AndyHix -
Thanks for taking the time to give the song a spin - I realise, based on your comments, that the song is only "mandolin rock" if you listen carefully - The mandolin is indeed hardly present and could do with a boost!! The trouble is, after doing the guitar solo, I was so pleased with it that I didnt want the mandolin solo (which runs on at the same time) to get in the way. I probably need to reconsider. For the vocals I think you are right also - They are always the hardest thing to judge, because I personally want to turn the volume of the vocals to a minimum (who likes to hear themselves bleating?) but then again all the "books" on the subject say that the vocal has to be up front. I think I need to re-record them anyway this weekend, so I will probably lower their volume at the same time. I also got the all-important comment that it was still floating in your head!! thats good I guess!
Erich Arndt-
I read this post just before going to bed last night, and I must admit I was so startled it kept repeating itself as I tried to sleep! In this song I was trying to aim for a mainstream type "planet hollywood" era rock song - sort of Springsteen/Mellencamp/Billy Idol - I realise it never quite got to those heights, but had not planned it as a travelling minstrel type song! - If it werent for your tambourine comment I would have thought you were listening to a different song - Anyway almost all of my other songs fit the travelling minstrel comment exactly (e.g. The hollow tree) - it just goes to show I can't escape my genre as easily as I had hoped!! Thanks for listening and for your very intriguing review.