Sion

thecow: judging from the solidly professional production of these 3 demos, I presume this is more than just a hobby, that you and your band hope someday to be professional musicians earning a living at this. if that presumption is correct, then please take these comments in the spirit in which they are intended, as constructive criticism.


the (mostly) objective:

the production, as mentioned, is very good for a demo. all the individual components are clearly audible in the mix, with none of the annoying muddiness that so often accompanies demo tracks. and none of the instruments or voices overpowers the others, which is also a common flaw in demos. also to the good here is the fact that studio tricks and effects were kept to a minimum, allowing the musicianship to come through, without the listener wondering if the band would sound as good live as they do in the studio. it is readily apparent that the players are capable musicians not reliant upon production techniqes for their sound. finally, the only criticism I have of the mix is a slightly excessive brightness in the percussion and guitar tracks. I would have toned down the highs just a bit. (production grade: A-)

the skills of the players, while in no way virtuoso, are certainly professional level as well, at least in comparison to what is commonly played on contemporary mainstream radio. there are no obvious mistakes or sour notes apparent on first, or even repeated, listening. of course, this is due not only to the fact that the musicians are all competent practitioners of their crafts, but also to the fact that the material itself is not particularly demanding. and while this may sound like a left-handed compliment, like damning with faint praise, it is not so meant. there is something to be said for recognizing and staying within ones limits, particularly on demo tracks. that being said, however, I should like to see more experimenting, more envelope-pushing, more limit-stretching from future efforts, in terms of both material and musicianship. (musicianship grade: B)


the (completely) subjective:

Cant Go On: the weakest of the three tracks, this song is lyrically and compositionally very generic. in typically power ballad fashion, this one starts out soft and slow, builds to a guitar-heavy climax about 3/4 of the way through, followed by the obligatory fade-out. and while there is nothing inherently wrong with that particular form, the fact remains that it has been done to death over the last 20 years or so. in order for a power ballad to stand out, it must have something original/unique about it, which this tune does not. (grade C)

Hollywood Dreams: somewhat reminiscent of some of the New Wave hits of the 80s, this is a more interesting tune all respects than Cant Go On. the lyrics, while dealing with a very cliched subject, manage to show an originality ("show me a heaven where the show starts at seven") and bite ("living and dying in cheap magazines") not present in the previous song. musically, this track attempts more as well. the juxtapostion of the bright, almost jangly guitar work in the extended intro against the darkness of the lyrics and the minor chord guitar progression of the rest of the song is a pleasant surprise after the banality of Cant Go On. Ultimately, this song is not terribly remarkable, but it does show potential. (grade B)

Tantrum: the best of the three tracks, Tantrum sounds very much like a lot of stuff currently inhabiting contemporary pop-rock charts, a la Nickelback, Creed, etc. and that is both a compliment and a criticism. the song is good enough to stand as an equal amongst those others. it has a strong hook that sticks with you after it ends, and the vocals powerfully express the angst (for want of a better word) of the lyrics. the uptempo beat (nicely driven by the staccato guitar phrasing in the heavier parts and by the drums in the much lighter bridges) works well against the downbeat nature of the lyrics. also very effective is the abruptness of the song's end. however, there is nothing here that really stands out from the rest of the genre, either lyrically or musically. nevertheless, this is the song the band should be pushing hardest in its quest for exposure and/or a recording contract. (grade A-)



overall impressions: there is talent here, of that there is no doubt, perhaps even enough to achieve national success. but I do not yet detect a unique voice/sound, which is usually a prerequisite to lasting success. you should push yourselves to achieve more originality in future efforts. strive to create a sound that stands out among the crowd while remaining true to your musical vision. and by that I mean dont just throw something in there just for the sake of being different. make sure that however you arrange a song fits the song itself. form follows function applies not only to architechture but music as well, I believe.

good luck.


oh, and one final thing. just my completely subjective opinion, but the name of the band needs to go. its utterly forgettable.

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