any of these type of things. It is very Bon Iver, meets James Blake really with the style of music. He's only 17/18 too!

and

are also wonderful.

 

2. Promising intro. The organ, or whatever that is, is the strongest part of the song for me. Not just at the end but through the whole thing. The vocals are underwhelming I'm afraid, though the melody in the chorus makes up for it a bit. 8/10, so not bad!

 

- Maps, UK based solo artist, has three albums and I really like them all, though they are all fairly similar. This is from his most recent.

from his debut is great.

3. Has my head bobbing only 20 seconds in. Very interesting choice of rhythm/instrumentation. A great blend of textures here! Interested to find out if I've heard of this artist or not, I can't quite place the voice well enough to guess. Anyway, very nice. 9.5/10

 

Made In Heights 'Pirouette' - I love this, so beautifully subtle. They've released some really good stuff this year, have been in BJSC/UP 2 or 3 times but I think this is my favourite of theirs. Mantis is also great.

 

4. Kinda nondescript. It's not bad but there's not much too it besides some good piano. Too much vocal effects, I'd rather be able to make out the words. 5.5/10

 

- Their album is one of my favourite from the last 18 months or so, a shame you're not a fan,

is my favourite of theirs but I avoided it as it's been in BJSC.

 

5. YES those drums at the start. Another song with a great intro. The rest of it follows suit, my favorite of what I've heard so far! Well, it does go on for a few too many minutes so maybe not quite. EDIT- Later I realized this was entered in BJSC :kink: so I'm well aware now it's School of Seven Bells, whom I'd heard of but never listened to. Overall I really like it. 9/10

 

- School of Seven Bells are one of my absolute favourite bands. When their drummer, writer and producer Benjamin Curtis died of cancer last Christmas I didn't think I'd hear anything else so this was a surprise and it's brilliant, the intro is absolutely amazing, hooked straight away.

, Faded Heart and

essentials of theirs.

 

The story behind the song is incredibly sad really, originally recorded by Joey Ramone, written about his battle with lymphoma. Benjamin recorded this song in his own hospital bed not long before he died of the same disease.

 

6. I've heard enough J-Pop/K-Pop that sounds like this that it surprises me to hear the words are in English. Lovely female vocal that sounds familiar but I'm not sure. Has a lot going for it: very upbeat with hand claps and pretty guitar. Loved it. 9.5/10

 

- The Pains... are another of my favourite bands. Their songs have been traditionally sung by Kip, their male vocalist, but they've replaced their female backing vocalist recently and she took lead on this. It's wonderfully happy and uplifting.

 

7. Mysterious and fairly dark-sounding. Not sure what else to say but I enjoyed it. Especially the drums. 9/10

 

- I love how chilled out this is, heard a few songs of theirs this year but this is easily my favourite of them.

 

8. Interesting rhythm and textures. I really don't like this kind of vocal effect but can easily forgive when everything around it sounds so good. 9.5/10

 

- Agree with the effects on this, been listening for months now and still not bored. Been entered into comps on here before but nothing I've liked anywhere near this much.

 

9. Nice intro, the rest is too repetitive and was disappointing. 6/10

 

- I've loved all of ODESZA's singles this year though can definitely see why people wouldn't be fans of this one! Love their album.

 

10. For the first couple of minutes I thought it might be Bon Iver again! Takes too long to get going but when it does, I like it and notice my foot tapping along. I'm again surprised at where the song goes, this time from an acoustic beginning to a much rockier second-half. 7/10

 

- Now this one is Bon Iver! Well, kind of. Volcano Choir is Justin Vernon's other band. I love them as they're similar to Bon Iver but there's enough to differentiate between the two.

 

11. YES. I'm only a casual dance fan but this is an undeniable tune. Definitely one of my favorites on the CD so far, and one I'm most likely to revisit later. Back into 9.5/10 territory. Still holding out hope for a 10, given the quality so far I think it could happen!

