All Time Low

Mike "Beard Guy" Taylor passed away in his sleep the other night.  I thought I'd post his most recent piano solo in tribute.  RIP

I Just Did A Bad Thing

Closing Time

S-Rank

Fortnite Lawsuits & No Bones Dance

2002

Santa Baby

I Don't Want Anything For Christmas

Little Dribble Boy

Pretty As A Present

Santa Baby

The Giant Boombox

The Lab

Evolution Of Dance 3

Digging Down

Safe Again

In The Air Tonight

Ho Ho Ho

Children Of Planet Earth

Warmer In The Winter

Viva La Vida

Charity & Andres

How To Do Fortnite Boneless Dance

SpinTunes 15: Round 3 Reviews

Even though I don’t run this thing anymore, I do keep an eye/ear on it.  Since I didn’t judge the past rounds here’s what I thought of them.

Round 1:  Hated the challenge, and the songs were meh overall.  In my opinion Red Watcher’s shadow won the round.

Round 2:  Challenge was meh, but the songs were MUCH better.  Faster Jackalope won the round for me, and I became I fan.  The shadow from Dr. Lindyke was probably my 2nd favorite song.  Solid album overall.

How I Plan To Judge:
It’ll be pretty much like I have in the past, but for the new competitors I’ll go over it again.  Most importantly was your song enjoyable to me.  I don’t care how you met the challenge or what amazing thing you did in the song…if I got bored you will not get ranked highly.  I will take into consideration the challenge if 2 or 3 songs are really close in my rankings, but if you didn’t get DQ’ed...how you met the challenge probably won’t make or break you in my rankings.  Normally I’m a fan of more upbeat funny songs, and I focus on the lyrics a lot because I’m not a musician myself.  As this is my busiest time of the year (I’m in retail) so I won’t be reviewing any shadows this time.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Mandibles - Right Again
For me...the catchiest song of the round.  I’ll be singing...

“Right again,
What does it get you when you’re right again?”

...for a few days.  The lyrics were clever, well sang, and no issues with the production.  I wish I had a negative or 2 to throw in…  I am a little annoyed that you’ve made it harder for me to pick my top 4...so yeah...that’s all I got.

Faster Jackelope - Ghia’s Got Room For Two
I questioned your choice when I saw that you picked The Ronettes, but after listening I was impressed.  I’m not a car guy, so I didn’t know what a Karmann Ghia was at first, I was relieved to find out it’s a car.  I felt the vocals were maybe a little hot in the chorus, and there was a transition I didn’t really like at 2:11. Other than that, I can’t complain much.  It was fun to sing, and I look forward to hearing anything else you write in the future.  Well done to everyone who contributed.

PigFarmer, Jr. - Who Are You?
I could listen to this at every SpinTunes LP...not even kidding.  In the past I’ve pushed for rap to be more a part of SpinTunes.  I voted to get a rap challenge multiple times, and eventually schemed enough to get it done.  Seeing you take on rap when others have publicly wimped out in the past means you get lots of props from me.  You really embrace the spirit of SpinTunes when you compete, and this is a good example.  As much as I liked this I have to admit your flow didn’t feel all that natural.

Temnere - The Grifter
I wasn’t familiar with Bed Religion so I had to go listen to some of their music.  I think you hit the nail on the head with the style, and I was into the song.  Then it just ended way too soon.  At first I worried you would be DQ’ed because there used to be a rule about songs being at least 2 minutes long.  After checking with Dave to find out that rule got thrown out I was relieved.  I’m not going to knock you for the song being under some preconceived time limit that I wish you would have hit.  I will knock you a little for the song feeling like it had more in it than what you gave.

Sometimes I need a dictionary to follow along with your lyrics, but you had some that really stuck with me as well.

“the grifter, a righteous pantomime
one day you're the star
but then you find its gone too far

a whisper, of conscience on your mind
the itch of an old scar”

That might be my favorite bit of writing from SpinTunes 15 so far.  This will be in my top 4 for sure.  Well done.

