Broadjam Pro Song Reviews

Broadjam Artist: Nonviolenze
Song: Girl in Rags

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Jonathan Weiss (Music Supervisor, A&R)

Pro General Comments: Quite a unique sounding vocal and arrangement. Hard to categorize this piece, but if I had to, I would say it lends itself to more of a song from a staged musical. Obviously the music, chord structure and vocal quality conveys a state of heartbreak, either from the melodic lines and from the haunting, plaintive lead vocal and background flute/synth counter melodies. Acoustic guitar accompaniment is well played and and conceptually works for this genre. If this was part of a staged musical production, it would make sense that this kind of lyrical content would be able to convey to the audience the loneliness that this woman in rags is suffering from. Beyond that however, as a piece of contemporary pop music, I don't really see how it fits in. The vocals are solidly performed, on pitch and the overall arrangement is rich and full sounding. I guess you could call it progressive rock as you say in your bio, but to me, it does not connote that type of sound.Lyrically, beyond some of the visual connotations that it evokes, I'm not seeing a consistent through line of what its about. To me, its a bit vague, but definitely sad sounding in all areas.

Quote From Pro: A haunting vocal melodyballad and solidly played acoustic guitar, make this a very entertaining piece that I could hear being performed in a staged musical production.

Broadjam Artist: Nabii
Song: Infidel

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Diana Williamson (Songwriter, Music Supervisor)

Pro General Comments: Dear Nabil:Please note I do not comment on technique- of instruments and vx- my expertise lies in overall presentation, lyrics and marketing.First off, you were right- the home recording is perfectly fine to showcase the song. You have one of the hardest parts down, you have a great vibe in this song and it comes across very clearly.And second you have a great message. It's a message that you're aware of - is a very very tricky one to put across. You've done a great job so far and there is probably some more tweaking you can do to make it realize it's full potential.So let's start with the great stuff first. Your voice and your use of bg vocals is very EASY ON THE EARS! Almost hypnotic- so that is a strength of yours in your arsenal.Most great songwriters have a strong message to impart and this fuels their songwriting, so it's a great topic to chose. And you are right, you have to be very careful with this type of subject matter- but it's an important one. With these types of songs its best to clothe them in an artistic story type way to take away some of the "preachiness" or to make the message more palatable.In Marvin Gaye's "What's Going on" he tackles the brutality of war and senseless violence by asking a question "Mother, mother, everybody thinks we're wrongOh, but who are they to judge us Simply because our hair is longOh, you know we've got to find a way To bring some understanding here today"Or John Lennon's song gets us involved by telling us to: "Imagine" Imagine there's no countries, It isn't hard to doNothing to kill or die for, And no religion too, Imagine all the peopleLiving life in peace...They're two of the very best songs written on the subject of war, violence, religion. It would be good to study them to see how they can take such a "heavy" topic but make it something people want to hear. It may give you some ideas.

Quote From Pro: Artist has a wonderful simplicity and vibe in this track that presents a powerful message.

Broadjam Artist: Tony DeSimone
Song: Stay Beautiful

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Jonathan Stone (Publisher)

Pro General Comments: Really good all the way around. Reminds me a little of U2. I think this will have great opportunity for film and TV use as well. Its clear that the author/artist is experienced and professional. This is a perfect example of writing an idea that has practical application to many visuals which is great for sync opportunities. The lyric never really gets to specific and they bring forth a very positive message "Stay Beautiful" inside. Don't know if this was the author's intent but never the less it opens up a wide variety of potential uses by doing same. I often get songs pitched to me and the artist wants to get syncs, which all tracks have potential for such, but as soon as you go off into subject matter that is too specific like "my pet butterfly flew away" your song can only be pitched for projects about pet butterflies. You get the point. It could be that the artist here just wrote from his heart and out came the perfect "sync" song. I hope thats the case, so much the better. Or perhaps we have a wiley craftsman here who intended to write a song just for sync ops. Doesn't really matter. Regardless, he has one here and he would be well served to get this out to as many film and Tv libraries as he can that accept outside "songs" and see what happens.

Quote From Pro: Tony DeSimone nails it with "Stay Beautiful". Great track, message and performance! Check it out!

