Chili
Site Moderator
Can't say nothing that hasn't been said already. Great song. nice vibe.
Thanks for sharing....
Thanks for sharing....
C
cptnhook
New member
Nice song, really catchy! Great feel on the acoustic and the bass. Love the vocals. Awesome tones all around. I wish I could get that kind of acoustic picking tone, something to work towards. The guitar solo reminded me of pink floyd a little bit.
Nit: the kick drum feels a tad bit mechanical. If the drums are programmed, try lowering the velocity of the hit right before the "3" in each bar phrase.
Nit: the kick drum feels a tad bit mechanical. If the drums are programmed, try lowering the velocity of the hit right before the "3" in each bar phrase.
joeym
New member
Sounds cool with the voice, Heat! 
R
Ride
New member
I love it. It kinda drags but I think if you added background vocals that were higher - maybe a female voice 1 octave up from yours - that would pick it up. Or maybe the ring of a triangle, or bang on a saw with a nail, something high frequency. The vocals aren't quite clear. Clarity is not necessarily a problem. I keep wanting to understand what the song is about so it is drawing me into it, and that's good.
I wonder what it would sound like if you recorded the sound of a can of beer opening - crack fizz - and added that sound just before each verse. In fact, start the song with the beer can opening sound, nobody does that and I think it would be cool.
Right at the end the slide guitar might be louder so it stands out, I want to hear it. Or maybe do a slide guitar duet right at the end and finish the song with some guitar excitement. You might use a Telecaster there for some twang.
Overall I like it and this is the eleventh time I'm listening to it. You could be on the Letterman show with this song.
I wonder what it would sound like if you recorded the sound of a can of beer opening - crack fizz - and added that sound just before each verse. In fact, start the song with the beer can opening sound, nobody does that and I think it would be cool.
Right at the end the slide guitar might be louder so it stands out, I want to hear it. Or maybe do a slide guitar duet right at the end and finish the song with some guitar excitement. You might use a Telecaster there for some twang.
Overall I like it and this is the eleventh time I'm listening to it. You could be on the Letterman show with this song.
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heatmiser
mr. green christmas
My only nit is the snare drum. Too dark for me, but it works I guess. Everything else sounds good. Good mix. Bass sounds perfect. Good job!
Thanks for the good word Greg!
Yes, the snare is dark. I often wind up with something too bright and snappy sounding, and may have gone too far the other direction this time. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't hesitate to say if something sucked outright, so this is encouraging. Thanks again!Thank you Mr. Chili !
Thank you cptn !
I was feeling pretty locked in with my last two numbers, and then I heard your funk tune and was reminded once again that there is a whole other dimension of bass playing
. I am glad the acoustic tracks sound nice. I use my dad's old 1948 Kay archtop guitar. It looks beautiful, but the action is terrible and the sound is very wooden and mid-rangey so I try to slant myself away from the mic in such a way as to minimize those qualities and accentuate what little brightness is there. Without changing anything else, I find just pivoting a few degrees here or there makes a huge difference in the sound.
Great point on the kick. Unfortunately, the drums are just a loop from a guitar pedal
eek:
) as it actually sounded more natural than either of my two drum machines. Hence there is little opportunity to edit other than eq and effects, but I hear what you're hearing.Sounds cool with the voice, Heat!
Thanks Joey - you are the man when it comes to vocals so I take you at your word on that
!
C
cptnhook
New member
Wow, 60 years old. That old-instrument vibe is definitely audible on the track. Kind of reminds me of some acoustic guitar tones that Ryan Adams gets. The fret noise/squeaks that come with high action contribute to the feel imo.
The bass playing is great man, Eric Avery-like. Reminds me that I need to shore up on my pickstyle.
