.
*MUSIC REVIEWERS*
(ask ‘roboray’ what blog he recommended i send songs to)
(will i have to pay?)
(would bukowski be a constant internet presence?)
(or make it all private so record labels cant see the likes)
(ironically i can probably only GET likes if i have promotion of label)
(cool songs)
(too transparent?)
(ake “praise”)
(for i’m the “ultimate self-aggrandizer”)
(or rather “self-promoter”)
(now THAT’s a euphemism mind you!)
(aka “megalomaniac”)
(i require ‘narcissistic supply’ in order to keep on living)
(as well as “my memories”)
(mostly my best “hook ups” to date)
(i can “live of those memories” even if i never “get with” a girl again)
(“GET WITH IT!”)
(the ‘battiato’ compliment sheets
(who benefitted the most from it?)
(in terms of “lifting their spirits”)
(those who think poorly of themselves)
(as someone who thinks highly of himself, i usually just get “bummed” by what i perceive to be
(what is the motivation for giving someone a compliment?)
(empathy)
(to alleviate guilte for insulting someone)
(explain to michael anthony that he’s better off that me)
(because he actually “accomplished” something that would impress thousands of people)
(as opposed to me who has (for all intents and purposes”
(on the other hand, ‘accomplishing’ something that would not necessarily benefit humanity)
(but i truly believe someday…)
(“truly believe” is a bit ‘meta’, ain’t it?)
.
12 BEST FB COMMENTS:
“are you a model?”
(because you’re really good-looking)
(in response to my ‘december 2006’ shirtless photoshoot)
(i was 22 years old)
(over a year out of ‘harvard’)
“the PIC (not ‘me’) is gorgeous!)
brooke cassidy
(busking days akin to throwing parties with little sis) / magic dan and i)
always scheming with cazques ot giet girls oer
sumer of summer 2005
(i graduated harvard in 3 years)
(NEVER talk about this)
(let peopl get te feeling that they as an establishment needs YOU!)
(ultimate revenge – hero to many uses his ‘yelp!’ to destroy / damage rep
my fnail summer!
when applying to harvard college, i received letters of recommendation from:
superintendent robert baly
principal thomas diganci
athletic director mario diaz
precalculus teacher stanley benson
physics teacher theodore latham
when applying for positions in finance, i received a letter of recommendation from cantor fitzgerald employee michael kownacki
(posing as cantor fitzgerald managing director ‘daniel lavecchia’)
.
“COVER LETTERS”
start with your address…
(just so they know you’re not quite homeless yet)
i’ve written a whole bunch of cover letters over the past year…
(none of which resulted in employment)
61 Clearview Avenue
Princeton, NJ 08540
(908)210-6648
jogajungle@gmail.com
Human Resources
Institute for Advanced Study
Einstein Drive
Princeton, NJ 08540
I am applying for the “development officer of major gifts” position posted on your website. I recently moved to Princeton after working in Manhattan for several years as a researcher. I received an AB degree from Harvard College in 2005 (completing a three-year Advanced Standing academic program), majoring in economics.
While living in Manhattan, I was employed by JPMorganChase for 3 years as an analyst in the commodities division, specifically power trading. During my tenure at the firm, I was responsible for writing weekly research reports in the power trading market, specifically the PJM (“Pennsylvania / New Jersey / Maryland”) market. A significant portion of my workload was based in Microsoft Excel, and so thus I’ve attained a mastery of the program in compiling these reports. Additionally, I was responsible for the oversight of the monthly PJM financial balance sheet. In this role, I’ve demonstrated sound judgment and discretion when working with sensitive and confidential information as well as the ability to prioritize and work independently on multiple projects.
Prior to my employment with JPMorganChase, I was employed as a researcher with Michael Kownacki Partners. In this role, I was required to construct PowerPoint presentations for companies in both the healthcare and railroad industries (the LLC acting as an intermediary for transactions between two parties in both industries).
Additionally, I serve as finance committee chairman for the NYC-based Janus Theater Company. In this role, I have overseen fundraising endeavors for over twenty theatrical works. I have extensively utilized the Kickstarter website in order raise funds. I believe that my experience with the Janus Theater Company makes me well-suited for many of the requirements listed for the position. I have developed excellent written, verbal, analytical, planning, and organizational skills in my correspondences with both individual and corporate donors.
For the past several years, I have been employed as an academic tutor with the Princeton Tutoring company. As a tutor of high school students, I have developed the exceptionally strong interpersonal skills required for the position. In dealing diplomatically (and certainly tolerantly and tactfully) with the parents of students, I have been able to develop an extensive client base. Additionally, I have overseen the foundation a music education business in which I employ 10 local musical educators and recording engineers to provide music lessons and complete recording sessions for clients. In doing so, I have developed the ability to work under pressure and meet short deadlines in serving my clients’ needs.
I have an extensive working knowledge of PC equipment as well as Macintosh software (I’ve divided my working hours between a Dell laptop and an iMac for the past decade). I utilize e-mail (Microsoft Outlook and Google Mail) on a daily basis in my correspondences with clients, donors, and collaborators.
I was one of the candidates considered for the “Academic Assistant” position for Professors Nicola Di Cosmo and Jonathan Israel in November 2012. I had interviews with both of the professors, human resources director Michael Klompus, and administrative officer Marian Zelazny. Although I was not selected for the position, I was extremely impressed with the working environment at the Institute and the excellence of the staff members. I believe that I would be a valuable contribution to the Institute’s staff in furthering their research and fundraising goals. I currently live less than 3 miles away from your headquarters so I would have the ability to report to the Institute on short notice if called upon for an assignment after regular working hours.
Sincerely,
Joseph J. Gatti
jogajungle@gmail.com
(908)210-6648
I am applying for the academic assistant position posted on your website. I recently moved to Princeton after working in Manhattan for several years as a researcher. I received an AB (Latin: “artium baccalaureus”) degree from Harvard College in 2005 (completing a three-year Advanced Standing academic program), majoring in economics. I note in the job posting that a bachelor’s degree in the humanities is strongly preferred, but I feel confident that my educational background in the humanities is sufficiently strong to qualify for this position. While writing my senior thesis (on optimal strategies for two-handed Texas Hold’em in the context of general game theory), I gained a working familiarity with Endnote in citing my sources. Furthermore, I’ve also attained a fluency in the Spanish language after several years of studying the language in high school and college.