Broadjam Artist: matt taylor
Song: Sometimes You Just Don't See It Coming 3:33

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Tirk Wilder (Songwriter, Performer)

Pro General Comments: Okay, Matt, there is much that is cool about this song.I like the hook "Sometimes you just don't see it coming". I like the way it gets laid in there at the top of the chorus, and that there is serious melodic differences between chorus and verse, so that the chorus "soars", if you will.I truly admire your melodic feel, and the way your chord structure is emotive harmony for that melody.Let's go to the lyrics.I'm none too crazy about the opening lines. Don't think they grab the casual listener.Next lyrical speed bump was "I hold it in as long as I am able". It may not be necessary to have a rhyme line here, as you have the second and the fourth lines already rhyming. "I hold it in as long as I can," sounds a little more like natural conversation, which is better, I think.The chorus?Well, the melody of the first two lines is impeccable, as usual, in your stuff.The words of the second line are weak. "Never thought I'd see the day," is a clich. It's sitting in the second line of the chorus where it almost HAS to be powerful. Something like, "Like a train wreck in the night, It came roaring through the tunnel, before I ever saw the light".You use that, I'm a co-writer. And I wouldn't mind that on this song.But, seriously, I hope you see what I mean. The lines, "When home to you I would be runningTo hear you say your going away."? I can't imagine those lines flying with any publisher. No power. Not something someone would say to their estranged lover while trying to hash things out.If not an image, a strong metaphor. Something someone would be saying in conversation. Something that plays off "sometimes you just don't see it coming."Consider this, Matt.Completely remove what you have here as the first verse. The "Another ordinary dayThe sun came up the sky is blue, There's something that you need to sayAnd you seem to think somehow I knew."The more I look at it, the less it works. The SECOND four lines is a POWERFUL way to start this song. The listener is almost sitting down at the kitchen table with you, and it's all you need to get you to the chorus.The second verse is the "A long time ago you called me baby" passage. Then you need to rewrite the bridge. "Time carry's on, And I'll get along, Believing that you're gone"? Very blah. Doesn't convey any information or move the song along.My advice is to take the last verse and worm it around so it becomes your bridge. The first two lines, "It's hard to think of moving on now, But moving on is what I'll do," convey the right sentiment to wrap up the song in a tight little bow. After that, you go straight into a chorus.That makes your song form:Verse --- CHORUS --- Verse ---CHORUS --- Bridge --- ChorusWhich happens to be about the MOST effective song form for climbing the charts in the history OF the charts. 70% of top ten hits in the history of our art has been this form or a slight variation thereof. I hardily recommend you consider it.It also would cut the time of your song down to a little less than three minutes, which is optimum for radio airplay.Matt, I don't get many true talents coming through my critique service. You have it going on. PLEASE stay with it.

Quote From Pro: Matt Taylor is the REAL DEAL.

Broadjam Artist: Ian Lee
Song: Love song

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Doug Beck (Producer, Remixer, Composer)

Pro General Comments: Ian Lee - Love SongThis is a nicely done ballad. Your production value is always really very nice. You know how to build a track and your songs and productions always sound extremely good.I love the electric piano intro with the synth embellishment. Love how the drum break brings in the rest of the instrumentation. As with all of your productions the dynamics are excellent. It's really very well done.Here's my issue. The song itself seems a little dated to me and a little lyrically pedestrian. Especially when compared to the previous track 'Missi'. Missi has a far more contemporary feel than this track and I think is 'Missi' is much more commercially viable in the current market place. I would also maybe try to find a more clever title. Something in the lyric that can work as a title as well.That said. Love Song is still a very nice track. I would just lean a little more towards the vibe and production of 'Missi' because I think that will serve you better in this marketplace.Artist's Submitted Question: Hi Doug, Thanks for your previous review. This certainly spurred me on to write more material and I've now completed a full album of 11 songs. I'd like your feedback on artists you feel are in a similar genre and which distribution channels might be best for me to focus on. Also do you feel this is of release quality or are there areas I still need to work more on? I'm now starting to write my next album and would like to incorporate what ever I can to improve and develop my sound. Thanks IanLBHey Ian,Like I stated above. I think the direction of 'Misi' is the way to go. All of your songs have great emotional appeal but 'Misi' captures it in such a way that works for what is happening now in the music industry. I also think music supervisors would really love that track and style. A placement in a TV show or movie can yield big dividends for a young artist. In any event, all of your stuff is really nice and very well done. You've got serious skills!

Quote From Pro: 'Love Song' is a beautiful song about an age old emotion.

