Elf and his Dream Rovers - Game of Thrones
Country, Traditional Pop
Canada
Overall Impression: Elf and his Dream Rovers whisk up a brilliantly traditional-sounding country tune that holds a strikingly powerful and potent message at its core. That message details the great importance of free thought and the inner power we hold to question those that we have been told to both look up to and listen to. Despite the strong lyrical themes it aims to express, that's definitely not to say that "Game of Thrones" can't have a jolly good time in the process. With its lively tempo, charming performances, and hopeful nature, "Game of Thrones" captures the vibe of the country genre brilliantly.
Strongest Point(s): As aforementioned, the lyrics have a poignant message at their heart and it makes for an incredibly engaging listening experience. What makes this even more effective is how the serious undertones of the lyrics are contrasted with the more energetic and lively nature of the music, it's an interesting juxtaposition that works incredibly well in this context. The lead vocals do a marvelous job of bringing these lyrics to life and have a very grounded and relatable nature to them, heightening the effectiveness of the lyrics furthermore by having a welcoming and charming quality to them that audiences can easily connect with. The way the vocals and guitar engage in a call and response motif throughout works particularly well and adds a great deal of dynamism to the melody writing that helps make them both catchy and memorable. As the artist already details, the combination of 7/8 and 2/4 time signatures is certainly a very unique approach that isn't seen in traditional country, in fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find any traditional country songs utilizing 7/8, helping to make "Game of Thrones" stand apart from similar songs in this style. It's always great to see artists taking interesting risks such as these and playing with genre conventions. Not only does this give the overall feel of the track an interesting rhythmic edge, but thematically it fits with the lyrics and the general unresolved issues they comment on.
Target Audience Appeal: This is a terrifically lively country tune and fans of the genre will surely enjoy what "Game of Thrones" has to offer.
Artist target suggestions: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Alan Jackson, David Allan Cole, George Jones, Willie Nelson, The Highwaymen, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Brooks & Dunn, Bobby Bare
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About the Reviewer:
Andre Avanessian is a freelance session musician, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar, as well as teaching it, helping students both learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and how to become proficient in home recording.