CrownBEAT Review

[recketscience]

Boston Crusaders: Though showing some solid execution in all areas, I felt the performance overall flat. Following Spirit is difficult from a GE standpoint for sure. There were some fuzzy drumline moments. I love the guard overall, but wish they were featured better. The arrangements are good, but I feel there could be a bit more creativity beyond the transcription skill displayed. The best Boston has been in a while.

Spirit: This is the best SOA since the 1980s without any doubt. Really great in all areas. The show is so well done from an effect and variety standpoint that I wonder if any short period of flaw causes the judges to over-react. The amount of applause moments was far greater that anyone else tonight. What a great job or redoing a show theme with sophistication and innovation. Solid writing in all captions for sure. No idea really why BK was even close.

BK: The show is interesting for sure. They are better live than the videos I have seen. That said, I was not impressed. The biggest issue for me was the unmusical drum writing and the lack of brass challenge with drill and the brass parts, and the extremely dirty drill. The brass play in safe ranges throughout and display open-class level skills, and play much for much less time than the other corps. The show does ramp up towards the end.

Academy: I love the Rite of Spring. The arrangements are enjoyable, and also very awkward at times. With so many corps and bands having done this piece, unsuccessfully, seems one that should be better left alone. There are some well coordinated moments and it seems that if cleaner and more produced, this show could challenge for 12th or 13th pretty easily. The color scheme is great and I love the corps uniform with the purple tie. Cleaning would do wonders.

Pacific Crest: There were moments of this show I thought were as well done as many moments in Academy’s or BK’s shows. All sections are pretty even and could use more cleaning, but the overall intent for each section’s book is very clear. The show’s theme is not that evident, but some effects are well coordinated between all three main sections of the corps.

Colts: I felt like I was watching two corps. A corps with little GE pacing for seven minutes and one with a great last two minutes. The concept of Boundries is no where to be found in the show. The brass, percussion, and guard each have moments of solid achievement as well as moments that need extended attention. The flag designs are striking and the corps drive to perform evident.

Mandarins: The beginning and end of the show is really well done. I wish that level of drive and flavor was evident throughout. I enjoyed the show for the most part and was reminded of how the depth of good corps and corps with really fine moments at any standard are the norm 1st through 23rd place.

Edited July 31, 2012 by recketscience

[oldsoprano]

Nice review. Thanks!