glennny wrote:
Caravan Ray- This mix is odd. The guitars sound crappy, but your vocals sound great. The drum machine and organ sound good too. I’ve heard good guitar sounds from you before, what’s going on this time?...The lead guitar I think could be more explosive and dynamic.
Thank you.
I have been trying to improve my sound by playing with Ozone and spending a lot of time mixing - so these sort of comments are most welcome. THe strummed guitar in the chorus will be crappy because they were recorded at half speed and sped up - but I guess you are referring to the main lead guitar. That was an exercise in fiddling to try to find the right frequencies to cut and boost for it to stand out. I guess I over- fiddled.
Apart from that - I am now also finding the into guitar lick awful. I like simple but that is too simple.
Glenny-
1. A person with even a slight southern accent, if they really lean on it whilst singing and are from Texas having grown up two stepping can make a long vowel-y diphthong-tha-thong-thong out of even the shortest fricatives that are not even meant to stretch at all. It once took an Abilene kindergartener until her college graduation day to complete the recitation of her ABCs (true fact*)
+
2. Thanks for the reviews. They are spot on. I actually do agree with the awkwardness of word placement thing and I would sing things and line up differently next time. This is another Take One I feel of a good song we like. At least that's my feeling. A good take one though and well done production with coulda been smoother takes.
3. (ahem...) concerning "fap."
THERE'S AN ICON FOR THAT?!?!?!?! #iRoll
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(*not really)
"Really interesting how the point you’re making slowly emerges like Martin Sheen from the mud in Apocalypse Now..." ~j$
In iTunes shuffle order. I apologize in advance for the general unhelpfulness, but I am still getting over this cold and am feeling particularly vile.
Micah Sommer: The very beginning makes me think this is going to be some interesting weird noise experimental thing, but then the chords start and I think it's going to just be some generic song that goes somewhere, and then the singing starts and then I can't help but think that this is just something you threw together after a night of karaoke. Needs more than just the same two chords over and over again, and you need to dial back the attempted theatrical sound a bit.
Berkeley Social Scene: I love what you guys do to time signatures. The singing at the very beginning (and through the verses) is pretty weak but then it goes into the usual BSS groove that we all know and love. I'd have thought that Ken was having an off day with the drums but I guess it wasn't Ken on drums. This is full of good musical ideas (maybe a bit too standard-issue BSS, though?) but the track as a whole doesn't quite come together for me (mostly because of the ultra-pitchy singing).
Billy and the Psychotics: This makes me think of Pixies and I Mother Earth and a bunch of other stuff I loved in the 90s (and still enjoy). The mix is a bit clippy at 1:00 and the vocals get a bit lost in general, but this is a pretty good track in general. v
Caravan Ray: Either get a new schtick, or polish this schtick to the point of brilliance. This is just mediocre and I know you can do better than that.
Infinity Point Buck: Your name always makes me think of fractal trees. Vocals are just muddy and impossible to listen to, which is a shame because that appears to be the focal point of the track. Also when I write "focal" while you say "infinity point buck" for the billionth time I keep thinking I'm hearing "infinity foint fuck." So there's that.
sonofsupercar: Nice to see you guys back here. 3/4 suits you. Guitars are sloppy as hell in a classic SOS way. Someday you will learn to mix and master a track so it's not just a muddy pile but you still know how to have fun while making music and that really comes across as always. v
King Arthur: Typical solid King Arthur track. Needs a bit more instrumental variation and those drum patterns are just killing me. Also I think the lyrics would be about 200x times better if they were about some creepy guy who thinks he has something that he doesn't, but that might just be me.
Paco del Stinko: You're totally channeling Tom Petty here, I think. Nice guitar chords, nice buildup and breakdown and dynamic range. I feel like this track could use drums that come in at the first verse though; it's missing a lot of texture as a result. It kind of sounds like maybe you accidentally had your drum track(s) muted when you did your final mixdown, or something, because they clearly want to be there. And then with 30 seconds left the song actually starts, which makes the entire song sound very short. But I guess all in all it still earns the coveted v.
Radio Show: So far this is the best-sung track. Something about it sounds very familiar, like this is a song I've heard on the radio or something, but my brain isn't working so good right now. Also it sounds like you need to change your smoke detector battery. Still, well-performed and certainly one of the better tracks this week. v
Ross Durand: This track would sound a lot better if you were completely drunk while playing it. You sound way too alert, energetic, and happy for the words and the music.