While living in Manhattan, I was employed by JPMorganChase for 3 years as an analyst in the commodities division, specifically power trading. During my tenure at the firm, I was responsible for writing weekly research reports in the power trading market, specifically the PJM (“Pennsylvania / New Jersey / Maryland”) market. A significant portion of my workload was based in Microsoft Excel, and so thus I’ve attained a mastery of the program in compiling these reports. Prior to my employment with JPMorganChase, I was employed as a researcher with Michael Kownacki Partners. In this role, I was required to construct PowerPoint presentations for companies in both the healthcare and railroad industries (the LLC acting as an intermediary for transactions between two parties in both industries).
I have an extensive working knowledge of PC equipment as well as Macintosh software (I’ve divided my working hours between a Dell laptop and an iMac for the past decade). As a freelance essayist, I utilize Microsoft Word quite frequently in the composition of both prose and poetry. As a visual artist, I utilize Adobe Photoshop in both promotional and artistic endeavors.
In regards to the remainder of the job requirements, I possess a valid New Jersey driver’s license as well as a thoroughly robust constitution (as a former varsity high school footballer, 30 pounds of books seems quite manageable). I currently live less than 3 miles away from your headquarters. I can be reached via e-mail at jogajungle@gmail.com.
Eagle Scout.
I am applying for the special assistant to director position posted on your website. I recently moved to Princeton after working in Manhattan for several years as a researcher. I received an AB degree from Harvard College in 2005 (completing a three-year Advanced Standing academic program), majoring in economics.
While living in Manhattan, I was employed by JPMorganChase for 3 years as an analyst in the commodities division, specifically power trading. During my tenure at the firm, I was responsible for writing weekly research reports in the power trading market, specifically the PJM (“Pennsylvania / New Jersey / Maryland”) market. A significant portion of my workload was based in Microsoft Excel, and so thus I’ve attained a mastery of the program in compiling these reports. Additionally, I was responsible for the oversight of the monthly PJM financial balance sheet. In this role, I’ve demonstrated sound judgment and discretion when working with sensitive and confidential information as well as the ability to prioritize and work independently on multiple projects.
Prior to my employment with JPMorganChase, I was employed as a researcher with Michael Kownacki Partners. In this role, I was required to construct PowerPoint presentations for companies in both the healthcare and railroad industries (the LLC acting as an intermediary for transactions between two parties in both industries).
Additionally, I serve as finance committee chairman for the NYC-based Janus Theater Company. In this role, I have overseen fundraising endeavors for over twenty theatrical works. I have extensively utilized the Kickstarter website in order raise funds. I believe that my experience with the Janus Theater Company makes me well-suited for many of the requirements listed for the “Special Assistant to Director” position. I have developed excellent written, verbal, analytical, planning, and organizational skills in my correspondences with both individual and corporate donors.
For the past several years, I have been employed as an academic tutor with the Princeton Tutoring company. As a tutor of high school students, I have developed the exceptionally strong interpersonal skills required for the “Special Assistant to Director” position. In dealing diplomatically (and certainly tolerantly and tactfully) with the parents of students, I have been able to develop an extensive client base. Additionally, I have overseen the foundation a music education business in which I employ 10 local musical educators and recording engineers to provide music lessons and complete recording sessions for clients. In doing so, I have developed the ability to work under pressure and meet short deadlines in serving my clients’ needs.
I have an extensive working knowledge of PC equipment as well as Macintosh software (I’ve divided my working hours between a Dell laptop and an iMac for the past decade). I utilize e-mail (Microsoft Outlook and Google Mail) on a daily basis in my correspondences with clients, donors, and collaborators.
I was one of the candidates considered for the “Academic Assistant” position for Professors Nicola Di Cosmo and Jonathan Israel in November 2012. I had interviews with both of the professors, human resources director Michael Klompus, and administrative officer Marian Zelazny. Although I was not selected for the position, I was extremely impressed with the working environment at the Institute and the excellence of the staff members. I believe that I would be a valuable contribution to the Institute’s staff in furthering their research and fundraising goals. I currently live less than 3 miles away from your headquarters so I would have the ability to report to the Institute on short notice if called upon for an assignment after regular working hours.
To whom it may concern,
I am interested in the “multimedia specialist” position posted on the Princeton website. For the past several years, I have been promoting a variety of musical / artistic collectives in both an audio and visual capacity. I have an expert knowledge in Final Cut Pro (as well as a multitude of other video editing software) and Photoshop and most all audio editing software. I’ve attached 3 samples of my productions.
Joseph J. Gatti
jogajungle@gmail.com
FINANCE
Joseph J. Gatti
(908)210-6648
jogajungle@gmail.com
HARVARD COLLEGE:
BA 2005 (economics)
GPA: 3.53
– based on Advanced Placement test scores, earned bachelor’s degree in 3 years.
GRE test scores:
Verbal (730) / Quantitative (650) / Analytical Writing (5)
WATCHUNG HILLS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL:
SAT I test scores:
Math – 800 / Verbal – 760
SAT II test scores:
MATH IIC: 800
AP test scores:
Calculus BC – 5
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Broker
(BGC Partners)
(2007 – 2009)
– general securities registered representative / investment adviser representative
– inflation products / structured credit derivatives broker
Analyst
(JPMorganChase)
(2009 – 2013)
– power trading division
– responsible for oversight of PJM (Pennsylvania / New Jersey / Maryland) power trading accounts
Tutor
(Princeton Tutoring)
(2014 – present)
SAT tests / AP tests / all high school subjects
SKILLS:
– extensive work experience in Microsoft Excel / Microsoft Word / Endur
MUSIC
*JoGa*
we’re not really balloons. we are performance artists currently waging a war 4 independence. we are committed to delivering sonic justice to the recorded works of joga. we have been commanded to pour our hearts out on a nightly basis to live audiences of all shapes and sizes.
