Summary

...Wow! Yet another fine week of outstanding music you’ve gotten us into here, @luzcypher. Thank you, my brother! My Top-5, as well as my Top-5 honorable mentions here in week 74, are all “Original Compositions!”

To be perfectly honest, I’m just a tad bit “blissfully-spent” insofar as following all of the wonderful entries here in week 74, alongside, of course, the deepest love and appreciation I felt in listening to and experiencing all of the incredible “Voices of Open-Mic” entries we’ve been accumulating of late.

So with that little bit said, following some further insights as to how I judge, let’s get it on, shall we?

Steemit Open Mic Week 74

My Process

As one of the esteemed Open Mic judges, it is my job to come up with (or “curate” as it were) a short-list of my top 5 entrants each week. With all of the great talent here, that is by no means an easy task. Sure, tossing in another 5 honorable mentions helps, but not when my weekly list starts out with 100 or more of my favorite entries... You guy's rock - I'm tellin ya!

Yes, I am a Libra – so I have an inherent drive deep within me to be fair and balanced – good qualities for a “judge” if you ask me. That being said, I’m still human – filled with emotion and subjective feelings – just like you. So, in order to mitigate my subjective tendencies to the best extent possible, I’ve come up with a method by which to narrow down my selections in a more objective vs. arbitrary manner.

Here’s how I go about my personal judging process: I first start out with a list of 100 or more of my most favorite entries for the week, and score them (yes, subjectively) in six distinct categories via a spreadsheet. The categories I’ve selected for scoring are in general harmony with those explained by @luczypher in his post titled How We Pick The Top 3 Entries, referencing such.

To get a more in-depth perspective as to how I personally go about selecting my artists, please refer to What I go through as an Open-Mic Judge.

Even though it’s still a “subjective” process – diligently going through each scoring category to come up with a “total” score for each entrant helps to minimize any overzealous subjectivity that I may harbor with respect to any specific entrants.

Quite often, this exercise doesn’t give me the exact results I would personally prefer to see – but that only means that my system of judging is working as intended and designed. With all of that said, here are...

My Top-5 Picks in Order

FIRST PLACE: @tomashofficial- “Here Nor There” - (Original)

The first thing I noticed here was Tom’s rather skillful guitar intro, - and in a non-standard “custom tuning” no less! Thereafter, the lyrics and melody he begins to sing in the first verse have all of the earmarks of an instant “hit!”

Not only is this song truly outstanding by every artistic measure, what truly takes this performance over the top, are Tom’s dominance and mastery of his instrument, which he exhibits while flawlessly man-handling his guitar with an extraordinary level of grace and swag that is strikingly captivating, and simply a pleasure to behold.

The way he drops his left hand in rhythm with the music and returns it precisely where it needs to be without missing a beat is truly jaw-dropping – along of course with his incredible finger-picking!

His instrumental bridge is unique and it tied the whole composition together quite beautifully. The false ending is pure icing on the cake – what a fantastic effect!

Everyone really needs to listen to, study, and watch this one very closely. There is so much here to be in awe of, and so much here to learn from.

This is pure entertainment and artistry across the board! Quite a stellar composition and performance, Tom! Awesome, brother! This one is worthy of a “Golden-Mic Award!”
https://steemit.com/openmic/@tomashofficial/steemit-open-mic-week-74-neither-here-nor-there-original-tom-ash

SECOND PLACE: @chimtivers96 – "Scratch" - (Original)

I’m tellin ya, brothers and sisters, @chimtivers96 really scratched our backs quite nicely this week with his original composition and performance of “Scratch!” Just a great tune with catchy vocal melodies and steady rhythm guitar perfectly suited for the song. That’s why he’s here in my number 2 spot here in week 74. Great work, @chimtivers96!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@chimtivers96/steemit-open-mic-week-74-scratch-original-song-by-chimtivers96

THIRD PLACE: @nathankaye – "Lucky Man Story" - (Orginal)

Nathan Kaye is just crazy talented – period! In addition to all of his artistic ability, he has been blessed with the gifts of a skilled entertainer! The live sound he creates as a one-man-band is over-the-top captivating, and such a joy to behold! He also possesses a quite polished ability to speak and tell stories in rather engaging fashion, all whilst never missing a beat of the underlying entertainment occurring amid the accompanying music he simultaneously performs. His original, “Lucky Man Story,” is the epitome of such extraordinary talents; there isn’t a song more appropriate to showcase the sheer wonder that is Nathan Kaye! Loved this every which way from Sunday, mate! “Strailia” & “Murika” – what a winning combination! And, it’s over!! Ha! Quite brilliant, Nathan!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@nathankaye/steemit-open-mic-week-74-funny-story-funky-didge-lapsteel-slide-1-man-band-lucky-man-story-nathan-kaye