 

- Like you, I'm not the biggest dance fan but there is the odd gem I do love, I've known of Grum for years but this is the only song of theirs I truly love. One of my top dance songs of the year, I like it loads more than the song of theirs that was in BJSC last month.

 

12. A driving rock tune :wub: I've been waiting for a song like this and I love it. 8.5/10

 

- It's safe to say I don't enjoy guitar/rock music anywhere near as much as I used to, but occasionally a band like Big Deal come along who I love.

and

are also great.

 

13. Mellow. Not bad but I don't really have much else to say about it! The music's great, however the vocals are very soft and the words are tough to figure out which always bothers me. Probably not something I'd vote for if it were in Unknown Pleasures. 7/10

 

- This is probably my least favourite song on here to be honest, nice and relaxing though.

 

14. Loooove the chorus, mostly for the 'drop' or whatever you wanna call it. (Rule of thumb: I'm only pretending to know what I'm talking about.) With a running time of 2:39 it's just not long enough! 8/10

 

- I've loved Alpines for years now and was so pleased they released a debut album this year, this is my favourite song on it. Like you, I do wish it longer though. Cocoon,

and

also great.

 

15. Ooh, is this garage?? (See 'rule of thumb') Very nice but after five listens I can't seem to think of anything more descriptive. At the very least I'm enjoying it for variety's sake but really it's quite good. 8/10

 

- I forgot I'd included this on here :kink:

 

16. Immediately in love with the vocal, the music behind it is great too. Would rank this in my top 5 for the CD. LOVE the lyrics! The chorus is reminiscent of Paper Planes/Bad Girls but the verses are sung much more sweetly. Very interested to know who this is. 9/10

 

- Kind of sticks out on this album but I do love it, I get the more gentle M.I.A. comparison to be honest. She's Danish, something I've just discovered.

 

17. Very captivating with an array of sounds that blend wonderfully. Despite its subtle nature I'm hooked right away but even more so when the strings come in. Vocals are beautifully soothing too. You know what...giving this a 10/10. It's stunning.

 

- This was one of my favourite singles from last year, it's so subtle and beautiful. Glad you love it! :D Their newest single is

with Emma Louise who sang on recent hit My Head is a Jungle'

 

18. Wow I'm pretty sure I know who's singing this, think Jordan think.....builds very nicely in the second half. Eventually I hear "dance yourself clean" and can't resist googling...it's MS MR! Been far too long since I listened to her. A great choice to end with. 8.5/10

 

MS MR 'Dance Yrself Clean' - The definition of a perfect cover version. The original of Dance Yrself Clean is one of my absolute favourite songs of all time, the thought of anyone else attempting to sing i just feels sort of weird, but this just works exactly as a great cover does. Take a song, stay true to it and do it in a different style. It's brilliant.

 

Overall: 8.3/10. Sounds about right!

 

Wow, so I was wrong guessing Grebo! I had a feeling one of the Bon Iver-esque tracks would be Volcano Choir, was aware of their existence but hadn't listened to anything from them. A few other names I recognize from just the past few months of BJSC which is a pleasant surprise. Cheers for the links, I'll be sure to check those out!

bstd oops

3

 

I *finally* got around to sitting down and listening to this again. Massive apologies to whoever you are but I really enjoyed it as a whole so hopefully that makes up for me being a sloppy hoe. Some tracks weren’t my cup of tea but most of the tracks are ones I’d like to keep so it’s been a success! I’m not great with reviews, so I’ll keep it fairly short.

