Score: 6

"Why couldn't it have been special?"

submission: Reasoner- Living Transparent

date: September 7, 2009

Although it's pretty decent, I will focus on the negative because I have urgent criticism.

It is proficient, but I am sick of the same mood in these piano ballads that shows a deep lack of imagination. You know what I mean, the kind of music that supposedly evokes a bittersweet tug at the heart strings, the kind of happiness that makes you cry...except that because it is done to death by every artist it looses its meaning. This is manipulative without being powerful, proficient without being creative or daring. It sounds pretty, but it sounds as if the progression of the chords and the mood are locked in to a stereotyped pattern. There are many devices, such as counterpoint, harmony, key changes, scales other than minor and major, and too many things to name which can be used to make music more unique. If you have not mastered tonal music theory and the techniques of composition, you will not be able to express the subtleties of emotion that you feel.

It does not have to be complicated or technical to express emotion, but if you analyze the truly good music it requires skill to compose the notes, chords, and most importantly the deviations from the cookie-cutter format that make it good. Somehow, I think this is not a question of talent but one of skill. Either you do not have skill at music theory or choose not to use it. Go use it or go learn it. I am being blunt because it saddens me when good intentions misdirected cause a loss of potential.

Score: 6

"Brilliant, but detrimentally choppy"

submission: We Dream to Fly

date: November 19, 2008

Your many melodic themes contain feeling and remarkable depth, but I have to dock four points for your lack of transition and unity between your themes and different combinations of instrumentation and even rhythm and tempo. It is EXTREMELY disjointed and choppy, and from one theme to the next it feels like you have switched to a totally different song and feeling. When you switch too many times and don't use in-between themes to smooth the transition, you dilute the emotional staying power of all of them.

Please read this and respond if you think there's something I'm missing. I'd like to know your side of the story.

Score: 10

"Stunning."

submission: {Hollow Man} [NG Cut]

date: July 1, 2008

Ranges from bold and bombastic to eerie and subtle. Strings and synths practically laser etch the melody into the brain, beat charges forward like a tank. Inspired, vivid, awesome,

OWNAGE: 100%

Score: 10

"Great everything."

submission: [ d i s t i l l ] (demo)

date: June 29, 2008

It was well composed, well played, but especially well sung. Your voice has a really great aching timbre and expressiveness that seems real rather than rehearsed. At first I only heard it instrumentally with The Composer, but the singing just makes it perfect.

Score: 10

"Awe and wonder."

submission: Thinking In Slow Motion

date: June 25, 2008

This music reflects a deep understanding of the contour of music--the sounds that move us. You spin a bittersweet musical theme which is carried by widely varied instruments ranging from guitars to woodwinds to orchestral strings, and make it into a rich soundscape that stirrs the emotions. The notes don't change much throughout, but it's clear you're really focusing on changes in volume and timbre which are more subtle. The simplicity serves it well, the richness makes it grand. It can inspire, bring up memories, or just calm the mind.

Truly great, hope to one day write and record something like this myself.

Score: 2

"Don't get it"

submission: [O-K] CrownRoyal

date: June 14, 2008

Competent guitar playing, but the lyrics make no sense at all. It's just incomprehensible what your message is or what this song is about.