The Creative Complex ‘26

JUDGES' BREAKDOWN

1. LEX the Lexicon Artist

   7.33/10 score · rank #18 of 24
   VOCALS 9

   PRODUCTION 6

   CHALLENGE 7

   Man this is one of my favorite character concepts this round! Well done to Ronin for such energetic vocals and fully embodying his character. WRESTLEEEEEEEE Detective! is a really fun hook. Feels like it could be a TV show theme. I got a really clear idea of who this character was, even without watching the promo (which I did later and thought was really well done). I did dock a few points from the challenge because it didn't meet the narrative requirement of chronicling his rise and fall, but you did mention that you felt it wouldn't serve the song, which is fair. And the entrance theme wasn't really a musical entrance theme in the technical sense, but an entrance voiceover. Overall I thought the production was fun, well crafted and exciting, but the mixing choices were a little weird and confusing - there would be a high pass filter on some of the track and then it would flip to a boomier low end? Interesting choice but didn't hit the mark for me as much.

2. Ben Tarkus

   8.00/10 score · rank #13 of 24
   VOCALS 8

   PRODUCTION 8

   CHALLENGE 8

   Tell me why this song gave Anime opening song vibes? Also those guitar riffs rip, I'm here for them. More of those all day! Can't tell if this is intentional or not, but I picked up a nod to Lupe Fiasco in the lyrics, so I hope it was! A solid offering to the R3 submission all around, I think the challenge was met head on but the song could have been developed a little more across the board. Would have enjoyed a little more substance in the body of the song, and where the Wrestle Detective's fall from grace fits into the song

3. Richie Branson

   7.67/10 score · rank #15 of 24
   VOCALS 7

   PRODUCTION 7

   CHALLENGE 9

   Submission Victims Unit is crazy, lol. Yeah, bro coming out to the ring in an Alphabet boy jacket and a prop gun lol. I caught that one winged angel reference. Hook is hilarious, but could be reeled in just a tad. The rapping here is nice. The beat melodically is fine, don’t think it should start with the filter effect tho. Vocal mix could use another pass as well.

4. Mark Cooper

   7.33/10 score · rank #21 of 24
   VOCALS 6

   PRODUCTION 6

   CHALLENGE 10

   This intro was so clever and came out of nowhere! (see what I did there)! Love the energy of the instrumental and vocalist getting really into the song. Only things I could point out in this song is that the vocals mix needs a little more love. They were a little too dry, but clear. That's a good thing about it so nothing too bad. The instrumental had a filter throughout the track that would come and go throughout the song and it can be a little distracting in the ears. Other than those small issues, lyrics are fun and you got the challenge points! good work!

5. Klopfenpop

   6.00/10 score · rank #21 of 24
   VOCALS 9

   PRODUCTION 3

   CHALLENGE 6

   I'm immediately smiling. The intro theme had me absolutely grinning from ear to ear. I love to hear you singing! I would watch Wrestle Detective. I'm so sold on this character and universe. The verses are really fun and world building. I'm not sure about the random filter adjustments on this beat that don't seem to be shifting with any regard to the vocals or the narrative. The low end kinda flanges away during the intro, then wanders back two and a half bars into the rap verse. This could be a cool effect if used with more intention. When any effect changes the low end of a sound (whether boosting it, reducing it, or anything else), that shift is going to feel really important to the listener. You need to make use of that in a way that makes sense for the other elements of the song like the vocal performance, the musical arrangement, dynamic transitions, text-painting, etc.