Zoe Gray - Old Lowers’ Bridge
I enjoyed this.  I don’t listen to a ton of Hank Williams, but I get my share when I visit my grandpa.  The lyrics & music held my attention, and while I could never say you have a bad voice, I will say I didn’t think it fit this style all that well.  But you got the job done without it being too much of a distraction.  I read your short bio, and I’m afraid your references were lost on me, but luckily I didn’t need to get them to enjoy the song.  Well done.

Vom Vorton - Silver Streak
Not sure a 2004 Toyota Corolla was the best choice in cars for this song.  Other than picking a car that’s a little more badass I felt this was well done.  Not a huge fan of 1 line chorus, but it makes since in this case.  I’m actually surprised at how much I liked this since I’m not a big fan of Fu Manchu.  I’ve enjoyed your work thus far in SpinTunes...keep it up.

Governing Dynamics - Leave It At That
I was really looking forward to this song.  Mostly because I wanted to see you get outside your comfort zone more.  And if this is the result, you should do it more often.  I do have a number of your songs on my PC that I listen to (so it’s not like I dislike your regular style), but you have played it safe a lot more than I’d have liked in the past.  This shows me, and hopefully you, that you can do other things, and do them well.  This was my favorite song from you this contest.  Lyrically at times I don’t connect with this, but I’m sure you saw that coming in my review already.

Good Guy Sojabe - Ahab
Vocals were a little too muddled with the lines “Out of my mind, Out of my head”, but other than that I enjoyed the performance.  Lyrically it wasn’t really for me & overall the song was too much of a downer for me.  Just not my bag.  Not that it’s a bad song at all, just my personal preference in style worked against you here.

Third Cat - Hideaway
Lyrically I was confused, and musically I was bored.  There were a couple Yoda moments with the lyrics, and that always annoys me.  When I look at your round 2 song it’s clear you can provide good vocals with an interesting sound.  But again with that round I didn’t really connect with your lyrics.  I like clear stories that leave little room for interpretation usually...and that’s not what this was.

Brian Gray - Boy And His Kumquat Tree
I’ve not really bought into your alien trilogy thus far, but at least with the previous entries I could have picked out something positive.  Like your vocal performance, music….something.  This one left me bored & disappointed from start to finish.  The nicest thing I can say is the other competitors will surely be grateful to you for setting the bar so low with the first song.

Ultimate Showdown Of Ultimate Destiny

Michael Dameski

Alisa & Joseph

Why Did I Say Okie Doki?

Santa Baby

Christmas Isn't Real

The Evil One

Charity & Andres

Don't Get Around Much Anymore

Overcome

Day Old Socks

LEGO Love

What The Black Says

Dancing Queen

Sean And Kaycee

Between My Teeth

Burn 'Em Down

Believe Her

Josh & Taylor

I Knew I'd Love You Till The End

Crazy

Words Worth Remembering

Cannonball

Pac-Man Theme

I'd Rather Be Me

Mirror

High & Dry

Ghostbusters

RIP

Soiled

Don't Worry Be Happy

Mom Too

Can't Get Out Of Bed

Ghost Train

Video Killed The Radio Star

Take It To Da House

The Rap Biography Of Cleopatra

Gusty Garden

Crying

White Flag

Sean & Kaycee

When I Get Older

Just Be Best

Wild World

Download This Song

Overkill

Ahab

Welcome To The Black Parade

Signing Emo

Rebelosis

I Can Do Whatever I'm White 2

Pigman Rap

Genie In A Bottle

Is Everything Perfect

Curiosity

You Never Can Tell

Always Something There To Remind Me

Surrender

Holiday

Rattlesnake

Be Better At Listening

Lemon

Star Spangled Banner

6 Hour Delayed Flight

Getting Stronger

Keys

Feel It Still

Mount St. Helens Is About To Blow Up

Livin' La Vida Loca

You Shook Me All Night Long

Batman's Song

With Great Power

Lost

Fearless

PMJ Search 2018

These are my favorite entries into the talent search this year.

