Month: July 2019

Broadjam Artist: John Aulabaugh
Song: Try Love

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Elizabeth Elkins (Songwriter)

Pro General Comments: Hi John, I really enjoyed this listen overall. The song has elements that take me back to the '60s (in a good way) and some parts that definitely have that Pacific Northwest post-Nirvana indie pop vibe. My main concern with the song is that the title and hook is a bit overdone. That said, I really could hear this working in tv and film sync where positive, broad topics like this can really fill out a scene. The recording quality is outstanding, as are your players. The mix has a few moments where the bass and guitar fight the vocals, and the backing vocals come in a little hot, but not enough to do a remix, just something to be aware of in the future. You've got a unique and cool vocal approach which I also think will stand out in film and tv sync opportunities. Melodically it's enjoyable, and a very nice marriage of melody and theme. My only weak point is the lyric, which is just a bit general for me.

Quote From Pro: A lovely mix of Laurel Canyon melodies and Pacific Northwest indie pop, sung with an open heart full of hope.

Broadjam Artist: Hank Thomas
Song: My Country Rolls, My Country Rocks

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Elizabeth Elkins (Songwriter)

Pro General Comments: This is a really great hook, I very much like that it is not the predictable "my country rocks, my country rolls", somehow flipping the order makes it stand out even more. My main concern overall is that this is not a modern country song. This is a song I could hear being competitive in the late 80s through 2000, but feels outdated today. Unfortunately, it would not work for pitch to country radio artists because of this approach. Though the demo is well done, it too sounds outdated with the hand claps, general instrumentation and vocal approach. You may also want to consider a younger-sounding vocalist for the demo if your goal is a Music Row pitch. That said, there are a few artists that are still cutting songs from that era: Billy Ray, Tracy Lawrence, Toby Keith all come to mind. They do continue to look for songs and I could see this appealing to them potentially as is. If you are an artist yourself, I have a feeling this song will do very well in bars, and the crowd will raise a beer and sing along. That's the battle between old school country and modern country. It's up to you whether or not to chase a more modern radio sound. Artists like Chris Stapleton and Luke Combs are bringing it back, but the production on those artists is still more modern than this production.

Quote From Pro: Super cool country hook that you'll want to crank up while you're drinking beer and grilling in the backyard. Takes you back to the '90s when real country was king.