Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE VOTING!
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You are rating one of sixteen riffs in Round 1 of the March 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.

As with last month, 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: Hangover

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

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

Always cool to hear an acoustic entry!

This is one of those riffs that I get really curious about "what comes next" in the song!

 

[Gamera]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

I too love listening to the acoustic entries but I confess they can throw me into a tizzy deciding whether or not they're riffs. To my ears this one lacks the simple and catchy,hooky, riff. It's a nice progression but it doesn't grab me like a riff should IMHO.

 

[JollyRoger523]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

I like the name, and for some reason it fits the riff. I could picture this one being played at the end of some teen movie where all the kids are waking up with a hangover the day after prom.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

sounds nice but that's about it for me

 

[tone4days]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

nice sounding compositional progression / element

not hearing it as a riff

 

[willeubanks]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

reminds me alot of what i was playing when i was 15-16. (in a good way.) very further seems forever-ish.

 

[JordanM82]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

I hear it and feel it... liked it a lot, excellent choice.... great acoustic tone too.... high marks for being the only acoustic entry too... well played.

 

[B2D]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

This is not a riff. This is a chord progression. And not a bad one at that, but overall It could've used some more melodic movement. Doesn't really do much for me overall.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

Nice sound and playing but not what I'd call a riff.

 

[Tor]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

Really liking the idea! Love the late afternoon hot summer in the park vibe. I would really like to hear this song if you decide to go on with it! I'm seeing the point about progression, though. As I've done with several other entries now, I'll have to wait this one out a bit. Not sure how to grade it yet.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

It's a riff, not a progression. The riff part is the series of notes that move around (sounds like fretting the Es).

No different than the intro to Ramble On, IMO.

Nice job :friday:

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

I think it's brilliant. I'm about halfway through the riffs for Round One, and this one is my favorite by far. Not only does it not rely on heavy distortion to get a rockin' feel, it makes excellent use of the acoustic qualities of the instrument.

To break it down, it has feel, it's original, it's well executed, and I clearly see the riff in it. What's not to like? Well done, sir. (I'm just assuming probably fairly safely that you're actually a dude.)

 

[Blue Calx]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

Ok, this sounds like a riff to me: a repeating pattern of notes and chords that sounds cool. A progression goes somewhere, right? This just goes in circles (as I imagine a riff should).

Just out of curiosity, and not to start an argument, what about this does popular opinion deem to be un-rifflike?

I thought it was cute.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

If you look at definitions of the word riff, chord progressions fall under the definition. A chord progression is a series of chords that repeats. Some people don't care for that as a riff. I include it as a riff, though it's not what I think of when I think of a guitar riff. Just knowing that, I avoid chord progressions because some people will vote low on them. I also avoid harmony parts because that turns some people off.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

This would definitely mak a great intro or bridge in a song. It creates a feeling of anticipation like all hell's about to break loose.

This is a good entry and it is in very good company.

Edit: I like the REM ish vibe!

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

I even think this can come out as a great chorus with violins in the back ground! very cool!

 

[Redmist]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

Good work!

Yes it's a riff, be it a progression or not.
I like the timing of the strumming hand and the emotion. Very Tull like as well as Pagey.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Riff-Off 4.1: Hangover

I got kinda lost in it, which is a great thing. nice sound, playing. I couldn't pull it off on acoustic that clean, I know that much.