I Swear To God it's Americana, do you agree?

[joesarahh]

Working on the Monster's and Beasts listing. I did a straight Rock piece for it, then I wrote this new Americana piece for it. But I'm concerned. The listing is adamant about using a mainstream genera. Now, I would certainly consider Americana mainstream but I don't make life's rules. Furthermore, while I am convinced, or I have at least convinced myself this is absolutely Americana, do you all think it is. Normally there are example songs so I can get a feel for the particular "subclass" of Americana they want but not on this particular listing. Finished it today and I am suddenly full of doubt.

https://www.taxi.com/members/mHQoIRdiSC ... unting-who

Or this one if the Taxi link still won't work.

https://soundcloud.com/joesarahh/who-wa ... al_sharing

[funsongs]

Working on the Monster's and Beasts listing. I did a straight Rock piece for it, then I wrote this new Americana piece for it. But I'm concerned. The listing is adamant about using a mainstream genera. Now, I would certainly consider Americana mainstream but I don't make life's rules. Furthermore, while I am convinced, or I have at least convinced myself this is absolutely Americana, do you all think it is. Normally there are example songs so I can get a feel for the particular "subclass" of Americana they want but not on this particular listing. Finished it today and I am suddenly full of doubt.

https://www.taxi.com/members/mHQoIRdiSC ... unting-who

That link doesn't work.
For what it's worth, I'm interested to hear the track - as I think of Americana as a pretty broad spectrum that can include elements of
Folk, Country, Bluegrass, and maybe even some Blues. (stuff I do myself).
Hope you can get a link that (ed. doesn't) default to the dreaded '404 Error' warning.
HTH.

[joesarahh]

Ok, let's link it off Soundcloud then, thanks a ton for the heads up, hope to hear your thoughts, even if I don't like them.


https://soundcloud.com/joesarahh/who-wa ... al_sharing

[funsongs]

Ok, let's link it off Soundcloud then, thanks a ton for the heads up, hope to hear your thoughts, even if I don't like them.

https://soundcloud.com/joesarahh/who-wa ... al_sharing

Meaning to be helpful, even encouraging.
Right from the start - the piano - immediately said, "NOT 'Americana'."
Listening to the vibe and melody & chord structure, it struck me like "a male version of a Carole King song".
So - what genre was/is her stuff... even a bit Elton John-gone-Country?
I'd place it more in that vein - like Classic Rock; something you might find on a playlist of those two artists' songs.

That's not a bad thing. It's just not what my ears know as 'Americana'.
If a listing was looking for something of that era and vibe - you'd be there, is my opinion.

Your mileage may vary.

[WSAO]

Hi mate,
It's a free style listing, any song with a minimum popular appeal has potential.
And your song is really good, great vocal performance and well produced!
Best of luck!!

[funsongs]

Addendum - it's a cool song. Add some bottleneck/slide guitar and you've got a Southern Rock production ala Lynyrd Skynyrd.
That's not a bad thing either.

[Casey H]

Yea, the genre is not relevant for this listing.

The bigger problem is I'm not hearing much (or any?) lyric focusing on monsters or beasts. I think for this listing, you need a chorus that screams the monsters theme. While any genre goes here, there are some things that you generally need for a great song. From the listing:

Submissions should have well-thought-out melodies, memorable choruses, dynamic rhythms, and solid arrangements.

This style is cool for folk but the repetitive use of the same melody is off target here. I would go for the V-C-V-C-B-C hit song formula. Can never miss there. This song might be good for a different listing. Also, it runs a bit long and, especially for sync, I'd cut it down. Our ears get tired of the same melody and the job was done after around 3 minutes or so.
I'm not totally sold on the lead vocal, especially in the verses. Others might feel differently.

HTH,
Casey

[eeoo]

Yeah I'm not getting Americana from it. I get a retro 70's singer/songwriter vibe. I dig the tune, I feel like the drums sound huge and vocals sound tiny in comparison, and i agree with Casey that the lead vocal could use a little more work, you can definitely sing but it still feels a bit "demo-y". I'd be curious to hear a stripped down version with just piano and vocals, maybe some light hand percussion. Cool tune!

[joesarahh]

thanks bunches for the many helpful responses folks. I know it's a risk to do Americana without a guitar, but what I really think will stop it from entering that particular genera are the "big drums" I am sure most of you would agree with that. I has occurred to me the drums may shift it more rock, sounds like there is some agreement here on that. But. . . it lacks a rock vocal, my low, slow crawly vocal here feels more squarely "dark Americana." maybe the mix of the two just doesn't work, I fear it may not. But, leaving the genera aspect aside, I confess I can't quite hear the vocal problem a couple of you clearly can and that worries me, I can't fix what I don't hear. The lyric question is also quite interesting to me. I have several reviewers in the past praise me for approaching a listings lyrical theme a bit more obliquely rather than directly, but . . .maybe that's a mistake for this listing, it sure could be. The other song I wrote for this listing is simple straight classic rock with an absolute direct address to the theme throughout. My plan is to learn to use the forums to help flush out potential problems, submit the song and compare the reviewers thoughts with the forums thoughts, should be super educational.

Can't thank all of you enough for taking the time and offering feedback.

[VanderBoegh]

Sorry if I'm late to the party here and if this listing has already expired. But here's my 2 cents:

Definitely not Americana. I honestly don't know what I'd call it, lol, but I wouldn't label it "Americana". I know that doesn't help much, but it at least might tell you that your label classification is off on this one, hahahahaha.

Bigger concern though, as Casey pointed out, is that I'm not hearing anything about "monsters" or "beasts". The line "who's hunting who?" kinda gets you there, but I'm guessing this listing needs something a little more on-the-nose. Probably wouldn't hurt to have the words "monster" or "beast" in there as a repeated line somewhere.

~~Matt