How did you record your acoustic guitar? It sounds fantastic.
Steve
Wow, thanks. I've been working quite a bit on my acoustic sound lately. I used to get some pretty scathing reviews of it. Go check some of my early songs for examples of what <i>not</i> to do.
But anyway. The recording is just an SM58 about 4 inches from the lower soundholes on my Ovation, run through an <a href="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... 84020">ART Tube preamp</a> that I don't quite know how to use so I end up just twisting the dials at random.
I played around with the recording quite a bit in post-production. I took the stereo recording, added some slight reverb to one channel, and then shifted the other channel a few milliseconds up. I like the effect that gives.
How did you record your acoustic guitar? It sounds fantastic.
Steve
Funny that you mention that Steve, I was digging on that too. I want to take a stab at "how" before he answers. I'm hearing the rhythm guitar playing through a stereo pod or effect of some sort with a light room fx and just enough left panning to just pick up the tight delay sound on the right. Then the other guitar is centered with very little reverb to bring it forward as if the singer is playing it.
Feldspar, let me know how close I am.
edit: damn, you posted too fast Feld, lol. But after hearing what you did, I see I'm not too far off, except I thought the pre amp was stereo.
MintyHandy wrote:
Wes Davis
Excellent guitar work, strong arrangement, and I love your lyrics (especially the kick-off); hook gets better the second time through, great vocals (a bit unsteady here and there, nothing a few punch-ins wouldn't cure) -- terrific all around. Ghostly vocals at the end creeped me out, as designed. Reminds me a bit of "Twisting" by They Might Be Giants, but I can't put my finger on why. Possible vote.
I will take that as a compliment! I really like that song a lot. Though I can't tell you why my song reminds you of it either. Though honestly this did sound a lot like a TMBG song when I first started writing it.
I keep hearing Bare Naked Ladies in there (the band, of course. although the other would be thrilling, too.)
I totally know them they are my friends and that is why you hear them duh.
MintyHandy wrote:
Spinlock
I don't know about you, but I really want to drink a Hodgman now. Seriously, this is the longest soft drink advert I've ever enjoyed.
Aw crap. So either sex and advertising are too closely connected in our society or I really didn't make the lyrics clear enough. Enjoyed the comparison though, thanks. Edit: Damn. You got me. Ouch.
MintyHandy wrote:
Legless Bill Tubbs
Your name is jokey, and it detracts from what is otherwise a fascinating study of this genre (jokey lyrics aside.)
Wow. There's a whole Genre for music like this? I'm guessing it hasn't passed that inpenetrable atlantic border. Can you name the genre or explain a little about the key features or something? This left me and Xan totally confused. Sorry to Bill for accusing you of taking the piss.
Last edited by spinlock on Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
Okay, my insomnia must now face songfight and the last ambien. See how far I get as a drift off on my spacy dream hallucination sleep.
<b>Big Crouton - House of Hodgman</b> Strong start for sf. Lyrics feel forced/awkward, just a bit. The spooky guy voice less so. I'd hazard a guess that the singer wasn't familiar enough with the song to settle words into their most comfortable places. I'd guess that because I usually go into a klownhole song with partial lyrics, a vague idea of the music and song structure, and hope for the best I can get in one take. Regardless, if you guys had the chance for one more pass on the lyrics to get them fitting close, and the vocalist were able to jam on it a bit more, it would flow. Mmmmm. The latter part of the song reminded me of toned and slowed down Scatterbrain. Slowly I turned, inch by inch. You should listen to those guys and well just get a bit more aggressive. Listen to some early 80s Alice Cooper while you're at it. Huh. Long song, which of course adds the "reviewers drop out before the part that counts most in a long song... that you didn't have. Cute.
<b>billyslittletrip hoh.mp3</b> Droney honey. Works for the chemical state I'm in . I like it, especially when it reminded me of Melvins for some reason.
<b>cr410 - House of Hodgman</b> Hooray for this. I don't understand the style, really, so its difficult for me to evaluate this song as a rap thing ... but now I get the Hodgman thing. Freak, yeah, good for you.
<b>Feldspar - House of Hodgman</b> guitar seems to be inconsistently mixed. It's in the other room, it's lying down up front like a golden retriever. I guess... I guess I would have brought them a litte more up front, and towards the vocals to give it that guit and vocals pairing.