Very nice, keep it up!
heatmiser
mr. green christmas
Ok, after 11 listens anything might start to drag
. Seriously though, thanks. You have some great ideas.When working on this, I definitely envisioned just more sounds in general. Particularly higher register peripheral sounds like the ones you mention...maybe not a saw necessarily, but odd accents that came and went to give it more dimension. I am limited to 8 tracks of tape and I really just ran out here. The only accent sounds I could muster were a shaker and tambourine. As much as I like being forced to really focus with just 8 tracks, this is when I long for more layering possibilities...
I actually have plenty of older garage recordings that begin with the sound of a beer can opening, but I think that was more coincidental than anything
. I might try it here, although using it throughout the song would be too much I think.Good thoughts on the ending. I too found the slide to be quieter than I intended, but now I kind of like that you have to listen for it. No fender products here currently (had a 77 strat on long-term loan but had to give it back
), just an SG, otherwise, the inclusion of a brighter electric might have been nice.Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and encouragement
! I may not do a whole lot with this specific piece at this point, but I remember all of this stuff and take it into account each time I start something, hoping to build on what I've read and learned. This whole process is very helpful to me in the long run.
heatmiser
mr. green christmas
Thanks man, I'm going to google those dudes...never heard of either of them!
squibble94
Nature of Force
Hmm. That sounds different, but I like it. Everything sounds good.
squibble94
Nature of Force
I love the little reverse guitar break down
heatmiser
mr. green christmas
Thank you squibble
. I'm glad you enjoyed the guitar trickery, especially because it took more effort than it probably sounds like it did 
lifelyrics
Training wheels on
I guess I'm quite late at giving you my 2 cents, but I couldn't help wanting to add a couple of things. First, I was glad I listened before reading all the other comments. I loved the bass, up front, and carrying the song. I listened to it a couple of times, and wondered where the title came from, at first, but then caught it in the third verse, I think. I like it. The music and the way the vocals are done creates a mood that is just right.
I really wanted to say that I thought the little diversion in timing between the lead and harmony on "anyway" actually adds to the feel of the song. It sort of expresses the attitude of mild frustration & maybe even a bit of silent contempt. This is the picture it gives me: he's sitting there, with his feet up, drinking a beer, watching the one he's (not) talking to, as she is busy doing something else, totally oblivious that he feels that way.
I really liked the guitars, but even more after reading the technique you used to create that sound! Very cool. Very creative & impressive.
I think Ride's idea of recording the sound of opening a beer can is very cool, and could easily be worked in, to add to the overall feeling, right at the beginning somewhere.
I guess this turned out to be more than just 2 cents!
I really wanted to say that I thought the little diversion in timing between the lead and harmony on "anyway" actually adds to the feel of the song. It sort of expresses the attitude of mild frustration & maybe even a bit of silent contempt. This is the picture it gives me: he's sitting there, with his feet up, drinking a beer, watching the one he's (not) talking to, as she is busy doing something else, totally oblivious that he feels that way.
I really liked the guitars, but even more after reading the technique you used to create that sound! Very cool. Very creative & impressive.
I think Ride's idea of recording the sound of opening a beer can is very cool, and could easily be worked in, to add to the overall feeling, right at the beginning somewhere.
I guess this turned out to be more than just 2 cents!
ido1957
9K Gold Member
Good mix - the double vocals sound great. I like the definition on the bass. I struggle with that - can you pass along some pointers....
Kingofpain678
Returned from the dead
i cant stop listening to it. its great. good job!
propman
Active member
Hey Heat! I'm so sorry I just saw this song! I've been waiting for a new one from you for a long time. This is fantastic. Too much bass? Heck no. Just the right amount, and you played it so well! Great lyrics, great song, the outro is soothing as you said, and if I may, I would like to proclaim you the King Of The Drum Machine. I don't know how in heck you make those things sound so freakin' good! Well done! Very well done!
-Adam.