*we won the war*
PERFORMANCE:
Vocalist / Guitarist for “The Second Nature”
Notable Venues:
NEW YORK CITY:
Spin NYC
Spike Hill
Blackthorn 51
FIGMENT Music Festival
BOSTON:
Copperfield’s
NEW JERSEY:
Watchung Arts Center
Crossroads Performing Arts Center
Stone Pony
RECORDED WORKS:
music is available for purchase @ itunes music store
(artist name: JoGa)
recorded works are also available for sample + purchase @:
http://jogajungle.bandcamp.com
Starred in “Weirdos” (2013)
(an independent film directed by Mark Blumberg)
(filmed in Austin TX)
TABULA RASA
BANJOGAI
DINOSAURS
HARVARD HOP
RAT RACE
THE CREEPS
THE SLUMS
TIME TO SHINE
RAISE HELL
MAKE A WISH
HE DONE DIED
WE WON THE WAR
Member of the Board of Directors for the Janus Theatre Company
(www.janusnyc.org)
Placed in Top 10 of the “New Jersey Idol” Vocal Competition
(March 2013)
ACADEMICS
FITNESS
TECHNOLOGY
MARKETING
SERVICES
RETAIL
FOOD
Joseph J. Gatti
61 Clearview Avenue
Princeton, NJ 08540
(908)210-6648
jogajungle@gmail.com
HARVARD COLLEGE:
BA 2005 (economics) / GPA: 3.53.
– based on Advanced Placement test scores, earned bachelor’s degree in 3 years.
WATCHUNG HILLS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL:
Class of 2002 / Numeric grade average: 96 / SAT I test scores: Math – 800, Verbal – 760 Varsity athlete (football/wrestling/baseball)
2002 Somerset County Scholar-Athlete of the year
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Computer technician with Watchung Borough school system (summers 1999 and 2000)
Researcher for Michael Kownacki Partners (July 2005 – February 2007)
– responsible for analysis of collateralized debt obligations and research for investors in the health care and railroad industries
Analyst with BGC Partners / JPMorganChase (March 2007 – January 2009)
– inflation products / structured credit derivatives broker
– analyst in the power trading division of JPMorgan Chase / responsible for oversight of PJM (Pennsylvania / New Jersey / Maryland) power trading accounts
– General securities registered representative/investment adviser representative
Member of the Board of Directors of the Janus Theatre Company (NYC-based non-profit organization) / finance committee chairman / (www.janusnyc.org)
Certified fitness trainer (Bally Total Fitness in Brick NJ)
Tutor with Princeton Tutoring from April 2009 to present:
– SAT / AP tests / all high-school level academic subjects
Singer / Songwriter / Guitarist
www.jogajungle.com
(Music available under “JoGa” @ itunes)
Proficient in:
Microsoft Office (Excel, Publisher, Word)
Web design (HTML/XHTML/CSS, Macromedia Dreamweaver/Flash, Adobe Photoshop)
Video editing (Final Cut / LiveType)
Digital audio recording (Pro Tools / Cubase)
MIDI composition (Sibelius / Finale)
(references available upon request)
résumé
*JoGa*
we’re not really balloons. we are performance artists currently waging a war 4 independence. we are committed to delivering sonic justice to the recorded works of joga. we have been commanded to pour our hearts out on a nightly basis to live audiences of all shapes and sizes.
*we won the war*
PERFORMANCE:
Vocalist / Guitarist for “The Second Nature”
Notable Venues:
NEW YORK CITY:
Spin NYC
Spike Hill
Blackthorn 51
FIGMENT Music Festival
BOSTON:
Copperfield’s
NEW JERSEY:
Watchung Arts Center
Crossroads Performing Arts Center
Stone Pony
RECORDED WORKS:
music is available for purchase @ itunes music store
(artist name: JoGa)
recorded works are also available for sample + purchase @:
http://jogajungle.bandcamp.com
.
.
Starred in “Weirdos” (2013)
(an independent film directed by Mark Blumberg)
(filmed in Austin TX)
TABULA RASA
BANJOGAI
DINOSAURS
HARVARD HOP
RAT RACE
THE CREEPS
THE SLUMS
TIME TO SHINE
RAISE HELL
MAKE A WISH
HE DONE DIED
WE WON THE WAR
Member of the Board of Directors for the Janus Theatre Company
(www.janusnyc.org)
(placed in ‘top 10’ of the “new jersey idol” vocal competition)
(march 2013)
.
.
reviews:
(disparaging comments by family/friends)
(other me:)
“he was neutered, i tellya!”
(franken:)
“oh will he get his revenge! he’ll do all the dirty work and lazy losers like us will reap the rewards!”
(marginal plainfield athlete:)
“see sweet jesus, they ain’t all so bad. why this one here’s a genuine riot!”
(rob toresco:)
“he was always so shy…”
(doctor krekorian:)
“ah, mister tall and skinny…”
(uncle david:)
“boy was too clever for his own goddamned good!”
(mother:)
“he was a nice boy”
(that’s why he had such trouble getting laid!)
(christine fisher:)
“i’m not looking for anything beyond friendship…”
(christine hauer:)
“I don’t want to send out any mixed signals, so I’ll plead the fifth…”
(jess franko:)
“he wasn’t much in bed…”
(other me: ‘well look what I was up against! she’s a beast I tellya!’)
(professor imagination:)
“I always knew he’d pen a self-indulgent autobiographical novel. he’d been blogging in vain for centuries!”
(colonel sanders:)
“it’s finger-lickin good!”
(did you even know boy e, sir?)
“22 / American Dreams / As Good As It Gets”
Hard To Classify…
While imaginative and musically expressive, this submission is difficult to categorize or place within the parameters of the listings genre.
