Another upload, Dare I post this song in here?

[Ray J]

Well, I still didn't upload a picture to my page yet, there are so many good ones of me I'm having a little trouble choosing. I did post a new song though, it's been on my page for a few days, some of you may have seen it by now but probably haven't heard it. A little different genre for me, most people either really love it, or really hate it. It's called "The Grind" and it's the 3rd song on my page. Too much verb on the vocals?

http://www.mp3.com/RJohnson

 

[dobro]

Really, really good, Ray.

And just when I thought you were going to do a Mark Knopfler, you went and played the break just like yourself. Good work. There's verb all over the place on this one, and the vocals are nice and clear, so I think it fits.

I think reggae's really good for the idea of a grind.

But:

Poop that video day?
Ah-oop that biddy-oh day?
Allez Oop DAT bidet ole?

Did I get it? Do I get a prize?

This one's really close to saleable for the kind of person who likes listening to the likes of JJ Cale, who I like. If you know what I mean, like...

 

[Ray J]

Thanks for listening Dobro, yeah, this didn't really start out as a reggae song. I wanted something monotonous sounding because of what I was singing about, then, when I put the minor chord in it, it started sounding like reggae, so I didn't fight it. As for as the lyrics on the chorus, well it's just a word salad representing the sound of the machines at the plant I worked at years ago and the chorus ends with "all day". There.
Thanks for listening, and for the compliments. Peace, Ray J

 

[gibs]

poop that video indeed...that break was FINE...this is a good mix....it's not really hard core reggae but it's way better than The Police's efforts in the genre....verb worked great on everything this time around to my ears, very appropriate to the tune....gibs

 

[Teddie]

Ahhh!

Ray J, bro, I dig this tune a whole freakin' lot, man.
I'm a sucker for reggae... actually anything Carribean sounding... cuz I love the Carribean and the heat and the music and the liquor. (woah off topic)...

To give you some constructive critisism, I will nit-pick... and I had to search hard for something to give you some feedback on, cuz it sounds dang good to me...

I'd like to hear the bass up in the mix a bit more... that's a good bass riff with some nice changes in there, but I have to strain to hear it...

There is one "bend" that you do near the end of the song during the guitar soloing. The "bend" sound off key.

That's it, that's all I can think of.

My favorite part of this song is the guitar solo. Nice nice nice. Kinda spanishy, reggae-y...

Keep it up the good work!

 

[Frankie]

Hmmm
Very interesting.
The mix is brilliant!!
Only thing that comes to my mind, is that perhaps
the reverb on the lead vocal is a little too much.
Then again I could be fooled by the MP3 file (lo-fi)
Jolly Good.

Frankie

 

[Ray J]

Thanks guys:

gibs - thanks, I respect your opinion and appreciate the compliments. When you talk about the break, I'm assuming you are talking about the solo at the end? Anyway, thanks.I don't think I've ever been mentioned in the same sentence with the police either, so this is a first for me.

Teddie - I think the bass can come up in all my songs, the ironic thing is this is the one thing I feared the most, not being able to hear the bass well. Glad you dug the song, the off key bend, is probably an out of tune accoustic guitar, I'll have to listen again to be sure. Good ears, I was really thought I snuck it in without anyone noticing. Also, I'll look up reggae-y and get back with you.

Frankie- Yeah, I'm on the verge of too much reverb on the vox, and the lo-fi really mushes it up. Glad you liked it, as I mentioned in my original post, this is one of those songs that most people either love or hate. Thanks.