Smashy Claw: This makes me think of older They Might Be Giants, and it's fun to listen to and keeps my interest the whole way through. Every change happens at just the right time. Not a fan of the weird panny stuff with the voices at the very end but TMBG also did that a lot so, whatever. v
Sockpuppet: Oh man that kick drum is just killing me. I should have spent more time mixing it but when I got everything arranged I got this damn cold and couldn't make any more vocal takes (this was actually just my second vocal take, oddly enough) and I couldn't mix worth a damn so I decided to just cut my losses. Just as "Ruthless Lately" was written for Johnny Cashpoint's voice, this one was written for Roymond's. I also needed to vary the drums more but I couldn't really think of how to do it without it becoming complete cliche. At least I managed to play violin and cello well enough that it didn't completely suck (although I still had to use pitch correction). This is one of those songs where the music came easily but the lyrics were just what sounded like they belonged with the music. Which is generally how I write music anyway, so I guess that's nothing new.
fluffy wrote:
Billy and the Psychotics: This makes me think of Pixies and I Mother Earth and a bunch of other stuff I loved in the 90s (and still enjoy). The mix is a bit clippy at 1:00 and the vocals get a bit lost in general, but this is a pretty good track in general. v
Yeah, the clippy part is all bass related, as usual. The age old excuse, I ran out of time to redo it.
Thanks, fluf.
fluffy wrote:
Billy and the Psychotics: This makes me think of Pixies and I Mother Earth and a bunch of other stuff I loved in the 90s (and still enjoy). The mix is a bit clippy at 1:00 and the vocals get a bit lost in general, but this is a pretty good track in general. v
Yeah, the clippy part is all bass related, as usual. The age old excuse, I ran out of time to redo it. :)
Thanks, fluf.
fluffy wrote: I apologize in advance for the general unhelpfulness
Ross Durand: This track would sound a lot better if you were completely drunk while playing it. You sound way too alert, energetic, and happy for the words and the music.
Yeah, unfortunately I was only partially drunk when playing it. Maybe the track would sound better if you were completely drunk while listening to it. Try that and then vote again.
fluffy wrote:
Billy and the Psychotics: This makes me think of Pixies and I Mother Earth and a bunch of other stuff I loved in the 90s (and still enjoy). The mix is a bit clippy at 1:00 and the vocals get a bit lost in general, but this is a pretty good track in general. v
Yeah, the clippy part is all bass related, as usual. The age old excuse, I ran out of time to redo it.
Thanks, fluf.
Some thoughts on the songs. I might talk about the mix more than usual as mixing has been on my mind a lot lately. So don't take that as necessarily reflective of your song. I'm thinking of things as how I would produce them.
Berkeley Social Scene - The beginning actually made me think of early Mr. Bungle (0:17-0:30 especially). Different styles here - the whimsy beginning, and then the pop-melodic chorus. I think the vocals could fit better in the mix. Like at 1:50 it seems to fit better (the "gravity will pull you down" bit). At the solo I think the supporting instrumentation could feel 'bigger' - e.g. see the difference between the intro in Billy's song from 5 seconds in to when the guitars kick in right after. Anyway the song is well constructed. I'm imagining the last chorus with more backing vocals (harmonies or a sort of shouting supporting backup vocals). I think it's just lacking that 'kick'. May be a matter of preference, but I feel there were some opportunities for it in the track. Vote.
Billy And the Psychotics - Nice contrasts in volume/fullness of sound. Really transitions well all the way to 0:55 in terms of melody, texture. I like the little riffs during the second verse. I think my favorite track by you two. Definite vote.
Caravan Ray - The mix feels flat - I could imagine the chorus sounding a lot brighter - like the way it sounds for a moment at the "hey ladies" part (much livelier there). I like the lyrics, rhymes and flow. Back and fourth with the vocals during the chorus is cool.
Infinity Point Buck - Vocals are muffled, it'd change the entire track if the higher frequencies were present. Not sure about the wide panning of them. But the bassline is at least trying something interesting.
King Arthur - Well written song. The only thing I'd change would be to have some instrumental variation in the chorus - could just be a little bit of a higher pitched piano or something. Something that would 'lift' it up more. Or more shine in the guitar at that part. Vote. Some mandolin maybe, something with more of an obvious pluck sound. Vote.
Micah Summer - I think the writing is fine, I'd just change some things in the mix, like not having the instruments in the verse so upfront as they are in the chorus. A different mic or whatever it is that is causing the vocals to sound like that would improve the sound a lot.