Joseph, throughout this submission you have displayed a ton of creativity and imagination. Your bio is one of the more unique and artistic I have encountered. I commend your dedication to originality and sonic ingenuity. That being said, it is important when one is submitting to a listing as commercially oriented as this one is to be aware of the specific parameters and stylistic aspects of the current genre and the artists who are mentioned as helpful guidelines. It is quite obvious that you are on a mission, and you should not let this critique impede on it. However you might want to examine these artists and try to extract some ideals that can inform your music as to give it a more commercially viable sound and approach. Thank you for your time.
Well-recorded: Broadcast Quality
Not stylistically close enough to the commercially oriented aspects of both the listing and the current Brit Pop/Rock genre.
“As Good As It Gets”
Unique, quirky and progressive. The vocals are delivered with texture, detail and a ton of character. Stylistically, it is very difficult to place this composition into one specific classification or category. While I can decipher British influence, it tends to be informed from an earlier era (60’s & 70’s). Commercially, it is not as easy to determine potential within this listings genre.
“American Dreams”
Complex and highly expressive. What an adventure this song takes the listener on. The instrumentation and the choice of tones gives this song a great deal of texture and diversity. That said, it is very important to place greater emphasis on an effective structure, in addition to providing a clearer melodic direction, especially when submitting to such a commercially oriented listing such as this one.
“22”
Heartfelt and engaging. The drum tones and performance really work well for this compositions structural design and dynamic intention. The pensive vocals are packed with emotion and levity. That said, there are some times when you need to be aware of your pitch and timbre in relation to the songs general key signature. Commercially, it is difficult to determine potential in the current Brit Pop/Rock demographic.
“Fishin’ / Read Your Mind / Goodbye Mary Lou”
Not close enough to what listing asked for…
Late 60’s Brit Pop tone and feel in the style of The Move and Mungo Jerry
Your songs do land in the 1960’s British music bag, Joseph. The time period is slightly off for the listings request, however and comes in under the influences of bands such as The Move (formed in 1966) and Mungo Jerry (1970). Both of those dates and formation are after the fact for the 1963 to 1966 specifics of the listing request. The listing is seeking a hybrid of soul and rock’n’roll [popular int he British Invasion bands such as The Animals, The Who, The Rolling Stones, the Beatles, The Dave Clark Five, The Yardbirds, The Kinks, Them and The Zombies. Your songs bring in elements of skiffle and rock with a little jazz chord progressions.
Well-recorded…(sound recording is well produced and delivered)
Song style is not in the vein of artists such as The Animals, The Who, The Rolling Stones, the Beatles, The Dave Clark Five, The Yardbirds, The Kinks, Them and The Zombies and skews to a later 60’s Brit Pop in the style of The Move.
“Fishin'”
There is a 60’s garage rock tone that comes into this track immediately, Joseph. The Miss Piggy and Kermit references take this track out of the 60’s request as they were not even piglets or tadpoles, respectively, when the 1963/66 period of the criteria was occurring.
“Goodbye Mary Lou”
The acoustic guitar receives a good counterpoint from the hard edged chord pattern that comes into the song, Joseph. The warmth of the vocals also works as contrast to the chord patterns that exist throughout. The tone and feel of this track leans more towards an indie rock style than the British Invasion sound that the submission is seeking.
“Read Your Mind”
The slight skiffle tone of this track is given a good contrast once again by the guitar effects which wonderfully counter the lushness of the harmonic vocals. The style leans away from the British Invasion criteria of listing.
“Jacquelina Divine / Standing In Your Driveway / Why Did It Die?”
Not close enough to what listing asked for / not “current” sounding
Not close enough to the listing requirements
Hello Joseph
These songs are melodic with excellent dynamics . Well sung harmonies and the occasional use of electric band really add interest to these songs.
An unusual and cool sound.
You may want to work on the production quality. I think a good engineer and producer could take you to the next level. Nice work.
Sound quality: not great, but clean enough for this listing
Not right stylistically for this listing
“Jacquelina Divine”
I like the classic vibe to this…it’s really retro. Cool harmonies and vocals. Interesting.
“Why Did It Die?”
Very cool and well-arranged, great job.
“Magazine / Nothing Ventured / Hump Day”
Not close enough to what listing asked for: More prog and sixties pop than modern AAA
Joseph – you are a very talented musician, singer and writer.
If you’re interested in having a recording career, I think you will have an easier time if you study popular song arrangements and write songs ruffly in those confines. That doesn’t mean you can’t break the rules, in fact you have to have something unique to truly stand out but there can be a balance and for commercial music I think you’ve gone too far into the progressive.
I like the guitar solos, but there aren’t that many in music today so I would keep them short. Also, I like the chops, but I think that there is a more musical way to get in and out of them. I would try to fit them into an overall melodic framework.
Good bio – gives me a sense of who you are
Not commercial arrangements
“Hump Day”
Very unique although I don’t think it has the commercial aspect that the listing is looking for. If you’re interested in approaching labels that are looking for commercial music you could consider sticking to songs that have more traditional structures and include choruses. The vocalist has a great sound in the upper register although some of the runs seem a little out of control.
“Magazine”
A catchier, more pop direction which I think is good. I think for a label pitch you could do an edit and shorten the instrumental sections and focus on more of a vocal approach.
“Nothing Ventured”
Nice melodies – I still think for this type of sixties pop song the arrangement can be more traditional. I would listen to your favorite sixties rock bands that write pop songs – The Beatles, The Kinks, The Byrds, whoever and check out how they arrange the songs to be memorable with repetition.
“All-American Alien / Valentine’s Day / To Utopia!”
On target for this listing: In the arena of what the listing is looking for
Joseph – I think that you have a very unique and distinctive style.
I think it’s a little too left of center to be pitched to a major label, but I really think there is an audience for you and you could have a popular indie record.
There is a lo fi charm to the tracks, but I think that you could benefit from working with a producer and / or engineer that could help you to get more hi fi sounds.
I think you’ve created this amazing world by yourself, but I think you would benefit from collaborating with someone who understands your crazy vision (I don’t mean crazy in a bad way – crazy in a good way!)
Good bio.
Too left of center, needs to have choruses and better production.
“Valentine’s Day”
Good song ideas – I think that the song could have more melodic variation. I think a traditional chorus (a musical and lyrical phrase that repeats at least 3 times during the song) would be helpful.
