"Blanket"- new song

  • Thread starter Thread starter SLuiCe
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Drums are tastey as fresh roasted dinner. Guitars/synths/vocals clear and sitting in the planes without crowding at all. This is probably the cleanest arrangement, to be so busy, I`ve heard here. The meter the bass/drums/guitar are playing in the verse parts is 5-way cool. cool. I have to go with mixmkr on one thing. I was really tied up in the construction and arrangement, but in this one there wasn`t some little,( not neccesarily a explosion of unimaginable talent) but something unique to your personal "other" (guitar) voice stamped somewhere in it, kinda like a boilerplate stamp. :)
 
It's fun settling into one of your tunes, but this one's a whole journey.

The first thing I noticed was how nice the reverb is. The acoustic guitar at the beginning, for example, is delicious. You using software or hardware?

The second thing I noticed is the DRAMA. Very dramatic dynamic changes, changes of sound, unusual sounds (the vocals).

I love the way you add a backvocal to a phrase or line. I hope you don't mind if I start using that one myself. :D It's too good to pass by.

"I have just caught a glimpse of the many ways I could move with confidence and grace"

In its overall structure, mutations and drama, I have to describe this kind of music as 'orchestral' or 'symphonic', but...

"It seems the more I understand the less that I am able to explain."

Finally, and most importantly, I like it. Five stars plus. I haven't read the other replies, but if Slackmaster hasn't heard it, I bet he'll love it too. It's a quadrant he favors.

This one's a keeper. Time to move on. LOL :)
 
While technically, it's obviously a first rate production. Everything "sounds" good. I just didn't here a "song" that I could get into. Plus the 1min+ intro and overall length of 5min+ didn't do a whole lot to "hold me there" either. Now with that out of the way, your vocals are killer, your guitar playing is killer!
 
I like the first riff there. Immediately sounds like you. The backwards echo on the vocals makes them sound a bit confusing in the beginning. Lovely 70's type guitar sound in the little guitar solo at about 2 min. The drum 'riffs' are more conservative for a change :D Not a bad thing...

The song ended kinda without too much fuss.. I'd like to have heard a grand finale or something :D Ok, not my place to criticise the song structure, just throwing that idea around...

The mix sounded pretty good again. It's hard for me to listen to your MIX when your music is so good. I think your mixing is good enough for radio, so that's about it :D
 
"Everything "sounds" good. I just didn't here a "song" that I could get into. Plus the 1min+ intro and overall length of 5min+ didn't do a whole lot to "hold me there" either"

homeuser - that's what I meant when I called it 'orchestral' or 'symphonic' - I meant it's got a complex structure, and it isn't as obvious as pop music. It isn't pop radio material really, is it? :D
 
B.SABBATH said:
I think your definitely one of the best guitarists on this board..
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I agree with that statement totally. I always like your guitar playing.

Tell you what I really like, those toms! Wow, they've got some good sustain on them.
 
I had to lo-fi the tune cause download was taking so long, Bro. But even at 24kps, this tune sounds great. Very cool intro, great guitar tones. I dig it!


CR ><>
 
3 listens in..... Very cool song man. Youve got some stellar vocal production ideas in this. ....well excecuted too. I hear a little late Queensryche..... ...especially in the vocal dynamics....... I could hear Geoff Tate bustin a high harmony over some of those lines. I'll be back..
gw/5
 
mmmm...mixmkr, respectfully, im gonna disagree w/ the generalized guitar statement. I understand what you mean, but i think that Sluice's guitar gift lies in his "touch and execution". I get as much out of a musician that can execute one note perfectly as I do from someone w/ a library of technical chops. ...but then im not a big Vai/Satriani type listener either.

I do have another very preference based nit though (and this one is all mine:D ) I really like your linear songwriting style Tom, It always seems like you put this vast wealth of ideas into every song you post. But sometimes I kinda feel like it would do the song more service to trim some of those down. I get the sense that you use parts (like 2:40 to 3:40 'ish) to bring the song way down and make upcoming changes more dynamic. Your main song parts (verse chorus etc) are already very dynamic and sometimes these extra parts seem to add real estate that adds a touch too much separation between the hookier parts of the song (verse chorus etc.). ...and doing that, make the songs less available during the first couple listens. I dont think that they take away from the song, because after several listens all of the parts sound fitting and well-crafted...... ....But, abbreviating some things might make the songs pop more right out of the chute. ....or right out of the sluice:) ....totally preference.

