About the review

Title: Tribute
Artist: aakaasha
Genre: Electronica: Other
Reviewed by: Din on May 08, 2008 (All reviews by Din)

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Review

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1Overall Description
This is a good song that harkens back to the brief retro rock period that was trying to bloom just a few years ago, and still further back to some of the classic rock of the 60s and 70s, where the focus was on telling a good story without going overboard on production or orchestral accompaniment and just playing the music. This reminds me of what I like about a simple execution without getting carried away with glitz and commercial viability. Just plain, clean rock.

I hear all kinds of creative potential in this track, marred only by a very poorly chosen bass drum sample and a white noise transition that just kills the otherwise laid back mood. The artist shows that they can compose a complex musical sculpture and have fun with the instruments at the same time. Big thumbs up on the rhythm section. The bass has some funk qualities to it, playing a nice complex, bouncing line, and it is balanced by a no-unnecessary-frills drum line that gets the job done.
 
2Creativity Description
I give high marks for creativity, since this piece represents the best elements in that short-lived retro phase (and what inspired it), specifically telling a good story with only the instruments necessary to the telling. The drum line does seem a little recycled through the entire piece, but that can actually work to the retro-feel's advantage. I like the steady ride cymbal, and the tremelo-ed organ just nails the mood exactly.
 
3Artistic License Description
Not so much pushing the limits, but it still does a good job paying homage to some of the great music of the 30 to 40 years ago, where musicians were more worried about being musicians than being salesmen.
 
4Arrangement Description
Overall, the balance of instruments is good, except for the bass drum, and sometimes the bass line tends to dominate things. I personally don't think it's good to have the one and only snare panned anywhere other than center, but that may also be inspired by some of the panning choices of records from the 60s and 70s, where only the bass and vocals were centered. That may be more a matter of taste.

The major arrangement complaint is the white noise transition that starts fading in at 2:10-ish and goes til 2:36-ish. This compounded the mood spoilage (see Quality), raising tension and souring the sense of relaxation that otherwise permeates the song. For a similar transition that might fit better, I would try something inspired by nature, like waterfalls, rain, the wind, or anything else natural-sounding. The white noise would work better in a song that's trying to create tension and be obnoxious, not in a laid-back lounge tune like this.
 
5Sound Quality Description
Okay, my biggest complaint here is the sample used for the bass drum: it's just plain awful. It's a tonal sore-thumb that stands out entirely too much in the mix and doesn't sound like it would fit no matter how much time you spent tweaking. It single-handedly distracts the listener and spoils what would otherwise be an excellent, relaxing tune. This ugly bass drum sound is further accentuated when the drums are run through an LP-filter at 0:49 with nice relaxing strings and a guitar solo playing over them. The already unpleasant sounding bass drum then becomes a resonating punch that just sounds bad. All I might recommend is finding a bass drum sample that doesn't sound over-compressed and has more of an atonal sound.

That's it! Otherwise, the sound quality is great!
 
6VocalsDescription
This song actually sounds like it was built around vocals that just haven't yet been incorporated. It would be interesting to hear those, if I'm right.
 
7Does it work as a piece of music Description
It works as a complete song, but like I said I feel it could use a little more attention before the artists calls it done. I still really enjoy listening to it, but it has a short list of rather large problems that may get in the way of other listeners' enjoyment.
 
Comments
May 15 2008 2:34 pm
by TwiTerror
Holy cow. Excellent review.



May 09 2008 6:06 pm
by Space Walk
This is a good review, and a good example that should be followed upon. Space Walk gives this review a platinum score.



May 09 2008 5:49 am
by Tricky
I agree with most points, only the drums were not that bad in my personal opinion, though I have to admit that they do dominate the track and sometimes distracts the listener. Most of all I agree with the point on noise transition. It really spoils the track dramatically.



May 09 2008 3:28 am
by aakaasha
Hey! Thank you for this detailed review! So the bass drum sound mars this track... ;-) Eventually I am going to make a remix, unfortunately I don't have much time at the moment. Greetings, Aakaashá