What is "the blues" anyway?

[scotttroyer]

My song "Death of Seasons" has received 2 returns. For listing #S130423IR listener #354 says:

Death of Seasons falls more into the category of classic blues to my ear...

That listing was for contemporary blues. Ok, so I thought it would fit for this next listing. But for listing #U130620BL listener #372 says:

Thank you Scott, nice song, but it's not an authentic blues song, it's rock.

So which is it? I know we're dealing in subjective realms here, but I'm seriously wondering what the blues are now. haha

[andygabrys]

what a ripper of a performance man!!!!

definitely falls more into the modern category rather than classic blues (not close at all to Muddy Waters et. al), but IMO what its missing compared to the blues-rock kind style (just my opinion) - in your tune, the production is cleaner, the sounds are a little more hifi (the bass for example), and you have some more guitar solo noodling than those refs which to my ear are a lot of riffs and not much actual soloing.

But despite all that - its a great song, and like I said a great performance. there's gotta be a home for this.

[scotttroyer]

what a ripper of a performance man!!!!

definitely falls more into the modern category rather than classic blues (not close at all to Muddy Waters et. al), but IMO what its missing compared to the blues-rock kind style (just my opinion) - in your tune, the production is cleaner, the sounds are a little more hifi (the bass for example), and you have some more guitar solo noodling than those refs which to my ear are a lot of riffs and not much actual soloing.

But despite all that - its a great song, and like I said a great performance. there's gotta be a home for this.

Thanks, Andy! Thank you for taking the time to listen and give your opinions on the song. I'm glad you like it.

I agree with your assessment and do hope there is a home for it somewhere. I've been trying to take the feedback from the returns into account when submitting to listings, but I think that may be confusing me more than helping. I've found I'm not submitting to as many listings now because of it.

[Kolstad]

I tend to agree with the second screener that it's a rock song.. I even thought the vocal melody was border line pop in sections
So, classic rock, rock, even Joe Bonamassa would be a stretch, imo.. the lead guitar pulls it toward classic rock, imo.

Sounds great. It's a bummer it has identity trouble. Those are the worst to pitch..

[rdance]

hey scott. nice rockin' track. great guitar playing and voice, but i couldn't hear any bluesy elements, that is, sexy pleasure or pain. even harder edged blues-rock has to have some of that. one thing you could try would be slower, bigger bends, both vocally and git-wise.

cheers

[BruceBrown]

Scott,
I also would place this under Rock song category. Good vibe and a lot of energy and emotion. Good straight ahead rock in my opinion, but I wouldn't call it a blues.
Hope this helps.
Good luck with your pitches.
Bruce

[playagibson]

Great song.

To my ears it's Classic American Rock.
It has some Southern country blues influence mixed in.
I wouldn't submit this to Classic Brit Rock, listings.
It's all American

Rich.

[scotttroyer]

Thanks for your thoughts and taking time to listen to my song, everyone! Next time I'll have to ask you guys to help me decide if a track of mine fits a listing or not. Hahaha!

[jdstamper]

Hi Scott,

Another great song and performance! Shows you can do rock as well as ballads, both excellent. I think you could try this for multiple types of rock, blues-rock, and classic rock listings. You could probably even pitch it without the vocal for instrumental rock, although it would be a shame since the vocal is great, it's just another option. I'd like to hear this song playing over end credits in a feature film ... maybe the right movie will come along.

Good luck. Jim

[Len911]

Speaking of Muddy Waters, he explained it best, "The Blues had a baby and they called it rock and roll"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sThXCC12UU


the first listing was for indy rock, the second was for blues, so if the first screener was an indy rock person, and said it sounded like it might be classic blues, but at any rate it wasn't indy rock, the second screener was a blues person, and should be a little more informed as to what blues should sound like. imo, it's a baby of the blues, err rock n' roll,lol!


I agree more with Playagibson, it could almost be a blues-inspired Southern rock tune, but the vocal isn't.
It's similar to this song stylistically imo
http://youtu.be/XwqMKf7r7Xg