Billy “Mr. ZeroTwoHero” Tan likens us to Hair Metal!

I was hesitant in asking Billy “ZeroTwoHero” (aka Mr. “52 books in 52 weeks“) to review SeaStars 2007.

Not that he finished one book each week, for every week last year (plus, it’s not just a list of 52 books but reviews too. That was amazing even for me… man, if there was a Reader of the Year award, I’d nominate him. 52 times. Serious.)

I had reservations ‘cos I knew his musical tastes aren’t the New Age music type. See, I read his blog posts like this and this one.

But I figured if anyone could be objective, it would be Billy.

If he said the album sucked, I’d respect that too.

He agreed to listen to the songs. Here’s what I extracted from his review:

The album in a nutshell - wispy synths, straightforward piano, quite emo lead guitar (sometimes bordering on hair-metal, which is a good thing), and kinda cheesy sea-related sound effects (like dolphins and waves), all very new-agey and inoffensive. Bordering, actually mostly crossing the line over to sleepytime music.

I like myself some ambient from time to time, but I think people tend more to slit their wrists to Enya more than Aphex Twin. Did that last line make any sense? I have to say though, I did kinda like the guitar overdubs in Stargazer, but that’s probably my inner 80s hair metal fan talking.

In any case, the problem I have with new age music is that it’s pretty much meant to be unobtrusive background music. So I listened to the album 3 times through and spaced out each time. I just can’t actively listen to and appreciate something that’s constantly slipping and sliding out of my conscious brain. So if that was the plan - good job, guys. I’m pretty sure there’s a market for this in the yoga or spa music business, if it exists, that is.

His blog post, here.

Considering that Billy is a “punkrockertechnofreakdiscogrooverpostrocker at heart” and prefers something he can dance to, having him listen to the album THREE times and still giving a review… I am grateful!

Oh, I asked him what was “Hair-Metal”.

He clarified it referred to music in the ’80s — “metal bands with the big hair [like] Warrant and Whitesnake“.

Now that’s a compliment! Two of my fav bands of that era (yes Kiddos, I’m kinda old).

Thanks again, Billy!

~ Ivan

What Choon Keat thinks of SeaStars 2007

Choon Keat, who was recently nominated for one of BusinessWeek Asia’s Top 25 Young Entrepreneurs, agreed to listen to the album and he emailed me this:

I’ve listened to the music and enjoyed it. Quite good as music for working I like the waves a lot, but the children laughing not so much

Heh.

Choon Keat. I guess the kid’s laughter distracted you from analysing iPhone codes like this:

require ‘RMagick’ unless defined?(Magick)

rescue NotImplementedError
# Older versions of ImageMagick has no auto_orient!
case img.get_exif_by_entry(”Orientation”) && img["EXIF:Orientation"]
# img["EXIF:Orientation"] might not be ready until get_exif_by_entry() is called
when “6″
# Magick::RightTopOrientation
img.rotate!(90)

I understood that.

Really, I do.

I think.

Nah, I lost it.

After he listened to the songs, Choon Keat asked if I created the songs myself (he didn’t visit the blog; I emailed him the songs) and how we intended to make the CDs (DIY or in his words, “kow-tow” to a publisher, haha).

I replied that Adrian and I worked on the album together. We started four months ago, and met twice in between. And now we’ve got an album.

About the “Music CD”… it’s really just burning the songs to a CD using our home computers, then printing a label and slapping it on the CD. I was told there are companies that charge $600 to $1000 for about 100 CDs, but Adrian and I couldn’t spend that sort of money.

OK, one home-made DIY CD for you, Choon Keat. Thanks for listening.

~ Ivan

Alice reviews SeaStars 2007

I got to know Alice when she answered the call for library@orchard citizen reporters. She was one of those whom I “ambushed” when I saw her online. She very gamely agreed to review the album:

Dolphines Galaxi has a soothing feel. But at around 1min, 1:24min, 1:34min, a new instrument was blended into the songs. Somehow, the soothing effects feels like being disrupted at those points.

Song number 2, Flowing With The Waves. The download was 8KB. So, I don’t get to listen to the music.

Into the Deep. It has a jazzy, yet old days feeling.

Song number 4, Once Upon A Star. I wanted to listen to it again, but the download was also 8KB. So, based on the memory of the first few times I heard it on the web, while downloading the rest of the songs, it is my favourite. Lively. Happy. I feel more like dancing to the rhythm.

Sea Anemone. Feels light hearted. Not as lively as song number 4.

Song number 6. Seabreeze. The first 1:30min sounds nice. But, once a certain musical instrument is added at around 1:30min, it felt like I am listening to some old chinese traditional music. Very strange feeling. This song ends up being my least favourite.

Seashore Days. It is soothing. Can just use it as background music. Maybe even during a candle light dinner.

