Don't understand Screeners comments

[RobLee]

Let me try this again.

I've got two songs that have been returned from the screeners with feedback:
1. "Song was not contemporary genre." I am asking you - what are the elements of contemporary genre?
2. "Instrumentation not engaging enough." What does that mean?
3. I understand that 3 min. song length is maximum for radio play, but I've heard nothing about that in the screeners feedback. Is this important?

Below is a link to my Taxi page. Please listen to "Take Her to the Sunshine" and "Here Comes My Lonesome" and provide any feedback. RE "Take Her to the Sunshine, I no longer have the email showing the listing; however, I've attached a jpeg copy of the listing and the names of the reference songs. Perhaps you could listen to them on Youtube and give me your thoughts. Many thanks for any help.

www.taxi.com/members/boblee

Thank you. Bob Lee

[BradGray]

Hey Bob,

In listening to the references, and listening to your tracks, I would suggest you're off target for those listings. It does not mean your songs don't have a good sound; but the songs were not what the listing is looking for. When I hear yours, I think of a Johnny Cash type of vibe; a good sound. It really sounded like the reference was searching for "newer country" where yours were more a "traditional country" to my ears.

On a separate suggestion towards improving your tracks, consider the instrumentation (the arrangement) of the song; think of fireworks. If you shoot off the big finale (all instruments) at the beginning of the show, what will hold the listeners interest for the rest of the performance? With your tracks you're coming in with everything at the start, and it does not really build the way the emotion wants it to. Perhaps consider a musical rest between sections, bring in the pedal steel at the first chorus, a 2nd acoustic overdub, percussion? Just some thoughts.

Also, watch out for the production and mixing of the tracks. I would suggest trimming off those intros (there's silence before the count), as well as you're clipping in a couple of your sections in Here Comes My Lonesome.


Instruments I heard in your tracks:

Vocal
Vocal Harmony
Acoustic Guitar
Pedal Steal

Instruments I heard in The Reference Tracks
Vocals
Vocal Harmonies
Acoustic Guitar
Bass Guitar
Drums
Electric Drums
Electric Guitar
Pedal Steel

Hope that helps Bob. I'm learning too and still working on my first forward.

Cheers,
Brad

[RobLee]

Thanks! Good feedback.

[cosmicdolphin]

1. "Song was not contemporary genre." I am asking you - what are the elements of contemporary genre?

Hi Bob. I agree with pretty much everything Brad wrote, your songs didn't sound much like the references at all, and though I don't really listen to CCM but there are parallels with other genres as to what makes a song sound contemporary or not. Lyrical content/subject is one, those songs sound quite 70's kinda old school in the lyrics. The other is lyrical phrasing. It's changed for whatever reason but they tend to be shorter and more conversational,

Other elements are sound choice / production related

2. "Instrumentation not engaging enough." What does that mean?

Too boring / one dimensional. I don't know what demos ' on the row ' sound like but I am guessing they sound pretty darned good and something that sounds like a rough take to record an idea ain't gonna cut it.

3. I understand that 3 min. song length is maximum for radio play, but I've heard nothing about that in the screeners feedback. Is this important?

It says radio friendly so 3 mins or around there is probably better.

Mark