Riff-Off 1.3: cyberBKP vs. Monie's Ghost

Riff-Off 1.3: cyberBKP vs. Monie's Ghost

  • cyberBKP

    Votes: 32 71.1%

  • Monie's Ghost

    Votes: 13 28.9%
  • Total voters
    45
  • Poll closed .
Pink Unicorn Horsey

Pink Unicorn Horsey

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PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE VOTING!​

You are voting for your favorite riff in Round 3 of the December 2009 Riff-Off. More information about the Riff-Off can be found here. In this round, there are two head-to-head matches. Be sure to check out and vote for your favorite riff in the other Round 3 match, also found in the Tips and Clips room. To view the bracket for this month's Riff-Off, go here.

Because not all contestants have access to the same quality of recording equipment, your voting decision should be based first on the actual composition, second on the player's execution of the riff. Try to look past recording quality. Some questions you may want to ask yourself while considering which way to vote: What is the emotional impact of the riff? How original is the riff? Does the riff inspire me? Would I want to hear a whole song built off this riff?

Note that each contestant has chosen a battle name for the Riff-Off; their identities have been hidden from all other contestants and the voting public, and will be revealed at the end of the Riff-Off, when a champion is crowned.

Lastly, while comments are strongly encouraged, please realize that each contestant put personal time and creative energy into his or her submission. If you have any critique to provide in this thread, give the contestants the courtesy of making it constructive. This competition is built on the premises of fun and musical growth.

Here are the links to each clip in this head-to-head:

cyberBKP

Monie's Ghost

If you run into any technical issues or have other question regarding the Riff-Off, contact me via email (kgmessier at gmail dot com).

Have fun!

- Keith
 
Re: Riff-Off 1.3: cyberBKP vs. Monie's Ghost

CyberBKP found my Achilles' Heel. Guitar harmonies. Can't vote against it.
 
Re: Riff-Off 1.3: cyberBKP vs. Monie's Ghost

Both riffs were excellent here as well, but there's something about the dissonance and urgency of Mo'G's that appealed to me.
 
Re: Riff-Off 1.3: cyberBKP vs. Monie's Ghost

Oh man, it was a tough choice but I made the choice.

Both riffs are awesome. cyber's turned in some killer riffs in past rounds, and this time was no different. He's no slouch. I had to go with Monie though. The riff is pretty long and complex but it builds into this crescendo that I really dig - it's got a lot of movement going on. I'd love to hear a song built on this one. Monie's riffs have this "X Factor" that really get my attention and are really compelling.
 
Re: Riff-Off 1.3: cyberBKP vs. Monie's Ghost

I agree that the harmonizing was kind of cool, but I thought that Monie's Ghost had a more interesting thing going on. Overall, I don't really see the harmonizing as part of the riff, but more of an accoutrement, if you will. Therefore Monie gets my vote.
 
Re: Riff-Off 1.3: cyberBKP vs. Monie's Ghost

I thought this one was going to be closer vote-wise, two well matched riffers.

Cyber just tipped it for me after a whack of listens.
 
Re: Riff-Off 1.3: cyberBKP vs. Monie's Ghost

I think I recognize the guitar tone on the Monie's Ghost clip...

I liked both.

The cyberBKP clip was actually a riff, where the Monie's Host clip was not.
 
Re: Riff-Off 1.3: cyberBKP vs. Monie's Ghost

I have to agree with you, Hunter. I really thought there wasn't much to call a riff from Monie's Ghost. Up until this point, I hadn't thought anything fell outside the Realm of Riffdom, but this one really did. It definitely played a part in my vote.
 
Re: Riff-Off 1.3: cyberBKP vs. Monie's Ghost

ImmortalSix said:
I think I recognize the guitar tone on the Monie's Ghost clip...

I liked both.

The cyberBKP clip was actually a riff, where the Monie's Host clip was not.
Click to expand...

Your narrow definition of a riff frustrates me, dude. I feel like you need to broaden your frame of reference... That said, my opinion is no more valid than yours, despite how I like to state it as fact. :D

----

This battle was one I've been waiting for since the bracket indicated it was a possibility.

cyberBKP brought the power, like they've done every round up to now. Just killer. I really look forward to finding out who this person is after the finals. The harmonies are great - not just because they're harmonies - but also because the notes themselves are compelling. I love the tension added by the kind of weird resolution at the end of the riff.

Monie's Ghost seems to have succumbed to his tendency to write a song into a riff, but I'm forgiving him this time because this clip still feels more compact and "riff-y" than his round 1 submission. I like the kind of off-time thing going on here. I don't know enough about music theory to know if this riff is in an odd meter or not, but it definitely has a different feel.

I find it no surprise that the voting is as one-sided as it is. cyberBKP's submission just has an immediate accessibility to it. A riff competition isn't the best venue for a piece that needs to grow on you a bit.
 
Re: Riff-Off 1.3: cyberBKP vs. Monie's Ghost

sosomething said:
Your narrow definition of a riff frustrates me, dude. I feel like you need to broaden your frame of reference... That said, my opinion is no more valid than yours, despite how I like to state it as fact. :D

----

This battle was one I've been waiting for since the bracket indicated it was a possibility.

cyberBKP brought the power, like they've done every round up to now. Just killer. I really look forward to finding out who this person is after the finals. The harmonies are great - not just because they're harmonies - but also because the notes themselves are compelling. I love the tension added by the kind of weird resolution at the end of the riff.

Monie's Ghost seems to have succumbed to his tendency to write a song into a riff, but I'm forgiving him this time because this clip still feels more compact and "riff-y" than his round 1 submission. I like the kind of off-time thing going on here. I don't know enough about music theory to know if this riff is in an odd meter or not, but it definitely has a different feel.

I find it no surprise that the voting is as one-sided as it is. cyberBKP's submission just has an immediate accessibility to it. A riff competition isn't the best venue for a piece that needs to grow on you a bit.
Click to expand...

I hear you. I will keep my definition of a riff, however. I see it to be correct, so I couldn't change it without putting myself "in the wrong."

The length / definition of "riff" didn't mold my decision as much as you may think --- the accessibility of the cyberBKP riff would have gotten my vote, even if they were exactly as long as or as short as each other. (since I figure you have guessed who I voted for anyhow.)

All that said, a riff is like theme --- like the descending horn line that opens Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" --- it's only 6 notes --- but it's also something that you hear and know instantly exactly what song it is.

The furthest I'll go on "riff" is the arpeggiated intro of "Stairway to Heaven." It's not really a riff, but you know what song is coming when you hear it; that's for **** sure.

I see a riff like a business card --- not a total representation of something, but something that you can see/hear and go "OHYEAH, that song /that guy!"

Perfect riffs to me are usually 4 measures - 8 measures at the most. Get in, make the point, get out. Like the first 4 seconds of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love." That's it. I don't need or want more than that.

If it takes the artist longer than that to make it memorable, it's straight-up not memorable enough.

-Hunter
 
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Re: Riff-Off 1.3: cyberBKP vs. Monie's Ghost

By that definition, bands like Mastodon and Lamb of God have never written a riff.

We'll just have to agree to disagree.
 
Re: Riff-Off 1.3: cyberBKP vs. Monie's Ghost

sosomething said:
By that definition, bands like Mastodon and Lamb of God have never written a riff.

We'll just have to agree to disagree.
Click to expand...
icon_beerchug.gif



Coolio said:
We fought in the streets like little black soldiers
Shake hands, and still be friends when it was over
Click to expand...

P.S. the first 4 measures of Lamb Of God's "Redneck" is definitely a riff. If and only if you are talking about those first 4 measures.
 
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