Broadjam Artist: Jim Reeder
Song: I Believe

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Chris Keaton (Music Publisher, Artist Manager, Song Plugger)

Pro General Comments: "I Believe" is an elegant and moving composition and has always been one of my favorite hymns. The melody and lyric are memories I have carried close to my hear nearly all my life. I loved singing it as a child and hearing it sung in church from the time I was very, very young. I loved it when Elvis recorded it (with his direct and emotive delivery) Your voice sounds calming and the timbre evokes the right emotions in me. I am vey impressed that you would be bold enough to tackle such a well known song and carry it off in such a professional manner. The backing vocals never shade the lead but only enhance the listener's experience. I love the guitar figure that carries the instrumental track. The sparseness of the track really makes this arrangement work...the intimacy and the tenderness of your voice match the lyric perfectly. In my humble opinion, you should have this mastered and released to CCM radio. It's a timeless message that everyone should hear. My only critique would be the reverb on the vocal...it is not my favorite. Otherwise, I am very impressed with this wonderful performance. I'm not sure what else I can say about this performance. Please keep up the great work and feel free to submit more material to me at any time!!! Thank you for submitting and allowing me to listen and respond.

Quote From Pro: This is a very impressive cover of a classic and timeless hymn.

Broadjam Artist: matt taylor
Song: Sometimes You Just Don't See It Coming 3:33

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Chris Keaton (Music Publisher, Artist Manager, Song Plugger)

Pro General Comments: This is an exceptional country song. The lyric is as strong as gas and really evokes deep emotion in the listener. The vocal reminds me of the late, great John Denver and his great song writing and vocal delivery. I am very impressed with the vocalist and the instrumentalists (it sounds like a very professional demo). This is definitely ready to be pitched to major artists in the country genre. The melody in the chorus is easy to sing and very memorable (in my professional opinion, those two elements are essential in a hit song's chorus.) I will find myself humming this melody all day long today. Let me also mention the bridge...it ties the story together in a very neat bow and does what a chorus should do...be the morale of the story. If you are not getting this song in front of music industry professionals, you certainly should be. It sounds like a hit song to this reviewer. Thanks for allowing me to hear this!

Quote From Pro: "Sometimes You Just Don't See It Coming" is a hit song waiting to be discovered. It has timeless appeal and should be in Country Radio right now!!!

Broadjam Artist: Thierry Coupey
Song: One Of a Kind

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Jonathan Weiss (Music Supervisor, A&R)

Pro General Comments: Hi Thierry,Nice sounding song overall. Obviously it sounds like it has a special meaning to you and was written with someone specific in mind. I liked the arrangement and sectional contrast. While I don't hear it having a ton of potential in a contemporary rock market, it could make some headway in the spiritual or Christian rock area. Really solid guitar playing throughout which helps the song move along and helps the overall positivity of the message. While I'm hearing the heartfelt lyrics in the song, perhaps it hits the emotion a little too on the head. In other words, sometimes its better to leave the listener with something to ponder in terms of interpreting the lyrics, instead of going forward with a simple and overly familiar phrase like One Of A Kind.

Quote From Pro: A very positive and uplifting message in this song, along with a solid vocal and instrumental arrangement.

Broadjam Artist: Ian Lee
Song: Missi

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Doug Beck (Producer, Remixer, Composer)

Pro General Comments: Ian Lee-MissyIan. This is really nice. What starts as a gentle folk love song explodes into an emotional musical storm. The dynamics between the start of the song and the end are fantastic.The intro of acoustic guitar and bass is very nice. I love the keys and secondary guitar that comes in with the first verse. The keyboard break between verses is very tasteful. This track is almost a throwback to the great ballads of the 60's. It has a real hint of that favor for me while at the same time being totally contemporary.The overall production suits the song perfectly. The instrumentation you chose really helps to translate the mood of this song. I can't think of anything I would have done differently on the production front.Arrangement wise the only thing I would change (and this is pretty minor) is I may have gone back for a just one quiet vocal phrase at the very end.The vocal performance is very nice. The emotion is believable and I love the secondary vocals weaving throughout the chorus. Very nice.Artist's Submitted Question: Hi Doug, This song is certainly at the more Rock end of the spectrum for me, it has a gentle opening but picks up to a more Rock ending. Do you think this style suits me? If so how can I develop this style, and is it the right direction to go or should I focus on ballads, like my other submissions? Now I have completed and recorded an album (11 songs) how should I release this? Is it worth waiting and finding a label to support me or should I release on iTunes and see how it goes? thanks IanLBHi Ian. Thanks for being patient to get these reviews.This is a great song and I think these style suites you very much. I love the mood of this track. There is nothing wrong with branching out. Very few artists do just ballads and you pulled this style off very well. I would continue to write songs in this vein. It really does work for you.As far as releasing a record now? That is such a tough question. There is certainly no harm in putting this on iTunes and other sites and promoting it through social media. If you do live shows even better. Many artitst these days are building their following organically. I can tell you first hand that a label in not the answer to everyone's problems when it comes to releasing music unless you can find a label that really believes in what you're doing. I would search out similar indie folk artist like yourself and approach those labels.

