Shadow Girl -- any redeeming qualities?

[remmet]

Awhile ago, I sent this to Taxi for a custom critique. The response boiled down to: "It's awful. Toss it and don't look back." The reviewer may be right, but I thought I'd ask if everyone else felt the same way. So, here it is:http://www.richardemmet.com/ShadowGirl.mp3Thoughts?BTW, I'm visiting LA later this week for a couple of days. How's the weather?Richard www.richardemmet.com

[ideascapes]

Richard,On what basis did the reviewer recommend tossing this? It's certainly well recorded and performed; I love the verses. I think you lose some energy in the chorus but that seems calculated that way. It has a throwback feel there with the heavy reverb on the vocals. It might be worth experimenting with a stronger drum beat during the choruses instead of pulling back.Vince

[cameron]

Doesn't sound bad to me, Richard. At first listen it seems like maybe it could have more of a melodic hook/payoff, but I like the verses and the instrumentation, with the exception of the drums perhaps, which sound a bit lifeless to me. It does have sort of an 80s vibe, but I think it's cool. I really found some of the chord changes to be very cool ("though you say you want to be on you own" I think the line is) enough to where I wanted to listen a second time. I think I'd toss the first critique and get another. Of course, it all depends on what your plans for the song are too.Camp.s. It sounds even better on the second listen. That cool chord change I mentioned is WAY cool.

[remmet]

Here's most of what the reviewer said. The comments weren't actually as terse as I remembered."Yes, the arrangement and structure could use some modernizing. The production could too. As far as the potential for marketing it's a little hard to say. As is I don't think there is very much potential. There could be a very specific placement for an 80's song about a lonely girl that this could work for. But outside of that I don't see much viability here. If I were producing your record and you brought this song to me this is what i would honestly tell you. Let's write a new song! If there are pieces of this that you want to borrow to put towards a new track that would be fine. But as far as spending the time to reconstruct this track I think you might be wasting your time. I think holding on to the breakdown chorus section would be a good idea. Lovely melody, arrangement and it could be used as a killer pre chorus. My fear is that no matter how much you tweak this track it's going to come across as dated. I might be wrong but my gut and professional opinion both tell me that you should move forward. Not to mention that the time it takes you to rework this track could have been spent on writing new, modern, and viable material. This is a good song to have in the catalog in case that 80's listing or outside opportunity comes along. As you continue to write this track will also show that you can create retro tracks. Placed against some new, modern songs this piece will present depth in your writing."

[ig88]

Wow this is kinda awkward in my ears. I think its your voice, drives me crazy. Sounds like a mix between crappy Brian Adams and sting. Mix sounds good. thats my honest feedback. Awful lyrics too man

[remmet]

Feb 17, 2009, 11:11pm, ig88 wrote:Wow this is kinda awkward in my ears. I think its your voice, drives me crazy. Sounds like a mix between crappy Brian Adams and sting. Mix sounds good. thats my honest feedback. Awful lyrics too manBut other than that, you liked it, right? Anyway, it's not my voice on the recording.R

[ig88]

Phew lucky for you. Did you mix it? Its a solid mix and not my genre but it has potential. Without those vocals. The drums sound great.

[partyofone]

hey richard,song is well produced and mixed well. it might sound crazy but I can hear the melody and those string parts working in a kind of Mexican/mariachi type arrangement with horns. now, that may not make it mainstream marketable but I think it could be really cool niche kinda thing. I guess it's up to you as to how much time you would like to reinvest to "update" the sound on it though.