Copyright © 2003 Jamen Brooks. Images copyright © 2003 Tyler Gourley.
Guestbook

We'll get a new version of the guestbook going sometime. In the meantime, send your musings to jamenb@gmail.com.

Here are some current musings about Jamen's tracks.


in xanadu?
did kubla khan...get so high. This was a very entertaining, catchy, expressive track. One of the best vocal performances I've heard in over 100 reviews, as well as a very engrossing chord progression solidified by a perfectly appropriate bassline. I got the same feeling of "this song is going to be stuck in my head forever" listening to this that I did when I heard Olivia Newton-John's "Xanadu" when I was about three years old. Don't laugh, you love that song too...Anyway...for constructive criticism's sake...the only thing that struck me as off was the mix between the falsetto melody in the chorus and the main melody one octave below--sounded like the same trick as throwing an acoustic guitar under an electric just for the attack...you've got one of those rare singers that can make the falsetto sound cool enough by itself! If you really want layering there, do it with a harmony instead that really blasts those cool chords into the listeners' ears. Good job and good luck.

charles_ngrider from Boston, Massachusetts



Playing in the Cold
This sounds simular to Cold Play.This song is incredible.The hook is grappling.The mood is beautiful.This song is put forth with great emotion.This is definetly the best song I've heard on GB yet.I hope you guys have a cd on here.Because I'll be buying it in about five minutes if you do.

Ahbul from Nowhere, Florida


Incredible!
Superb production and sound quality. Great playing all round, great vocals, backups are incredible! The hook is in the chorus, especially those falsettos. I'm not sure if I understand what you mean by "balance". If you mean the mixing balance between tracks, it's perfect. Guitars are so warm and still bright and crisp. Full marks for everything. Good job!

lizsingleton from Tempe, Arizona



Is it live or is it memorex?
The beginning reminds me of Pearl Jam, the changes remind me of Rush, the vocals remind me of Dave Matthews, but overall, the sound is really good, and the little melodic hooks make the song. The backing vocals are tastefully used, and the lead has no mistaking his position as a lead vocalist. I dunno how much they spent on production, but it was well worth it. This is a polished sound that I am finding hard to nitpick. I even like the little slide guitar lead parts! From a bass playing standpoint, the bass does some of the same moves I would do if I were playing on this song. Not too shabby. I think I'd have to say thatI would buy this album.

belgeode from Ambridge, Pennsylvania



smoothly done, tastefully done
i love the moddy feel to this one,well produced, great lyrics, tight playing, one of the better songs i've reviewed on here.i'm getting a david gray feel from the vocal. this sounds like it's ready for radio action, maybe adult contemporary?

-Generica

Cinnaminson, New Jersey



Rain or shine, there's always room for a good ballad
I admit, the song tugged on my emotions with its well crafted lyrical charge. It's difficult to pin point which words, it could very well have been the vocalist unique touch which does not seem to follow any big known stars. In that, I see a great leap forward here and possibly the attainment of some award here or elsewhere. Certainly my recomendation for the band is not to quit now and keep on rocking with that deeply entrenched emotion.

-IronCurtain, San Jose, California