This is where we review each other's music.

http://artists.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/AndyN./

Oh yeh, I'm encouraging everyone else to do the reviewing too - not just me.

In the meantime, I wouldn't mind hearing what you folks think of this.

MP3s and Real Audio at the bottom of the page.

I'm the drummer, and we're from london.

Thanks, enjoy :)

Click on chinese girls, "OYTR"
That's me!

That was OMD core members Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey band before OMD.

AndyN's "Stones Fall": Reminds me a bit of All-Time Quarterback (sparse four-tracky feel, kinda Ben Gibbardish breathy vocals). Loses direction after the first twenty seconds; needed a bassline in there to anchor the song when the guitar freaks out.
AndyN's "Omens": Beep-boopy electronic textures, fun with tremelo. More interesting than "Stones Fall", could have developed a little more quickly. I was also hoping for more of a crescendo or a resolution at the end.
The Id Band's "I Am A Ghost": Mmm, angular guitars! Reminded me of Liars. Promising. (Wasn't able to download any of the other tracks, sorry.)
Autofire's "Toc Pisin" (dog latin): I must be on a Ben Gibbard binge or something because I kept expecting him to start singing and for the song to turn into a Postal Service track. Other than that, okay mellow electronic stuff, but really needs vocals or at least a lead melody line on top to give it direction.
Galicja's "As If I Wanted" (Aaron W): The reverb on the vocals make me think of 80s-English-gothy stuff. Or maybe For Against, or other echoey/rootsy Independent-Project-Records type stuff. Either way, pretty nice stuff, esp. the cello.
The German Exchange's "We Decline": Woot, garagey! If the singer isn't trying to be Julian Casablancas, then at the very least he's trying to be whoever Julian's trying to be. Good stuff. I could see you opening for Mclusky or the Libertines.
The German Exchange's "Gut Reaction": More evidence of Strokes fandom, maybe a little of the Smiths in there too.
(I don't need to listen to the Shimmer Kids track 'cause I already love you guys)
1-0's "Kaine": Okay, I think we can all agree that dleone is not only a great music writer but an exceptional musician as well. I don't have the musical knowledge to adequately describe this beyond "proggy" and "arty". And I mean proggy/arty in the best possible way-- it's noisy and cluttered but very well-composed at the same time. The sudden noise break in the middle is a little unnecessary, but other than the overall development of the track feels both unexpected and natural.

Okay, your turn: I play guitar and occasionally sing in a band called Love Is Chemicals. Our latest demo is here. Your challenge is to review it without mentioning the words "Pavement" or "Malkmus".

I really like dleone's songs! This is the second one I've been able to hear. Where are there more online? The guitar/snare drum thing is nice. And I very much like where the bass comes in, it gives the track a nice momentum. The noise break in the middle is great. Is there prog that actually sounds like this? The execution makes me enjoy a sort of melody I usually wouldn't go for/find exciting. I'm curious as to how this was recorded. Oh, it's kind of anti-climactic, now that I think of it. I'm glad it's not short, though. Good work!!

If I remember correctly here are more dleone songs:

http://artists.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/10/

It's a cover of 'Spirit of the Sky'. With new(!) pie-related lyrics. As you do.

http://www.gothicplayhouse.co.uk/spirit.mp3

The extra vocals were done by a mate of mine.

oh yeah, I hope this doesn't creep you out, but I've been listening you your songs for a few months now. You were also in Chemistry Set, right? (or was that someone else) (if so I like the production on Chemistry Set songs better)

Anyway I like your simple sound and the song writing skill is definitely there. (good melodies) the singer's voice is very relaxing. You've got a lot of sonic youthish chords. I like Song of the Summer Youth Brigade (backing vocals are good), and Zen and Mother Hen the best (also Mothersuperior). A better mixing job would be good. I think guitar and vocals may be too quiet someplaces.

(when I set my mp3s i'm always pleased when yours come up)

Electronica submissions are welcome of course.

its been great listening to other peoples stuff too, here's the stuff i've had time to listen to so far..

1-0's "Kaine" : i love it when the bass kicks in! kinda dense el-p like electronica landscapes. its nice to listen to something where you dont know whats coming next. Although dont like the noise bit :) any more stuff to download?

love is chemistry: like the chilled harmonies. Ok how about instead of the pavement reference hows about a bit breeders? Its good stuff. I think i like the bit more rocking Jennifer the best.

tugboat: Antenna - yeah love the "rolling along" kinda hypnotic bass line and rhythym with the ethereal vocals. Like the noises too :). a bit my bloody valentine i guess. its wicked!

I'll review some of y'all's songs tonight when I'm not at work. If anybody wants a go at some of my stuff, you can choose from either:

http://nickalicious.iuma.com (solo stuff)

or

http://www.mp3.com/green_theory (the band I do vocals for)

andy nairn: when the first song started I thought "Hmm, cool
guitar textures, cool voice" but it didn't really go anywhere.
none of the songs do, you're just dithering about. methinks
you should try your hand at real songs, but perhaps that's not
your cup of tea.

dleone: excellent material. hard to describe, really -
carl wilson fronting the microphones?

aaron w: not bad. I'm not enamored of the vocals, but they're
not embarassing. The cello could go, though.

german exchange: no complaints. quality stuff, reminiscent
of very early XTC. drummings a bit dodgy tho!

shimmer kids: now this is my style of music. worth spending
money on. raw, hooky psych, with byrds-like vocals and
1967 production. favorably comparable to olivia tremor
control.

love is chemicals: you sure this is just a demo? sounds
release quality to me. fantastic songs, I'm keeping them
and watching for an album release. original hooks, with
spot-on quirky changes.

i have some more to listen to, but it will have to wait.
hope I wasn't too harsh - to be fair, i'll post my
own song URL soon.

