Pitch Perfect
  • Pitch Perfect
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Steve Schillinger - Sketches

2/18/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Steve Schillinger

Sketches
self-released; 2013

3.4 out of 5

By Ted Rogen
Steve Schillinger has been singing, playing guitar and writing songs since 1998 but only recently released his album called Sketches. It actually is a very appropriate title for the album in that a lot of the songs kind of feel like that. Mostly in part due to the quality of the album, which makes it sound more like a demo than a polished, professional recording. Although the acoustic guitar sounded tinny and his vocals were in desperate need of compression the songwriting usually shines through. The songs, while well written, lack much diversity. All the songs feature just his voice and acoustic guitar throughout the six tracks on the album and I would be lying if by the fourth song I was hoping for a little something like a bass, harmonica or piano to help me keep my attention through the album. The songs are all melancholy, which makes it an even harder to through in one sitting.

The album opens with “My Heart Belongs To You,” which is one of the highlights amongst the batch. His voice sounds good in the mix and even reminded me a bit of Canada's favorite folk singer Gordon Lightfoot in a good way. A solid vocal melody carries the song. “Easy Smile” suffers from production issues. His guitar has almost no mid range or low end and his vocals have too much reverb on them. Besides that it’s a pretty decent song. Similar Issues surface with “Chance Encounter” although I did enjoy the vocal harmonies. 

On “I Gotta Go” the vocals sound like they are separated from the guitar. It sounds as if he is singing right into the microphone leaving no room for the vocals to naturally compress from the air. Schillinger lays on the chorus effect for “Broken Hearts.” The closer is a good tune and another highlight amongst the batch.

Overall, Schillenger is talented but the production is so poor it holds back the album from finding its potential. I would love to hear these songs find a better home. Schillenger may want to consider re-recording these songs with a professional engineer and even adding some additional instrumentation.  
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by pitchperfect158
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
© Pitch Perfect 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Pitch Perfect
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact