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Hi,I'd have to agree with the screener on this one. The piece is good but there's really nothing innovative or cutting edge about it, particularly with regards to production techniques. Stylistically it's right, but it's not ultra cutting edge and not particularly engaging, at least compared to the a las.The synth sound is pretty static and if you listen to Chemical Brothers, they're always making filter changes and other processing, particularly for transitions. Your drums are well programmed but they need some further processing to make them more in the style production-wise. During the breakdown, I wanted to hear the drums get really smashed or distorted or lo-fied or chopped up or something to make them different from what has come before.A lot of this style of music does sound repetitive but there's stuff going on in the production that keeps it moving along and it almost never feels static. In your piece, the sections feel a bit too static to my ears and to the screeners as well.All of this, of course, is my opinion and I hope it doesn't come off as harsh because I don't mean it that way. You have the chops to produce, I suggest you dig deeper and analyze the genre more thoroughly so you can find your voice and a fresh approach while still staying true to the genre. Not an easy task but doable given the tools you have at your disposal. It just didn't sound to me like you went as far as you could have with this one.Hope this helps!! Keep going!!Mazz

Jan 11, 2009, 10:03am, mrsunshine wrote:I basically outlined a track called Wild, Sweet and Cool by The Crystal Method. It's funny they mentioned shorter sections because I halved about every section in that song...their breaks and sections go on forever in this track....with your comments in mind, would you contrast and compare my submission to this forward?http://taxi.proboards27.com/index.cgi?b ... =11572From a production standpoint, the forwarded piece grabs me from the beginning with cool sounds that, to my ears are fresh. A cool effect on what sounds like tablas, lots of movement in the stereo spectrum, very punchy mix, little things popping in and out. This genre is very ADD oriented for as repetitive as it is I don't go out to dance clubs so as a stationary listener, IMO sometimes sections in this style go on for too long, but here it seemed just on the edge of "OK, OK, give me a new sound!".Like Vicky said, there's lots of room for doing stuff in this genre that hasn't been heard before but is still in the style. With modern synths and VIs that have sometimes thousands of patches and lots modulation options and filter types, it's pretty easy to find interesting sounds. Of course, the artistry comes in with which ones to choose, where to put them and not make it sound gimmicky.It's easy to listen to a genre and hear the big picture stuff: repetitive, simple riffs, synths, drum loops, and so forth. I've done it and completely missed the essence of what's below the surface that sets the top artists apart. I think you found the broad outlines but maybe just steep yourself in the style (if you want to) and listen more deeply into the music to hear what the a las do that makes them successful.The forwarded piece has more of the elements the listing asked for but your piece is fairly close, it just needed more variation of sounds and more up to date sounds. It's a tricky nut to crack but you'll get it.Mazz

Jan 11, 2009, 9:27am, mrsunshine wrote:I guess the first thing that I'd like to address is the a la(s)...My understanding is, we are supposed to listen and emulate (to a certain extent) what the listing party has requested. I mean basically it's damned if you do, damned if you don't!! When I feel inspired to wonder off to musical passages unknown, I get slapped with "not close enough to requested artists"...when I use the a la(s) listed to create something similar in that genre I get "could be even more innovation in the same vein", WHAT??? Do you want innovation or duplication???Generally speaking, film/tv listings are wanting music that sounds like it could be from some of the "ala" bands. Not easy in and of itself. Artist pitches are a MUCH higher bar... you basically have to try to make those "ala" bands obsolete by being a step higher on the musical evolutionary scale. This listing is unusual... a "hybrid" but because this could involve an artist deal, it's a very high-bar listing. The words "cutting edge and engaging" are key here.Think of it this way. If you took this track and played it for Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland (The Crystal Method), would this song be likely to impress them in a big way?. I think the mindset for any listing with the possibility of an artist deal is that your music needs to be at a level in both production and originality, so that the "ala's" would be carrying YOUR music on their iPod and playing it for all their friends. One production thing that stuck out... the drums. Crystal Methods drum tracks are simple but they're a major supporting structure of their music... they pretty much blow your speaker cones out onto the middle of the floor. The drums on your track, (particularly the drum break at 1:16)... very light, very dated... almost exactly like the funk drum opening to "Ebony Jam", Tower Of Power circa 1975. The drums are an element of this track that really needs to be wholly replaced in both their sound and style. I like to listen to "Legion Of Boom" (Crystal Method). Particularly tracks like "Acetone" or "True Grit". For any artist pitch you'd have to *start* at that point and then move up and innovate from there. HTH,Dave

Jan 11, 2009, 1:56pm, mrsunshine wrote:lets compare apples to apples...my track to Taxi forward not mine to Prodigy, Crystal Method, etc...IMO, you should be comparing your music to both; what Taxi considers "forwardable" and the ala's mentioned in the listing can both be considered targets to hit.Fortunately for you, there are plenty of comments in this thread about all of the above to learn from! André

Chuck, I see you take your avatar saying quite seriously. André

Jan 11, 2009, 4:57pm, andreh wrote:Chuck, I see you take your avatar saying quite seriously. André...here comes a fine example of the 'gang mentality'...I didn't say anything disrespectful to you so save it for someone else.

Jan 12, 2009, 1:09pm, mrsunshine wrote:Here ya go, dude:CK is actually a "dudette".

Jan 12, 2009, 1:27pm, davewalton wrote:Jan 12, 2009, 1:09pm, mrsunshine wrote:Here ya go, dude:CK is actually a "dudette". It's true. And I feel much more comfortable in this body. Thank heavens for modern medicine. Just kidding, I was born female. But dresses make me feel like I'm in drag. All right, enough cutesy emoticons. I have to get back to my job, whilest I still haveth one. But I will listen forthwith, good sir.ciao-der

Jan 11, 2009, 5:15pm, mrsunshine wrote:Jan 11, 2009, 4:57pm, andreh wrote:Chuck, I see you take your avatar saying quite seriously. André...here comes a fine example of the 'gang mentality'...I didn't say anything disrespectful to you so save it for someone else.Nope, just lil' ol' me talkin'. And I don't mean to be disrespectful...just trying some new tactics to help you see that the answers to your questions are right in front of you (on this thread).We all make our own reality, though, so you're welcome to live in yours. André

well, i feel like i just walked into the middle of a movie, and i only have bits and pieces of information.. i can see you're unhappy mr sunshine...Keep in mind though, that by deleting your posts you limit the amount of people that can give you feedback as well as learn from this thread. "...what's the point? No one seems to understand what I'm trying to say and I still don't agree...it's useless to go on. "No offense, i had a funny thought... In the Army, about the most constructive reply to this would be: "drink water" and drive on, or "suck it up nancy". Here you have a whole thread dedicated to answering your questions and getting professional input, not mention how 'stinkin' polite every is around here.. I think andre said it best, so i wont be redundant. Hang in there.Jamie