Critique Notes/November 2007
Critique Notes /November2007
November
is the month we review all of the songs of the month so it turns into a
marathon meeting. We still do a critique
session then review the songs. 10 songs
were submitted for critique and half of the songs were played live. As usual it
was a good group of songs. Each
month songs are selected as “Songs of the Month.” Usually 2 are chosen when there are 14 or
less songs. If more than 14 songs are
submitted then 3 songs are chosen. This
month 2 songs were selected. These were
added to the list in the running for song of the year. Patti
Guyer/I Ain't Your Wife…
Patti played her song live for the group. The song has a very clever concept. “On the way our of
my life, I ain’t your wife”. It has an
up beat feel to an angry subject. One suggest form the group was to consider changing the melody
on the last half of the chorus. Bruce
Scism, Shane Rogers/Take Me Back in Your Heart Again…
Bruce played live for the group.
This is a good song with a beautiful story. It is a song that could be sung by a
crowd. “This bottle in my hand where do
I go if I can’t stand on my own, won’t you take me back into your heart
again”. The song has some great
imagery. The group only suggested some
minor tweaks to the wording. Andrew
Richardson/These Hands Will Be Yours… Andrew brought in a
song with a Celtic feel with a lot of good imagery. “But now these hands serve other plans to
fight another’s cause, come summertime these hands will be yours”. The constant optimism of the lyrics make the song work.
The group suggested repeating the last two lines at the end of the song. Willie B/Back Home Again…
Willie played the song live the group.
The song has simple lyrics that work very well. It has a good melody and an interesting chord
progression. The first two lnes provide a good setup.
“Everyone forever wants to go, Everyone forever
wants to go back home again”. One
suggestion was to continue the family theme in the last verse. This song was selected as one of the songs of
the month. Larry Eagleson/All
That is You… Larry played his song live for the
group. The song is beautiful in it’s simplicity. It’s
a very nice song. “Look at me look at
you, look at all we can do look at us”. The
song has a Woody Guthrie feel. It has a
great chorus. One suggestion from the
group was to change the title. Mike Darnell/Big Wheel… Mike’s song has a good feel to it. The beat and energy pulls you into the
song. The song has a good focus on the
theme. “Big wheel keeps on turnin’, carry me where I’m bound, Oh carry me where I’m
bound”. One suggestion was to move the
third verse to the first. This song was
selected as one of the songs of the month. Bob Pine/The Chuck Elliot/My Sister… Chuck brought in a refreshing song with a
nice feel to it. “you’ve
always been the mystic, could see the hidden doors, I‘ve always been the
scientist with both feet firmly on the floor.”
The song has a nice chorus with some very good imagery. One suggestion was to consider shortening the
song. Ron Tintner/ The Silence of the Night… Ron brought in a well produced song with a
good feel. “So if you’re in strange town
around Zane Nordin/
When
the Word Comes Down… Zane played his
song live for the group. This is a nice
song with a gospel feel. “When the Word
comes down will you be aware, when the trumpets ring the sound will you be
there”. The simple structure of the song
works well. It has the possibility of a
lot of harmonies. One suggestion from
the group was to add two lines to the second verse similar as to what was done
with the other verses. It has been a great year for new
music and songs. Some wonderful songs
were submitted. The voting for the song
of the year and the songwriter of the year will be tough. See everyone at the party in December. Keep Writing Danny |