Paco del Stinko - The "better than before" chorus could be even more intimate, I still think it can feel even closer, more menacing, more prominent palm muting of the guitar w/ powerchords. I imagine the verse could have more in the stereo field to contrast with the "better than before" intimate chorus. Like some dronish synths panned far, changing note every two bars, or a sparse string section sound. Thus it would collapse into the closely mixed chorus (not much width needed there, except possibly sort of STRIKE OUTS panned apart, like this: "Better than before...[BANG (panned far away)]" - e.g. something that would hint at the big sound that comes out at the end, but not too much. Solo as always is badass. Vote because of the end.
Radio Show - I agree with glennny in that I think the pan/back and fourth of the guitars is the only thing bringing the track down, it's really distracting. I like upfront vocals like this though. Vocals are very strong. Other than the guitar panning it's great.
Ross Durand - Playing, writing, singing, all great. I'm just wondering how your voice would sound more closely mic'd, to perhaps capture more of the sizzle/texture of the voice (I'm imagining the Johnny Cash vocals in American IV as an example). Vote.
Smash Claw - Like the "wa-ha ha ha" vocals at 1:27, it's a good change in sound. The chimes or bells in the chorus is a good touch. Something about the sound of the piano doesn't fit well for me, except from 2:31-2:33. It's a solid pop tune.
Sock Puppet - Cello sounds good. I think the vocals could be more expressive at parts. The 2:36 - 2:41 part is a good change, but feels like the energy can still continue on from what's built up in those few seconds to the part right after. The toy piano or glocken or something, nice addition. I feel one of the parts could have the guitar dropped out to return later.
Son of Super Car - Mix could be brighter, feels flat, but vocalist makes up for it in energy. I think there could be more variation in the writing of the song, doesn't feel like it's building up to something even though the singer is doing well.
I like a lot of the phrasing you use - there are some good snippets of lyrics, but they don't really fit together as a coherent story. Music was interesting - nice try on that, if not really successful. I'd like to hear more from you - but no vote this time
There are about 3 songs I like in this. But I don't like them all together.
I would prefer this more as a standard pop song based around your main chorus - all this time changing makes me uncomfortable. I would probably prefer better vocal too - they get a bit dodgy from time to time
Cool guitar at 2:10 - that is the guitar sound I will aim for next time.
Pretty much nailed this. I like everything about it. Simple lyrics telling a story. Big hooks with the guitar lines and harmonies. Sounds like the Go-Betweens with an American accent. (That is a big compliment from me)
Caravan Ray wrote:Just in case the meaning of my song was not clear - I put a few subtle hints in this video:
I still don't get it... Reminds me of seeing Jethro Tull when I was 18... until the video screens over the stage started flashing similar imagery, I hadn't figured out what the song "Kissing Willy" was about. Durrrrr. By the way, we've been walking around goin' "I'm a lot-lot-lot-lot..."
codywalkerjr wrote:I remixed a mono version of the song. sounds much better. Too bad i cant re-submit..thanks for the input!
Billy's Little Trip wrote:
.....plus you had a pool pump and sand filter for my added pleasure.
I just got a new one - the Viron P300 (a shot of the manual was in the video) - pretty sweet unit. If only everything that sucked that hard could be so quite.
Billy's Little Trip wrote:
.....plus you had a pool pump and sand filter for my added pleasure.
I just got a new one - the Viron P300 (a shot of the manual was in the video) - pretty sweet unit. If only everything that sucked that hard could be so quite.
Yeah, the multi speed and variable speed pumps are all the rage. I personally like the variable speed pumps best. Because you can dial in the exact flow you want when a pool has water features or how strong you want your spa jets. It lets you set the pumps RPM to get the exact flow you need, instead of choking the flow down with a valve. This saves in electricity. The Intelli-flow pump I sell saves around 80% annually.
In your case, the P300 has a low speed of 1950 RPM which is fine. That's about where I set the low speed on a variable anyway. And if I remember right, you don't have water features nor a spa on you pool system. So the only time you need higher speeds is for vacuuming or an auto cleaner to run efficiently a couple hours a day.
Reminds me of seeing Jethro Tull when I was 18... until the video screens over the stage started flashing similar imagery, I hadn't figured out what the song "Kissing Willy" was about. Durrrrr. By the way, we've been walking around goin' "I'm a lot-lot-lot-lot..."