Comments on: The album so far http://colortheory.com/the-album-so-far electronic indie piano pop Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/the-album-so-far#comment-554 Brian Hazard Sat, 08 May 2010 21:18:16 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1815#comment-554 At this point, they're pretty much all mapped out: Crushed Rose = Living a Boy's Adventure Tale Hoover Slam = Touch Retro Alto = It Must Be Halloween White Mantra = Too Close Sliding Into Obscurity = Release the Hounds Grey Squares = Backseat Prozac = A Safe Distance Analogics = Song Named After a Girl (working on this one now) Swing Vampires + Little Richie = Pretend Extroverts Canadian Boards = It's All You On the Pulse = The Digital Age (or something else, if I have time) Flydrive = Two (just the beat, not the weird vocal stuff) At this point, they’re pretty much all mapped out:

Crushed Rose = Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale
Hoover Slam = Touch
Retro Alto = It Must Be Halloween
White Mantra = Too Close
Sliding Into Obscurity = Release the Hounds
Grey Squares = Backseat
Prozac = A Safe Distance
Analogics = Song Named After a Girl (working on this one now)
Swing Vampires + Little Richie = Pretend Extroverts
Canadian Boards = It’s All You
On the Pulse = The Digital Age (or something else, if I have time)
Flydrive = Two (just the beat, not the weird vocal stuff)

]]> By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/the-album-so-far#comment-453 Brian Hazard Tue, 30 Mar 2010 02:52:16 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1815#comment-453 2 is in process, 4 is done, and 8 is planned - three out of four ain't bad! 2 is in process, 4 is done, and 8 is planned – three out of four ain’t bad!

]]> By: davpunk http://colortheory.com/the-album-so-far#comment-450 davpunk Tue, 30 Mar 2010 01:33:20 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1815#comment-450 2,4,8,26 are the ones that pop to me as having potential. ;) 2,4,8,26 are the ones that pop to me as having potential. ;)

]]> By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/the-album-so-far#comment-437 Brian Hazard Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:03:53 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1815#comment-437 As of today, two songs are done. Like I promised, I'm reviewing all your comments now to get a feel for what to do next. I can almost assign each of my lyrical ideas a snippet (or in some cases, two snippets). As of today, two songs are done. Like I promised, I’m reviewing all your comments now to get a feel for what to do next. I can almost assign each of my lyrical ideas a snippet (or in some cases, two snippets).

]]> By: Ken http://colortheory.com/the-album-so-far#comment-393 Ken Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:22:43 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1815#comment-393 First of all it's always hard to pick favorites when it comes to your creations. =) I grouped my impressions into 2 categories - Like More and Like Less (because on some level I like them all). These are based on 1, sometimes 2 listens each - just my initial impressions. I wanted to give you my initial reactions because I think for a lot of these I would "learn" to like them more on repeat listens, so the "Like More" list represents what jumped out at me on first pass. Some have comments, some don't - don't take this one way or another if I didn't have anything to say. Also they are not ranked, I just went from 1-30 and put them into A or B list. Oh and it's merely incidental that it's roughly 50/50 - I wasn't counting! Like More: 1. Prozac 3. Retro Alto 4. Hoover Slam 7. Sliding into Obscurity 11. Canadian Boards - but only up to 0:40, gets weird after that 13. Gray Squares: nice groove 14. Glowing: nice potential 16. On the Pulse - one of my favorites. I am a sucker for that synth that comes in at 0:30 - what "instrument" is this? I've heard it on other tracks before and love that sound. 17. Swing Vampires: like it but change the name - too much "vampire" stuff these days, don't want people to think you're jumping on the bandwagon do we? ;) 19. Basic bass: I like the melody but not the warping 20. Pong Bank: OK i like it because it's very video gamey but it's not really your sound I think... 22. Filtered Blues: I like the build up and instruments 26. Mr Bandpass: Interesting concepts here I like it 27 Sidechain Sync Pass: Short but sweet, could turn into something. 29. Calamity: Potential 30. Crushed Rose: Well yeah! =P Like Less 2. White Mantra - It's good but it sounds very "Color Theory" if that makes sense? It sounds like another CT song I've heard but can't place. It's too safe. Some of the samples are too experimental, and the ones I liked the best were somewhere in between I guess. 5. Flydrive: Weird vocal effects don't do it for me here and the tune is lacking variety somehow 6. Wanderer: Apt title - sounds like a struggle (in a not good way) =/ 8. Analogics - Just didn't jump out at me. 9. Little Richie: Kinda silly to me. =P 10. LED Dreams: Don't like what happens after 0:30 12. Deadbeat 18. Rythmic 606: It's OK 21. Stumble: Not your sound at all! 23. Glasso: I know the sharp cutoff of the beats is intentional but to my ears it sounds like artifacts in the melody - sounds like clipping, or like my MP3 was encoded badly, I want to redo it. Oh wait that's the original source? Shoot... 24. Contrebass: Hmmm ok 25. Ooh Yaa: Interesting experiment but I can't hear a song in this. =/ 28. Nebula: No like the opening instrument! First of all it’s always hard to pick favorites when it comes to your creations. =)

I grouped my impressions into 2 categories – Like More and Like Less (because on some level I like them all). These are based on 1, sometimes 2 listens each – just my initial impressions. I wanted to give you my initial reactions because I think for a lot of these I would “learn” to like them more on repeat listens, so the “Like More” list represents what jumped out at me on first pass.

