I figured I'd give you guys a critique to justify my vote so here goes:
Basic:
Liked the atmosphere here despite it being a fairly sparse track in terms of instrumentation. It's got a dark feel from just the bass and the minimal drums. Also liked the pacing. You emphasized the half time feel well with rests and timing. The 16th note delayed rimshots and other little incidentals helped to keep things interesting. As a few others have said, it lacks progression. I feel like you could have added some more variance or added some more to the drums, although I can understand the minimal drum instrumentation as being an artistic decision.
Nowaysj:
Really liked the tribal feel here. On a second listen today I noticed a melodic approach in the percussion I hadn't noticed last night. Sounds like you put some work into the programming so big up for that. Also the overall production and orchestrations was well done. Things like the panning delay on the snare and pulling things in and out of the mix helped to give the song movement. I think the strings added to the atmosphere of the track but at times sounded too static. A nice multisample library would really do you some good. Also in the middle section where the strings come in I feel the structure is a bit undefinied in places. Some more string variations or fills would help.
Overall I think you both did really well considering the time constraints and forum peer pressure. Good to see something positive and constructive come out of the situation instead of bickering.
I had to choose one so my vote went to:
Nowaysj!!!
The tribal drums and arranging clinched it for me. I feel like you did a good job building up and releasing energy and this gave the track its flow.
Again good job to both contenders. At the time of posting the polls were at a near tie so it's still any man's fight!
Swing! Duck! Groin shot! Groin shot!!!
- you made a nice bass sound, just didn't do it for me because as depone said it didn't really progress much
competition breeds progression.
