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Otis and the Professors
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1/27/2009 8:43:41 PM
---- Updated 1/27/2009 9:19:04 PM
Reviewing Songs on the "OatP and Friends" Sation
Hey everyone, so we have decided to go a little more in depth as to why we have chosen specific tunes for our station. We hope this will be helpful to both the artists and the listeners and foster dialogue about art and music. Also, to avoid confusion in the future the two main members of OatP (Drewsus and Otis) will be signing off for each post they make.
Note: We are definitely not professional music critics, just some fellow musicians who know what we like.
Ok...
"When Louis Armstrong Speaks" by Bob Elliot
The song opens with a nice, yet brief, intro allowing the guitar to establish the rhythm while the harmonica cements some melodic motifs for the rest of the song to play with. They do a great job of creating the right atmosphere for the vocals to dominate the song, which is important because the lyrics are perhaps the song's strongest aspect. The song is sung with genuine emotion, sometimes getting a little louder than would perhaps be expected, but in this song it succeeds in drawing attention to certain words and phrases, both when they grow louder and when then quiet down. Most importantly though, this flows. It succeeds in sounding like it came straight from the soul, not exceedingly difficult in it's technique or structure because it doesn't need to be, this song is truly what music should be about, genuine expression.
Listen multiple times to digest the lyrics and appreciate the little details thrown in here and there (often some bluesy sounding guitar or slight melodic changes that really add color to the overall project.)
-Drewsus (OatP)
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Otis and the Professors
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1/27/2009 9:03:04 PM
"The Girl On The Train" by Steve Ison
It's great to hear a song that has so many different possible genres it could be put into. The jazz style bass line (later joined by a jazzy piano) give this song its great foundation upon which the melodies can wrap themselves in unique ways, even divulging into some not-at-all-out-of-place scatting. The acoustic guitar's ever presence keeps a sort of folksy style that is echoed in the lyrics. A song like this, however, cannot work without a very talented singer, and this one certainly has that going for it. The vocals are very clean and clear while still maintaining that jazzy style, allowing for a very relaxing listen that you can just get lost in. Little shots of sound from the piano, guitar, and interesting drum parts not immediately noticeable, give this song enhanced replay value.
-Drewsus (OatP)
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Bob Elliott
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1/27/2009 9:06:01 PM
Thanks man. I am a bit standing outside that new song and tripping on it. I hope it makes its way in the world. I wonder how it would sound in covers?
You know I listened to your whole station when I first saw the song went up on it, and it was just so damn good of a bunch of songs I had to post about your station. No one commented on that post, so it sunk fast, but maybe people went to check out your collection, because it is really quite good.
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Otis and the Professors
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1/27/2009 9:50:12 PM
---- Updated 1/27/2009 9:52:05 PM
It really is a great song man. And thanks a lot for putting in the time to do something like that, I never knew you made a posting. There are just too many people who are simply locked into their own world trying to get ahead and it is sad that so many "indie" artists seem to not give much time or effort to listening to others' music, so the fact that you did all that is really incredible.
Next Review!
"Imagination" by mila kara
If you enjoy Enigma or Magna Canta, I would highly recommend you check out mila kara, and not just this song. As far as this particular one goes, it does a great job of combining strange sounds on top of a very smooth bass and drum groove. This groove provides an outstanding backbone for the rest of the song. After establishing an ambient feel with some synth and strings, a surprisingly funky guitar hits around the :40 mark to add some real depth and uniqueness to this tune. From there a nice duet melody line plays for a while to keep the mood until all the other instruments are dropped to highlight a beautiful flute reinterpretation of the already established motifs, and the song builds itself all the way back up. This combination, and attention to details creates a song that almost demands you close your eyes, and it really succeeds in conjuring images without any lyrics. It doesn't get too crazy or out of control, rather the song allows you to soak it in.
-Drewsus (OatP)
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Susan Raven
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1/28/2009 1:20:59 AM
Drewsus and Otis, your reviews are great and it's most awesome that you make the time to do this!
One question, if I may, why not add each review to your station also?
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Steve Ison
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1/28/2009 3:17:43 AM
Many thanks Drewsus..A very nice suprise to open this thread and see my song up with such a cool review!
I think its great that you're spending time listening,commenting and giving love to others music here..Very generous-spirited
Always appreciated :)
I'm gonna do as Bob did and stream your station
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Otis and the Professors
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1/28/2009 12:11:41 PM
Great point Susan, done and done.