Lauren Tyler Scott  

Therese Curatolo

Gilmarie Villanueva

The Pirates

Walk This Way

Try

Theory Of Relativity

Rental Patient

Evan DeBenedetto & Lex Ishimoto (SYTYCD)

Kim & I

Bohemian Rhapsody

Marvel's Spider-Man Rap Song

Day One

Welcome To My Planet

Jensen Arnold & Genessy Castillo (SYTYCD)

Thanks For Playing

Never Give Up

Good Feeling

Huck Finn's On The Run

Chilly Wonka

Lauren Froderman & Jay Jay Dixonbey (SYTYCD)

Nanobot

Magda & Darius (SYTYCD)

Everything You Know Is Wrong

It's All A Blur

Flight Of The Tap Dancing

Dead Romance

I Need A Hero

Netherlands Gay

Chelsea Maria Hough (SYTYCD)

Should have known my favorite dancer would get eliminated round 1...seems to happen a lot.  I'm a jinx I guess.

7 Evil Lexes

Footloose

The Emperor's New Clothes

Weak

Work It

Chelsea & Evan (SYTYCD)

Jolene

Is This Love

Heart Boner

Hips Don't Lie

Raise Your Hand

Darius Hickman (SYTYCD)

Scary Poppins

Je Ne Care Pas

Hannahlei Cabanilla (SYTYCD)

Zelda: Breath Of The Wild WITH LYRICS

Forest Whitaker

Save It For The First Time

Outbreak! The Musical

Daddy's Home

I Go Crazy

Hijacking Kanye's YouTube Channel

For Now

Freewheeling

Middletown Division Of Police Lip Sync Challenge

I Thought She Knew

Buddy Holly

Fortnite Rap Battle Royale

Girls Like You

The Way I Am

2018 National Dance Day Routine

Beautiful Life

Pity

Oh Bobby

I'm All Right

History

First Light

Elders React To Postmodern JukeBox

Johnny Joystick

Bye Bye Blackbird

Ryan Green (SYTYCD)

Rap God In Sign Language

YouTube Notification Bell Song

Hello Sexy Pants

Do The Bartman

At Last

Emily Carr (SYTYCD)

After Ever After 3

Baby Don't Leave Me Alone With My Thoughts

Stampede

Critical Hit

Nicole Clonch (SYTYCD)

Not About Fortnite

SpinTunes 14 Round 4 Reviews

Prior to SpinTunes I'd offered up my services to Dave to be a judge IF needed. But I also made it clear I had no intention of judging while JoAnn Abbott was competing. The SpinTuners who've been around awhile know why, but I'll assume not everyone reading this knows the history here. So in short, JoAnn went off the deep end after I gave her a bad ranking 1 year. She cursed me out & blamed me for her losing even though I gave my honest opinion. Eventually I just banned her from the contest for being a poor sport & even while banned she was claiming the contest was rigged by me. There's a lot more to it than just that, but that's the gist. So even though I wanted to help if Dave needed it, I couldn't pretend to be unbiased & honestly I just didn't want anything to do with her anymore. So when she was eliminated I stepped in to guest judge.

But when I heard her song at the LP, I actually WANTED to review it. Not because I loved it or even hated it more than I expected, but because of the topic combined with who wrote it. So in the end I DID review it, and sent it to Dave. I knew the review wasn't really appropriate, so I told Dave I was fine with him not including the Menage A Tune review, and he didn't. I originally planned to post it the day after the results got posted, but as the days went by I got less annoyed, and decided not to bother. She wasn't doing anything wrong NOW, even if the song was insanely hypocritical when you consider her history. So I just decided to forget about it.

