Riff-Off 3.4: Muzzy Notes

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE VOTING!

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You are rating one of two riffs in the Championship Round of the February 2010 Riff-Off. Each riff 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 contestant with the highest average scores will take the title of Riffologist Extraordinaire, battling in the title bout for the title of SDUGF Riffologist Supremö.

I encourage you to score both of the 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 Championship Round 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

 

[JollyRoger523]

Re: Riff-Off 3.4: Muzzy Notes

I like it. It has a nice happy and catchy feel to it.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Riff-Off 3.4: Muzzy Notes

The riff does have an upbeat, catchy vibe. I don't necessarily identify with it stylistically, but it is clean and fresh and extremely well played. Muzzy is a clever composer and great player and I have rated this creation accordingly.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Riff-Off 3.4: Muzzy Notes

Yess! Much better than the last one, and pretty well executed! I like the feeling and tone, and it is a refreshing melody! Cheers!

 

[B2D]

Re: Riff-Off 3.4: Muzzy Notes

Excellent!! Bravo!

The little slides were a nice little melodic touch and were perfectly executed. The whole riff is very clean, clear and smooth. Nice little happy catchy thing. I'd love to hear this played with a Hendrix-y Strat tone, as well as in the context of a song.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Riff-Off 3.4: Muzzy Notes

I hopped off the plane at LAX, with my dream and a cardigan
Welcome to the land of fame, excess - am I gonna fit in?
Jumped in the cab, here I am for the first time
I look to my left and see the Hollywood sign
This is all so crazy; everybody seems so famous
My tummy's turnin' and I feel kind of homesick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous
That's when the taxi-man turned on the radio
And the Muzzy Notes were on...

 

[Gamera]

Re: Riff-Off 3.4: Muzzy Notes

Well done. It sounds great tonally and is executed pretty much flawlessly. It has a fun vibe to it and I'd love to hear where this goes from here. But in terms of whether or not it's a memorable riff? I dunno. I always struggle with these clean, almost acoustic sounding riffs. The way my brain is wired I almost expect this to be some sort of an intro and the really memorable hook, or riff is yet to come. I guess this is where it comes down to subjective opinions because I can't really fault it for anything technically. It just doesn't grab me like I'd hoped it would.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Riff-Off 3.4: Muzzy Notes

I like this riff. I'd like to hear it about 15 bpm faster...

 

[tone4days]

Re: Riff-Off 3.4: Muzzy Notes

i gave it high marks, as i have in every round of this month

nice and tight - very inside ... memorable - hooky

congrats on winning the riff off

gonna be a very weird showdown between B2D and muzzy for supremo - very divergent styles

 

[Tor]

Re: Riff-Off 3.4: Muzzy Notes

I like the idea. However, the playing could have been tighter (the transitions from the slides to the chord strums were a little too uptight and stumbling). I also agree with this:

I'd like to hear it about 15 bpm faster...

It was just a little bit too "lazy".

There is also room for improvement for the sound as well.

But again, I do like the idea.

 

[JordanM82]

Re: Riff-Off 3.4: Muzzy Notes

I like this riff. I'd like to hear it about 15 bpm faster...

+1 was just a little slow for the idea, but the execution was flawless and I really dug it, good feel, good tone... almost chili peppers... nice...