<b>jimtyrrell hoh.mp3</b> Story songs this week. Feh. So be it. THe title is kind of asking for it. Jim Tyrrell takes the story song prize this time around. Not trying to make a big freaky deal about it, just dreams up a simple story, adds a couple of characters to bring along and fill it out. Nice. Mixed pretty well.
<b>Legless Bill Tubbs - House of Hodgman</b> What's this? Melting into my chair, but a brow is raised ... 45 seconds in and that guy is still twanging around, and ... is that going to be it? 1:00 in .. ahh, there. It's small town radioshow on weed. Some folks calls em a Kaiser Blade but I calls em a Sling Blade. Add some foot stomping and organ honking and you could be talking about what he's building up there. I dug this.
<b>Lizard Music - House of Hodgeman</b> A short song taking it's time. Punchline! Punchline! No? I guess there is the general build, but nothing happens much. You have some kind of effect on your voice, I think. THere's some effect I don't care so much for. Tastes vary, though. Good job.
<b>Melvin - House of Hodgman</b> Busy pop song with a bit of vocal hook at the end. Well crafted.
<b>pacodelstinko hoh.mp3</b> - Kick ass. I vote for this so far. Resisting going full blown Cramps ... THis is funny. Ralph, there is cause to compare this to what some young Klownhole boys were doing about 23-24 years (and a pile of now dead bands) ago.
<b>ravenhide hoh.mp3</b> I started out imagining something other than what emerged. You do almost everything wrong in a way that I think is just super. Lo fi hi. Like karoake upstairs while mom and dad are entertaining downstairs with guests. WORK guests, dad intones, meaningfully. You should record this in the garage where you can turn stuff up.
<b>Ross Durand - House of Hodgman</b> I picture you invited to play this at a local public school that's had it's music program cut. Some chanties interspersed with solemn stories of the famine. I don't know, something like that. Structure is good, develops along, and then you go for the meat. Dead, especially drowned lovers are the best kind of lovers. Sploosh!
<b>Shitload of Dolphins - House of Hodgman</b> THe drums are disconcerting ... wait, once the great keys start blooping, I'm okay with it. Pleeeease don't call the police! I enjoyed this song. I swear, finally are playing stuff around here that I don't mind a bit. quirky dynamics, structure/progression, and everyone seeming to enjoy themselve, and hopefully not taking things too seroiusly.
<b>Spinlock - House of Hodgman</b> Uh oh. Starting out with more "ordinary" or "mainstream" alteravox, relative to the last couple songs. This is the voice of a fella that gets the kind of girls he wants to. His voice means it. Might not, but can't tell .. he sells it. Totally fine song. I wished for a bit more of a hook/chorus thing, but I can't really call it "missing." Fuh. I'm dozing off. Not yet ...
<b>Steve Durand - Steve Durand-House of Hodgman</b> I appreciate the horns, and rhythm section, but didn't care for the lyrics or the delivery. That's because I wanted swinging hep cat stuff. Not what you were aiming for, that's cool.
<b>wesdavis+desmls hoh</b> So tired. Text floating over the white background now, the flat screen seems 8 inches deep and full of snow. Whoops. SOrry. The song. Nothing stands out for me, although I'm always thrilled when people have more strandard song structure. Verse ... Chorus ... verse ... then the music-only build bridge thing, some more singing ... then a real bridge to the girly vocal. Song ends more interesting than it started, for me, anyway. that's for sure.
<b>Zoosneakers - House of Hodgman</b> Can't really believe I can finish, but I will try.Are the lyrics kind of a takeoff on traditional celtic themes? THe music doesn't seem to fit, although I need to listen to more Thin Lizzy to make sure I'm not smoking the drapes. I think you probably accomplished what you set out to, but it ends with me not ever having gotten into it, with the high twangy stuff and subdued rhythm sect, swirly twirly gumdrop reverb on the vox way back there ... . I Gotta try again, maybe, maybe tomomorrow. Whoops. Can't type. Gonna go sleep drive to the store for some icecream I won't remember eatting. Mean time my vote (free from self-promotional temptations this week) goes to Pacod (el Stinko Hoh)
lesChaps wrote:<b>wesdavis+desmls hoh</b> So tired. Text floating over the white background now, the flat screen seems 8 inches deep and full of snow. Whoops. SOrry. The song. Nothing stands out for me, although I'm always thrilled when people have more strandard song structure. Verse ... Chorus ... verse ... then the music-only build bridge thing, some more singing ... then a real bridge to the girly vocal. Song ends more interesting than it started, for me, anyway. that's for sure.