FOURTH PLACE: @chaifm – "When I Go" - (Original)

I suspect that @chaifm has been rather busy of late. It has been quite some time since she’s submitted an Open-Mic entry. So when I saw that she submitted this week, I was anxious to see what she had in store for us. Well, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that she decided to dust off an old original composition of hers, and perform it here in week 74! This is classic @chaifm, replete with her infamously haunting vocal melodies and her sweet accompanying guitar. I’m so happy she dusted this one off and shared it with us. This is such a lovely composition and beautiful performance, @chaifm, I truly loved it!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@chaifm/steemit-openmic-week-74-when-i-go-original-song

FIFTH PLACE: @trevorpetrie – "Flightless Child" - (Original)

The story behind this song is a sad one describing what far too many of us experience at one time or another throughout the course of our lifetimes – anxiety & depression. For some, there are just brief bouts with this insidious condition, and for others, it’s an ongoing lifelong challenge. Trevor most eloquently speaks to this condition within his lyrical disdain, subtle guidance, and questions of empathy and understanding, along with closing on notes of hope and promise for the future. All of Trevor’s rather modest warnings about having a cold and difficult chord sequences were completely unwarranted. You rocked this, mate! The moment his fingers began to move about his instrument bringing forth such beautiful sounds, I heard nothing short of perfection! Likewise, his well-calibrated vocal expressions within his wonderfully crafted melodies delivered everything a listener could hope for and more! Another beautiful, passion-filled song of love and empathy, my brother! I loved it, man!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@trevorpetrie/steemit-open-mic-week-74-original-song-flightless-child

My Top-5 Honorable Mentions in Order:

First: @laurascarborough – "After Life After All" - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@laurascarborough/steemit-open-mic-week-74-original-song-after-life-after-all

Second: @wilins - "Venus" - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@wilins/steemit-open-mic-week-74-venus-cancion-original-openmic-es-patrocinado-por-luzcypher-y-pfunk

Third: @mrbloom – "Never Grow Old" - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@mrbloom/steemit-open-mic-week-74-original-song-never-grow-old-by-darren-claxton

Fourth: @danielsandoval – "At the Open-Mic" - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@danielsandoval/steemit-open-mic-week-74-at-the-open-mic-original-song

Fifth: @markaustin – "Journey Without Distance" - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@markaustin/steemit-openmic-week-74-original-journey-without-distance

Thank you for reviewing my selections for this week’s Open-Mic contest. If you find this content I’ve curated entertaining and of value to you, then please consider up-voting and/or re-steeming it.

Peace, Love, and Justice for All

A Very Special Shout Out To:

The following 20 artists who were very much on my radar, each within a splitting hair of making it into my overall top-10, and whose performances I loved, cherish, and respect most assuredly. This special list is very much an extension of my most honorable mentions.

They are - in no particular order:

@melodeons, @pedromrmourato, @melissakellie, @builtinfire, @vera.carla, @carlgnash, @paintingangels, @nirtsfaty, @edenmichelle, @yusaymon, @uvalunera, @edwardstobia, @danshawmusic, @zipporah, @lucybanks, @petrajordan, @queenbee, @operahoser, @maerod, @rial17, and @tarotbyfergus.

Another Special Shout Out To:

The following artists whose performances I very much enjoyed this week.

They are - in no particular order:

@addiesworld, @honeymoon-1611, @byrongrant, @shaktisun, @bennettitalia, @alvaro017, @roman.musica, @siomarasalmeron, @puralife, @martinsandersuk, @gibber, @mcmusic, @rodrigocabrera, @jonsnoww, @lk666, @raci, @steevc, @abisaiycristina, @kkarenmp, @kkarenmp, @gaborockstar, @donatello, @malvarezmusic, @jgvinstl, @yoi, @drewley, @williansjmm, @crisvalquin, @coruscate, @nelsooona, @tfeldman, @esaug, @guifaquetti, @solburgos, @lerpdrummerboy, @ibramusic, @andrewmarkmusic, @jonsmontero, @rypo01, @elisonr13, @bisodun, @wethepatsies, @pollocyber, @klynic, @teukurobbybinor, @digitalopus, @badcamper, @rho-sama, @marcusings, @smollrecord, @carrion, @beethoven10, @afroadrianv, @nestorchacin, @marioslash13, @ridimic1, @musiccircle, @sambalat1, @scottone, @pechichemena, @camuel, @williamsreinoso, @laviq, @shaularosa, @ljv, and @armoniritmia, @brendahcaroline.

Much love and thanks to each and every one of you who have touched a part of my heart and soul - not only this week but forever!