 

01 A very indie folk track that is quite nice but not what I usually like. I’m fairly open when it comes to genres but I can’t say that this tickles my fancy. It’s something you’d listen to if you were going on a road trip or something. The vocals are nice though! 6/10

 

02 LOVE. It’s country music but I don’t care. I have a feeling who it might be but I only know one of their songs (the song about the little church or something from BJSC!). Whoever it is though, I might check out the rest of their stuff because I love this more than I should. 9/10

 

03 Another country track that's just as good as the previous one. The chorus is nice and subtle and I like the lyrics. 9/10

 

04 Ooooooh a nice change. An indie/alternative track that's quite catchy and something I could listen to a lot. Definitely will check out whoever this is because this is vvvvv good! 8/10

 

05 This is the type of music I used to be MASSIVELY into when I was younger. Laid back vocals but still powerful in the chorus. Really nice and another that I'll have to check further! 7/10

 

06 I kinda like the the song itself but I can't stand her voice! :drama: There's no way I could sit through anymore of her stuff because I'll end up hurting someone. 5/10

 

07 A nice altrock number and his vocals are more appealing to my ears. Living for the verses but the choruses are a let down. Kinda like Jimmy Eat World For Dummies. (don't hate me for that) 7/10

 

08 Is this Elizabeth and The Catapult or something because I'm getting those vibes! Really nice song here and kinda catchy. Not my usual sound but very enjoyable nonetheless. 7/10

 

09 YAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSS 'slay' etc. VERY familiar voice + sound here but the name escapes me! Fabulous song and very much up my street. Kinda dreamy and the verses and choruses are equally lovely which is great as there's nothing worse than a subpar verse/chorus! It's the type of song I could never get tired of hearing. Thank you x 10/10

 

10 [[song doesn't open because of copyright :( ]]

 

11 Quite an upbeat number now and not something I'd usually listen to (because i'm a depressing bastard where is björk) but the lyrics are quite cute: "the air can get you hotter than I could" - brb getting this tattooed across my face. 6/10

 

12 I love a bit of funky soul! Loving the intro to this as well. Not sure if I could listen to it repeatedly but it's a genre I'd love to explore more. No idea who this is but if you know of any group of the same sound then hit me up ~ 7/10

 

13 Very bizarre as I'm pretty sure I know this song already but it sounds totally different?! Really nice and sounds like something you'd hear in a TV ad for M&S Spring Collection or something. One of the ones I'd like to investigate further! x 8/10

 

14 Omfg it's the song with the cats on synths! Love. Haven't heard it for a few months but it's still really good. Verses are stronger in this for me but seriously the cats trump everything so I'm vv happy. 7/10

 

Really enjoyed this because there was a great mix of tracks here. Thank you to whoever put their time into this and I'm really sorry it's so late and it's so brief! As for who it could be: Charlie? Grebo? Brett? There were a few curve balls in there so it's hard to figure out who sent it! Again, thank you! x :D

 

Hey Cal! :D

 

Just to be clear, there’s absolutely no meaning behind the title. I didn’t think to come up with alternate track names or anything so just numbered 1, 2, etc. and when I put them in a folder it just randomly named itself after track #3.

 

01 A very indie folk track that is quite nice but not what I usually like. I’m fairly open when it comes to genres but I can’t say that this tickles my fancy. It’s something you’d listen to if you were going on a road trip or something. The vocals are nice though! 6/10

Definitely a road trip track for me! Fair enough if it’s not your thing, I’d like to think it has enough tempo/rhythm to stand out from the more typical indie folk stuff, and yes the vocals are another of its strong points.

 

02 LOVE. It’s country music but I don’t care. I have a feeling who it might be but I only know one of their songs (the song about the little church or something from BJSC!). Whoever it is though, I might check out the rest of their stuff because I love this more than I should. 9/10

Yes Cal *.* I’m SO delighted to read that. It wouldn’t be my CD without some country! Little Big Town is quite possibly my favorite band so I can easily give recommendations; my two faves of theirs are

and

so check those out. Maybe it’s the harmonies you like, because that’s a huge part of their appeal for me. They do have a song called “Little White Church” so it’s probably the group you’re thinking of!

 

03 Another country track that's just as good as the previous one. The chorus is nice and subtle and I like the lyrics. 9/10

One more country track, this one’s grittier and has a great rhythm to it. What can I say, I know this genre well and wasn’t going to just throw in a song about trucks or whatever. Kacey’s album is one of my recent faves, the sense of hopelessness is really its charm. And she’s a terrific writer.

