Letterbox (They Might Be Giants)

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propman

propman

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Ok. After I had seen what Heatmiser (forum member) could do with a multitrack cassette machine, I was inspired to do something with my little 4 track machine, so I chose to do a cover of Letterbox by They Might Be Giants. I like the way it turned out, though a bit hissy, and in no way as close to the quality that Heatmiser gets. Have a listen and tell me what you think.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=688193&songID=7260195
 
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Lol. My wife loves this song. We have a "letterbox" that we keep mail in and she's always sings that opening line whenever she reaches into it looking for something. ;)

The recording is okay. Pretty good for tape I guess. The guitar sounds like one of those electric/acoustics plugged in direct. Kind of unnatural sounding. Other than that, it's not bad.
 
Loved it! Not familiar with the original although I've heard a little of their stuff..

Thanks for the kind words btw...:D

The performance is great...particularly the vocals - the high harmony part was really good and the pacing is really on. Really nice job on that.

The recording sounds good. Maybe it's 'cause you mentioned it, but the hiss seemed to be more present than it should be, even for a 4-track. Otherwise, good, but a bit mid-rangey maybe?. What kind of machine do you have?
 
Lol. My wife loves this song. We have a "letterbox" that we keep mail in and she's always sings that opening line whenever she reaches into it looking for something. ;)

The recording is okay. Pretty good for tape I guess. The guitar sounds like one of those electric/acoustics plugged in direct. Kind of unnatural sounding. Other than that, it's not bad.
So your wife is a TMBG fan? That's pretty cool. Me personaly, I sing the mail time theme from blue's clues, but letterbox is cool too. :D Thanks for the words. And you are spot on about the guitar. That is what I did. It does sound a bit bad doesn't it?

Loved it! Not familiar with the original although I've heard a little of their stuff..

Thanks for the kind words btw...:D

The performance is great...particularly the vocals - the high harmony part was really good and the pacing is really on. Really nice job on that.

The recording sounds good. Maybe it's 'cause you mentioned it, but the hiss seemed to be more present than it should be, even for a 4-track. Otherwise, good, but a bit mid-rangey maybe?. What kind of machine do you have?

Thanks Heatmiser. I recommend you listen to more of their stuff. They are a really good band. This song wa off of their album Flood. And you are the third person to tell me the high harmony sounds cool. I wonder why it has that effect. I agree though, and thanks for saying so. I must have done something in that spot correct. I own a Fostex tape machine I got at a pawn shop. I think in a lot of ways it may be defective, but it is the only thing I've got. I wish I could get my hands on a better one. Do they make 8 track tape machines? Thanks loads.

-Adam.
 
Thanks Heatmiser. I recommend you listen to more of their stuff. They are a really good band. This song wa off of their album Flood. And you are the third person to tell me the high harmony sounds cool. I wonder why it has that effect. I agree though, and thanks for saying so. I must have done something in that spot correct. I own a Fostex tape machine I got at a pawn shop. I think in a lot of ways it may be defective, but it is the only thing I've got. I wish I could get my hands on a better one. Do they make 8 track tape machines? Thanks loads.

-Adam.

You are most welcome. A lot of my friends like these guys, but for some reason I've never given them much of a chance...not sure why.

I had a crappy fostex x-15 4-track for like 15 years up until maybe 3 years ago. It was a lot of fun but I don't think I ever got the kind of sound out of it that you did here. Mine was definitely defective.

I am fairly confident in saying that no one currently makes 8-track cassette recorders, but over the years, there have been a bunch - mostly from tascam (the 488, 248, & 688 -what I have now). Also there was a yamaha mt8x or something like that...I think sansui and akai may have dabbled as well. ebay always has some listed.

Widely derided by current recording enthusiasts, 8-track cassette is a ton of fun and can sound pretty good...just not that good. I am apparently stuck in 1989 and can't get out!:eek:
 
I saw TMBG on their last Australian Tour - fun, funny & amazingly - REALLY rockin'.
Nice cover - the hiss is most noticeable when the song stops.
High harmony is really good - almost feminine.
Did you have your NR engaged?
 
I saw TMBG on their last Australian Tour - fun, funny & amazingly - REALLY rockin'.
Nice cover - the hiss is most noticeable when the song stops.
High harmony is really good - almost feminine.
Did you have your NR engaged?

Hmm, I am not so sure that is good or not. :confused:
 
It's good - can't get too high without straying into trad fem territory unless you do falsetto or are a member of the Castratti (who are more dismember than member - except those who thought ahead and made arrangements so that, before their memory faded they could remember).
 
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