Yeah I tend to do pretty standard structure every time I write a song. It's a bit of a fatal flaw of mine, but I basically always write pop music. I was sort of going for a Meat Loafy thing on the vocs in the bridge, but I must not have succeeded at ALL, because nobody has mentioned that. Then again, I don't think I did, either. Jim Steinman I am not.
Hi Gang. I'm splitting into two bits again. First half now, second half later.
Big Crouton
You know, it's funny. On the local college radio station there's an early/mid 90's punk/alt-metal (think alternative tentacles) show... and I was like, dang, no one rocks like this any more. And damnit, here you are rockin' just like that. Right on to you. The lyrics are compelling enough that we want to know what happens to the protaganist.
Billy's Little Trip.
Congratulations for making one of the few songs that sounds like it -should- be titled House of Hodgman. I mean, this sounds HOH. It's kinda Butthole Surfersish, innit? I think this is third for me.
Cr410
Well, I have to say that the punchline made me laugh out loud. But it was a long time in comin'. :)
Feldspar
Your songs are so pretty. You win the pretty award this week. You sound like you're pretty, too. If I were a teenage girl I'd find you dreamy. So... take that as you will.
Jim Tyrell
Hey, you're taking the bluesy route as well! This was kinda funny, kinda sad, lots of good rhymes, but... it's sort of like a Hootie and the Blowfish song. I look at it objectively, and I'm like yeah, okay, I guess that was good. But it's like protein biscuts. It gives me what I need but doesn't really grab my tastebuddies and shake them.
Legless.
Clearly, this rocks. Were it a) a little less forced and b) had a little more to do with the title it'd be vote-worthy.
Limu.
This was good underground indie rock. As the vocals came up with the modulation at ~1.20 they became so loud they seemed out of place. I really like the overcompression... it sorta sounds like you recorded to 4 track, which is cool.
Melvin.
As usual for Melvin, there's very little to criticize.... I feel that the digital-sounding sweep pad that's the first synth to enter detracts from the warm feel of the rest of the song. Other than that, yay. My two favorite bits are the pitter-pattery vocal bits, as well as the hard stop at ~ 2.40. Mel may win this week. If not it'll be close.
I'm voting for Shitload, I think. But he's in the second half of the reviews so I'll get back to y'all.
reve wrote:
Feldspar
Your songs are so pretty. You win the pretty award this week. You sound like you're pretty, too. If I were a teenage girl I'd find you [CENSORED]. So... take that as you will.
I choose to take this as a great compliment. So, thank you, I suppose?
For the record, if I were a teenage boy (which I am, but only for another 20 days), then I'd find you slightly creepy, but probably well-intentioned.
Big Crouton
These lyrics are way creepier than the music, and this disconnect makes the whole thing seem jokey. The vocals don't do much to help this impression. Maybe that's what you were going for? You do know how to rock, though.
Billy's Little Trip
Again, love that main riff. The vocals are very grungy. Been hanging out with Wages? This thing deserves Rob Halford like vocals.
cr410
True story?
Feldspar
I can hear a little of what people mean about Elliot Smith, but the resemblance isn't that big. I went back and listened to a lot of your older stuff recently, when researching for the "all request coverfight", and your recording quality has greatly improved since some of those early entries. I love the synth. In a lot of situations a keyboard part would sound out of place in a song that's essentially gng, but your sound here is so analog that it works. It's not a real analog synth, is it? You may just get my vote.
Jim Tyrrell
Nice groove. Catchy. Another potential vote. I hope no one considers this an offensive thing to say, the vocals could be a little less "white"?
Legless Bill Tubbs
I admit it, this is me. If you don't believe me, ask the fightmasters what email address sent it in. If you check the artist page for "Flvxxvm Florvm" in the archives you'll see that Legless Bill Tubbs is listed as a member of Flvxxvm Florvm. My grandfather's and father's middle name was "Hodges". Sort of like Hodgman, anyway. I wanted to use banjo on this but I don't really know how to play it, so the banjo is tuned sort of like a guitar and played with a guitar pick.
