New song idea "Deaf Ears" - Critique Requested

  • Thread starter Thread starter jonlint
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Thanks for sharing! Definitely Alice in Chains inspired, I can hear that immediately. Nice riff. Simple, but effective. Chorus is pretty catchy! Getting stuck in my head as I'm listening to it. Some thoughts:

-The third line in each verse ("Lazy prosecuter...") either needs to be resung or pitch corrected. It's badly off each time. Perhaps just out of your comfortable range?

-Hi hat sounds awfully digital, which I don't think you were going for. If it was programmed, add a humanizer on it. It also sounds thin to me. Maybe shelf up the meat of it and pull some out of the harshness range. This could be a personal preference - I like fat, warm hi hat sounds.

-The vocals don't always feel like they sit in the mix, and I can't put my finger on what it is. I think it's compression. Needs to clamp down a bit harder on the louder vocal sections, or add a second comp in the chain to handle it. If you even out the vocals a bit more I think it would sit better.

-Lastly, BRING UP THAT BASS! Ha! Go listen to "Love Hate Love" for inspiration. I would get a big 4db shelf at 120hz, pull a little out of the mids, and boost that bass up. Maybe a little saturation on it for growl. The song needs some bottom.
 
Brian Miller said:
Thanks for sharing! Definitely Alice in Chains inspired, I can hear that immediately. Nice riff. Simple, but effective. Chorus is pretty catchy! Getting stuck in my head as I'm listening to it. Some thoughts:

-The third line in each verse ("Lazy prosecuter...") either needs to be resung or pitch corrected. It's badly off each time. Perhaps just out of your comfortable range?

-Hi hat sounds awfully digital, which I don't think you were going for. If it was programmed, add a humanizer on it. It also sounds thin to me. Maybe shelf up the meat of it and pull some out of the harshness range. This could be a personal preference - I like fat, warm hi hat sounds.

-The vocals don't always feel like they sit in the mix, and I can't put my finger on what it is. I think it's compression. Needs to clamp down a bit harder on the louder vocal sections, or add a second comp in the chain to handle it. If you even out the vocals a bit more I think it would sit better.

-Lastly, BRING UP THAT BASS! Ha! Go listen to "Love Hate Love" for inspiration. I would get a big 4db shelf at 120hz, pull a little out of the mids, and boost that bass up. Maybe a little saturation on it for growl. The song needs some bottom.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Thanks for the great feedback! Here is an improved version - what do you think? Does this address your comments?

https://soundcloud.com/jonathan-linton-3/deaf-ears-rev2-20141129
 
Great tune man. I love the chord progression and arrangement. Everything is tight timing wise. Very good guitar tones on thus too. The one thing i suggest mix wise is less reverb on the vocal. The vocal is a little to wet and distant sounding...I would dry it up a bit.
great stuff man!
 
Great start to the song! Gives me a faint hint of Diamond Dogs.

A most unusual approach; kind of like a deconstructed 12-bar with extras.

Normally I would not be keen on the effects you have on the voice; I'm not a fan of those smallish reverbs. But it kind of goes with the song.

At 2.30, a lead break comes in just as I was thinking the musical story had finished.

Well done! It's great to hear something very original!
 
Still love the tune. Bass sounds much better. I think you could lose some reverb from the lead vocals. I think the level is right, but when you take some of the verb off, it will feel less distant. Also, the same lines I mentioned before could desperately use pitch correction (the high parts 3/4 of the way through verses).

The ride cymbal is too bright for my taste, almost piercing. Either back off the level, or take some highs out of it, or a little of both? Just a thought.

Schweet song though man, I'm enjoying it!
 
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