“All-American Alien”
Amazing! Has a bit of a novelty quality to it, but it reminds me a little of Queen (in a good way). To pitch to a major I think it could use a chorus, but musically I really think it works the way it is.
“Fireworks”
On target for this listing – Male vocal-based AAA rock
Joseph, your biography says that you play and produce all of your material yourself. That is quite impressive, as the sound you have produced is competent and has clarity. The song has some very fine moments and sounds. I would suggest working on your lead vocal recording technique, as mentioned in the song comments. I would also suggest working on creating memorable hooks and choruses. That is not so easy but checking out the best of music from other genres and styles of music can give you inspiration as to how this can be done. The third thing I would suggest is to maybe work with a musical partner or collaborator. A fresh pair of ears can sometimes give you a totally new perspective. Best of luck.
The bio has a picture of a shirtless artist, this may help sell the artist to certain demographics. The text is informative but does not mention any online presence.
The song does not quite have, for me, the strong enough hooks or choruses to fit with the requirements of the listing.
Some very good guitar playing and some fine backing vocals in the chorus and bridge. the lead vocals do have some moments where there are some pitch anomalies. These can be fixed by recording several performances and editing together a master vocal take from the others. A last resort would be to use a pitch correction plug-in. But I don’t think it is necessary always.
“Corporate Nonsense”
On target for this listing / hard to classify
Stylistically this is an odd submission, but certainly within the spirit of the term “Alternative”
Joseph,
Thank you for submitting your songs. I think the Queen-esque moments here are very interesting, but Queen was never in need of order in the songs or accuracy in the vocals. I think you could take some of these looping, layering ideas to all sorts of places, but until you nail them accurately and professionally they will be considered, for the most part, to be novelty rather than the artistic and creative style that they most certainly are. Find a way to cage the manic side of these songs and you may have something.
Bio is humorous but should always contain some – any – touring or live performance history.
I’m returning these submissions because I don’t think this artist has fully developed his style to the level that this client is seeking.
“Part 1”
Pretty interesting track… though one in need of some simplifying if you want to see this stuff go much further than the Jersey Shore recording studio. Your sound is ambitious, but at this point is so busy that it’s nearly impossible to tell what’s going on. I would suggest a more standard “Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus/Bridge/Chorus” structure – but that’s not to say that you should change your style or simplify your music to the point that it’s no longer your own personal thing, I just think you need to give your audience the chance to catch up to what is happening.
“Part 2”
Again – pretty busy stuff, and very difficult to follow for the audience, especially when they don’t have lyrics. I think the arrangement here is slightly stronger but still in need of at least an attempt at the standard Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus/Bridge/Chorus structure. You have some cool ideas, but at this point it’s difficult to determine where any pitch issues are, as the many vocals clash at times that are unclear. Just…slow down.
“Running Back To You / Sadness / Game Over”
Hard To Classify / Not Close Enough To What Listing Asked For
Alternative
joseph you definitely have something unique going on for you. you have a really special sound with very enjoyable moments. but, in my opinion i felt that they were not “radio-friendly” enough for this listing. your arrangements were a little off and not direct enough. typical “radio-friendly” songs focus on accentuated their choruses making them the most prominent section of their song and i felt that you did not concentrate on your choruses enough. i recommend following a more traditional verse/chorus, verse/chorus, bridge/chorus formula. in addition i did not think that the production was close enough to what is on the radio. the drums were a little loud in the mix and overall everything was a bit distorted. all your songs have a lot of potential, good luck!
Too much distortion
sonically it sounded more like a demo than a professional recording. the drums were a little to loud in the mix and overall everything was distorted.
songs could be stronger, production a bit weak.
“Running Back To You”
nice melodies throughout this song but the arrangement was off especially for a radio-friendly “hit song” listing. i recommend re-arranging this song and editing down your instrumental sections. i did not think the instrumental section before the pre-choruses were necessary. also the bridge was a little long, i would consider cutting it in half.
“Sadness”
another enjoyable song but it lacks a traditional chorus section. i would try re-arranging this song focusing on writing a new chorus that is a simple, catchy phrase easy enough for any listener to identify with and sing a long to during their first listen.
“Game Over”
strong chorus! i would focus on making it more prominent in the song. i liked how it drops out, try repeating it one more time but adding more instrumentation (louder guitars, new instrumental lead, etc.). make sure it stands out even more and explodes!
“This Time / DWI / Beautiful Juliana”
Not close enough to what listing asked for
Dear Gatti,
Your song DWI stood out for me amongst the 3 tunes. The melodic themes are engaging and flow well from section to section along with the arrangement which has a fun punk / pop sensibility. This song might make a good template for future material. See ind song critiques for details.
As far as the vocal pitch issues go, you might also want to try running the vox lead & harmony tracks through an auto tuner or Melodyne plugin
The production is not up to broadcast quality, There is some distortion on the recordings particularly in song 1 and the vocals on all 3 songs have intonation issues.
the vocals need some more fine tuning before these songs will be ready for this listing
“This Time”
I like the “up” vibe with a late 1950’s rock & roll influence on the vocal harmonies. The arrangement is an interesting mix of Oldies Rock & Roll and speed metal. The melodic themes are solid but the vocals can often have intonation issues that you might want to fix by re-singing the tracks.
“DWI”
Fun tune, catchy hook in the chorus but again the vocals are wrestling with
pitch issues, see song one for details
“Beautiful Juliana”
The darker mood is interesting but the melodic themes feel like they could be more memorable, you might want to rework the verses and choruses with this in mind, creating more of a hook particularly in the choruses, using your song DWI as a template for solid melodic themes.
“Just Another Dream / S&M”
On target for this listing
“Nothing But A Dream” has a Beatlesque pop flavor, that might work for the AC genre asked for a la Kate Bush.