Lizard Music
Can't think of anything to say.
Melvin
At times the keyboard is positively Geddy-Lee-like.
WesDavis wrote:Yeah I tend to do pretty standard structure every time I write a song. It's a bit of a fatal flaw of mine, but I basically always write pop music. I was sort of going for a Meat Loafy thing on the vocs in the bridge, but I must not have succeeded at ALL, because nobody has mentioned that. Then again, I don't think I did, either. Jim Steinman I am not.
I can hear a little of what people mean about Elliot Smith, but the resemblance isn't that big. I went back and listened to a lot of your older stuff recently, when researching for the "all request coverfight", and your recording quality has greatly improved since some of those early entries. I love the synth. In a lot of situations a keyboard part would sound out of place in a song that's essentially gng, but your sound here is so analog that it works. It's not a real analog synth, is it? You may just get my vote.
Thanks for the good words. I've been really working on improving my recording quality lately, and I'm glad to see that it's showing.
The synth in question is a virtual analog synth, a MicroKORG that my roommate got for Christmas and that we've been playing around with ever since.
jeff robertson wrote:
Billy's Little Trip
Again, love that main riff. The vocals are very grungy. Been hanging out with Wages? This thing deserves Rob Halford like vocals.
Rob Halford?!? His energy would have taken away from the psychotic tranquil theme I was going for. I really needed a calm matter of fact flow as if Hannibal Lector was narrating.
reve wrote:
Billy's Little Trip.
Congratulations for making one of the few songs that sounds like it -should- be titled House of Hodgman. I mean, this sounds HOH. It's kinda Butthole Surfersish, innit? I think this is third for me.
I tried to camouflage the references, but after sifting through 5 or 6 pages of writing to condense this into a 3 minute song that painted a picture, I couldn't resist the poison apple innuendo. Also, when I see "house of someone", physical structure never comes to mind. So this song is really "the mind of John Hodgman" Thanks for the third place vote, it's so much better than first or second, being that I'm a professional under achiever and I take great pride in my work.
WesDavis wrote:Yeah I tend to do pretty standard structure every time I write a song. It's a bit of a fatal flaw of mine, but I basically always write pop music. I was sort of going for a Meat Loafy thing on the vocs in the bridge, but I must not have succeeded at ALL, because nobody has mentioned that. Then again, I don't think I did, either. Jim Steinman I am not.
The word I put in there was "pretty"... apparently the forum moderators are having a bit of a laugh at the expense of my sexual identity... :p I just meant you could be a teen idol with your pretty voice and pretty songs.
feldspar wrote:
reve wrote:
Feldspar
Your songs are so pretty. You win the pretty award this week. You sound like you're pretty, too. If I were a teenage girl I'd find you [CENSORED]. So... take that as you will.
I choose to take this as a great compliment. So, thank you, I suppose?
For the record, if I were a teenage boy (which I am, but only for another 20 days), then I'd find you slightly creepy, but probably well-intentioned.
HAHA!!! OMG I think I did use the d-word and the board censored me!!!! I'd totally forgotten about that. Dang, that was like three years ago.... Songfight has a long memory. :)
billy's little trip
dude, that's a seriously groovin' riff. I'm really diggin' that. Your voice really reminds me of the guy from blur. I'm pretty sure I like it quite a bit. Cool solo, fits well with the song. I still can't get over this main riff, I really love it. Really good stuff man. You've probably got my vote.
CR410
The guitar and bass often don't seem to be at all related. They're still cool, but if anything I would change the bass line in some parts. I don't have much to say about this, but it's good. Fairly catchy and easy to listen to, but it doesn't seem to special to me.
Feldspar
I like this song. It's nice and laid back. There's a really annoying buzz through the whole song though.
Jim Tyrell
I read your lyrics and really liked them. This is a cool song. for some reason I'm really reminded of B.T.O. by this song. It's got a cool groove. I like the bongos (congas?) too. There's various tempo issues throughout, but nothing terrible. Good stuff.
