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Hi guys. I kinda had my hopes of for this listing, but unfortunately wound up 0 for 3.
The three songs I submitted are Stand Up, Just Watch Me, and Showdown. I understand that for TV/Film, you have to try to keep the music changing or building, and set a mood. I was hoping to achieve that, so I wonder if I missed the mark creatively or production-wise, or both...

I attached the listing below. It was a Yes/No listing, so if anyone cares to take a listen to any or each of the three tracks from my TAXI Home page, and let me know what you think, 'would be much appreciated.

Y100608HH
HIP-HOP INSTRUMENTALS a la Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z, etc., needed by a very successful Production Music Library who has placements with ABC, CBS, NBC, WB, Disney, Discovery, Lifetime, Fox, USA, etc. Styles and moods can vary - all tempos are welcome. Tracks can range between 1-4 minutes in length. Vocal and instrumental presentation must be top-notch! Broadcast quality is necessary (excellent sounding home recordings are fine). Please submit one to three instrumentals online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than Tuesday, June 8, 2010. TAXI #Y100608HH

Gio-

You're definitely on the right track with the style and vibe. Good work with these cuts, they are good compositions. You just need to change a couple things to make these more stylistic:

Stand Up: There's nothing wrong with your 'ideas' in this track. It could be a really good track actually. There are a couple mix issues as well as one form issue.

- The beat takes a little too long to come in. Nothing wrong with an intro, but it's got to be on the order of several seconds, no more. Otherwise the video editor will just listen for 5 seconds and say 'next'.
- The reverb on the harpsichordy needs work.
- The reverb on your main ostinato riff is too thick! It should sound much dryer. All that reverb makes it sound a little trancey or a little trip hoppy.

Just Watch Me: That lead in the intro is much too dancy than it should be. Again the reverb! Your drums sounds are good, and you have a fine beat there. But everything on top of it, the strings, the horn swells, are much more SOUNDTRACK than they are hip hop. Don't get me wrong, you definitely hear strings and swells on a hip hop track, but they are more in your face and not as reverb drenched. The effect here is that of a mystery crime drama library track than a hip hop track.

Showdown: It's a good composition! But....

- Take some reverb of the strings.
- Would love to hear a hi hat in the beat also
- Some of your sounds are a little midi sounding. You've go the right sounds, but they just need to be better.

I have heard tracks that sound similar to this with the 'orchestral' thing happening, but they are always a little more slammin and the sounds are better quality. I hope any of that makes sense. I have been writing a lot in this genre and have a ton of placements, so my comments aren't coming out of nowhere!

Bobby, wow- thanks for the great advise and for your time. I listened to each track while reading your input for each, and I agree with you. Definitely trigger happy with the reverb. I've worked on these for a while; trying to get the production right. Obviously I need to train my ears to better listen for such imperfections, which now seem pretty glaring. lol

I feel like I want to keep creating as much as I can, create my own site and all of that. Yet, I first want to continue to practice with the few tracks I have so far until I really grasp what it takes to make a quality production, before I end up with a few dozen songs that need to be revisited and re-engineered.

I'm glad you generally like the tracks and believe that they have potential. I'll get back to work on these with your input strongly in mind, and hopefully take them up a few notches. Also, you mentioned you've had many placements in this genre, so just wanted to wish you continued success. (And I hope to follow in your footsteps eventually...)

No problem Gio.

The good news is, you don't have a lot of work to do to make these tracks totally work in the genre. It's clear that this is no shot in the dark for you, but you are familiar with the genre. Next time you listen to some Jay-Z or Lil' John, Timbaland, or any contemporary hip hop, listen for the things I pointed out and compare your stuff to it, and you'll see what I mean. The same elements are there, just drier and more in your face.

Good luck!

-Bobby

I took a listen to Stand Up. Cool track, I agree that you're close to crossing the bar and getting forwards. Hip Hop is not my genre, so take these crits with a grain o' salt.

-I agree that I'd get to the beat sooner.
-The section at 32sec is distracting to me, too much energy falls out and the lead synth seems to go into the next room
- I don't think the effects on the acoustic git strums (or harpsichord) is working, a little too boxy and phasey. I'd go with a little more open sound

HTH

Hi Giovanni.
Stand Up - Way too much reverb. Cool groove. I can imagine a Black Eyed Peas vocal over this. Maybe introduce a little more variation - add another section?
Just Watch Me - Again, all the music synths could be drier. Nice piano lines. I like the swells. The drum programming is great.
Showdown - Nice ideas here and a cool groove. I'd go for contrasting sounds instead of using strings all the way.
Cheers,
Doug

Thanks fellas. I appreciate all the helpful feedback. ...and I checked out each of your sites as well, and like you, I'm a fan of many different kinds of music. Hats off to you guys- lots of great stuff...

Bobby, thanks again. FYI, I briefly started reworking Stand Up, and basically cut out the reverb almost entirely from the acoustic strums, strings, and synth lead, (still left a touch in) and man, it made a huge improvement. Like you said, that dryer, in your face, sound/feel was desperately missing. I have to remember, when it comes to effects and tone adjustments, gotta keep it subtle... (btw, I've heard your stuff, and you've got some great range. ...and when I got to Throw Down and Quirking with the Enemy, I was smiling and boppin' my head, dude... )

Erich, yup I took Bobby's and your advise and cut the intro down to 4 bars on Stand Up. Again, a great improvement. Just helps in getting to the point... And your comment regarding the 32sec section gives me an idea... Thanks... (And I love your guitar work. Amazing acoustics...)

Doug, yeah once I finish touching up Stand Up and I will rework the other tracks as well. And interesting point on Showdown, suggesting some contrasting sounds. I hadn't previously considered that. Thanks, definitely worth experimenting. And your songs and production work are incredible.

I think I like "Showdown" the most. Hip-hip always has few instruments, but they sound monstrous. The instruments here sound okay..I like the arrangement, perhaps work on ways to get the tones of them much better and larger. When something is this simple, every detail counts.

-Jeff

Gio,

You are too kind. Thanks for checking out my stuff. 'Quirking with the Enemy' is actually not the best example of a hip hop cue that I would submit through TAXI, as it's specifically geared to have a kind of quirky vibe to it. That one I got placed directly through a friend in the biz, but I think it might get rejected by a TAXI screener. Maybe not. But the 'dry' production is there. Also note the simplicity. Just a couple elements. You don't HAVE to do that, but it certainly works for me, and often simpler is better.

Let me know when you get those mixes tweaked and I'll give 'em a listen!

-Bobby

Hi Giovanni,

I listened to Stand Up, and I agree with the comment about the overuse of reverb. It's a cool track, and I think it would be even better with a more aggressive, slamming beat. It feels a bit "nice" to me.

...Just a comment from a guy that's not nearly as adept as you at hip-hop.