Some have comments, some don’t – don’t take this one way or another if I didn’t have anything to say. Also they are not ranked, I just went from 1-30 and put them into A or B list. Oh and it’s merely incidental that it’s roughly 50/50 – I wasn’t counting!

Like More:
1. Prozac
3. Retro Alto
4. Hoover Slam
7. Sliding into Obscurity
11. Canadian Boards – but only up to 0:40, gets weird after that
13. Gray Squares: nice groove
14. Glowing: nice potential
16. On the Pulse – one of my favorites. I am a sucker for that synth that comes in at 0:30 – what “instrument” is this? I’ve heard it on other tracks before and love that sound.
17. Swing Vampires: like it but change the name – too much “vampire” stuff these days, don’t want people to think you’re jumping on the bandwagon do we? ;)
19. Basic bass: I like the melody but not the warping
20. Pong Bank: OK i like it because it’s very video gamey but it’s not really your sound I think…
22. Filtered Blues: I like the build up and instruments
26. Mr Bandpass: Interesting concepts here I like it
27 Sidechain Sync Pass: Short but sweet, could turn into something.
29. Calamity: Potential
30. Crushed Rose: Well yeah! =P

Like Less
2. White Mantra – It’s good but it sounds very “Color Theory” if that makes sense? It sounds like another CT song I’ve heard but can’t place. It’s too safe. Some of the samples are too experimental, and the ones I liked the best were somewhere in between I guess.
5. Flydrive: Weird vocal effects don’t do it for me here and the tune is lacking variety somehow
6. Wanderer: Apt title – sounds like a struggle (in a not good way) =/
8. Analogics – Just didn’t jump out at me.
9. Little Richie: Kinda silly to me. =P
10. LED Dreams: Don’t like what happens after 0:30
12. Deadbeat
18. Rythmic 606: It’s OK
21. Stumble: Not your sound at all!
23. Glasso: I know the sharp cutoff of the beats is intentional but to my ears it sounds like artifacts in the melody – sounds like clipping, or like my MP3 was encoded badly, I want to redo it. Oh wait that’s the original source? Shoot…
24. Contrebass: Hmmm ok
25. Ooh Yaa: Interesting experiment but I can’t hear a song in this. =/
28. Nebula: No like the opening instrument!

]]> By: Satie's Faction http://colortheory.com/the-album-so-far#comment-392 Satie's Faction Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:03:57 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1815#comment-392 I finally picked my favourites: Prozac (classic Color Theory) White Mantra (reminds me of Joe Jackson, of whom I'm a fan) Wanderer (great piano) Glowing Pong Bank (reminds me of Kraftwerk's Pocket Calculator) The only snippets I'm really skeptical about are Little Richie and Hoover Slam, but I guess you're about to prove me wrong :-) Also, for some reason, Swing Vampires reminds me of Personal Jesus. I wonder if it's something about the chords or the drums... Anyway, this is all very promising. By the way, the a-ha cover got me to listen to them again - I was a fan in the '80s, but I'd forgotten how good they were. I finally picked my favourites:

Prozac (classic Color Theory)
White Mantra (reminds me of Joe Jackson, of whom I’m a fan)
Wanderer (great piano)
Glowing
Pong Bank (reminds me of Kraftwerk’s Pocket Calculator)

The only snippets I’m really skeptical about are Little Richie and Hoover Slam, but I guess you’re about to prove me wrong :-)

Also, for some reason, Swing Vampires reminds me of Personal Jesus. I wonder if it’s something about the chords or the drums…

Anyway, this is all very promising.

By the way, the a-ha cover got me to listen to them again – I was a fan in the ’80s, but I’d forgotten how good they were.

]]> By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/the-album-so-far#comment-386 Brian Hazard Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:15:51 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1815#comment-386 Björn, I appreciate the suggestions mixed in with your rankings! Your descriptions of audio effects seem dead-on to me. Wow, there's so much great stuff here, I think I'm going to need to get scientific and do some math to generate a "fan ranking." Björn, I appreciate the suggestions mixed in with your rankings! Your descriptions of audio effects seem dead-on to me.

Wow, there’s so much great stuff here, I think I’m going to need to get scientific and do some math to generate a “fan ranking.”

