Barry White meets Nina Simone at a Barry Manilow Concert!
GarageBand.com review of: You’ll be Alright
Wow, what an interesting voice. Reminds me of Marvin Gaye, so unique. Great delivery. Great diction, I’m following your story, journey, the intnsity and delivery grows and grows as the song progresses… awesome. And when you finally let it go, it’s so satisfying for the listener.. It’s Nina Simone-esque.
Wow. This is like Disco, free love, 70′s flower power, Barry Manilow, Anthony & the Johnsons… great production, the subtle piano is stunning, interesting beats.
Backing vocals feel heavenly. Lovely. Great lyrics.
And the single female vocal coming in the second verse, just great.
Oh yeah, you guys are rocking it. This is epic. I want to stand up and turn up the volume.
The song just kinda lingers on the same chords, but it builds and builds… it feels like it’s going to resolve elsewhere but it doesn’t, it just keeps on driving and it works! Best of luck.
Extra Credit: Male Vocals, Female Vocals, Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Production, Lyrics, Melody, Mood, Originality.
- Review by: Sunjack from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Indie International Songwriting Competition
Review of: Goodness & Mercy
Your Score: 92.666667
judged by: Martin Blasick
Originality: 96
Does the song stand out conceptually? Give a new twist on a universal theme?
Originality Comments:
Original you got. Miles, inspirational, pop.
Composition: 91
Does the song structure lend itself to the best presentation of the song?
Composition Comments:
Despite the linear activity it’s really a simple tune laid out without any distracting tricks. Nice job. I’m a fan of real endings but that’s not coming into play in the scoring. It would have a nice resolution to the arc if it were to end properly, tho. Goodness & Mercy. I’ll take some of that…and give it too.
Melody: 92
Is the melody strong, memorable, likable? appropriate & consistent with the theme?
Melody Comments:
The Que Sera, Sera reference makes it very fragile. It’s an interesting piece to be sure. I’m sure this goes over well in a medium to small live setting. You know how to put a tune together. Melody works.
Lyrics: 88
Are the lyrics witty, humerous, poignant? (depending on intent)
Lyrics Comments:
For as much as I like this tune it is a bit on the nose in the verses. Specificaly Hard times come when no one gets fed
Babies need some sweet bread.
It seems general when I know you could make a really great line there that engages in a specific way. Zig Ziglar said “Would you rather be a wandering generality or a meaningful specific?”
Phrasing: 97
Is there any awkward emphasis on certain words / notes? Does the song seem to flow nicely from phrase to phrase?
Phrasing Comments:
Not a problem area for you. The arrangement is a bit dense for pop sensibilities but that’s more of an arrangement thing. If I were to mix this I’d be thinkin’ let’s mute some stuff. Let it all have its moment but lettum takes turns a bit more. But you have a naturally muscial phrasing.
Overall Impact: 92
Overall Comments:
Thanks for starting off with the chorus. It’s done far too rarely. This is a very mood recording. There’s something in the quaver of the voice that makes this story very vulnerable. I’m assuming you are the artist and not trying to pitch to others. There’s a lot of linear information in this production which is separate from the songwriting. Maybe thin out the guitar trpt licks so they don’t overlay so much. It’s a lot to take in. Like a rich creamy meal. Beautiful voice. Go get your fans!!
Acoustically Awesome
GarageBand.com review of: Appointed Time
The Mood is Serene. Saxophone adds the Elements of ‘awe’ in the smooth deep bass-lined ballad. Lead Vocals are Strong and Soulful with Meaning. Background Vocals are Blissful.
Extra Credit: Male Vocals, Female Vocals, Guitars, Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Programming, Production, Lyrics, Melody, Beat, Mood, Originality, Most Rocking Track.
- Reviewed by: fopackcityslcka of San Francisco, California
Soulful R&B at its Best
GarageBand.com review of: Goodness & Mercy
Wow – this is good song. It must be cos it seemed to go by in a flash.
Lovely muted trumpet opening.
Cool BV’s beautifully sung by some very talented singers.
Excellent lead vacalist – lovely phrasing and tone and hits every note spot on. A lot of expertise and experience on the microphone here.
This could easily be a stand-out Al Green number. Actually the vocalist this most sounds like is a man they used to call “The Tanned Canary” – yes none other than the late great Johnny Adams.
Great work – I want to hear a lot more of this.
Goodness! – I gave the first track 5 stars and now I have to give this one 5 stars also – this is a first!
Extra Credit: Male Vocals, Guitars, Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Production, Lyrics, Melody, Beat, Mood, Originality, Best Feel Good Track.