Fantastic recording of this....... as usual!!
Excellent work!!!*****
 
Lots of interesting responses from everyone...thanks for that!

i'm limited on time and can't do individual responses right now, but i wanted to answer a couple questions and just say thanks to you guys for listening and for having real thoughts about my music and music in general. i always get very thought-provoking feedback and it's inspiring in itself.

i could go on for days about the aesthetics and psychology of this piece (or others), and why it's arranged as it is, but i know you'd go to sleep and never look at my threads again. And besides, talking about the music itself can be pointless and self-defeating. ("The eyes are obscured by a blanket of words"- or the ears too i guess).
So i'll just respond to a few technical comments because the music is what it is. It comes out however it wants to and i try not to interfere because i'll just fuck it up.

The reverse reverb was done with an Alesis Midiverb 4. i actually did two tracks- one dry and one with the Midiverb and i mixed them together. Then i added the harmony. It's the first time i've posted anything with the Midiverb i think! :)

The non-reverse reverb is Cakewalk's generic verb plugin-FXReverb. It sounds pretty good to me when tweaked. i NEVER NEVER NEVER use an effects preset. To me it's a one in a million chance that the preset will fit the song. Aside from decay times and room size, i believe it's equally important to adjust predelay and density, frequency roll-offs, etc. This allows for the desired ambience without the mud.

The drums are sequenced using samples from Drumkit From Hell.

The intro acoustic is miked with a single Oktava MC012.

The heavy guitars are quadrupled- 2 performances of Les Pauls (1 Neck, 1 Bridge) and 2 performances of Paul Reed Smith (1 middle and 1 bridge). Marshall head, Fender cab and SM57 mic.

The clean guitars (same chain) is a double performance of Paul Reed Smith. Stereo miked amp- one SM57 and one Oktava MC012 overhead in my closet.

Vocals were recorded on a Studio Projects C3 (except the reverse reverb channel which was through an Oktava.)

i think that answers all the technical stuff.

Thanks for listening. And thanks for the boundless help we get here.
 
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"flack"

mixmkr said:
There's nothing to really complain about with this ditty. There are many elements to it, that you can tell take quite a bit of time to construct, play and record. The effort you put into your stuff really shows to me. It's not just programing some easy sequence into a keyboard workstation and wank away (like I do). The recording chops DO seem pretty much there, all along with even the nice sounds you get on your guitars and even the reverse reverb on the vocals. All really nice stuff....the details.

What I am about to say, may probably draw a lot of flack...maybe not, and hopefully I can say this without being insulting, and get across what I am trying to get out of my brain and put into legitimate words. I agree about comments about you being 'one of the better gtr players' and stuff like that. However, as unothordox as you music is, I am not being blown away by any technical chops. NOW...people will jump all over that statement and say;(or something to the effect) "The notes are just right.... no need to 'Van-Halenize' everything...besides that's been done already....I get tired of constant shredding...etc, etc'
BUT...that is not what I am trying to say. I am talking about something that AS A GUITARIST, I know is a bear to play, and offers some real technical chops. Maybe just the SNIPPIT, four octave arpeggio... some swift-o chord changes, a mind inspiring finger-picked lead section. Now...(I think) I am aware that it takes just as much talant to CHOOSE the correct note, and play it JUST SO, and have that (semi-easy sounding) passage of notes emit all kinds of emotion...blah, blah. Pink Floyd leads come to mind. Current Eric Clapton...less so.
I put people like Leo Kotkee at the top of technical prowess, without blowing notes for notes sake. Pat Metheny to a degree also. I think as a high caliber guitar slinger, you hopefully are understanding what I am trying to say. I CAN hear the "years" of practice on your acoustical "sureness" in the beginning of this song, and the way your notes sound picked with authority...., but if I 'walked away' going... "how the hell did he do that??", I think it would put your music waaaay over the top.

Boy...I hope I stated my thoughts without being insulting, and at least making a smidgen of sense. In all actuallity, that seems to just be the general fault of the clinic. As high caliber (and as we know...in some cases EXTREME high caliber) as some of the stuff is here, it is because of things like Erland's indistiquishable vocals, Sabb's wall-o-sound, Slucie's production and song wizardry, Crawdad's vocal delivery and writing, Macle's "sums it all up recording expertise.... et al... There are NO Jimmy Pages, Steve Vais, John Coltranes... I suppose if there were, they'd be signed and not hanging around here.

anyway...I think the longer I type, the deeper the hole I will dig. But I can only hope you understand what I am trying to say.

oh...btw... mp3clinic rating... of course 10 stars... waaay above the 5 star limit.