Legless Bill Tub
interesting intro. Not sure if it was intentionally out of tune or not. I'm not sure what to think about this song. It seems a bit ridiculous to me. This is totally something I would expect from a name like yours though.
Lizard Music
I like this music. Very chill. The microphone buzz/hum/whatever is pretty annoying though. It would probably be less jarring if you just left it in through the whole song instead of having it cut in a couple seconds before you start singing every time.
Melvin
Your voice is totally Eve6. Your guitar tone is somewhere in limbo between amaturely bad and reasonably good. It works better once everything gets into it though. I think I'm digging the pads in the chorus, but I'm not totally sold on them. They help fill it out though. I'm definitely digging the synth bass, especially whenever it plays it's sweet 'do do do do do' line when the guitar cuts out.
Paco Del Stinko
I'm definitely digging this one. Nice creepy kind of guitar riff. It's kind of cool having the low on the left and the higher octave on the right, but I'm not convinced that it works super well. I really like the quieter part about the mad scientist and the frogs. I'm digging the guitar layers you had going on in that part. Cool solo too. Definitely digging the octavizer for it. (you do have one of those on it, don't you?) Plenty of clipping can be heard on this one. Sweet song though.
Ravenhide
I totally expected that the lo-fi intro was just for sweet effect and you were gonna kick it in huge with a big massive full band, but I was sadly dissapointed. This is totally a power metal song, but is missing the 32nd notes on the kick. I don't know if anyone here has heard of the band Beanbag, but they had a hidden track on their first cd where they made it sound like they were flipping through radio stations and checking out different songs on the stations. This sounds exactly what I remember one of the songs sounding like. Definitely not digging your voice. Sorry. The abrupt cutoff at the end was less than desireable as well.
Ross Durand
This is probably because I don't actually ever listen to him, but as soon as your song came on I totally thought of Johnny Cash. Now that it's been playing, I'm not thinking Johnny Cash anymore, but I'm definitely digging your acoustic tone. It's a bit bright, but really nice. Nice harmonies. I'm really liking the accordian. Tambourine is good too. Out of curiosity, what guitar/mics are you using?
Shitload of Dolphins
I'm not sure I like this. It's kind of cool, and I like your vocals and melody. I'm just not sure I'm fond of the arcade game music in the background. It reminds me of something my brother listens to. One of those trendy new bands that everyone thinks is so cool because they're doing something totally unique and they have loads of artistic integrity. I just don't find anything good about it though.
Spinlock
I really like your lyrics. This is a well written serious song. There's definitely tempo issues around, but only a few particularly bad moments. Very nice song.
Steve Durand
I read your lyrics last night, and I totally thought of Dr. Seuss. Writing style and subject matter and everything really gives me a Dr. Seuss vibe.
I'm totally digging the horns. the vocals are often phrased rather awkwardly though.
Wes Davis and the Desmls
I like the acoustic solo. Nice harmonies as well. I actually like this song. I just don't have much to say about it. I definitely like the last part of the song. I don't know why, but it's good.
Zoosneakers
If I had to choose two things this song needs more of, it's definitely reverb and delay. Cool solo around 1:20. Other than that nothing really stands out to me. It's pretty cool, but not particularly memorable.
It is entirely possible that I mixed up Melvins and Pacos reviews.
Participating in and listening to this fight has renewed my faith that there are actually good talented songwriters and musicians on this site. This is a really solid fight. Plenty o' good entries. My vote likely goes to Billy's Little Trip.
big crouton wrote:Wes Davis and the Desmls
I like the acoustic solo. Nice harmonies as well. I actually like this song. I just don't have much to say about it. I definitely like the last part of the song. I don't know why, but it's good.
Thanks man! I tried something a little different this time and went a little country, but I was positive it was a good song until the reviews started rolling in. Well, the reviews aren't wholly negative, but it's not going over as well as I suspected it would. I probably could've done a better job singing it though.
big crouton wrote:
Ross Durand - ... Out of curiosity, what guitar/mics are you using?
Thanks for the nice comments. At the beginning of the song I am playing only appalachian dulcimer - which accounts for the bright but unique tone. In the third verse I'm playing just my 1984 Alvarez 5031 steel string (it's a D-35 copy, basically). In both cases I mic-ed the body with an MXL-991 and the base of the neck with a Studio Projects B1, then split the two slightly.
