Review my partner's album

[Selta]

Hey TalkBass,
So my partner is working on her next album. She wants some general input on it. She's hoping to have it done in the next month or so. Here's where you can go and listen to what she has for it so far:

Oh Snap - Electrik Emily | Official Website for Grrrl Style Rock

Basically, just go ahead and listen and drop back here and post up any kind of input you have. Constructive criticism is appreciated; insults and flames won't be.

Every instrument you hear was played/recorded by her, sans drums - those are Fruity Loops that she wrote. All are of course original compositions that she wrote entirely.

So, let's hear it, please

[Jerry Callo]

Nice job. Since it's a trashy, punky type of thing there isn't much to critique. It is what it is and it works well on that level.

What makes it sound "demo-like" is the drums. They're weak. And in a thrash/punk situation the strength of the drums makes all the difference.

[HeadyVan Halen]

Listened to all the songs (1:30-2:00 of them) and this is what I got:

1st, she needs to hire musicians.
Bass was ok, but the programmed drums were very square and with no dynamics (change in volume which is one MAJOR problem with programmed drums)

2.) Her vocals missed alot of notes. Both lead and backing. Missing notes on a studio album should be inexcusable.

3.) Her phrasing is off. Not much flow of her vocal melodies. Very 'boxy'.

4.) She is not singing full voice. It sounds as if she is singing in a low volume and compensating by turning it up in the mix. She needs to sing 'out'.

5.) Melodies sell albums. Didn't hear many quality melodies here.

6.) Song topics and lyrics I thought were somewhat juvenile.

In Conclusion:
Hire a drummer.
Guitar sounded like they were only 1 track. Need to be thicker.
Vocals have to be on pitch.
Bass was cool and I liked the kick drum on some songs.
'Addicted' is the closest thing quality wise that's she has.

[drewfunk]

Honestly i thought it was all pretty generic, and very poorly produced. Even with better production it would be really generic material. She should conspire with some musicians to get more creative input and and better instrumentation, and she should focus on vocals instead. I get a Blondie feel from her, which is cool.

[joshwilkesbooth]

Originally Posted by Jerry Callo

Since it's a trashy, punky type of thing there isn't much to critique. It is what it is and it works well on that level.

I disagree. There is good and bad trashy punk. This is bad.
Bad recording, bad vocals, weak melodies, poor playing.

She needs a band to bounce ideas off of.

[Selta]

It'd be helpful if instead of just saying "it's bad", people went into details on what could be changed. Heady was about the only one that's provided anything useful thus far...

[Jerry Callo]

Originally Posted by joshwilkesbooth

I disagree. There is good and bad trashy punk. This is bad.
Bad recording, bad vocals, weak melodies, poor playing.

She needs a band to bounce ideas off of.

Well, it's amateurish, but I think the OP knows that. If we're putting it up against Green Day then the criteria is different. One step at a time.

[BananaKing]

Originally Posted by HeadyVan Halen

Listened to all the songs (1:30-2:00 of them) and this is what I got:

1st, she needs to hire musicians.
Bass was ok, but the programmed drums were very square and with no dynamics (change in volume which is one MAJOR problem with programmed drums)

2.) Her vocals missed alot of notes. Both lead and backing. Missing notes on a studio album should be inexcusable.

3.) Her phrasing is off. Not much flow of her vocal melodies. Very 'boxy'.

4.) She is not singing full voice. It sounds as if she is singing in a low volume and compensating by turning it up in the mix. She needs to sing 'out'.

5.) Melodies sell albums. Didn't hear many quality melodies here.

6.) Song topics and lyrics I thought were somewhat juvenile.

In Conclusion:
Hire a drummer.
Guitar sounded like they were only 1 track. Need to be thicker.
Vocals have to be on pitch.
Bass was cool and I liked the kick drum on some songs.
'Addicted' is the closest thing quality wise that's she has.

+ 1

[madrob]

Heady pretty much nailed it.

I think the biggest change needed is to start over with fresh ideas. There was nothing there that sounded original or creative in any way.

[BananaKing]

I just listened to all the tracks all the way through.

I'm going to be brutally honest, but I'm also going to put it out there that I'm basing my review and impressions on the sound quality of the recordings and overall general impact, not the style of the music. I'm not crazy about punk music in general, so I think it would be unfair of me to judge it from that standpoint.

That being said:

1) The Presentation. At first, with a name like "Electrik Emily" (with "Grrrl Style Rock" added to the name of the page at the top), I expected a younger person, maybe anywhere from 15-20. When I checked out the pictures and Bio, that isn't what I got. After looking at the Bio and pictures, I suddenly felt that the project name and visual style came off as trying way too hard to be young and energetic and that it didn't give a fair representation of her as a musician. It was misleading.

2) I found the Lyrics to be very generic. Maybe if the lyrics were a bit more interesting in the way of metaphors or subject matter I would have gotten something out of them.

3) If the tracks were recorded with other musicians and bandmates and mixed to be more even and present, then I would have enjoyed them more.

4) The vocals feel stretched and strained. The intonation sounds off and there isn't really much power in the vocals (at least I don't feel it).

I think she could definitely use some musicians to work with and trade ideas with.

At least she wrote some songs. There are a lot of people who haven't even tried, so at least she's trying to make something.

[Selta]

So, one trend I'm noticing is a lot of people are comparing this to a punk model. It's not really meant to be punk. "Riot Girl" is a mishmash of punk, indie, thrash, grunge and alt rock, and often the subject matter is 2nd/3rd wave feminism. So, the lyrical content is pretty pointed in general. Otherwise, thank you for the true, detailed input, if anyone else has anything to add, I know she'd much appreciate it.
Also, since a prevailing thing is comments on drums and mixing/mastering/producing, if anyone can give detailed help there, or would be willing to get paid to help we can certainly talk about that too. PM me if you're interested in helping at that kind of level.

[agreatheight]

I liked the 80's new wave / punk pop retro vibe, but there is a lot working against this recording.

Let's start with your biggest problem - the vocals. They are very flat - in production and in performance. No energy. Pitch issues. Self conscious. I'd guess Emily is better live, and that she doesn't have a ton of studio experience. Let's be honest... Emily is not a gifted singer. But not to worry - there are some great female vocalists from that era who weren't great signers: Joan Jett, Cherie Currie, Terri Nunn, Blondie, Belinda Carlisle, Tony Basil, etc. Hell, listen to the Ramones, too. You need to bring that type of performance out of her. Go and listen to those records to get the vibe. She needs SPARK! GROWL! SNEER! BITCH! SEX! LET IT LOOSE! And then do whatever it takes to get her to where she needs to be. Pitch correct. Doubling. Bullhorn. Distortion.

Now, for the rest. I may be the only one to say this, but I thought the cheesy drums worked well. However, the other instruments, guitars, bass, and keys, all felt tight, boxy, limp. No life. They need to pulse a bit, get loose, a little aggressive, feel live.

My best advice: go back in and do fewer songs, maybe 3. Hell, maybe 1. Pick the songs that came out the best in the last batch and really get them right. Bring in some songs from back when as production templates and try to get the feel, the performance, the sound. Then: PUSH IT, don't get complacent, don't go easy. Maybe get a producer? If you were in Phx... I would do it.

Good luck (and subbed).