The Syndicate

The twist this time is that you're allowed to have one "title track", I'll describe how it works:

The Title Track - you can replace one of the below categories with your playlist’s title track. This is the song that ties your whole tracklist together. You can take this in any direction you'd like; I'm just looking for a moment of impact. Title tracks will be judged independently of the category they are replacing, though it will be played during that category to maintain the tracklist. If you would rather adhere to all 10 category prompts, please still designate one song as the title track.






1. POV
When we listen to this song, we want to experience your soul escaping your body and possessing the singer. This is not a song you wrote, but it is your voice. Dig deep. The vocalist’s gender should not necessarily be a barrier here. (To clarify, I am specifically looking for a singer who is not actually you, you're borrowing their voice )



2. Magic
A song that alludes to, evokes, or inspires a) arcane magic, or b) that almost-tangible energy that emanates from nature and each other. The song has an ethereal quality.



3. The Single
You think this would be a hot new hit if it was released to popular radio formats; perhaps the song's genre is not popular enough, or the band is not well-known enough to get on the radio, or the song has some other quirky defect. Nevertheless, if millions of people heard this song on the radio, you'd bet on them calling in and requesting it to be played again and again. This song shouldn't be much longer than three and a half minutes at most.



4. Color
The sensory and imagery elements of this song evoke a specific color's aesthetic, or the song is named after a particular color. This is not just about the concept of color in general. Bonus points for creativity and originality here.



5. Anachronism
Sounds like it belongs to a different time period from when it was recorded, either forwards or backwards.



6. Memory Extraction
The song viscerally takes you back to a specific memory. Perhaps the feeling was only a fraction of a second, the song could have been playing at that immediate moment or it could not have been, but the memory and the song are irrevocably connected.



7. Deadly Sins
Song about one of the seven deadly sins.



8. (Power) Ballad
This is a slow and raw romantic song with powerful vocals.



9. Guilty Pleasure
You can't deny this song's appeal, even if you're a little bit ashamed or shy to admit it.



10. Coda
The finale builds and builds and builds and releases, or there is a sustained and powerful coda at the end. A climactic finish.

____________________________________________________________________________________
When you submit your songs, please submit only a link, not a full youtube video and don't write out the song name. This is so submissions can remain as anonymous as possible. So if it's a youtube video, copy the link to your clipboard, and bracket it with the url tag like so If a song is the title track, designate it as such next to the link (but don't break the link!).

Songs will be graded on a 10 point scale using one decimal place. E.g. A nearly perfect song would receive a 9.9

My personal taste will be a factor. I love LOTS of different kinds of music, but I don't like everything.

We will schedule listening parties on the Discord server as usual.

Tentatively you have until March 31st, 11:59pm EST to submit your lists!

Happy walrusing!

link to the Walrus discord: https://discord.gg/nUhm2B

Dope.

Oooh fun categories fo sho

“Number 9 will SHOCK you”

Now that I'm officially in, I look forward to the spreadsheets I create and choices I agonize over for the next 2 weeks!

[mention]G-Man:[/mention]

If you use your self-parody again for #1, I shall petition the judge to give you first place in that round.

For the first category I am specifically looking for a singer who is not actually you, you're borrowing their voice

I already have a relatively solid eight tracks picked so far. I’m going all over the map this time. I even surprised myself. Hopefully my picks surprise some of you too.

Just found me a shiny new lady of pop. I wonder if I'll find a spot for her.

[mention]Turnip Head[/mention]

Are you the kind of host that would knock a song down a few points if it is longer than a certain amount of time? Asking for a friend.

JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:01 pm Just found me a shiny new lady of pop. I wonder if I'll find a spot for her.

As long as it ain't Joanna Newsom.

birdwithteeth11 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:02 pm @Turnip Head

Are you the kind of host that would knock a song down a few points if it is longer than a certain amount of time? Asking for a friend.

Not necessarily, I like long songs if the length feels earned. However, I am less likely to appreciate a prog or metal song than another host.

Can you clarify category one? I really don't understand it any better than I did the first time I read it. Maybe give an example?

Epignosis wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:40 pm Can you clarify category one? I really don't understand it any better than I did the first time I read it. Maybe give an example?

I still would like TH to clarify but just to put in my 2c, my interpretation was a song that you heavily relate to/identify with to the point that you project yourself onto the singer

Epignosis wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:40 pm Can you clarify category one? I really don't understand it any better than I did the first time I read it. Maybe give an example?

