Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE VOTING!

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

You are rating one of three riffs in Round 3 of the February 2010 Riff-Off. Each of the other 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 two contestants with the highest average scores will advance to the Championship Round.

I encourage you to score each of the three riffs in this round. 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 3 riff: Muzzy Notes

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

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

it's well executed and recorded. It gives me no feeling, doesn't move in any kind of emotion and lacs originality. The last riff was much much better!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

Great tone and execution, but I have to think about the riff more. I need to marinate on it....

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

I'm not too hot on the tone, but that's not the deciding factor. It was clear, and the note execution was perfect, but this jazzy type of thing is not my deal. I did, however, hear where the drums would fit, and it definitely evoked a feeling of a prohibition-era party. So it did its job, but it wasn't my cup of tea. I can't fault the guy for not sharing my musical taste, though.

 

[JollyRoger523]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

I like it. It's executed well and the tone really fits the riff.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

I like this one OK - but I feel like it's missing something - that might be the accompaniment that would cause some interplay - or maybe it just needs a little more something, I don't know.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

I like this. I like the playful feel it conveys to my ears and I hear potential with it. I agree that without some sort of accompaniment it lacks something but I can't blame the riff for following the rules. Perhaps what I like most about it is it gets me thinking about what comes next, the feel, and how it could be woven into a more complete song. I don't vote on tones unless they totally distract, enhance, mask or in some other way affect the riff which this does not. It's nice and allows the riff the breathe. It's good but not great.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

Nice, but as was said, it doesn't really grab me. Seems more like something that would sit in a mix rather than be a defining hook that could stand on its own (intro, segue, interlude, etc).

 

[dd12939]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

Kinda cool once I had my head wrapped around it - that little three note pickup at the beginning kind of threw me for a loop the first time.

 

[elscorcho]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

I liked it...i really think it lends itself to an early aerosmith tone....

 

[Blue Calx]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

I agree that this one is well-played and well-recorded, but it just doesn't grab me. I hate to say it, but I wanna hear more bells and whistles. Play around with the rhythm a bit, or add some more trills here or there.

 

[JordanM82]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

I can see where the guy was trying to go with this, it seems like it JUST missed taking me there... didn't quite do it for me. I don't know what it needed and I won't speculate because this is just not my playing style (jazzy) or area of expertise to add, but I did appreciate the good execution, recording and tone for the job. A fair score...

 

[B2D]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

Good clean tone, good rhythm, but it fails to really hold my attention down the way it should. I think it could've benefitied from the judicious use of a single effect or a more go-for-the-throat gutsy type of roots-rock tone.

Nicely played, but it lacks the attitude it really needs.

 

[Redmist]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

Played clean and tight like this, there is a lot of down time which could be filled with percussion and the rest of the band.
As it is, it feels very empty, and would indeed have benefitted from a much larger tone.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

This is clean and well played ..... even the recording is exceptionally clean. I wouldn't add effects to this track or suggest changes of any kind. Distortion, reverb, delays etc. all conceal errors to varying degrees. To my ears, this submission is bare naked and error free ........ very well done!

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

It made me smile, a jolly little riff that reminds me of Harold Lloyd.. lol. My second favorite although I did like the snappy clean tone.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

full marks
spectacular playing and composition
another that i'd love to hear the band kick in and build the tune off this riff
good luck in the finals
t4d

ps - and i have more than a sneaking suspicion that the person who gave this a zero had ulterior motives (futile to be sure) ... anyone involved should be ashamed of themself

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

I can't really understand the notion of giving 0 or 1 in this caliber of competition anyway. It's a shame that people even don't bother to respect the entry and the level of execution!

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

I like this, and having listened to the three entries in this round, this one has to go to the final.

I would have liked it to swing a bit more, but i realise that's not easy without either a few more bass notes or a rhythm section behind it. It's a fresh sound and style in the tourney and the only unique sounding riff to have made it this far.

At this stage, whatever score i give will not make a huge difference, but i have given you a 6. I hope you can really come up with something hot for the final. Good luck !

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: Muzzy Notes

I can't really understand the notion of giving 0 or 1 in this caliber of competition anyway. It's a shame that people even don't bother to respect the entry and the level of execution!

I don't understand either, and it's a shame that, even though the impact of this negative score is somewhat diluted by total number of votes to date, it still cost this very talented riffer -.098 against his average.