Starfish is also soothing, but it has a light touch of lively to the feel.

Stargazer is another soothing music. Not as gently as Seashore Days.

Her post is at this link.

I was tickled at her mentioning that Seashore Days could be used during a candle light dinner, that I had to leave this comment!

Thanks, Alice, for taking time to review the songs. Will contact you re: that free CD.

~ Ivan

Betty reviews SeaStars 2007

Betty (a fellow songcrafter) emailed me her review:

I like how listening to the album calms me and makes me feel like I’m actually standing in front of the vast ocean, staring out at the horizon.

I noticed most of the songs start off with a soothing introduction and the solo instrument would enter… good that there is consistency but it can become like a “standard formula” after a few tracks.

I like the piano pieces more. Probably because the piano sounds more gentle than [the jarring sounds of] the electric guitar. But good, contrast in timbre is good

However track 7 seems to have ended abruptly.

Overall a good effort by the two of you. It’s enjoyable a listen however I’d like to suggest visuals to accompany the music as after a while my mind started drifting… sorry!

Is this a soundtrack? Cos it immediately reminded me of this album:
Real cool and good stuff by da man, Sting.

Thanks Ivan for sharing this project with us!

Betty has a nice voice, and was one of the stars in the inaugural Songcraft concert.

Hey, no need to apologise for your mind drifting, Betty. We *ahem* intended for the songs to have that effect on people.

~ Ivan

Chonz’s review of SeaStars 2007

Friend of mine, Chonz, emailed me this:

Nice tunes. Reminds me of jazz musician Larry Carlton. So, u guys got talent.

Volume is OK but slightly on softer side.

First track sounded hollow in the background - that was noticeable it being the 1st track - but after a while, I didn’t notice and just enjoyed the tunes.

Thanks dude!

Larry Carlton? Gotta check him out.

Found this Wikipedia entry, and I’ve just viewed this Youtube video (a 1998 video)… wow, he’s got style! Kinda inspiring.

Thanks for the tip, Chonz!

~ Ivan
[update: Chonz told me the other jazz musician our music reminded him of was Lee Ritenour.]

Victor Koo reviews SeaStars 2007

Victor (another fellow Friend of Yesterday.SG) had trouble downloading the tracks, so I emailed him the lower quality 64 kbps version. Incidentally, he was the one who connected us with Elaine.

Here’s what he thinks of SeaStars 2007, from his blog post:

First impression is that the music sounded very much like the chill-out or spa music CDs which I bought some time back - very soothing and easy-listening.

However, like most music of this type which I have listened to, some consecutive stanzas of the music sounded so much alike that it is as if they are repeating themselves like a broken record. In addition, some tracks ended rather abruptly. If there was a consistent gradual fade-out of about 10-second duration, the endings would have been smoother.

Perhaps it was to make the recordings sound instrument-like rather than synthesized (using Garageband?) but the guitar “squeaking” (right term?) on Track 3 - Starfish at 1m:15s was overdone. It sounded rather jarring and irritating to me. If not, it would have easily been my favorite track (same as Elaine’s choice).

I also particularly like Track 7 - Once Upon A Star, a beautiful piano piece.

Track 9 - Seabreeze is another very nice track that has an oriental flavour to it. It has instruments that sound to my untrained ears like er hu and cymbals in it.

The background sounds of children’s laughter, waves, seagulls and dolphins are all very cleverly well-blended with the music. They are not over-powering and do not distract the listener from the music itself. The listener is immediately “transported” to the seaside, especially when he/she closes his eyes and concentrate on the music.

His full post, here.

Glad you liked the music, Victor.

Victor also added: “Overall, the album is worth listening to even if it is not free. It is certainly much, much better than the only CD which my colleague keeps playing in his car - Gregorian Chants.”

OK, by that you mean you’ll buy the CD?

We don’t have definite plans to sell the CD (will people even buy?!)

Anyway you’ll be getting a free CD from us. And yes, go ahead and make a copy of SeaStars 2007 to give away to your friend. We’ve adopted this particular Creative Commons license (more details at this Starfish Stories page).

~ Ivan

Lam Chun See reviews SeaStars 2007

Thanks to Chun See (who btw has a great blog at GoodMorningYesterday) for taking time to review the songs.

He emailed me the following:

Hi Ivan,

• I have zero background in music and don’t even know where to begin. But since you ask …. Here goes.
• I don’t know any musical terms so to illustrate my point, I refer to well-known hit. Pls don’t think that I am so unrealistic as to compare your first effort with the mega-hit of big star.

1) Generally, melody tend to be quite easy on the ears, and nice to listen to but hard to recall what the songs were like (I listened 3X). There is a strange similarity to most of the songs.

2) I like the introduction, but along the way sort of like no clear path. Like strolling in the woods and then suddenly just end. Should work harder on the ending. Some of them end too suddenly and unexpectedly, e.g. #9, Seabreeze.