Your stuff DOES continue to amaze me, and I must honestly say I am eager to hear something new that you do...as much as I couldn't wait for the newest Hendrix or Doors album to come out, when I was a pup buying vinyl. You (and a couple of others) make this clinic the best find on the net. Congrats for that.
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One of the best reviews i've read here..hands down. I'm a large fan of this guy..and you too. While the shelfish side of me would love to just hear tom burn the house down with his "great guitar chops" I really respect how he holds back...and i already know how this guy can burn. Would love to hear more, but he's just playing with us :D . Anyway, just throwing some flack at ya:D
 
Guernica said:
mmmm...mixmkr, respectfully, im gonna disagree w/ the generalized guitar statement. I understand what you mean, but i think that Sluice's guitar gift lies in his "touch and execution". I get as much out of a musician that can execute one note perfectly as I do from someone w/ a library of technical chops. ...but then im not a big Vai/Satriani type listener either.

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mmmmmm....I knew what I wanted to say was going to be hard to express, and I feel pretty comfortable, that Guern...you didn't really understand what I was trying to say.

I am not a big Vai/Satriani listener either, and that [that kinda style] is definately NOT what I was trying to suggest. I think I pretty well covered that Slucie does have a "learned" 'touch and execution'...as you put it, but a player also doesn't have to play a mile a minute to exhibit a little technical prowess in digital nimbleness on the fretboard. Even quarter note runs, that might exhibit unique sounding intervals that [potentially] might span the entire fretboard could be a monster to play, but not necessarily sound like it. I feel with the uniqueness of Slucie's music, some "unique" guitar phrases might be appropriate (and without the Van halen style shredding either). Was Jaco a shredder? I personally didn't think so, but his music was almost unbelievable at times at what he could do on a bass. [sorry...trying not to name all jazzers...], was Joe Pass a shredder? I don't think so either, but more what I would call a chord monster and a master of moving lines within his chords.

I think the "trick'...or not a trick.... of a good player is to make something that may be difficult to play, sound easy. That seems to be the effect. However, as a guitar player myself, I feel I have a grip on what may or may not be always easy to do.

Being more specific. ...some ideas for Slucie. Since his music is so unique, with time signature changes, weird voicings and harmonies, and straying away from typical "pop" music, I might suggest things like diminished runs...whole tone runs, and the use of tritones and flat 9 intervals, used with ease like a blues player whips out the pentatonic scales. Also, maybe a bit more indepth chord usage with more tensions and solos that might [harmonically] "mean" something and relate to WHY it is being played.

I probably sound like I am talking out my ass, but hopefully, this follow up reply will make more clear the ideas I am trying to suggest.
 
Vai rules.

:)
 

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mmmmm:D :) .........
......no, you dont sound like youre talking out of your ass. I do understand what you mean, and i dont mean to appear to paint you as an antagonist. I think alot of the things your asking for already exist in Sluice's stuff though. I mentioned my disagreement because to me, what you said sounded like it would if i wrote a critique for Nathan East bassline....and suggested that he spice it up a bit. To me, articulate chording, selective playing, and a great sense of touch are also qualities that define a great guitar player.

:)
 
oooooh.....

I like this crap.

The intro gets your attention quicker than Janet Reno in a thong.

Very adventurous stuff here musically, and it takes a great musician to pull this off, as I already knew you were.

What am I gonna complain about? You track better than me, mix better than me, have superior equipment than me, play better then me, and I'll bet you are twice as handsome as me just to rub it in.

Ahhh...I found something. THE VOCALS!!!!
I think if the vocals sounded a little more "larger than life" i.e more presence, and a litte more gruff ala James Hetfield, it would add more to the overall variances the song has.

What am I saying? I dunno.

But I sure liked the tune.

VI
 
"homeuser - that's what I meant when I called it 'orchestral' or 'symphonic' - I meant it's got a complex structure, and it isn't as obvious as pop music. It isn't pop radio material really, is it?"

Hi! Sure, you can call it anything you want to, but that has nothing to do with how someone will interpret it when they start to listen to it. I just jumped in and grabbed the link kinda blind folded. Just thought I'd throw some comments to ya. :)

"It isn't pop radio material really, is it?"

Anything can be pop(ular) radio material if enough people like it.
 
I like guitars. And ice cream. Shitloads of ice cream.
 
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