]]> By: Björn Brändewall http://colortheory.com/the-album-so-far#comment-384 Björn Brändewall Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:13:35 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1815#comment-384 Hi Brian and everyone else, I hadn't read any comments when I listened to this, but I have arranged my comments in an unusual way: depending on how happy I am with their current position on the list. :) (Please bear with me as I'm probably not using the proper words to describe most audio effects.) = Stay up = "Prozac" sounds very Color Theory, but doesn't stand out much. :) "White Mantra" makes me extatic! The high-pitched, "scream-like" instrument is important. "Hoover Slam" is gonna get great lyrics. I just know it. "Flydrive" needs some more hi-speed hi-hats and occasional chord changes. "Sliding into obscurity" is lovely, especially the chord changes, but the drums sound too synthetic. "Analogics" is wonderful!! Write lyrics that make you want to cry out in high notes! Like Viva La Vida's "And for some reason I can't explain..." = Move down a bit = "Retro Alto" has nice sound, but feels too chaotic = Stay in the middle = "LED Dreams" is alright, but where's the piano? :) "Grey Squares": the reed starting at 0:27 is the best part. "Glowing": All right = Move down a LOT = "Wanderer" sounds gloomy. "Wishing I had an Umbrella" was also gloomy, but had some bright streaks of love in it, which made it great. "Little Richie" is all attitude, but not pleasant. Not my style. "Deadbeat": it's hard to follow the rhythm, kinda like "We're not getting any younger" (which I disliked for that very reason) "Vengeance": ehh, what? Sounds like someone's NES emulator broke... ;) = Move up a bit = "Canadian Boards": Up! The part around 0:45 could be even more aggressive, with heavy drums on every beat. (But the end is weird.) "Stumble" could be nice, but the quirky effects on the bass is distracting. "Filtered blues" has potential. "Mr Bandpass" could reach new highs with a well-chosen reverb setting... and maybe a different organ, like in the wonderful cosmicity remix of "If not now, when?" "Swing Vampires": ease up on the distortion a bit and we have a hit! = Move up a LOT = "Sidechain synch pulse!" Is a great intro! I want to hear it explode! What's it doing so far down on the list? "On the pulse" has great potential! Needs a heavy bassline or pad, and passionate lyrics! = Stay down = "Pong bank" "Glasso": The sudden envelope effects are unpleasant on my ears. At least when using headphones. "Calamity" Hi Brian and everyone else,

I hadn’t read any comments when I listened to this, but I have arranged my comments in an unusual way: depending on how happy I am with their current position on the list. :)

(Please bear with me as I’m probably not using the proper words to describe most audio effects.)

= Stay up =
“Prozac” sounds very Color Theory, but doesn’t stand out much. :)
“White Mantra” makes me extatic! The high-pitched, “scream-like” instrument is important.
“Hoover Slam” is gonna get great lyrics. I just know it.
“Flydrive” needs some more hi-speed hi-hats and occasional chord changes.
“Sliding into obscurity” is lovely, especially the chord changes, but the drums sound too synthetic.
“Analogics” is wonderful!! Write lyrics that make you want to cry out in high notes! Like Viva La Vida’s “And for some reason I can’t explain…”

= Move down a bit =
“Retro Alto” has nice sound, but feels too chaotic

= Stay in the middle =
“LED Dreams” is alright, but where’s the piano? :)
“Grey Squares”: the reed starting at 0:27 is the best part.
“Glowing”: All right

= Move down a LOT =
“Wanderer” sounds gloomy. “Wishing I had an Umbrella” was also gloomy, but had some bright streaks of love in it, which made it great.
“Little Richie” is all attitude, but not pleasant. Not my style.
“Deadbeat”: it’s hard to follow the rhythm, kinda like “We’re not getting any younger” (which I disliked for that very reason)
“Vengeance”: ehh, what? Sounds like someone’s NES emulator broke… ;)

= Move up a bit =
“Canadian Boards”: Up! The part around 0:45 could be even more aggressive, with heavy drums on every beat. (But the end is weird.)
“Stumble” could be nice, but the quirky effects on the bass is distracting.
“Filtered blues” has potential.
“Mr Bandpass” could reach new highs with a well-chosen reverb setting… and maybe a different organ, like in the wonderful cosmicity remix of “If not now, when?”
“Swing Vampires”: ease up on the distortion a bit and we have a hit!

= Move up a LOT =
“Sidechain synch pulse!” Is a great intro! I want to hear it explode! What’s it doing so far down on the list?
“On the pulse” has great potential! Needs a heavy bassline or pad, and passionate lyrics!

= Stay down =
“Pong bank”
“Glasso”: The sudden envelope effects are unpleasant on my ears. At least when using headphones.
“Calamity”

]]> By: Mark http://colortheory.com/the-album-so-far#comment-383 Mark Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:27:22 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1815#comment-383 Heya. I love so many of them it's hard to choose. I can't wait to hear what you create from all of this. My favorites: Prozac, Hoover Slam, Sliding into Obscurity, Stumble, Ooh Yah Heya. I love so many of them it’s hard to choose. I can’t wait to hear what you create from all of this.

My favorites:

Prozac, Hoover Slam, Sliding into Obscurity, Stumble, Ooh Yah

]]> By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/the-album-so-far#comment-381 Brian Hazard Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:37:47 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1815#comment-381 Not late at all Liz! I plan to refer back to these comments every week when picking a new one to develop. Not late at all Liz! I plan to refer back to these comments every week when picking a new one to develop.

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