A very intriguing submission, Joseph! There’s plenty of originality and creativity here. See my individual comments for some specific suggestions. It sounds like you are developing your unique artistic persona and voice. As you continue to work on your craft, blend in some additional song crfat to add underlying strength – keep the lyric themes focused so your listeners stay right with you, use solid song structure so we don’t get lost. This shouldn’t change your personal style just give it a container that is useful for listeners – something for us to hold onto while you take us on your journey.
Well done! Your bio reflects the sound and style of your music. Keep this updated as you move forward with your career.
Some strong moments here. Overall structure and focus could be strengthened to keep listeners involved.
“Another Dream”
An appealing Beatle’s-style melody in your chorus. How about having just a single verse before you get to you catchy chorus? Lyrically, you might strengthen this by clarifying the focus. The opening verses introduce us to the girl who is uncertain, then the chorus tells us that the singer wants to convince her his feelings for her are real (I think.) As I listener, I was expecting the following verse to follow up on this idea – what does the singer try, how does she react, what happens – but the song seems to take a detour here and we never see the girl again. Think of this as two different songs – one about the girl/relationship and another about leaving the neighborhood behind.
“S&M”
There are some very evocative lyric lines here. (“Another lonely emperor bangs the drum”) Overall, though, it’s a little oblique for the AC genre this listing is looking for. The very original production (and lyrics) are reminiscent of the Incredible String Band. Very intriguing.
“Surprise Store / Tabula Rasa / Gingerbread House”
On target for this listing
Hey Joseph-
There is something very interesting happening here stylistically. The influence of The Beatles and Queen is present yet there is a modern twist. It’s engaging.
There are some very nice musical moments. The vocals have there moments too, yet I think that more time and development is needed there. The voice is just another instrument and sometimes it’s a good idea to take a couple of lessons to learn how to use it to its fullest. You might want to consider it…
Get out on the road and develop as a band, there are a lot of good ideas here that when fleshed out could be great!
Do you have a band? Are you touring? Musical goals and accomplishments?
Music needs further development. Style could be more defined and refined. Not hook driven enough.
“Tabula Rasa”
Very nice musical performances. Good melodies. The main reasons why I’m not forwarding this song is the vocal performance is wavering, quivering and a little pitchy. I also don’t feel that this is a complete thought at this point. You might take this a little further with a fuller structure.
“Gingerbread House”
I think that the key of this song, and the melody suit the vocals best of the demo. Be mindful of the wavering in the vocal. i find that it is over stylized and really gets in the way of the strength of the music, lyric and melody.
“Ambulance / Calendar Girls / Sugar Daddies”
Hard To Classify
Not Close Enough To What Listing Asked For
The material seems quite eclectic and features elements of rock, pop, prog rock, classical music, jam-sessions and avant-garde. We were looking for more commercially viable indie pop material for this listing, in the vein of bands mentioned in the listing, e.g. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Broken Social Scene, The Apples In Stereo etc.
Hey Joseph, the songs feature good musical and melodic sections and some memorable hooks. The idiosyncratic vocal delivery suits the material. The musicianship is solid, tight, and inventive. The production sounds fine overall.
Your songs have a unique and interesting vibe, which is original, but also hard to classify and hard to place, which does not help the commercial aspect of the material. Clearer and cleaner arrangements could help to give the songs a more easily identifiable form and make the songs more memorable. Please take a look at the comments underneath the individual songs overleaf for details.
I wish you good luck with everything.
Sound Quality (not great, but good enough for this listing)
The production sounds fine overall
The material does not fit our listing stylistically and needs some more work regarding the songwriting.
“Ambulance”
The intro is interesting and builds well, though you could shorten it and the section afterwards to get to the vocal part/verse quicker. The “Back In Bed” hook is memorable, though you could add a new musical and melodic part to break up the many repeats of that hook to keep the listener engaged more.
“Calendar Girls”
Interesting verse melody and vibe. The song seems to stay in the same verse mode for quite while – you could add a more easily identifiable chorus to the song to give the listener a chance to connect with the song more easily. Also, at the moment the song seems like an amalgamation of similar melodies and themes. A more “regular” arrangement (intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus) could help to make the song more commercially viable.
“Sugar Daddies”
The song seems to follow the 12 bar scheme, which allows the listener to follow the song more easily. The “There’s a riptide coming etc.” hook is memorable. The bridge works well, too. The song seems to lose focus after the second bridge in the “her name was…” section – it seems to just morph into a jam. Ending the song with another verse and a “riptide” chorus instead could make the song more coherent, cohesive and commercially-viable.
“Fireworks / To Utopia! / Surprise Store”
– Hard to classify
– Not close enough to what listing asked for
– Not “current” sounding
All three songs seem to lack the hip and edgy sounding stylistic attributes associated with “indie rock” style material. In a more general sense, it sounds to me like you’re still in the process of developing a truly distinctive sounding stylistic “voice” as an artist. I would like to suggest that you expose yourself to more contemporary sounding music. In comparison to the bands mentioned in the listing it seems to me that you material sounds somewhat anachronistic.
Hey Joseph – Thanks for submitting. It sounds like you’ve put a fair bit of effort into these recordings, however, none of what you’ve submitted seems quite compelling enough for such an extremely high bar listing. This is due, in part, to the vocal performances, which lack the expressive quality necessary to really “sell” the song to listener emotionally, and because the material often seems only partially realized without a solid rhythm section to underscore each arrangement. I wonder if it might be helpful for you to sample some of the artists mentioned in the listing in order to get a better idea of the type of material required for this listing. Listening to these artists might also inspire you to establish a slightly more contemporary sounding stylistic aesthetic, which is absolutely necessary for this type of listing.
Bio seems a little skimpy. I crave more personal information, and a photograph that gives some indication what you look like.
The material does not seem stylistically compatible with the artists mentioned in the listing. The lyrical themes and imagery are not compelling enough for such an extremely high bar listing. The vocal performances are not compelling enough for such a high bar listing. You have yet to establish a truly distinctive sounding stylistic “voice” as an artist.
“Fireworks”
I notice right away that the song doesn’t really seem stylistically compatible with the artists mentioned in the listing, all of whom practice a much more adventurous, not to mention, contemporary sounding stylistic aesthetic. The vocal performance is also not quite compelling enough for such an extremely high bar listing.