About a week or so later I was talking to a friend who knew what I had originally planned to post, and they asked what kind of reaction my reviews got. I told them none as far as I knew, because I didn't make the post. This did however spur me to check, because JoAnn does have a blog she used to complain about me on. So on June 4th I check, and see she did in fact complain about me on May 29th. Here's the post:

Here's the part that referenced me:

"Any review, if meant to be helpful so we can improve is good. Ted really lives for them, and was pretty hurt by the rather glaring omission from one judge, who reviewed the other shadow song but not ours.  Makes him (the judge) look bad, really.  Dump on me, not on my partner please."

So when I review you I risk getting cursed at & called a cheat for years, and when I go out of my way to avoid reviewing you...you're still not happy?  Piss off.  As for Ted, I have no issues with your partner.  I like Ted, always have, and he's been a HUGE asset to SpinTunes over the years.  If he was hurt by my lack of review, he could have messaged me on Facebook, but he didn't.  Since he's been around awhile, and I've actually spoken with him in the past about our history...I'm pretty sure he knew why I didn't review you guys.

Now...since you want my reviews, you shall have them.  Keep in mind I'm well aware of how off topic I get in my review of you, and it's one of the reasons why I was fine with Dave not posting it.  This was written very quickly after I heard your entry & was still annoyed with it.  You can ask Dave if you like, but this is exactly how I submitted my reviews.

-----------------------------------------------------

Ok, first off great work everyone up to this point.  I don’t run the contest anymore, but I do listen in & enjoy it as a fan now.  Like the competitors, the judges have done a wonderful job, and I’m thankful for their time & efforts throughout.  HOWEVER!  When I heard what the round 4 challenge was, I was not thrilled.  I thought it was a bad challenge for multiple reasons.

1.  It seems too self serving.  I’d have been worried that newer SpinTuners & possible future SpinTuners would see this as someone just trying to get a free theme song with the challenge & nothing else.  I’d thought of this challenge before, and that’s exactly why I never did it.  I’m sure that’s not the only reason this was selected as a challenge, but again...bad optics in my opinion.
2.  The final challenge in past SpinTunes has been a lot more interesting or challenging than this one.
3.  It’s bound to create an album of songs that will have little replay value other than being played at the SpinTunes listening party.

I’m not trying to throw all the judges under the bus for this 1 bad challenge though.  Hell, I ok’ed the worst challenges ever (Sad song about birth).  I also ok’ed a challenge that I knew would have little replay value (jingle challenge).  So yeah, everyone makes a bad call from time to time, and I just thought this was one of them.  Oh, and maybe link to the examples mentioned in the challenge considering both aren’t exactly well known.  Enough time talking about the challenge...onto the songs.

Micah Sommersmith - The Tunes Are Spinning
I was at the listening party, and while this was playing I couldn’t think of anything good to say aside from the fact that I love accordion.  AFTER the listening party I listened to everything again on BandCamp and it sounded so much better.  The audio quality on YouTube really sucked I guess, because I didn’t have any major issues with this song.  The lyrics got the point across in a catchy humorous way.  You had the break in there.  Thought it was sang well enough, and did I mention I love accordion?

Because I feel the need to nitpick there are a couple things I felt could have been better.  I enjoyed the build up for Tom, but the line “I’d tell you more, but I think he might be onto me” feels off.  I mean I get he’s about to have to judge you, and it’s a joke about your sucking up to him with this song.  But in future contests, he won’t be judging you...and this is a theme song for future contests.  So it didn’t feel like a good choice.

The other small issue I had was with the line “Rhymes so sick you’ll need to take a couple days off ”.  I actually LOVE the line, but you rhymed it with “face off”.  Not exactly a sick rhyme. ;p

But like I said...nitpicky because overall I really enjoyed the song, and if this wins, I’d say it was deserved.