I hope it's not too foreign of a concept. Imagine the singer is your shadow, and you look down and your shadow starts moving independently. Or you look in the mirror and your reflection comes alive. I'll try to let my shadow explain the concept directly:



linki: what nutella said

As in, it's your "voice" in a metaphorical/emotional sense; you feel that you could be the one behind the song.

nutella wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:15 am As in, it's your "voice" in a metaphorical/emotional sense; you feel that you could be the one behind the song.

This

birdwithteeth11 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:04 pm

JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:01 pm Just found me a shiny new lady of pop. I wonder if I'll find a spot for her.

As long as it ain't Joanna Newsom.

Don't test me

*snoops jay's lastfm*

Predicting a super strong category 3.

nutella wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:15 am As in, it's your "voice" in a metaphorical/emotional sense; you feel that you could be the one behind the song.

So...a song I feel like I could have / should have written.

TH you should work for the government the way you make everything more complicated.

Sloonei wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:26 pm Predicting a super strong category 3.

Who is? The National Weather Service?

Epignosis wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:31 pm

Sloonei wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:26 pm Predicting a super strong category 3.

Who is? The National Weather Service?

Luckily everyone's already stocked up on emergency supplies.

All right. I've got three picks already. I'm on my way.

This looks cool, I’m in.

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:12 pm This looks cool, I’m in.

Good to see you 'round these parts, 7 more than M

JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:15 pm

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:12 pm This looks cool, I’m in.

Good to see you 'round these parts, 7 more than M

Thanks man! It’s good to be back.

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:12 pm This looks cool, I’m in.

Oh my god... I might die from pleasant surprise

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:12 pm This looks cool, I’m in.

I'm just glad I succeeded in talking you into it, bud!

Also I forgot to mention that earlier tonight, I got it down to only 2 categories I'm still trying to figure out. Progress!

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:50 pm

JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:15 pm

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:12 pm This looks cool, I’m in.

Good to see you 'round these parts, 7 more than M

Thanks man! It’s good to be back.

My friend.

There's two others who want to join this if it's all right.

Queen Pink wants in, but I'll have to look her password up or ask her what it was.

Turnip Head wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:20 pm

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:12 pm This looks cool, I’m in.

Oh my god... I might die from pleasant surprise

Likewise it’s good to see you!

Heck yes

birdwithteeth11 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:45 pm

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:12 pm This looks cool, I’m in.

I'm just glad I succeeded in talking you into it, bud!

Me too! It’s been way too long since I’ve done fun things with you people.

Epignosis wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:52 pm There's two others who want to join this if it's all right.

I'm good with it

Epignosis wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:51 pm

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:50 pm

JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:15 pm

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:12 pm This looks cool, I’m in.

Good to see you 'round these parts, 7 more than M

Thanks man! It’s good to be back.

My friend.

Likewise.

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 12:16 am

birdwithteeth11 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:45 pm

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:12 pm This looks cool, I’m in.

I'm just glad I succeeded in talking you into it, bud!

Me too! It’s been way too long since I’ve done fun things with you people.

What do you mean "you people?"

Lovingly, of course.

Starting to really peruse the categories and I have a very stereotypically-MP7 question — how would you feel about submissions being purely instrumental? Part of my brain is already making arguments that certain compositions of that nature might be my best option. With that said, I would understand if instrumental wouldn’t work in cases like POV that specifically mention a voice.

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 12:33 am Starting to really peruse the categories and I have a very stereotypically-MP7 question — how would you feel about submissions being purely instrumental? Part of my brain is already making arguments that certain compositions of that nature might be my best option. With that said, I would understand if instrumental wouldn’t work in cases like POV that specifically mention a voice.

I would say submit instrumentals where it makes sense to do so, and don't try to force anything that doesn't work. Perhaps it is a technique better used sparingly? At the end of the day I just want you to be proud of your submissions.

Turnip Head wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 12:45 am

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 12:33 am Starting to really peruse the categories and I have a very stereotypically-MP7 question — how would you feel about submissions being purely instrumental? Part of my brain is already making arguments that certain compositions of that nature might be my best option. With that said, I would understand if instrumental wouldn’t work in cases like POV that specifically mention a voice.

I would say submit instrumentals where it makes sense to do so, and don't try to force anything that doesn't work. Perhaps it is a technique better used sparingly? At the end of the day I just want you to be proud of your submissions.

Makes sense, thanks.

Another question: does the POV have to be in English?

No

Cool, thanks TH!

MP7: Another question, does it have to have real instruments? Can the music be imaginary only? What is your opinion of babies crying for 47 minutes and 19 seconds?

Here we go.

Epignosis wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 9:35 pm MP7: Another question, does it have to have real instruments? Can the music be imaginary only? What is your opinion of babies crying for 47 minutes and 19 seconds?

Here we go.

Luna and I might submit a combo compilation

No hydras.