For Your Listening Pleasure...Or Not

  • Thread starter Thread starter bradpax
  • Start date Start date
B

bradpax

New member
Hello, my name is Brad and this is my first post on the board, even though I've been quietly reading stuff here on and off for 2 years. I now have a page up at mp3.com and would be interested in people's opinions of some of my songs. It's an eclectic bunch, main style being updated British Invasion (I think). The general consensus so far is that "Go Away! (So I Don't Have to Say it)" and "Negative Tan" are my best of the songs posted on the page. Feel free to move onto the others if you like those.

Here's the link: www.mp3.com/bradley_paxton

The fidelity changes from tune to tune as some were recorded 6+ years ago on a Tascam Portastudio and not much else while others were done recently in my little makeshift studio. Here's the recording equipment I used for the latter:

Tascam TSR-8 1/2" reel
Mackie 1642 VLZ Pro
RNC compressor
Old JVC stereo for monitors (yes I know I need real monitors)
Lexicon MPX500
Tascam cd-rw700
Roland JV-1010 synth module
Roland R-8 drum machine
Neumann TLM103 mic

I know the recordings aren't great, but do you think some of them are good enough to be considered demo quality?

I thank you for any input you have to offer.

Cheers,
Brad
 
cool tunes! I listened to 'Negative Tan" and 'Go Away' and I liked both!... The mix and recording will be commented on by others.... I just liked the tunes! There was one part in 'Go Away' where the vox got a bit loud, (the low part), but the song was so good it didn't bother me too much.. I will check out some more later, but I will say now that I liked the songs A LOT! I really liked the vocals too..

I would give this two thumbs up........no doubt! :cool:

I'll hear more later and comment..

great tunes and great vocals! I hear a lot of great influences..Beatles, Queen etc...:cool:

later
B
 
Wow! Thanks a lot for the great input guys. Glad you liked the tunes.

I also realized that the "male" part is a bit loud. I thought maybe it'd work like that because that part should have more "weight" to it, but I guess it doesn't really need the extra push in volume. If it's annoying I'll go back and remix. At least it seems that I'm in the demo ballpark.

Thanks again,
Brad
 
Go Away sounded pretty good. It was a little too synthy sounding but the arrangement is cool. If you could incorporate more acoustic instruments into that kind of stuff it would really liven it up. Even if its just some percussion.

Definately worthy of putting on a demo.
 
'go away' was a nice tune...even though I didn't really get off on the singing, and some right side panning I didn't care for...like the cymbal, bell sound, and such.

oh my...bullshit!! right there without parental advisory!!!

a little buzz on the right side too. I like the instrumentation change.
 
Thanks for the insights guys. Yeah mixmkr, the occasionally panned cymbal was not planned, as it's built in to the roland jv-1010 for some reason. Such a stupid thing to have a randomly panned crash if you ask me. I need to learn how to use the sound diver program it came with if I want to edit it.

Sorry you didn't like the singing, it's the best I can do at this juncture. Is it the delivery, tone or pitch that didn't appeal to you? Or a little of everything? I would like to know as I'm rather self-conscious about my voice. In the first part I was trying to effect a man who's imitating his evil, holier-than-thou girlfriend in a very snotty way. The whole thing is kind of like a flashback in the guy's mind. Not necessarily how it really happened, but rather how his mind has twisted it over time in order to deal with the unfortunate circumstances.

Did anyone listen to anything other than "Go Away..."? It's not entirely representative of my other stuff, so I was just curious.

Thanks again,
Brad
 
Brad...

Nice shit!!!

Very cool and a hearty breath of fresh air, IMHO. Very creatively done and amazing, really.....the great Beach Boys/Beatles type stuff in there is great as are the arrangements...very thought out. I like it a lot. Keep recording!

BTW did anyone move onto "I have a Problem"?!?!?! Too funny!

Evil Fruit is ridiculous!! Obviously meant to be...cool.:D

There is some other "odd" stuff there as well.


Brad do you play everything yourself? Have you ever heard of Jeffrey Simmons? I think you'd like his stuff...kind of on the same page, influentially. Check him out: http://www.jeffreysimmons.com/
Check out "New York State" in the mp3 section. I think you'll like it.


heylow
 
heylow, thanks for saying that! That's very flattering.

I checked out that link to Jeffrey Simmons and listened to "New York State." Nice stuff! How did you find out about that guy? I can never seem to find these guys by myself. I usually find out from somebody else and they always say "You've never heard of x?" "I thought everyone knew about x?!" and what have you.

I do play/program everything you hear on the site. Obviously "Go Away!" employs a lot of synth (believe me, if I could afford the orchestra....) but I play guitar, bass and some keys and organ on everything else. I can play the drums, but it'd be pretty tough to set up a full kit in my apartment bedroom, especially when the neighbors react to me dropping shit on the floor. Besides, I think the Roland R-8 is one of THE classic drum machines, so I don't miss the real stuff too much. Hope this helps.

Thanks again,
Brad
 
bradpax said:
heylow, thanks for saying that! That's very flattering.
I checked out that link to Jeffrey Simmons and listened to "New York State." Nice stuff! How did you find out about that guy?
Click to expand...

Actually, he was reviewed in TapeOp Magazine a bunch of issues back in their "Under The Radar" section. It souned interesting so I checked his MP3s and emailed him to find out how to get a disc and he sent it free! It's a great CD, in my opinion....very creative use of an 8 track reel to reel.

Its funny...most of the stuff I listen to is at least semi underground and most of my friends ask how I come up with all these obscure bands. They dont care...as long as they have their MTV.:rolleyes: :D

If you dont know what TapeOp is, checkout www.tapeop.com

The subscription is free and their forum, although smaller, is full of some great insight as well.

heylow
Indie Snob:p
 
bradpax said:
.....Sorry you didn't like the singing, it's the best I can do at this juncture. Is it the delivery, tone or pitch that didn't appeal to you? Or a little of everything? I would like to know as I'm rather self-conscious about my voice. .......
Click to expand...

It is the style mainly. You definately show talent in many areas, even with the singing. I just kinda found it to be a little "shmaltzy" for my tastes, but performed well, I will admit.
 
It is the style mainly. You definately show talent in many areas, even with the singing. I just kinda found it to be a little "shmaltzy" for my tastes, but performed well, I will admit.
Click to expand...

I understand what you're saying mixmkr, as long as you know the schmaltz was intentional. I thought that if I made the "female" sound overly frivolous, it would provide a nice contrast to the guy who's more earnest in his delivery. Because she states everything in such a condescending and saccharine manner, it makes her cutting words even harder to take, and consequently turns her and the guy into polarized human caricatures, i.e. good versus evil type stuff. At least that's what I was trying to achieve. Oh well. I should be happy with the fact that you think it's a good tune overall. Hell, I am happy damnit!

-Brad
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top