Quote From Pro: Ian Lee's song 'Missi' is a gentle love song that explodes with emotion as the song progresses. Worth a listen for sure!

Broadjam Artist: Maxim Senin
Song: Old Shoebox

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Mitch Goldfarb (Producer)

Pro General Comments: Great Intro. I love the musical line. It has an appealing euro-ethnic quality. Tempo is perfect. You captured a great toe-tapping groove.The sonics & recording are really good. There's a balance of highs & lows. The instruments are crystal clear. The sound of the acoustic guitars, the percussion, the band, and the lead instruments fit like a glove, focusing the listener on the vocals. You've captured the Knopfler quality--just right for storytelling. Your vocals make the track!The first verse pulls the listener in with its stripped down intimate feel. Try holding off on the fills and have the violin's entrance around the turn (My heart sank to the stomach). Let the track build slower. Don't be in a rush to give away all your fun musical flavors right away.The band entrance is in the correct place to build the excitement. Again, try holding off on all the fills. Let the listener enjoy the band establishing itself. Great use of the snare drum to amp up the beat. It adds real character to the track.In general, the fills (the violin, the flute, and the guitar licks) need to be mixed in a way that directs the listener. Instead of going gangbusters, I suggest picking one element at a time and allow that instrument to speak and establish itself in the holes around the vocal statements. Then switch to another instrument and do the same. At times, there is too much to focus on. All the instruments seem to be vying for the same space. Most people can process up to three ideas, but give them a forth and it all goes out the window. Plus, be careful not to let the fills obfuscate your hook line, which is great. This is a good example of where "less is more." By the way, I love your choices of the fill instruments. The colors are perfect for this song.The melody in your Pre-Chorus is a wonderful lift. The Chorus is very good too. The lyrics are just right. The vocal double gives the hook character without going overboard. I love the beat change in the Chorus. It makes it stand out as special. Nice job!The Breakdown Verse after the Solo is perfect. This creates the rollercoaster of ups and downs for the listener, and gives you an opportunity to build the track again. Well done!All the performances are very good. The track keeps chugging right along.The song feels too long. You have two Solos and a one-minute tag. By time we are at the Tag, the listener has heard everything. More licks do not make it better. If the listener isn't sold on the track by the Tag, something is wrong, which is not the case here. I suggest that you focus your creativity on leaving the listener "wanting to hear more" and not satiating them. This way they will play the song again, and again, and hopefully again. Consider dropping one of the Solos, or at least cutting them in half. Fade out much earlier. Play with getting the track down to 3:30 or even just over 3 minutes. You can always save an extended version to use elsewhere. I often create several versions of a key track to give the record company options for marketing.In addition, the Solos and the Tag needs to be focused in the mix. Direct the listener. Actively choose which instrument and which statement you want the listener to hear. Use the best licks and forget the rest. You can even create a call and response theme with trading licks back and forth, giving one part to the violin, then the next to the guitar or flute. Be careful not to have all the lead instruments speak at the same time. If you are going to cut the Solos in half, I suggest using only one instrument to make the statements in that section.One last note, consider changing the title to something more poetic, like The Only One. Even "Shoebox" would be easier for the listener to remember. The lyrics "Old Shoebox" are not in the song, only Shoebox.I've very impressed with your growth as an artist. You are bringing a maturity to your expression.Congrats on your son--a wonderful life changing experience!

Quote From Pro: "Old Shoebox" is a winner. This upbeat track focuses playfully on the age-old story of "what do you tell the new live-in girlfriend about the ex-girlfriend." If that's not enough, Maxim Senin takes the back peddling for an explanation to an art form when what tipped off the new lover is a box of old photographs, only the photos are from years of ex-girlfriends. Just try getting out of that jam with a smile and a song.