Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE VOTING!

(It's a little different this time around.)​

You are rating one of sixteen riffs in Round 1 of the February 2010 Riff-Off. Each of the other fifteen riffs can be heard and rated in the Tips and Clips room. More information about the Riff-Off can be found here.

Contrary to previous Riff-Off tournaments, this month's Riff-Off has no bracket; each riff will be rated on an individual basis according to a seven-point scale. Once all of the polls have closed, the scores for each riff will be averaged, and the eight contestants with the highest average scores will advance to Round 2.

I encourage you to score each of the sixteen riffs. You may wish to listen to each riff before voting in order to establish a baseline. Of course, you are free to score riffs however you like, in whatever order you like. You could even give each riff the same score, if your impressions dictate so. It's all in your hands!

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 is a link to this contestant's Round 1 riff: Blossom

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

Have fun!

- Keith

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

This riff, while decent, lacks originality. It would make for a good rock song, no doubt. but it's nothing I haven't heard before.

Also, the fast thing at the start kind of turned me off.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

Holy Judas Priest Batman! Love it. I don't care for the tone, nor the recording. It has balls and it straight out rocks!

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

about 20 seconds in, there's this really cool tangent that gets started. then fades. coulda been cooler

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

I like Blossom's friend Six better.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

nugent-y goodness

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

about 20 seconds in, there's this really cool tangent that gets started. then fades. coulda been cooler

I agree. Blossom, you're riff is sitting there right at the end! In fact I'm singing the rest of what it could be in my head! Good execution, but I really want to hear the next part.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

Hate the intro and outro. The fast bit in the beginning sounds like you're trying to show off but it fails.

Getting to the main riff in the middle, I'm digging the little gallop thrown in there for texture. Concentrate on that middle section and there's potential.

 

[B2D]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

Yeah, ditch the licks at the intro and outro. I feel like this riff, while definitely having groove, just leans on the A string a little too much and doesn't really get to movin' and shakin' like it should.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

Holy Bell Curve Batman!

Fixed.

(At the moment, the score is 0,1,7,8,7,0, and 0.)

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

about the intro licks/outro stuff: my guess is this riff was not created for this contest - it was taken from an already existing composition and edited down to feature the main riff. That's the impression I get from it and I just ignored the extra parts that don't belong.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

That thing at the beginning was pretty allsome, but the riff that followed was merely souper.

I like the tone because it's not that great.

Or rather

It's got this kind of "through the telephone" sound to it that really takes me back to late-70s rock thing. Fitting.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

I got no problem with the intro or outro per se - I pick out the riff in the middle and vote on that alone.

That said, it's a bit cliche, but well-played.

I give it a 4.

 

[Redmist]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

Not bad at all.
I would like this with a ballsier tone, maybe drop tuned, and played a little slower for attitude.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

Hmmm. This feels like it is pumping along driven by youthful exuberance and enthusiasm. However, i feel it is a little more driven by the urge to show the playing capabilities than compositional skills (the outro and particularly the intro are the main offenders in that way). Focusing on the riff, i hear it as a little generic and static. But it rocks just fine.

 

[Blue Calx]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

I like the tone, but aside from some cool little fills, the riff does little for me.

 

[elscorcho]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

Holy Judas Priest Batman!

First thing I thought of! Love the minimalist tone as well...

 

[JollyRoger523]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

Reminds me of a mixture of Priest and Nugent, but the intro & outro distract from the main riff.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

too much chunkin' during the riff and not enough doin'

 

[Tor]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Blossom

Good stuff. Cool tone.