“As Good As It Gets / American Dreams / 22”
– Hard to classify
– Not close enough to what listing asked for
There’s a lot of your own distinctive personality in this material, but it seems to lack the stylistic characteristics they’re after for this listing. They’re searching for artists who are more obviously compatible with an “indie rock” aesthetic (sample artists mentioned in the listing to get a slightly more precise idea of what I’m talking about).
Joseph – Thanks for submitting, but unfortunately, in reviewing your material I encounter some of the same issues we’ve dealt with in the past, and for this reason I’m not completely confident about forwarding you for this listing. Your stylistic “voice” as a performer sounds very unique, but unfortunately doesn’t seem compatible with the artists mentioned in the listing, all of whom practice an aesthetic that is even more synonymous with what passes for “indie rock” these days. It sounds to me as if you’re drawing for slightly archaic sounding references, but haven’t found a way to update them to suit contemporary tastes/trends in music. There is something else, and it is where we get into an area that might be a little more delicate. I can’t tell you’re putting a lot of heart and soul into these vocal performances, yet I’m somewhat concerned your voice isn’t quite strong enough to truly captivate the listener. When I say “strong enough”, I mean that you haven’t yet accumulated the necessary technical chops, and that you’re voice lacks the charismatic quality required to draw the listener into each of these performances. It actually sounds to me as if you’re trying too hard to make up for any technical inadequacies by pouring on the emotion, but this doesn’t feel natural. Anyway, sorry I won’t be able to forward you this time around.
The photo looks really artistic, but gives no indication of what you actually look like, and appearance is really import to the folks who placed this listing. The bio also gives no indication of your personality, or any of your past or current musical activities.
The vocal performances aren’t compelling enough for such an extremely high bar listing. The material doesn’t seem compatible with the artists mentioned in the listing. Feels to me as if you need to achieve a slightly more accurate understanding of what type of material is required by absorbing the artists mentioned in the listing a bit more thoroughly.
“As Good As It Gets”
The arrangement borders on sounding like progressive rock, and is a bit too complex for their particular requirements. I can tell you’re putting your heart and soul into the vocal performance, but I’m not actually sure your voice is strong enough to compete on a professional level.
“American Dreams”
The immediate impression I get from listening to this track is that you’re affecting your voice in such a way that doesn’t sound or feel entirely natural. It seems as if you’re trying to extract more drama from the performance, but feels as if you’re pouring it on a bit thick. The arrangement sounds very dense. There’s a lot of information to take in, and it takes a few listens for everything to sink in. The trad-rock lead guitar seems a little out of character for this particular listing. They’re searching for stuff that doesn’t sound quite so typical.
“22”
There are some pretty obvious vocal pitch discrepancies on this one, especially when you reach up into the upper register of your range. The lyrical theme and imagery also seem somewhat obtuse. It’s as if you’re aiming at the song directly at someone you know, and they’re able to read between the lines in order to understand what you’re singing about, but for those of use not privy to any of the back story, well, we just aren’t able to follow along with what’s going on. I think you need to try an paint a more visually descriptive mental picture for the listener.
“Valentine’s Day / All-American Alien / Song For Barry”
Joseph, May I very helpfully suggest that you…
1) remember that for high bar listings, especially, you should leave no room to the imagination of the listener. In other words, you are in the highest competition from people all over the world. perhaps you should consult with a third party producer who is very strict with you in regard to whether you have the perfect take of one of your song. This will give your submissions a better first shot.
2) ask your fans who they think you sound like and what genre they think that you fit into. This is called focus group marketing and it will give you a more clear idea of what listings you should really be making submissions to.
3) remember that less is more and that all of your instruments must work together to create one uniform sound and style. As you have it, it sounds like 4 or 5 musicians in one room having a free for all without listening to each other’s parts and trying to rhythmically converge. Try to create more space in your music as well. This will give your music a tighter sound.
“Valentine’s Day”
Wow. This is quite interesting. However, this listing did ask for excellent performances, and I’m not sure that is exactly what I’m getting. The vocal track was not quite hitting all of the intended notes and it sounded like some of the instruments (especially the solo instruments) were slightly out of tune). Please se overall comments 1.
“All-American Alien”
I love the title of this song. However, perhaps the over all style of this song is not quite the right style for this listing. Please see overall comments 2.
“Song For Barry”
I love the over all vibe of this song. It is quite driving and has a lot of energy. However, once again, perhaps this just isn’t up to par with the expert performance requirements for expert performances. It sounds like there are a lot of parts conflicting with other parts. Please see overall comments 3.
Photo does not show you and the bio could be more informative. use a picture that shows your face and use this format for your bio:
Date formed
city you reside
style
like bands
story (keep brief and newsworthy)
Accomplishments
Future plans
Contact info
Performances and style issues as stated above. Please continue to work hard, read the resources checked below, and carefully submit material to TAXI. Also, put your best foot forward and you will be able to accomplish your dreams in due time.
Peace and best…
“corn on the cob / back in orbit / saga”
‘corn on the cob’
remember to include lyrics with your submissions so we can give you a complete critique. This song has a really unique sound. The lyrics are a bit hard to understand. Maybe you could try giving them their own pocket in the mix so that your audience can understand them and therefore connect with your message.
‘back in orbit’
the drums in the beginning of this song really reach out and grab your listener’s attention. It might help to get to the vocals a little quicker so that you don’t lose your audience’s attention. When the vocals do some in, the song seems to teeter on the verge of chaos. Maybe you could look into how all of the tracks are working together and stagger them so none of the instruments are stepping on each other.
‘saga’
this song has a cool way of sounding like it’s from the past and still having a modern vibe as well. The mix could use some more organization to make each track audible. Maybe you could look into each individual track as well to make sure there is a clarity before mixing.
hard to classify
These songs could be more cohesive to fit the Indie Pop style, a la Black Kids, that this listing is looking for.
hey soseph, thanks for submitting these songs, you have a really unique sound. The main thing you could work on is focusing and organizing your song structures. You could start by developing a really strong catchy and simple hook to arrange the rest of the song around. This could help your listeners connect with your music.
