Cannon Fodder by The Newlings

  • Thread starter Thread starter rayc
  • Start date Start date
I like Mix 3 better than 4.

Mix 4 has too much separation to me for a song like this. I don't like the clickier kick in mix 4. Mix 3 seems to gel better to me.

I'd bring in some of the hard panning and make it all more centered. I don't think a song like this needs the standard rock song mix treatment.
 
Yeah, it immediately brings to mind that era of Dylan where he did his surreal storytelling songs. There's a lot here I like Ray - the bassline is cool, the banjo sounds great and so does the slide. I've listened a few times over the last few days and the tune sticks in your head after a couple of plays.

Still think the mix needs some work though. There's quite a bit of hiss over on the right throughout - I think it's one of the guitar tracks maybe? The intro's a bit off timing wise until it all resolves at around 0.18. Finally, I want to hear the spoken response lines a little louder too - there's clearly a balance so that they don't stomp all over the main vocal, but I think they can still come up a bit.
 
The chorus melody reminds me of some old folk song I think was "Please don't bury me" I used to play in a duo around 1980. I listened to mix 4 and found the vocals were a bit prominent and the slide a bit verby. I love the old Testament stories being an alter boy we read the bible a lot. Lots of variety in the song musically, lyrically and vocally which makes for an interesting and enjoyable listen. It is a cool "old timey" sounding song.
 
I'm inclined to agree with Greg that mix 3 was closer to the mark.
I started out treating this as a countryish song then moved the goal posts part way through.
I can see how driving rhythm might be cool if this was more alt and less country but it's actually more folk than both excpet for the colouring in.
I'll go back to Mix three but keep then new banjo ending, narrow the stereo image, look at the timing in the beginning, address the hiss and continue to fiddle with the response/aside lines.
Thanks folks.
 
Mix five


Mix Five:
Narrowed the stereo image.
Re recorded the banjo with lighter strings, (the other strings were VERY old and a VERY heavy guage which made the thing almost unplayable & emphasized my poor playing).
I hope I've addressed at least some of the hiss.
Increased the level of the response vocal.
Better level match between lapsteel & banjo (I hope).
Thanks Rob, Greg, Gerry
 
I listened to mix 5. Did the banjo get wet again? It seemed dryer in #3. I think you could turn the kick up a db or two.

But it's sounding much better than mix #1.
 
Mix six


Here we go.
Mix Six.
Hopefully better realized that mix 1-2 and more subtle than 3-5.
Thoughts, comments etc. are welcomed.
 
killer song - really enjoyed listening. The instrumentation is good - the guitar strumming maybe a little overpowering in places, but not a big deal. I like the EQ on the answer back vox (did I get that right?) better than the lead vox - the lead vox could use some air (maybe a touch of sibilance) - sometimes it's hard to make out the [frignn awesome] words because the lead vox is lacking some sheen that the other tracks, especially the guitar and uke, have.
 
I decided to wait for a few mixes, cuz you always do a flurry of mixes. So I just listened to Mix 5. The balance is pretty good, except maybe for the intro - the unaccompanied vocal comes across as maybe too loud for the backing. Then it's okay when the whole band comes in. How does it sound if you turn the intro vocal down 2 dB (and leave it as is for the rest of the song)?
 
Geez, just saw mix 6. Don't know what you did, but it sounds better.
 
MIX SEVEN Done?


Hello Folks,
I'veL
pulled the guitars back a little,
brought the vocals down a little for the intro 3dB,
made the vocals a little clearer &
pulled the banjo back a tiny bit, (no reverb on it).

Thanks for the kind words antichef. I've read, comprehended and attempted your suggestions/observations.
Dobro, sorry. The song is growing up in public. I did try to have all the mixes in the 1st ost by the system defeated me at #6. Thanks for the positives.
MMM, the kick is up & the banjo is dry - but it is a different take with lighter strings.
 
Roll back to mix 6 for the vocals I think ray. The two vocal lines get a bit phasey together in spots on mix 7 (like around 1.24-1.30).

Song has come along nicely though.
 
I thought mix #7 was the best. I'd say it's done. I'd nudge down the lead vocal just a bit - but we're getting down to ridiculous nitpicks at that point (not that that's ever stopped me before :) ). But I like the dryness of the lead vocal in mix #7.
 
This is a wee way from the other stuff I've heard of yours Ray. But I really like it. This song reminds me of every outback scene I've seen on TV, hot weather, and generally the down-under part of the world. Could have been a tune playing in the bar of the film 'Red Dog'. One of my favourite Aussie films.

The lap sounds awesome, love it, you got it sounding and recorded really nice. You mic'd it? I didn't get to listen to all the previous mixes, but this one sounds really good. Sweet tune, excellent lyrics and vocals as well. Is the guy singing it Australian? Especially like this verse:

Lot said unto his missus
Forget about the dishes
Grab the girls: the time’s come to bolt.
They got out of the city
She said it is a pity
Then turned her head & turned to salt.

Clever. :)
 
Thanks Trish,
As mentioned earlier the lyric came to me almost fully formed in a pub - no alcohol involved - & I wrote in on two beer coasters.
The lappie - it was the day after xmas & I hadn't had time to do much so went DI with a BDI21, double tracked & a bit of reverb.
The singer, Eric, is an Australian. He recorded his parts in Louisiana last year but flew back to Oz with his American wife & kids this last weekend, (returned on Australia Day in fact), after being a Septic for 13 years.
 
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