3) Not possible to discern any cycles; e.g. I am used to singing hymns in church. Usually you have 3 or 4 verses with a chorus or refrain. In your songs, it’s just like a straight path.

4) Generally the tunes make good background music. I keep visualizing movie credits with your music playing. But overall tend to be a bit monotonous/bland. I think you should be more adventurous. Example, midway, go off track with something loud or with more variation; and then slow down again. Using your seaside analogy. It’s like gentle waves; a big ship pass by, you get some big waves, and then later back to normal. Otherwise, its just gentle waves all the way.

Good example is Starfish (#3) – But here the intro is too long. Only after 1.5 minutes then the tempo picks up. Ending also very sudden.

The best illustration I can think of is this song called Desert Moon (www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfE2Vj1sii0) – I purposely chose a karaoke version with amateurish singing so you concentrate on the background music.

5) The songs I liked most are #1 (Seashore Days) , #6 (Stargazer) - Nice intro and build up to the electric guitar part; and #9, Sea Breeze. For Sea Breeze, please do away with the gong - out of place; maybe chimes more appropriate. Again sudden unexpected end.

6) The songs I disliked most are: # 4, Into the Deep (Too much animal sounds), #2 Sea Anemone – The same guitar strumming is repeatedly practically throughout the whole song! Otherwise, the melody quite nice.

I replied to Chun See that I liked his non-musician’s perspective the best, as I tend to understand more of what he said!

Thanks for taking time to do this, Chun See.

~ Ivan

Kevin Lim reviews SeaStars 2007

Kevin (theory.isthereason.com) claims that I’ve been trying to coerce him into reviewing the album, LOL.

He didn’t give raving reviews to the songs (not that I expected him to). But he didn’t yawn at the songs and managed to sit through all 32 minutes of it, so I consider it a triumph of sorts!

Excerpt:

I’ve listened to the entire album, from start to finish, yet feeling unaffected, not a single yawn, which is a good sign. Seastars 2007 is pleasing as an electronic album, but a little jarring at some points where the canned animal calls and children laughter brought out the cheesed off frustration in me. Sure, these distinct environmental sounds help punctuate the mood, but at times a little too much. Instead of eliminating them completely, softly cross-fade them into existence. Less is more in this case.

His full post, here.

Kevin is no stranger to the Singapore Indie music scene. Check out this video documentary that he and his Ngee Ann Poly Mass Communication classmates produced in early 1990s.

Also check out www.substitute.com, a website (a “digital artifact”, in Kevin’s words) that he has a hand in creating during the 90s, to promote the Singapore alternative music scene.

Thanks for taking time to give feedback on the album, Kevin. You’re a pal.

~ Ivan

Peter’s take on SeaStars 2007

One of the Friends of Yesterday.sg was kind enough to review the album. It wasn’t quite up to his taste though. Here’s what he thought of the album:

1. Playing style of the band (man?)- very similar for all tracks, even the beat count is the same

2. The tunes show very little differentiation from one track to another. Maybe the idea came from watching/listening to the sea waves lapping on the beach

3. Suitability - for a spa where u need to rest, it’s ok but not for easy listening lying on the bed (dreaming???) or spending some quiet moments with loved ones

Thanks, Peter. Good inputs for item 1 & 2. Will take into consideration for our next project.

CD is still yours if you want it

~ Ivan

Jerron’s podcast review of SeaStars 2007

Songcrafter Jerron Lee does something unusual, that is a review via his podcast.

The podcast is 23 minutes long (’cos he gave some of the SeaStars songs airtime). The actual review starts after the 6th minute mark. For some reason, Jerron’s podcast reminded me of some BBC “fireside chat” radio show, with a Singaporean accent!

Seastars2007- a review by Jerron Lee
Play time = 23 minutes

LINK to his podcast page

He reviewed three songs from the album, commenting on each song before giving the songs airtime.

6″00 mins: He said liked “Seashore Days” because it was tranquil, but found the ending abrupt

10″00 mins: Another favourite song of his was “Dolphin Galaxia”. He played a recording of what I’d uttered at the Songcraft concert — I shared with the audience some ideas and inspirations behind the song.

15″30 mins: “Once Upon A Star” (no commentary for this though)

Finally he ends the show by saying it’s a new age album worth getting one’s hands on, if one likes New Age music. The show ends with him playing Singaporean’s singing talent Corrine May’s “The Answer”.

Aww man, SeaStars just pales in contrast to Corrine May!

Jerron may not be Jean Danker, but our appreciation is just the same!

Dude, your podcast took time and effort to produce. Incorporating the SeaStars songs was a nice touch. Although I’ve listened to our own songs hundreds of times, hearing it in a podcast is really gratifying.

Thanks so much.

~ Ivan