Your Bio shows a lot about your experience, however a live picture might be nice to give an idea of what your performances might be like.
The songs could use a more developed sound and production.
“surprise store / let it charge / diamonds in the rough”
‘let it charge’
Good title.. positive ideas..
‘the world is ours, just plug it in’.. intriguing social commentary
melody, groove are supportive, but no really unusual, compelling melody emerges here
hard to classify
singer/ songwriter, aritst, rock/ pop
The first song could use a more compelling
chorus, title section.. melody and lyric, to tie the disparate references together..
watch lead vocal intonation in your upper register
Try to expand your range,, strengthen your
overall performances with ear training,.
Sing scales, intervals, whole notes.. work on breath control.. these singer songwriter listings are inevitably
selective…
good photos, credits.. keep up the good work
.. as you know, record labels are impressed
with local/ regional success..
Creative songwriting, arrangement ideas, yet work to
strengthen your lead vocal performance.. build each tune around your most innovative & accessible, memorable melody/ chorus ideas
“surprise store / don juan rodrigo / cosmic creep”
hard to classify
Doesn’t really seem compatible with any of the artists mentioned in the listing. The folks who placed this listing are interested in artists who mix delicate european folk with 60’s psychedelia and present it in a way that appeals to the ultra-hip indie rock crowd. The style of music I’m describing is best exemplified by contemporary artists like Fleet Foxes and Devendra Banhardt.
Joseph – Thanks so much for submitting. It’s somewhat difficult for me to critique the sound of this music. It seems lo have a character all it’s own. If I were to judge it by the standards of contemporary commercial pop music I would say it sounds sloppy and unconventional, but I think you guys (and gals) are not really concerned with sounding trendy or commercial. You’re plowing your own unique path through the musical forest. Despite the fact that I really enjoyed deconstructing these arrangements in my mind to better understand your unique approach to performing and arrangement, I don’t quite feel comfortable forwarding any of this material for this listing. The thing is, the folks who placed the listing are very clued in to all the stylistic characteristics inherent in bands like Fleet Foxes, Vetiver, Fairport Convention, and the Incredible String Band, and they’re looking for artists who sound (and look) similar to those bands. I have no way of knowing what you look like, but your stylistic approach seems only loosely connected to the above mentioned artists. Sorry I won’t be able to forward you this time around, Best of luck with all future submissions here at Taxi.
It’s best for these listing to send a photograph of the band rather than album cover art or an interesting graphic. Image is important to the folks who placed this listing. They want to see what you look like. I’d also try and come up with a slightly more elaborate bio — something that entices the reader into wanting to hear your music.
‘don juan rodrigo’
Whether it’s intentional or not, this track has a lurching, drunken quality, much of which seems to do with the way the guitar sounds and is being played. Please don’t misunderstand. This is not a criticism. In fact, I think the way the song is played and arranged sounds pretty darn cool. It sounds like about 10 people are singing the lead vocal all at once, and for some reason this brings to mind a crowded bar room with everyone standing around singing along to the jukebox. The best way I can sum up the guitarists is to say he sounds “lubricated”, and his style of playing is a big part of the reason this arrangement has so much character. Love the tribal sounding tom tom groove that underscores the arrangement, and the way the tract seems to crumble apart at the end. The worst thing is that it’s difficult to decipher the vocals. I can’t really understand what’s being sung.
‘cosmic creep’
The guitarist really stands out on this one too. In fact, the entire ensemble sounds really distinctive. It’s as if you’re all seasoned professionals, but you decided to switch instruments right before they rolled tape. In a way that approach is very regressive. You’re obviously quite skilled, but have chosen to play in a deliberately loose manner. It’s structured but very chaotic at the same time. I think that’s actually an incredibly interesting approach, but unfortunately, doesn’t really suit the folks who placed this listing. They’re searching for stuff that more easily slots in with contemporary bands like Fleet Foxes, Espers, Vetiver, Devendra Banhardt, Six Organs of Admittance, etc.
‘calendar girls / fireworks / to utopia!’
*on target for the listing*
these songs fit the general style being requested
Joseph,
I’ve enjoyed the chance to give your music a listen. This is highly artistic work- your tracks rate off the chart on a level of originality . I do think that it could be possible to maintain the experimental spirit of what you do, while incorporating a few more commercially accessible aspects (if you’ll forgive the term). As noted, I think a good strategy might be to strip down the mixes somewhat to let the songs themselves shine through a little more. There is so much information coming at your listener, that it’s sometimes hard to really hear the songs through the complex bed of sounds. You’ve got strong melodic ideas, and creative lyrics- I would maybe work on supporting them more effectively with the music surrounding them. It might help to bring the vocals up to a more consistently audible level (you could experiment with more compression.)
Also, keep aiming for catchy chorus hooks, and make sure to hammer them home through plenty of repetition.
I hope these comments and suggestions are helpful. Of course, at the end of the day, go with what feels best and most “right” to you and the band!
Pretty good sound quality, but room to continue shooting for even greater.
This are various well-written components here, but overall I feel that with a bit more development you could take the material to an even stronger and more marketable level.
‘to utopia!’
*How pathetic! I just PAID A MAN to tell me to ‘put my best foot forward’! There’s something very wrong with this arrangement!*
anyone with ears and a functional keyboard can be a music critic.
scratch that, you don’t even need a functional keyboard, just scrawl your thoughts onto the nearest napkin.
I’d like to see with my own two eyes an actual TAXI forward
(I believe EVERYONE is lying about their alleged forwards to save face)
(collective insecurity can sustain an entire industry)
(just look at the ‘management consulting’ business)
(anyone hiring ‘consultants’ anytime soon?)
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💕💝💖💓🖤💙🖤💙🖤💙🖤❤️💚💛🧡❣️💞💔💘❣️🧡💛💚❤️🖤💜🖤💙🖤💙🖤💗💖💝💘
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*🌈✨ *TABLE OF CONTENTS* ✨🌷*
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🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥*we won the war* 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