Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

  • 6

    Votes: 4 12.1%

  • 5

    Votes: 2 6.1%

  • 4

    Votes: 10 30.3%

  • 3

    Votes: 10 30.3%

  • 2

    Votes: 5 15.2%

  • 1

    Votes: 2 6.1%

  • 0

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    33
  • Poll closed .
Pink Unicorn Horsey

Pink Unicorn Horsey

Megä Pöny Rÿdr
PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE VOTING!
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You are rating one of eight riffs in Round 2 of the March 2010 Riff-Off. Each of the other seven 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 four contestants with the highest average scores will advance to Round 3.

I encourage you to score each of the eight 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 2 riff: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

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 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

Weird in a good way. For a second I thought I had stumbled on to some lost track from the Beatles "Revolver" sessions.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

I am mystified .... is it looper(s) and delay? This is a very original creation ... great job, OCE!
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

this has at least 3 different parts to it...

I voted.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

Nice use of effects to get that floaty pop song sort of intro. I would like a little more of a hook from something like this, because to me this is a good build up before a song - but not really what you would base the whole song on.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

This one is very cool and I like the sound but not so sure about it's use as a riff to really hang a song on... maybe an intro...
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

This one has a weird and spacey feel to it. It would work great as an intro or outro to a song, but I don't think it would work well as the main riff. Either way, good job.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

GoDrex said:
this has at least 3 different parts to it...
Click to expand...

It does. And as I've been quite vocal about what does and doesn't constitute a riff in my book, I must admit this does qualify in my opinion. Why? There clearly is only one musical thing happening here. There are multiple parts but they could easily be labeled overdubs or harmonies which have always been allowed. This doesn't go off into a different progression, instrument, melody, lead or any other idea that would distract from the core idea.

Having said that, it's quite an ambitious riff that does layer quite a few things on top of each other including some effects that I can't quite place. Some of those layers are getting too complex and turning this simple idea into a sonic jumble.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

I think a song could be structured around this similar to Radiohead's Airbag. My fav, I like loops.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

Prolly the most original sound this round.

Its layers are a little "complex" for my cretinous brain to slap a riff lable on it -but then again, the "simple,catchiness" seems to qualify it....

.....NICE job...especially with evoking mood/emotion.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

All that e-bow takes me back to mid-90s smashing pumpkins! I'd have scored this higher if it weren't for that one note that gets cut off every repeat. I think I see what you were going for, but it sounds like a mistake.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

Is the weird digital distortion clipping thing supposed to be there? As far as the cons go, the backing really took away from the riff. Instead of the two tracks being complementary, I felt like they each were fighting for attention without either one deciding they wanted to work together. It was like what I see merging onto the freeway every day.

Now, for the good stuff. It definitely leaves an anticipation for more, definitely like an intro would do. It isn't a main verse riff, as has been said before, at least I'm not hearing it that way. But that isn't part of the criteria, so it doesn't matter. I like the originality, and I like the fact that you're doing something different. And probably just by remixing it, you could probably get exactly what I think you want us to hear.

So keep up the good work, but I would suggest trying to develop a little more cohesion in your theme.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

gotta admit, not my cup of tea when I think of a riff. however, as an intro to a riff/song I think it's awesome, if that makes any sense. just didn't grab and shake me, it just woke me up enough to say "a powerful riff shall follow this part."
 
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Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

IMO, a riff entry can be double-tracked just for a stronger sound, have a harmonized line overdubbedm or played alone. Anything more than that and it's hard for me to call it a riff. Multiple guitars playing supporting parts are kind of hard to rate because it's easier to rate one part individually. I can't really call this one a riff in the specific sense...

...however, that doesn't change the fact that I think this submission sounds pretty friggen awesome. Very cool vibe and use of effects.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

This one is sounding more like a "riff" to me the more I listen to it.

Sure, there's more than one guitar part, but it all "speaks with one voice."
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

Unique piece. Well played but too crowded to be a just a riff. At least to my ears.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.2: Obsessive-Compulsive Enhancement

Nice loop. I like the melody in this a lot. I'd be curious to hear the song of this one, for sure. I love the "crash" of the two guitars in particular. However, you challenge my definition of a riff (I'm pretty much with Brendan here). I don't want to vote on this one at the moment.. Anyway, good job with a very nice piece, riff or not.
 
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