Megalodon - STLIP-15
Creative title…  Again this sounds way better on Bandcamp than it did on YouTube.  The first thing that jumps out at me is the fact that “Spintunes Listening Party” is too much of a mouthful to be catchy.  Should have just went with “SpinTunes”, cause I don’t think “Listening Party” needs to be forced into the theme.  Something like “Welcome to SpinTunes” could be worked into the lyrics easier & people would still know it’s the listening parties theme.

Really enjoyed the instrumental section, and the music throughout was really catchy so nice work there.  Lyrically I don’t always mesh with Megalodon, but I think you did a really good job aside from the chorus.  Vocals, performance...I just really liked everything other than your chorus.  Solid entry, you got a shot.

Temnere - Saturday Morning SpinTunes
I wasn’t really sure how your sound would translate into a theme song, but it turns out pretty well.  There are parts that I listened to without the lyrics in front of me, and I swear I couldn’t make out what was being said.  But when I had the lyrics in front of me I was like, “Oh yeah, I hear that now.”  Not sure if that’s just me, or if the vocals need brought up a little or what.  “where war's fought mind to mind” was probably the line that got me most.

You definitely make the contest sound pretty badass, and you do it while laying out exactly how the contest works.  Honestly I don’t think anyone could have done a better job of making it sound so epic.  Up until the line “set your mark and write the perfect tune” the song could’ve been about something completely different...yet it still fits SpinTunes.  I don’t know what else to say other than well done, and you’re probably getting my top vote.

Bubba And The No Longer Amiable Kraken - Listening Party Theme
Another nice title…  Dang, another I could see winning.  Obviously I’m going to have a favorite, but I see all 4 having a legit shot at winning.  You did a better job of making “SpinTunes Listening Party” catchy than Megalodon did, but I know less about SpinTunes from listening to your theme Vs the others I think.

No question you got a bouncy feel that honestly suits what I personally envisioned for a theme more so than the others.  The production was good, vocals good, just wish you could have worked in a little more detail about the contest.  Also, what happens if Tom changes the time or day for the listening party? ;p

Glen Raphael - SpinTunes Listening Party (Shadow)
Acapella is a bold choice.  I think in parts it turned out great, and in other parts it felt like a “wall of sound” which I think is how you put it in the chat room?  And really those moments come so close together, there’s a fine line that you seemed to step back & forth across multiple times.  Lyrically it’s a bit sparse in terms of detail about the contest.  It was certainly fun to listen to, and I always love getting shadows, but I think it’s where it belongs this round when compared to the actual entries.

Menage a Tune - SpinTunes
Ok, I wasn’t going to review this because of my history with JoAnn, but when I heard it at the listening party I HAD to review it because of my history with JoAnn.  The music was enjoyable, but I could have used something with more bounce that was a little less wispy.  Again...not bad at all, but I didn’t feel it was well suited for a theme song.  Vocally, I could cut & paste a past review of JoAnn.  She gets it done & attempts to put some personality in the delivery, but in the end I’m still reminded of an church lady singing children’s hymns to a Sunday school class.

Lyrically I wouldn’t have any major issues with it had it been written by anyone other than JoAnn.  I mean she hits on most of the things I’d expect someone to hit on given this challenge, and there’s no hamster wheel of life mentioned, so that’s all good.  But the fact that she includes the lines...

“Even if you do not win,
You can take it with a grin.”

...is a little much coming from JoAnn.  What happened when you got a bad ranking from me in SpinTunes 5 JoAnn?  You sure as hell didn’t take that with a grin.  You actually cursed me out in Google+, complained about my honest opinion of your song, and eventually just flat out started saying the contest was rigged by me.  You were such a pain in the ass & poor sport that I eventually just banned you.

Then let's look at the lines…

“And cheer your friends along!”

You must only mean friends that write songs that you agree with?  Right?  I remember how you handled it when someone wrote a song that didn’t line up with your opinions or beliefs.

