Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

  • 6 - Epic awesomeness majesty

    Votes: 8 17.4%
  • 5

    Votes: 13 28.3%
  • 4

    Votes: 12 26.1%
  • 3

    Votes: 11 23.9%
  • 2

    Votes: 1 2.2%
  • 1

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 0 - Fingernails on a chalkboard

    Votes: 1 2.2%

  • Total voters
    46
  • Poll closed .

Pink Unicorn Horsey

Megä Pöny Rÿdr
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: The Count of Strange Counting

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
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

nice playing - nice tone - very cool note choice but hard to latch onto
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

reminded me of AIC - look up "Am I Inside"
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

I want to like this one SO much. I felt like it lacked a cohesive vision, though. The feeling is there, and I love the acoustic tone, but there is a little too much variation between repetitions took away from the overall riff. I'll still score it well because I definitely liked it, but it had more potential than was realized.

P.S. When reading over this post, I realize it comes off as negative. It's certainly not meant that way, because clearly you have chops and feel. I felt like with just a little extra push, this would be championship material. "When everything's on 10, where do you go from there? That's right, eleven."
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

You certainly are the Count of Strange Counting! :D The key with playing off tempo stuff is to full grasp it and play it with conviction. You certainly have done that. I might like to hear a little more defined melody to make it a bit more catchy, but I like this riff a lot.
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

Cool. It is a little difficult to sink my teeth into because of the off tempo. This one really needs a song around it. Love the tone.
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

Very nice indeed!
My first 6 also, the timing is right up there for me.
Great stuff.
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

Another awesome acoustic entry. It's like Alice In Chains meets Coheed and Cambria... struck me as being very proggy, angular, edging slightly into unexplored territory. Very, very cool.
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

Another awesome acoustic entry. It's like Alice In Chains meets Coheed and Cambria... struck me as being very proggy, angular, edging slightly into unexplored territory. Very, very cool.

I hear a lot of coheed in this one too in a good way. Somwhere in between The Reaping and Irobot.
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

it sounds like it's coming to your ears through smoke
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

Sleeping Village Part 2?

Even though it's a bit short and doesn't establish a familiar hook, I'm diggin' it :friday:
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

This riff is one of my favorites. I have to admit I got lost when the pedal tone shifted off the first beat of the measure in the third time through. Very well played and a very flexible feel. I can imagine several completely different song ideas based on this entry. Well done!
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

I enjoy to listen it more and more. It's perfectly my cup of tee. Different time signatures, more of a picture than just motives. I like it!
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

I'd like to hear this on a loop, running for five minutes or so.....i imagine it would be hypnotic and could make the listener start imagining other things. There seems to be a lot in it under the surface. I could tell it has an odd time signature, so i just let it wash over me.....it's one of three or four riffs here i consider to be truly original. It's kinda like an undercurrent that you can fall into and get carried away in. I wish it was longer.
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

I'd like to hear this on a loop, running for five minutes or so.....i imagine it would be hypnotic and could make the listener start imagining other things. There seems to be a lot in it under the surface. I could tell it has an odd time signature, so i just let it wash over me.....it's one of three or four riffs here i consider to be truly original. It's kinda like an undercurrent that you can fall into and get carried away in. I wish it was longer.

You exactly described my feelings. The only difference is , for me, there is no oddity in time signatures. I like how different signatures sound and feel, and it isn't distracting me at all.
 
Re: Riff-Off 3.1: The Count of Strange Counting

17/8 ? Sounds somewhat forced, and constructed for the sheer shock value of the time sig. However, I imagine this bit sort of droning on in a trance-like fashion and eventually getting under the listener's skin until it feels natural.
 
Back
Top