Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

[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: Jack Butler

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: Jack Butler

This was kinda cool. nice playing.

i wish you had backed off the gain a bit though.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

It's fluent, and has 80's youth movie feeling. 2 chords doesn't fit for my ears, and the tone is cool.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

metal companion for Gerry Troll...

 

[tone4days]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

nice playing
but too much a progression and not enough a riff

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

I feel like this riff is designed to allow vocals to be placed on top of it in the palm-muted open note stuff. This is a guitar competition! Don't let the singer outshine you here! Stick him back there with his mic where he belongs! This is all about you!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

Interesting idea with the meter change at the end of every 4th bar, make sure you're fully committed to it, I heard some hesitation on the execution. The problem with riffs with driving sixteenth notes is you really need to nail it. I like the chord choices in the third bar with the inverted third, I believe it is. I'm torn between wanting to hear something more or leave it as it is to support the song. Making it more "notey" may score it better in a riff competition, but would detract from the actual song.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

I hear the progression also but am prepared to let it slide. The main riff is pretty prominent and easy to identify.

There's something kind of typical metal and ho-hum about it yet I come away humming it. I guess that's what a god riff should do. The 16th notes have something to do with that methinks.

By the way, nice battle name. "Someone's gonna get their head cut!"

 

[B2D]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

Reminds me of a Jake E Lee type of thing. Pretty tight performance. Moves around enough to not get boring.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

wee!

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

It's borderline-riff for me. I'm not one to believe a riff should be exclusively Heartbreaker or Cat Scratch Fever. Progressions that can work as main vocal rhythm and/or chorus rhythms are fine with me. That helps them be memorable.

However, there's some execution issues that hold it back IMO.

 

[Redmist]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

Less coffee?

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

I hear all kinds of stuff here......power pop/punk, Ramones, The Cars, new wave, blah blah ....and that may be my only criticism. Well structured and well played, but it reminds me too much of many things i've heard before. It is very 'complete' within itself, almost a complete song. I have no trouble considering it to be a riff, but the familiarity works against it for me.

 

[elscorcho]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

80s movie soundtrac all the way!....I like the tone, bubble gum feel, the fun-factor!

 

[Blue Calx]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

Only two suggestions: 1) Take out the second riff that somehow got stuck in there. 2) EVEN MORE FRANTIC!

Loved it!

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

I'm telling you: play Gerry Troll's riff right before this one and tell me they don't belong together in some way.

 

[JollyRoger523]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

Definitely and 80's movie/tv feel to it. Good job.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

I'm a sucker for pedaling.

 

[Tor]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Jack Butler

Oh, that's a carousel. Didn't grab me by the throat, but well executed.