Thank you Steve, glad to see you enjoy our selections.
More reviews coming later.
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Otis and the Professors
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1/28/2009 9:13:55 PM
---- Updated 1/28/2009 9:14:25 PM
"you look familiar" by Conversation Suicide
So these guys have put out a TON of different sounding songs here on IAC, but this one really caught my attention because it reminded me of one of the best things about making music; having fun. This song must be a blast to play! It's uptempo, melodic, sound (without being overly fluffy) creates an ambiance that you just can't help but bob your head to. The simple "sha na"s for the chorus make this song immediately accessible and capable of singing along to, which seems like the artists way of including everyone in the fun they appear to having. Everything from the quick hit drum fills to the guitar solo evoke smiles in anyone that truly loves good music.
Drewsus (OatP)
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Otis and the Professors
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1/28/2009 9:20:52 PM
"Twilight Serenade" by Laree
Ok, I pretty much have to start with that infectious riff don't I? It sticks with you from the moment the song begins to well after it ends, it really is the perfect canvass for which the rest of the song can be painted onto. The raggaesque guitar and rhythm give this song it's own voice and allows the rest of the interesting and unique sounds to dance around. It almost sounds like a true jam (maybe it was for all I know), the pieces just come in and out of each other, like each is feeling the music in each moment it is being played. The ending is probably my favorite part as each piece is really given the chance to shine in different ways prompting an immediate press of the repeat button.
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Conversation Suicide
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1/28/2009 9:25:42 PM
Great Post. GREAT Reviews --- and thanks for including US! I'll be checking out the actual music of Otis And the Professors in the coming weeks.... I've been catchin' up on other IAC Artists that I had missed. GOD --- there's so much great music out there! And so much I haven't discovered yet.
Your post is a rubber-hits-the-road We Are About the MUSIC kind of post. Nice to see with all the drama lately up in here!
-luv, phlegm
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Otis and the Professors
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1/28/2009 9:55:56 PM
---- Updated 1/28/2009 9:56:21 PM
"In Flight" by Byron Tosoff
This will have to be a short one, as it would be a bit presumptuous of me to try critique someone who is talented on the piano in a way I can only dream of for now. But this piece is simply easy to listen to, easy to appreciate, and easy to love. It doesn't become a victim of tediousness the way many piano instrumentals can, and it keeps adding new and interesting lines until it ends. A work of excellence.
Drewsus (OatP)
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Otis and the Professors
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1/28/2009 10:06:34 PM
---- Updated 1/28/2009 10:12:26 PM
"Roundton" by Susan Raven
Beautiful seems almost like a mundane word to use to describe this piece which truly stands as a work's s of art. The flute work is incredible, the vocals piercing and soft at the same time, the percussion emotive and, in a way, groovy. The harmonies are absolutely breathtaking. I'm always a sucker for some great acoustic rhythm guitar, done to perfection here. This song is good enough to be in a sweeping ancient epic movie. The composition, technical detail and melodic intricacies remind me of Howard Shore or Hans Zimmer's softer sides. The gently distorted guitar line that comes in at the end is a stroke of genius for a song that could easily have just faded out with what it had. Little things like that fill the entire song, making it worth listening to over and over again, as you will almost certainly hear something new each time.
Drewsus (OatP)
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Otis and the Professors
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1/28/2009 10:10:21 PM
Yes, phlegm, lets swim in all this wonderful talent here, eh? On that note, I hope you enjoy our music when you get around to it, listening to all your stuff made me think that we have similar music philosophies of wanting to change up our sound constantly. Peace.
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Otis and the Professors
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1/28/2009 10:57:23 PM
Tomorrow we add reviews for The Man With No Band, and Father Time.
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The Man With No Band
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1/29/2009 12:18:13 AM
Hey OatP ... I'm gonna be takin' a break from the blog scene for at least a couple of days ... Just wanted to take a moment and tell you that what you are doing is great and you have already become an asset to this community ...
Thanks for sticking it out through these "less than ideal" first few days you, along with the rest of the community have witnessed ...
I'd just like to say you will find a lot of good people, and a lot of good music here and this really is the very best Indie site on the planet ... We don't always act like a bunch of baboons and more often than not people here are a bunch of kind, loving individuals ...
