Dangling

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K-dub

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Dangling

When my wife and I first met many moons ago, she was sort of engaged to be married. Unfortunately for the other guy, the moment we met, we knew.

That was over 30 years ago ... and this is the song I wrote about that situation at the time. I finally got around to working it up.

Any/all comments are warmly welcomed.

Thanks!

Kev-
 
Nice song, I'd high pass the lead vox a bit higher 140-170hz. The back grounds sound kinda brittle in relation to the Vox and Keys. I hear a more defined chorus for the song, but thats a real personal taste nit pick. Overall nice job.
 
I thought it was fairy tale From NY with the 1st chord.
I'd add a bit of sparkle to the piano.
The whole band coming in was a shock - but a pleasant one - didn't last long enough though.
The "...it's just people who think like that are hard to find..." line doesn't sit well - does it fit your metre?
I'd also pull the synth lead doen & play the guitar (?) line over it - it's a little too too.
Overall an interesting construction & even moreso given the story behind it.
Good work so far.
 
Thanks Ray!

Your comment, "didn't last long enough" ... did you mean I should take the band through the section following its introduction?

K-
 
The band came in & played together for a biref few seconds (or so it flet) before dropping back. It works in a foreshadowing way but there was a groove developing that was cut short. I reckon you ought to fiddle about & see if it should go for longer or not be in for that brief stint at all.
 
Hey Kev, Not one of my K-Dub favorites, but I still enjoyed it. I always enjoy the places where your songs go. I don't have any comments on the mix, I think it's your defacto standard sweetness.

The arrangement is fine with me. I know what Ray is saying about the short full-band run in the 2nd half of the verses, but I like how that builds into the song. It really is a matter or personal preference.

Cool. Thanks for sharing... yet again. :)
 
Thanks, C! I addressed Ray's issues by adding a simple rhythm part (kick/hh) following the first instrumental bridge, and at the same time took his advice by letting the guitars take the parts (versus layering in the strings). I also added sparkle to the piano and as per PDP's note, backed some lows out of vocal.

Over on RP, folks also were lamenting a lack of bass ... so I boosted that up a bit too.

I'm not certain I'm in love with the guitar tone yet ... but I'm willing to let it go for the moment as I try to pull the rest of the mix into line.

Ray and PDP -- Thanks for the thoughts. I listened and agreed, and as noted above, made correlated adjustments.

It's a big help when folks lend whatever thoughts they have.

New mix is on first post link.

Best,

Kev-
 
I think it's kind of harsh overall. Surely the low quality of the MP3 is contributing. Can you put up a mix that's better than 160kbps?
 
My player is still telling me 160kbps. It definitely sounds hot and over-processed. Everything seems heavy-compressed and right up front. Are the vocals gated? There are a few spots where it sounds like there's a gate opening and closing on the vocals. Like at 1:41. The hats and cymbals are pretty wild, but it may be the file compression. Lower quality MP3's wreak havoc on cymbals. The playing and arrangement are good. The key sound is kind of MIDI-ish and cheap. A real piano, or realistic piano sound would suit it better, I think. The guitars sound pretty good. A little more bass, or bottom end in general would be good. Not bad overall, but you can and have certainly done better. It's nothing a little more mixing can't fix though.
 
Oh crap ... my bad. I fucked that up good. Because I changed the setting, but didn't hit "apply", it defaulted back to 160. I'll reload it correctly later and notify. Still -- your comments are excellent. Cymbals are the first to suffer w/ low bit rate Mp3s.

Thanks G!

Kev-
 
The song sits better in this arrangment.
Listen to Greg's comments when he hears a better quality MP3 - he has golden ears.
The guitar carries that line MUCH better tha the strings & suits the melancholy/reflective nature of the narraative better as well.
Good one! I look forwrad to hearing this when Greg's critique deals with the sonics.
 
Ha ... he won't get a chance, Ray, at least not on the prior mix. Based on his initial comments, I've already gone back under the hood.

Besides, I absolutely came to hate the tone of the guitars. Greg thought the piano sounded midi also (I don't have a real one to mike ... but do have several different plugs). So I changed everything and remixed the whole damn thing again. :)

Greg - There is NOW a 320 file on the above "320" link (the top link has the new mix too, but still at 160) -- and thanks for the thoughts.

Best,

Kev-
 
I can't comment on any mix suggestions with my gear out of whack as it's been for a while now...but as far as overall melody and lyrics goes...

You have a good love song going on here..and I actually like the simplicity and raw feel it contains. It truely comes through as a song with that special something that good love songs are made of...passion..no matter how subtle it may be.

Your singing has a Paul Williams aura to it in a strange sorta way.

There is just enough rock interweaved amongst the pop allowing the song listenable for me.:D
 
The changes work. For one, the 320 file sounds way better. The new key sound is much more natural and pleasing to the ear. Only thing I can suggest now is drop the hats down a few db and/or get them in the same space as the rest of the kit. They seem to be much drier and more out front than the rest of the drums. In the grand scheme of things, the hats are part of the overall drum kit, so they theoretically should occupy the same space. It's unnatural to hear a roomy snare but dry-ish hats. That wouldn't happen in real life. See what I mean? Unless of course you just want it that way, and that's fine too.
 
It is amazing how the highs smooth out w/ the higher bit rate, isn't it, Greg? You're spot on about the hh too. I'd been debating the level ... going from -6 (here) to -12 (too low) ... so I'll tailor it in the middle and sees if it locks.

It's funny how much effort we through at trying to make the unnatural sound natural.

Thanks again for the thoughts!

K-
 
wow, the 320 sounds much better..I havent noticed that big of a difference normally...seemed really harsh on the the first link



very nice emotional performance...I really liked the piano, and the band all coming in really works...maybe more reverb on the guitar to really give that dreamy sound coming in an out....strings were welcome...nice ending, not sure about the yeah yeah bit


I think maybe the vocals and the cymbals (in the second verse) were a fraction too loud but other than that I liked the mix...good job and sounds like a lot of heart in it
 
Hey True -

I hear the Paul Williams reference too. My wife (who this was written for) listened this morning as I mixed over the monitors and essentially echoed what you said about being able to keep the restrained passion in the production.

Thanks for the comments!

Kev-
 
The comparison is startling, isn't it, K? At 160, the highs are granular ... at 320, like butter.

Glad you liked, and thanks for ideas. I think I'm in the right neighborhood on it and another pass should wrap it up. I'll experiment with the space on the gits and see if it clicks for me.

Best,

K-
 
kcearl said:
I think maybe the vocals and the cymbals (in the second verse) were a fraction too loud but other than that I liked the mix...good job and sounds like a lot of heart in it
Click to expand...

I agree with the vocals being a hair too loud, for my own personal taste. I didn't mention it though because over time I've noticed that's Kev's style and the lyrical content and vocal melody are an important part to his music. But if you wanted to knock em down a little, that wouldn't be a bad thing.
 
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