- Reviewed by: NigelSpiers of Christchurch, New Zealand
Just Missed the Mark
GarageBand.com review of: Appointed Time
Soulful intro, lovely saxophone, great jazz feel. Sadly, the vocal didn’t live up to the promise of the intro. Hard to get a grip on the melody. The lyric was irritating too. Way too repetitive, the song turned into an annoying drone. Shame, because the overall sound was well rounded and warm.
- Reviewed by: HanaSmyth
Groovy Gospel
GarageBand.com review of: Goodness & Mercy
This track makes me want to just groove. Gospel jazz with a Luther Vandros twist with a little Ron isely thrown in. Excellent, Excellent, Excellent. the background is lush and velvety. This also has a positive uplifting vibe thank God for that.
Extra Credit: Male Vocals, Female Vocals, Guitars, Drums, Bass, Production, Lyrics, Melody, Beat, Mood, Best Feel Good Track.
- Reviewed by: BlackCherryNova of Leon Valley, Texas
Great Natural Dynamics!
GarageBand.com review of: You’ll be Alright
These musicians are pros, and it shows right away. The sounds are real and rich and that makes me certain this is a perfect song before I even finished listening. I LOVE it!
- Reviewed by: Michael_Angelo of Rawdon, Quebec, Canada
This Here Sounds Like Music
GarageBand.com review of: Appointed Time
Male vocalist sounds smoothe and relaxed, female vocalist bring that old skool feel to it the band is killin it the entire joint. lyrics are on point and overall sound is clean.
Extra Credit: Male Vocals, Female Vocals, Guitars, Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Programming, Production, Lyrics, Melody, Beat, Mood, Originality, Best Potential Movie Soundtrack.
- Reviewed by: Traumatheone of Bolingbrook, Illinois
Funky, Feel-Good, Chill out Song
GarageBand.com review of: Appointed Time
Nice song, great production and arrangements. The sax gives it something extra. Better backing vocals would make this song perfect.
Extra Credit: Production
- Reviewed by: Lossixtys
Sweet Soul
GarageBand.com review of: You’ll be Alright
When this track started it gave me a feeling of Tina Turner meets the Cranberries – but as the track moved on its own originality came through..
The vocal is sweet, Vandross-esque whilst the Lyrical content reminds me of early Stevie Wonder lyrics.
The vocal performance is strong, and a nice use of backing vocals gives the chorus a real feel-good factor.
Its good to hear real song writing is still alive.
Peace!
Extra Credit: Male Vocals, Production, Lyrics
- Reviewed by: InspiredFunk of Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom
Smokey Jazzzzzzzzzzzzzz
GarageBand.com review of: Goodness & Mercy
More jazzy than R & B. Putting too much emphasisin the vocal [sic]. The melody doesn’t seem to carry the song it needs more emphasis on the rhythym [sic]. A bit of over and over and over vocals. This son has a total lack of any hook and needs the individual parts to have more spike [sic]. This sounds like an Al Green cover band. There needs to be a bit more instrumentalization and playing [sic].
Extra Credit: Best Elevator Song.
-Reviewed by: LutherGashish of Tampa Bay, Florida
Great, Great, Great!
GarageBand.com review of: Goodness & Mercy
The lead vocalist sounds like a mix between Donnie McClurkin and Luther Vandross. The hook is nice, not that you can really hate a song like that anyway. I like this song. It sounds like something that should be on a mainstream Gospel album. The vocals are great all around. The background singers were a nice blend with the lead. This song can be very inspirational to people too. I think this song should be on the radio. Keep up the outstanding work.
Extra Credit: Male Vocals, Female Vocals, Lyrics, Best Feel Good Track.
- Ill_Advised_Ent_ of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Great Stuff
GarageBand.com review of: You’ll be Alright
Great voice in this track. Very controlled and melodic and rich. The instrumentation is nice and minimal with the simple piano and bass working very well to texture and mould the track [sic]. Excellent lyrics and lovely backing singer enrich and already classy sound. Good stuff
Extra Credit: Bass.
- Reviewed by: stevenpering of Reading, United Kingdom
Luther Reincarnated?
GarageBand.com review of: Goodness & Mercy
The Male Vocalist reminds me somewhat of Luther Vandross and that is not easy to do, many have tried. This song takes me to some classy club (the trumpet does it) where Luther and his entourage are singing one of his unknown, rehashed songs. Great job overall.
Extra Credit: Male Vocals, Mood.
- Reviewed by: tbasszenexpro of San Francisco, California