 

04 Ooooooh a nice change. An indie/alternative track that's quite catchy and something I could listen to a lot. Definitely will check out whoever this is because this is vvvvv good! 8/10

I was gonna say it’s a good transition from the previous track, rather melancholy too. I have two other songs of theirs on iTunes and they’re both equally good:

and

.

 

05 This is the type of music I used to be MASSIVELY into when I was younger. Laid back vocals but still powerful in the chorus. Really nice and another that I'll have to check further! 7/10

Eleanor Dunlop – Disguise This was a former UP potential of mine, probably the contest you hosted! I’ve not checked out anything further from her so can’t help you there!

 

06 I kinda like the the song itself but I can't stand her voice! :drama: There's no way I could sit through anymore of her stuff because I'll end up hurting someone. 5/10

Breanne Duren – Gold Mine :lol: I was worried about this one. But if I had to pick an element that someone might fault I wouldn’t have guessed her voice!

 

07 A nice altrock number and his vocals are more appealing to my ears. Living for the verses but the choruses are a let down. Kinda like Jimmy Eat World For Dummies. (don't hate me for that) 7/10

Safetysuit – Apology I was hoping the repetitive whoa-ohs didn’t put you off but was anticipating that reaction really. This comes from an album of much stronger tracks than this, some of which I’m tempted to save for Nuggets or something, or else I’d give links to them! Feel free to check it out yourself though!

 

08 Is this Elizabeth and The Catapult or something because I'm getting those vibes! Really nice song here and kinda catchy. Not my usual sound but very enjoyable nonetheless. 7/10

Cal you so smart :o Are they semi-well-known or something? I’m glad it at least wasn’t a song you already knew.

 

09 YAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSS 'slay' etc. VERY familiar voice + sound here but the name escapes me! Fabulous song and very much up my street. Kinda dreamy and the verses and choruses are equally lovely which is great as there's nothing worse than a subpar verse/chorus! It's the type of song I could never get tired of hearing. Thank you x 10/10

Sweet! Another of my faves on this tracklist so it’s good to see our tastes align. Despite that, I don’t know this group as much as I should but

and Jona Vark should get you started and easily hold your interest, everything I've heard is terrific.

 

10 [[song doesn't open because of copyright :( ]]

CRAP. Sorry about that. There’s the link if you’re curious.

 

11 Quite an upbeat number now and not something I'd usually listen to (because i'm a depressing bast*rd where is björk) but the lyrics are quite cute: "the air can get you hotter than I could" - brb getting this tattooed across my face. 6/10

She’s very quirky, I have a lot of her songs and decided this one was the least off-putting, lol. All kinds of weird but I seem to get her. And yeah, oddly profound lyrics.

 

12 I love a bit of funky soul! Loving the intro to this as well. Not sure if I could listen to it repeatedly but it's a genre I'd love to explore more. No idea who this is but if you know of any group of the same sound then hit me up ~ 7/10

The intro stands out to me too! I’m loling at myself for including this tbh. I was running out of ideas at this point and was desperate for more variety. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy it, but I can’t help you much with anything similar unforch.

 

13 Very bizarre as I'm pretty sure I know this song already but it sounds totally different?! Really nice and sounds like something you'd hear in a TV ad for M&S Spring Collection or something. One of the ones I'd like to investigate further! x 8/10

It’s a remix and

is indeed totally different. I have precisely one CD full of stuff like this, track #12 came from it as well!

 

14 Omfg it's the song with the cats on synths! Love. Haven't heard it for a few months but it's still really good. Verses are stronger in this for me but seriously the cats trump everything so I'm vv happy. 7/10

Oops I didn’t know it was well known, but was aware of the cat video so I shouldn’t be surprised! I threw this in as a bonus but really like it. Hopefully a nice way to end! :D

 

Reading your review was well worth the wait so thanks for following through and eventually posting it! There was just enough commentary to satisfy me :D My favorite song selections were pretty much the same as the ones you rated highest so I’d call that a success!