-Adam.
heatmiser
mr. green christmas
I guess I'm quite late at giving you my 2 cents, but I couldn't help wanting to add a couple of things. First, I was glad I listened before reading all the other comments. I loved the bass, up front, and carrying the song. I listened to it a couple of times, and wondered where the title came from, at first, but then caught it in the third verse, I think. I like it. The music and the way the vocals are done creates a mood that is just right.
I really wanted to say that I thought the little diversion in timing between the lead and harmony on "anyway" actually adds to the feel of the song. It sort of expresses the attitude of mild frustration & maybe even a bit of silent contempt. This is the picture it gives me: he's sitting there, with his feet up, drinking a beer, watching the one he's (not) talking to, as she is busy doing something else, totally oblivious that he feels that way.
I really liked the guitars, but even more after reading the technique you used to create that sound! Very cool. Very creative & impressive.
I think Ride's idea of recording the sound of opening a beer can is very cool, and could easily be worked in, to add to the overall feeling, right at the beginning somewhere.
I guess this turned out to be more than just 2 cents!
Thank you so much
. It was very nice of you to take the time and I enjoyed your post. I too try to listen before reading others' crits, but it is so tempting, I usually fail. It is so easy to fall into the habit of, "I agree with Greg..." or whatever .Anyway, pretty uncanny as far as the imagery and attitude you mention as that is exactly what was going on when this was written. This is coming from some serious frustration with relationship issues, so I guess it's appropriate to have conveyed the feelings I did. The timing diversion was initially unintentional, but at least I had the good sense to leave it there
!I hardly ever write lyrics let alone sing my own, but I'd like to find more things to tap into so I can keep trying...thanks again!
You did the vocals on ray's latest, yes? If so, excellent work
.
heatmiser
mr. green christmas
Thanks! Wow, bass pointers...um...
I play with a pick first of all (not normally considered ok from what I understand). I go direct in through a cheap mic pre and I fiddle endlessly with the pickup selectors and tone knobs on the bass and the gain on the pre until I think I have a well-balanced tone that will not require compression (I don't have a compressor
!). So, no real effects while tracking. I track it as hot as possible to tape without overly distorting (like, peaks of +5!).Then at mixdown, I often cut a little at around 250-300hz which seems to smooth it out a bit. Occasionally I boost a little at 10k for more attack I guess? No reverb or any other effects. Hope this helps...I dunno, my setup is so ghetto that very little of what I'm doing may translate to anyone else's situation
!Awesome
! Thanks so much. Very kind.Hey there Adam
,Thanks a bunch man. I am really glad you like it. I want to do more originals but really struggle with lyrics, etc. I think I could crank out simple arrangements like this all day, but putting words and melodies to it just doesn't come easy to say the least.
Thanks too for the proclamation...will there be a coronation?...do I get a cool crown?
.
lifelyrics
Training wheels on
Then, I'm really glad I went ahead and responded to your song, even though I was late getting to it! I always feel a little insecure about my posts because you guys are all so much more knowledgeable and talented than myself - but then I find out it was useful, helpful, or meaningful to someone, and I'm encouraged to keep putting my thoughts out there.
Yes. Thank you for the compliment. It started out being a project for me and my three daughters, but ended up with just me on the final outcome. It was a lot of fun to try.You did the vocals on ray's latest, yes? If so, excellent work
lifelyrics
Training wheels on
I wasn't going to, but I just have to ask. Would you be interested in putting your music to any of my songs? I have a few old recordings of my songs with a band in the background (foreground, really), but I don't have the capability of recording drums - and don't have the foggiest notion of how to recreate those sounds for a clean recording with everything on separate tracks. I figured I would just get to those songs, somewhere in the far future, when I could learn more about that or be in a position to record drums, but, if you're willing to take a go at it, maybe it would be fun?? If yes, just send me a pm with your email, and we can discuss. If not, no harm done. It doesn't hurt to ask, right??
heatmiser
mr. green christmas
That sounds fun and I would love to try to help, but I think there are some serious technological issues that would stand in my way...
I'll try to PM you soon
.