I won't make excuses for us ... only to say that we are artist ... and that's enough said ... anyway, I do very much look forward to reading your all your reviews including the one on my song that you so graciously added to your Station and when I return I shall be in touch ...
Peace
Sam
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Susan Raven
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1/29/2009 1:23:58 AM
Wow Drewsus - what a great review, thank you for your appreciation and for your positive response!
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Otis and the Professors
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1/30/2009 2:52:06 PM
"Everybody's Got a Song" by The Man With No Band
This song is rather poignant, especially here in a community like this one. It draws on that universality of not just artists but of people who genuinely try to move through this world. It's minimalistic nature lends itself incredibly well to saturating yourself in it's message. The guitar is suitably driving and the vocals drip with soul. But the lyrics are where this song really shines, and you should really give yourself time to soak in them, the way you might listen to a Bob Dylan song. This is music by songwriting not about any other things music sometimes gets caught up in. Great, great tune.
-Drewsus (OatP)
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SILVERWOODSTUDIO
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1/30/2009 5:10:12 PM
Drewsus!
Nice work you are doing --I have been listening to your stuff and it is most original and appeals to my weird outlook on life!
I hear the kids here have been playing up, while I was away?----not pretty?
I'll have to take away their zimmer frames next time I leave!!!
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Otis and the Professors
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1/30/2009 7:18:06 PM
Hey thanks, things got a little weird there but all is good.
"Treadmill" by Father Time
The guitar work here is really fantastic. The unique sound is really cool, and the the contrast of the two different sounding guitars work VERY well. There seemed to be some issues with the drums but it doesn't distract from the overall great aesthetic. The addition of a synth sound works brilliantly, and could have even been implemented more, but perhaps that's getting greedy. The guitar riff/motif is infectious and emotive. It's bends and slides work tremendously toward complimenting the mood this song so strongly evokes. Soul dripping, indeed.
-Otis (OatP)
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The Man With No Band
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1/30/2009 7:54:03 PM
Thank you for that review Drewsus ... I'm glad you like the song ... and especially glad you like the lyrics ...
I'm not a top notch musician ... and darn sure not a recording engineer ... first and foremost I am a writer ... so that part really made my day ... That's really all I do this for ...
That darn Bob Dylan guy seems to follow me everywhere I go though ... I guess maybe I shouldn't run him off too fast ... :)
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1/30/2009 9:56:38 PM
Thanks Otis. Much appreciated !
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Otis and the Professors
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2/2/2009 10:12:36 PM
"Pretty Nose" by Andy Broad
Whooo, this guy can pluck some strings. This is some great blues, in its craft sure, but this is a song of performance. This kind of emotion, put into the instruments, vocal work, and lyrics requires more than good ideas (of which this song certainly has several) but it absolutely hinges on the ability to put yourself entirely into what you are doing, which is what Andy does here beautifully. This song is true. It is also very very good.
"Loves facing Technology" by The Code
Mmmmm, that is some tasty guitar intro, sounds like this song should be in a Tarantino flick. The guitar work is so groovy, rocking, infectious, emotive, and several other positive adjectives as well. Especially love the "fill" hammer ons/offs in between the vocals. This is rock and roll. Sexy, energy filled, expertly crafted jam rock. Anytime you listen to a song and know that you would pay good money to see that band play live you know they rock.
Drewsus and Otis (OatP)
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Otis and the Professors
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2/2/2009 10:38:18 PM
"The Nobody (feat. Rob)" by SILVERWOODSTUDIO
This song is frickin cool. Can totally identify with making some great music with whatever recording equipment you've got, and the low budget sound adds to the kick assedness of this song. It's groovy, distinctly European sounding, and would probably be a great car ride tune. The guitar hits give an awesome rhythm to move to, only to be dropped and replaced by some disembodied guitar soloing out of any kind of formal structure, which works perfectly in this song. The song then rebuilds and deconstructs itself a few times while always maintaining its overlaying smooth sound. Just a great listen.
Drewsus (OatP)
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Andy Broad
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2/3/2009 8:49:16 AM
Thanks for your really kind review of my song!
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SILVERWOODSTUDIO
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2/3/2009 2:35:55 PM
woow!
that is a frickin nice read----i am grinning!!
It IS Low Fi-----a 4 track Tascam ----and we only played on 3 tracks!!!
we were planning to add drums ----but it sounded ok without !
but!!!! -------we had it remastered here at IAC!!!
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