Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

  • 6

    Votes: 1 3.3%

  • 5

    Votes: 6 20.0%

  • 4

    Votes: 10 33.3%

  • 3

    Votes: 10 33.3%

  • 2

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 1

    Votes: 3 10.0%

  • 0

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    30
  • Poll closed .
Pink Unicorn Horsey

Pink Unicorn Horsey

Megä Pöny Rÿdr
PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE VOTING!
​


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

I encourage you to score each of the four 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 3 riff: Ironclad
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
 
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Re: Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

the beginning of this one made me want to sing "foxy lady" everytime i listened to it. haha

kinda pressed for time, i'll write an actual review later
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

Made me think of Jimi Hendrix immediately.

I think it's definitely a riff.

I can dig it. It's simple.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

felt more progression-y than riff-y to me
but great vibe, tone and playing

will vote later
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

I'm trying to think of something else to say, other than the obvious Hendrix reference. Good, solid playing and great tone.

tone4days said:
felt more progression-y than riff-y to me
but great vibe, tone and playing

will vote later
Click to expand...

Ok, I'm starting to think that you're working on some really elaborate joke here. Can all four entries really be in violation?
 
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Re: Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

Blue Calx said:
IOk, I'm starting to think that you're working on some really elaborate joke here. Can all four entries really be in violation?
Click to expand...

Actually I can see his point if you go "by the book." I say "the book" since I've tended to agree with his riff definition in the past and it's closely mirrored my thoughts.

However we've seen that "book" definition deteriorate through rounds. And I think each riff needs to also be analyzed individually. This is very, very, very close to the traditional definition of a riff and only falls onto another chord after that downward slide which is, IMO, a huge part of the overall riff and groove here. So while technically anything after the 5 second mark could be seen as a progression, it's kind of a modulation of the same thing and needed because of the downward slide landing on that note.

At least that's my interpretation, you're all free to interpret however you see fit.

Having said all that, I like it. Cool and juicy groove. I want to start soloing over the top of this.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

Interesting... definitely getting the Hendrix vibe here. I would've like to have cheard more noodly stuff - more single note movement in between the chords/double stops but as it its it's solid, tight, and works real well. This would be a great start to build a song off of.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

Blue Calx said:
Ok, I'm starting to think that you're working on some really elaborate joke here. Can all four entries really be in violation?
Click to expand...

no, its not like that .. and i dont think in terms of 'violations' ... its way less serious than that ... just a preference and a fading hope that words retain meaning over time ... to me, a riff means something ... out in the wild, outside of this forum, for the last 50 years or more ... no, it is not an oxford english dictionary definition ... you cant call up the natl. institute of standards for a reference value ... but those of us who grew up and learned how to play in what i'll loosely refer to as 'the riff rock era' know one when we hear one ... and the word 'deterioration' is perfect for waht has been going on here with regards to what is really a riff

and as i have taken pains to say frequently, there is A LOT of REALLY GOOD music that is NOT riff based ... if we were to call this the 'samples of music of approximately 8 bars or so and less than 30 seconds' war, then i'd have no problem at all with any of the submissions ...
if you compare the submissions of late to the classic riffs that are known the world over by non musicians, i think you'd be able to see that what we are evaluating in our little game here are not riffs ... we have been seeing mini-compositions, thematic fragments, melodic motifs, and even fully fleshed out arrangements ... a lot of talent ... a lot of creativity ... a lot of skill ...

just not riffs

t4d
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

tone4days said:
if we were to call this the 'samples of music of approximately 8 bars or so and less than 30 seconds' war, ...
Click to expand...

This SOMOAEBOSALTTS--I'll just call it a riff--doesn't really have enough movement for my tastes. I think it would definitely benefit from some passing tones connecting the different percussive chords. I get it, but I think another couple of listens could expand upon the initial idea. Not to say it's not good work--don't misunderstand my analysis--I just don't think it lives up to the riffer's potential.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

This was my favorite entry this round. Great rhythm and playing . . . maybe better than your first submission which I liked quite a bit. I would listen to this song!
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

I think this submission is great! Yes, there's one chord that Hendrix used in Foxy Lady, but Hendrix didn't own the chord. This brought to my mind an old version of "Season of the Witch" .... maybe Bloomfield and Kooper. It is not even remotely a rip-off. It just brought back memories of a fun time.

This is not as hard driving and in your face as the others, but it doesn't need to be. It makes its statement with subtlety.

Very interesting and well played, Ironclad!
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

Lazarus1140 said:
I think this submission is great! Yes, there's one chord that Hendrix used in Foxy Lady, but Hendrix didn't own the chord.
Click to expand...

yeah that one chord triggers it, but the riff stays original and goes elsewhere. good stuff.
 
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Re: Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

nice hendrixy vibe of course. kind of a complex riff all together. starts off sounding like it's going to be simple, but then has an interesting ending.
 
Re: Riff-Off 4.3: Ironclad

I put this one some where between a fat doobie and lighting my hair on fire. Maybe both at once. I don't know if it's funky, or Jimi or what, but I likes it. Now where're my zig zags at?....

cg
 
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