Check out Demo3 which we did in a nice studio place over 3 days. (http://www.thegermanexchange.com)

Here are some more reviews of mine:

green Theory : some mad flow on the vocals! like primus with the amazing elastic bass lines. cool bits mixing with wall of sound guitars on "Emotions". Sounds a bit too cluttered i guess though, would be nice to able to dance to it a bit more. But overall sounds quality.

Shimmer Kids: nice psychadelic sound! love the velvet underground style drumming. The sound on burning brides is amazing with lots of subtle instruments in the background. Not so keen on Like Candy i'm afraid, compared to burning brides it doesnt seem as exciting or intriguing sound. definately gotta check out more stuff by you!

Yeah, that's right on, this is exactly what I've been trying to do more lately. Most of the songs there are just: record a part, record something over it, record something over that (which lends to cool sound textures, but weak songs). I didn't actually think anything out or really "write a song."

(listening to "A Brief Dissertation")
Alright, now this I can dig. It's like Beck's early, sillier
moments.

I planned on listening to Green Theory but I 100% refuse to
give mp3.com my personal information.

All I've listened to from this thread is Green Theory, but damn, nickalicious, that's cool shit. I can see the "Red Hot System of an Eminem" label for "Emotions," but it reminded me more of the Meat Puppets, which is a good thing.

Re: Chaki. You have a good voice! Stop masking it with effects
and silliness. And crank that baby up. In fact, I'd like to
tell every amateur auteur here: mix that voice up. I know you
don't like your voice - NONE of us do, but it sounds so much
better up front where it belongs.

Re: Chaki. You have a good voice! Stop masking it with effects
and silliness. Do a few more takes if you have to. And crank that
baby up. In fact, I'd like to tell every amateur auteur here: mix that voice up. I know you don't like your voice - NONE of us do, but it sounds so much better up front where it belongs.

that's who i was thinking of! otm.

Poor Child Don't Wake Up Now sounds very familiar. Like an early 90s Shoegazer anthem based on albums like Loveless, The Boo Radleys' Everything's Alright Forever and especially some of the Boo's more dance-orientated tracks like Skywalker and Sunfly II. Can't tell whether I've heard the catchy guitar break before or not.
Omen Mix is interesting. Like the Delgados go Happy Hardcore or something (Happy Softcore!). It doesn't do a whole lot though. I keep wanting it to kick in with some cheeky beats. Wouldn't mind remixing this myself at some point.
NESY2 Mix is all out weird! Weird vocals, beats and melodies that don't make a whole lot of sense. Not my favourite. It feels like it could fall apart at any minute which keeps you on edge the whole time. I appreciate the effort though, particularly the effects on the vocals which use techniques I've never heard before.
Four Short Songs is good in parts and unfinished in others. I'm not keen on some of the vocals, don't know if it's deliberate but it gets ridiculous at points, but again nice use of interesting effects.
Things start making a bit more sense again on Stones Fall. Your vocals still crack me up though. Like 80s Goth-Punk drowning in a literal pool of noise... Sounds burbling and gurgling, but your tracks all seem to fall apart and then back together again by the end.
Frogs of Trap Pond is cute!
I like this little project ANairn but I'm afraid it's not my thing really. It needs developing and could benefit from better sound production as some of the noises you make are really out there.

I'm still really digging dleone's track. I want more music like this! Very Beatles-y, very Beach Boys without sounding old-fashioned or at all poppy. I actually like the weird noise bits actually and the vocals are ace - like disembodied spirits singing hippy folk songs from ghost tapes uncovered in a san francisco loft.

Galicja are just fine. The sound production is nice and crisp with the aesthetics perfectly dark and angsty. Sadly, it doesn't make me particularly excited for the music. I'm not into this style much either, but Iim sure it would certainly appeal to any fans of Morrisey, Suede, Interpol, Joy Division, none of whom I'm afraid to say, I'm a big fan of.

The German Exchange are good fun - I'm listening to We Decline and it sounds like a cross between Kyuss and the Fall. I like the singing that goes from suitably shambolic to fairly epic during the bridge.

Love Is Chemicals are more my thing. I know we're not supposed to mention a certain 90s college rock band, but calling your track "The Hex" is a bit of a give away. I can't say that you do sound much like said band though - the vibe is too British, dare I say it Britpop, but in a nice way. I like the harmonic singing at 2:28 especially. Needs a few more listens I think and then this is bound to grow on me :-)

The Shimmer Kids are last on this post. Like Candy, Like Poison is good! And it reminds me of Gorky's Zygotic Mynci's last album. Nice brass section. I think the vocals could be improved - they're not bad and I can tell the singer could give it a bit more effort as he is obviously talented.