Riff-Off TITLE BOUT: B2D vs. Tor

Riff-Off TITLE BOUT: B2D vs. Tor

  • Riff A

    Votes: 20 51.3%

  • Riff B

    Votes: 19 48.7%
  • Total voters
    39
  • Poll closed .
Pink Unicorn Horsey

Pink Unicorn Horsey

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


You are voting for your favorite riff in the Riff-Off TITLE BOUT. More information about the Riff-Off can be found here. This is a very special bout because it determines who will carry the title of Riffologist Supremö. Having won the Title Bout against GoDrex last month, B2D currently holds the title. Tor will do his best to rid him of that title.

The rules for Title Bout submissions remain the same as for regular Riff-Off entries with the added stipulation that the Title Bout riff must be in swung-note triplet feel. (Listen to ZZ Top's "La Grange" or The Doors' "Roadhouse Blues" for examples of this feel.)

You've heard the rest of this before, but it bears repeating...

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 are the links to each clip in this battle:

Riff A

Riff B

As you can see, each riff remains anonymous until the poll closes. Which riff belongs to B2D and which one belongs to Tor? Damned if I know. ;)

If you run into any technical issues or have other questions regarding the Riff-Off, contact me via email (kgmessier at gmail dot com).

Have fun!

- Keith
 
Re: Riff-Off TITLE BOUT: B2D vs. Tor

wow it's really tough for me to pick one over the other.
 
Re: Riff-Off TITLE BOUT: B2D vs. Tor

riff b has a cool "updated celtic" feel to it (apropos of st patrick's day) ... i can imagine it kicking off a tune where penny whistle and violin come in next with doubled (octaved), then harmonized lines over a heavy rhythm section ... very nicely done ... strikes me as more a compositional melodic motif than a riff

riff a has a bluesy feel and cool tone ... very 'in the pocket' with a happening groove ... easy to imagine this being developed into a full tune with a lot of room to step out ... strays a little too close to being a progression or thematic element more than a flat out riff

well done to both of you

both supremo in my book

t4d
 
Re: Riff-Off TITLE BOUT: B2D vs. Tor

Great job riffers! I love both of them and I think my vote will just come down to which is my favorite musically. I feel no need to analyze either of these for technical reasons or whether or not they fit any criteria. Just good ol' fashioned "which is your favorite" since they both are great examples. Well done both of you!
 
Re: Riff-Off TITLE BOUT: B2D vs. Tor

Holy smokes are these good. Not a flaw in sight, so it really comes down to feel.

Riff A had something about it where I felt like the guitarist had a real confidence in the lick, and he was ready to just let it loose. I don't know how many takes went into it, but I have this vision of the guy strutting into the studio, laying down the lick, and walking out within a minute or less. There it is, boys; that's how it's done.

Riff B sounded like it was thought out and well played. The tone was extremely interesting. I loved it, for the record. It was unorthodox in a good way, combining tasteful effects in an understated fashion. I felt like the whole was more than the sum of the parts. However, as a riff, I felt it to be ever so slightly less appealing than Riff A.

If I heard the entire songs of both of these, I feel like Riff B's song would hold more appeal for me. However, as riffs alone, I think Riff A just barely edged it out.
 
Re: Riff-Off TITLE BOUT: B2D vs. Tor

Gamera said:
I feel no need to analyze either of these for technical reasons or whether or not they fit any criteria.
Click to expand...

Ultimately, I think this is the best way to go about listening. Riffs should hit the core and have an immediate effect. Sitting around and analyzing is antithetical to the visceral energy of a riff.
 
Re: Riff-Off TITLE BOUT: B2D vs. Tor

dang guys, it's easy to see how you both ended up in this position! amazing riffs from both. I prefer the irish spring, celtic vibe of B, but A is nothing to sneeze at either!!
 
Re: Riff-Off TITLE BOUT: B2D vs. Tor

I don't have any pretentious critiques about who has what kind of motif or progressively advancing thematic inversions or whatever. I like both of the submissions and voted according to my mood at the moment. Riff B.
 
Re: Riff-Off TITLE BOUT: B2D vs. Tor

hmmm

I think I'd usually most easily jibe with riff A because of the bluesy feel.

But, I also play in some Celtic situations, and riff B would just rock in that context...it has a much more pronounced tie-in to the 3/4 feel than riff A which seems to ride over the 3/4 without making it such an intergral part of the riff itself.
 
Re: Riff-Off TITLE BOUT: B2D vs. Tor

Both riffs were excellent and I am thrilled that I can't be sure which riffer is A and which is B. I think both are dead even but finally voted for one because it brought back a pleasant memory.
 
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Re: Riff-Off TITLE BOUT: B2D vs. Tor

Wow both these riffs are phenomenally good in so many ways...

As soon as I listened to Riff A... immediately I wanted to pick up my guitar and play... I always considered music that inspires me to want to play exceptional...

Riff B immediately had me nodding my head, I could easily hear the whole tune to that song, I think the use of effects was tasteful and done flawlessly...

This is a hard choice...
 
Re: Riff-Off TITLE BOUT: B2D vs. Tor

Well done lads, both well thought out and executed.

B hit my core and had the immediate effect, what more can I say .....:)
 
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