Anybody know where/how I could get a God-honest review/critique of my album?

Hey watmmers,

So my band and I have reached a point where we're ready to invest more money into our musical journey together, and I'm feeling some trepidation about investing/marketing into our album that we just released. Maybe part of it is fear of failure, but we've also gotten some mixed reviews on the record. A lot of our closest music friends have said it's either a trainwreck or a brilliant work. Of course our closest non-music friends, girlfriends, and family members love it, but hehe, that's kind of expected...

We've also done a college radio campaign, and it performed decently, even charted on a few stations, but we got some reviews from some of the college DJ's and they were pretty harsh - couldn't tell if it was cuz many of em are hipster-holier than thou uppity kids just wanting to burn ppl lol.

Does anybody, please, ANYONE OUT THERE!! wanna take a stab at this album? Does anyone wanna give their thoughts, unfiltered opinions, vibe and response to the work we spent years making? It would be very appreciated. We are extremely humble. It's a weird album, in that we've bridged styles that don't really go together in a collage-fashion, and to the average listener, we get the vibe that it's a bit jilted, off-putting, but also "interesting", and "unique". I know music is very subjective, but when it comes to attracting a fanbase, the objectivity is in the numbers, people have to feel it, and we'd love more than anything, to know whether people are going to feel this or not. No harm done either way :D Your review can be one sentence, or a full essay, no biggie- just that it's honest. If you don't have time to listen to the full thing, one or two or however many song-reviews are cool too- we'd just ask that you say which song you're talking about. Also, if anyone knows sites/people/places that would like to review or check out the album, we would be honored as well for it to be handed off.

Note: We are a duo, and the two of us wrote, performed, produced and mixed the album ourselves. We take turns with vocal parts through out and my one guy does rapping and some singing and I do singing vocals. I personally am the guy heavy on production and programming.

Here's a bandcamp link:

http://theprmr.bandcamp.com/

Thank you so much, friends! <3

Had a listen through, here's my quick thoughts for each track.

1. Decent' kind of lo-fi. 80's singer dude style is not really my thing. It's OK, 80's style is annoying though

2. OK, not bad. Some interesting moments b/w the 2 voices. Familiar but a little different. Outro, yeah, whatever.

3. Good start. Kind of Missy Elliot type vibe. Again, this singing is like straight 80's, Not as distracting here, but still kind of annoying. Cool transition back into the rapping.Not digging the second half as much. The experimentation is cool, but the stabby main synth is out of place IMO. "typical" dance track ending.

4. More 80's singing style/voice... Intro is weak, hook pulls it together. Rapping brings it around. Hook line "drowning my head for you" is repetitive 1/2way thru, glad to return to rap here. production is decent if a little bland. well mixed, like everything else so far. skipped the outro of the hook

5. standard 4 note chorus. very pop/standard track. honestly sounds like a not quite as well produced track you'd here on top 40 radio. predictable and boring, skipped thru the second half (more of the same)

6. the mono synthy thing under the rapper is cool, but more 4 note pop stuff. snare is kind of annoying on this track. hook is OK. don't like the little electric guitar strums. don't like the double time part. skipped thru the last minute of the track, more of the same.

7. Interesting start. by 1:10 it sounds like late 90's "alternative radio", kind of lost interest in this track. Skipped thru the latter 2/3's, very familiar track. reminds me of Live/other stuff I used to hear on the radio. not my thing at all

8. cool intro w/ the delay and stuff. Oh, just a 43 second track/intro to the next one

9. the bells remind me of some stuff I've done in the past. don't care for the chorus or whatever w/ the long pad. I can imagine hearing this on the radio in the 80's. weird fusion of genres here. I like parts of the track, but not others. very polarizing. I think I would listen to this track again.

10. It's OK, I can find no faults, but not something I'd typically listen to. I really don't like this 80's style/voice going on. I feel lie this is probably the polarizing feature of your music. It;s not bad, but goddamn do I find it irritating at times.

11. Cool little interlude.

12. I don't feel like the chiptuneish synths fit the mood here. Intro voice on "it was crazy" reminds me of LIve., then goes into the 80's voice. The music is too bright for the voice style here IMO. Skipped thru the second half, more of the same.

13. cheesy synths, synth line is familiar on the intro. very "typical" production and chord structure. first verse is OK. More of the fuclking 80's singing, great..... just cheesy here. it doesn't fit together imo. there';s a large disparity b/w the singing style and the production, and the production sounds too clean, like a bunch of presets. skipped thru the last 1.5 min, nothing caught my ear.

14. Nice start. This singing... It's ruined too many moments for me. Skipped thru the last 3 minutes and just didn't care, there was even more of the singing.

I don't typically listen to music w/ singing, this is all entirely my opinion and off the top of my head. No offense is meant in any way, I just can't get over that goddamn singing voice -- It ruined the album for me. There were some cool moments, but I wouldn't revisit this album. Please keep at it and don't let my negativity get you down. I don't want to be mean or anything, but you asked for honest reviews. I could see some people loving this, but it's just not my cup of tea.

Hey Hautlle, thanks so much for this in depth critique- really appreciate your insight!

This exactly what we were looking for, just how ppl felt the album.

It's all a learning experience, and your objective feedback and constructive criticism is priceless... It's that which helps us grow and improve our craft as artists and creators. So again I thank you for the time and words! :D

We're working on a follow up single and possibly EP, and will definitely keep this feedback in mind when blueprinting it.

Cheers!

yeah the singing annoyed me too, the rapping had it's merits, i like fast rapping, but wasn't very organised rhythmically, nor clear, as if someone wasn't entirely convinced about the exercise, which can be a style, 'dork rapping' or whatever i spose. Singing and rapping both are about practise as much as having a good musical ear (which you still need), so you can get better, find your voice. I won't review the whole thing because i had a skim of the whole album and really don't want to have to listen to any of the tracks in any form more than this. Sorry man, i wanted to help. luckily hautlle was there.

Delet, I appreciate that, brother! Thanks for chiming in with your thoughts.

Even though this project is primarily hip hop/electropop-based, and this is an IDM forum, I highly respect your guys' opinions and hold them highly. Watmm has been nothing but awesome for me.. A place to share and exchange with good ppl. (:

wtf is wrong with you people, this is the coolest music i heard yet from a member of watmm

Haha, thx Ivan! So glad youre diggin the chunes brother! :D

1622

Lol ;D ahh the cassette version!

i fucking dig it, it's the ween of 2014

^ haha, thats crazy.. My buddy also compared it to Ween! I still need to check out more ween- only familiar with a few of their popular songs many yrs ago, but really liked what i heard.

  On 7/11/2014 at 9:21 AM, Lane Visitor said:

^ haha, thats crazy.. My buddy also compared it to Ween! I still need to check out more ween- only familiar with a few of their popular songs many yrs ago, but really liked what i heard.

Yeah, definitely a Ween vibe on that. I was never much of a Ween fan either tho =)

Like I said, I could see people loving this. There's no technical flaws or anything, it just comes down to taste

More like lane visitor and less of the 90's altrock.. rapping is decent but singers tone is awful