Either way...you writing a theme song for SpinTunes is like asking Sean Hannity to write the forward for Rachel Maddow’s next book.  It wouldn’t make much sense & it would leave everyone a little unsettled afterwards.

High

The Middle

Eddie Hoyt SYTYCD

Horny Pockets

Getting To Know You

Can't Buy Me Love

Portal Rap

Gaevin Barnacles SYTYCD

I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire

Hang On

ASUS ZenFone 5 Commercial

Summertime

Spin Town

Ankle Bully

Hat Tricks

Tennessee Whiskey

History Of Philosophy Rap

In My Blood

Lovesick

Ragtime Rondo Alla Turca

Baby

Don't Go Breaking My Heart

Tell Me What You Hear

Lullaby Of Birdland

I Go Crazy

Sinkin In Lincoln

Good Kisser

Domino

Done For Me

Toys

Uptown Funk

Famous

Intergalactic

Before He Cheats

Super Meat Boy Fast Rap

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Done For Me

Infinity War Rap Battle

Nothing Compares 2 U

Shoemaker

Crazy Train

Black Banana

Bawitdaba

Larry Pockets

Passenger Side

Fly Again

Rap Roasts 4

Done For Me

We Can't Stop

Alabamy Bound

The Preciousness Of Time

The Sonnet Song

Booty Bound

It's A Conspiracy

Ace Of Aces

Note Blocks

Creep

I Can't Make You Love Me

Toy

I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)

Bendy And The Ink Machine Rap Song (Chapter 2)

21st Century Machine

Last Resort

Rolling In The Deep

Stand By Me

Art Is Dead

So Devilish

Straight Up

Six Years

Polkas On 45

The Hamilton Polka

Happy

Alone

Dad Kills Old School Rap

Stranger

Producing A Song I Wrote When I Was 9

Mob Raps 1-6

Make Me Feel

Life Support (360 VR Music Video)

Rap Roasts #3

Wildewoman

Perfect

Too Much Time On My Hands

The Saddest Valentines (November Babies)

The Furby Organ

Last First Love

A.I. Transforms Dancer Into A Pianist

You Sang My Song: Katy Perry

I'm not a big Katy Perry fan, but I love this idea for a series.  So far there are 4 episodes, and I hope they keep coming.

The Last Key Of Awesome

Hot Head

You Don't Exist

If You Leave Me Now

Skydiving

Phone Home

This Is Why We Can't Have Rice Things

Google Translate

Boombaparang

Tap Ukulele Looping

Lose Yourself

Body Image

Marbles, Magnets And Music

Get Over It

The New Colossus

China (Na Na)

Vikings Vs. Saints Halftime Show

Super Mario Bros. Ragtime Piano Medley

2017 Lion Foundation Songwriting Competition

La de da de da de da de day oh

Heart Of Glass

Turn It Up

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien

The Dawn Will Come

You've Got A Friend In Me

Music Box, Harp & Hammered Dulcimer

I Wanna Say Hello!

Jerry Van Dyke recently passed away.  Most people will remember him as Luther from the TV show "Coach".  My first memory of him is when he played Stacy on "The Dick Van Dyke Show".  Jerry has made memorable appearances on many shows over the years: from "The Andy Griffith Show", "Mary Tyler Moore Show", "Yes Dear", "The Middle", and many more.   He even got a small role in my favorite western comedy of all time, "McLintock!".  From Judy Garland to John Wayne, Jerry has worked with the best.  And even though he was rarely the star, he left an impression anytime the spotlight was on him. Rest in peace Jerry.

Blazing Hot Fast Rap

Best Of Mark And Lindsey

I've never liked "Dancing With The Stars".  Too many of the stars just suck, and frankly there's just a much better option to get your dance fix. (So You Think You Can Dance)  But having Lindsey on the show made it worth watching for once.

Guy Sings Every Part Of Beauty And The Beast

I'm Not Okay