JMarcomb/SLuiCe Collab #2

  • Thread starter Thread starter SLuiCe
  • Start date Start date
SLuiCe

SLuiCe

New member
The site seems to be moving at a reasonable pace today....

Jeff sent me the instruments for this like 2 months ago, but I never could get into the "right" mood for it to write something. I liked it, but it moved in ways I was not (<-edit) accustomed to. Which brings me to a point...without a doubt the best thing a collaboration can do for you is push your envelop.

So I got snowed outa work today and decided to tackle this tune. I had a couple small ideas (both lyrical and melodic) going into it, and just started sculpting as I recorded. I've done all the vocals and mixing over the past 4 hours so Jeff hasn't heard it yet. Seems pretty cool when I listen back to it...but what do you guys think?

" Come Out Come Out "


Thanks guys

...hope you like it Jeff.

(By the way...nice guitar solo!)


Lyrics (for those who pay attention to that stuff :D)

Come Out Come Out

Call me paranoid, but I heard his urgings
Reminders of my life and bridges I'm burning
I hold my face in disbelief
I'm trapped beneath his memory
Even if I could get through, would I even try?

When your life becomes song
And your song is life-long...
"Where have all the hours gone?
What have I done wrong"

Come out for love
Your lady is expecting you
Come out for love
She may not wait for you

Pull the curtains closed, slam all the doors tight
Nothing must get through, not even daylight
Need time to think.
I'm on the brink of finding all the missing links
Maybe I will not get through
But I've gotta try to keep his vision alive!

"Come out come out
Whatever you're trying to find
I'll leave you in there to die
It's taking you too far away

Come out come out
It's worse than you realize
It will swallow us both alive
You'll follow him too far away from me"
 
Last edited:
Simply Amazing! I love it! I think i need to burn myself a SluiCe cd.

A few comments on the mix(since thats probably what you want). The effects on the end part:
"Come out come out
Whatever you're trying to find
I'll leave you in there to die
It's taking you too far away
etc..

I like the effects, reminds me of something, can't really figure it out though. The way you sing though, it sort've sounds like you're out of breath? You stress a few notes here and there, nothing major.

Well time to listen again, i'll see what else i can come up with

*edit* Oops! how could I?! i left comments for Marcomb out! Man, i loved the guitar in this song, i wish i could play like that =p. Theres nothing wrong i noticed with it, its beautiful.
 
The first change was a little tough to swallow, but over all the mix is clean. Singing is okay, but the harmonies here and there need a little work (like what was tried though, just might need some retracking).

Song gets stronger as it goes, I think too much momentum might be lost in the first quiet passges, the quiet passages work well later in the song (like right before the lead part).

Another pretty original sound/tune :). I'm big on that originality thang ;).

**listening to it a second time (I like it that much :) ) I think the electric/crunch guitar could use a little more "punch"... bringing the bass and volume up and removing a little of the reverb might give those changes more life.**
 
Toad Rush said:

The way you sing though, it sort've sounds like you're out of breath?

Yes, that's exactly right...it's supposed to. Maybe I won't like it tomorrow though. Thanks for the listen!

Pinky Ya that change was probably even tougher for me to swallow, but I did what I could with it, and after a couple listens, it gets easier...at least for me. Believe it or not, the vocals are executed exactly as I heard them in my head, but if you listen to them from a pop perspective, they won't sound appropriate. But my voice sucks and my head makes strange music sometimes. Since Jeff's music is so clean cut and polished, it's always a challenge for me to fit. A good challenge. I'll look at your suggestions on the bass and guitar.
Thanks for the comments Pinky!

Maybe I rushed this too much and I'll hate it all later. Had fun though!
 
Nice sounding guitars and bass. I liked the harmonies in the verses. There's a cool little synth thing at :18-:19. I'd use that again during the song (being careful not to overuse it).

The slow section could have a second vocal part following the first - play the two parts off each other. Just a thought.

Lead break is a killer.

Some of the high harmony parts, particularly near the end, are somewhat strained. Near the end there is a bit of pitchiness.

Lyrically, I couldn't follow what was going on. I'm probably a bit thick. :D
 
Man... I knew this song would be a very tough song to sing over, You did a great job on it. Its almost like trying to sing over a 20 piece orchestras movements. You pulled it off quite well. The parts I especially like are the :45 and 1:00 changes. The vocals that you do at 1:43 are pretty amazing.. very queensryche-esque. I think you would of had a much easier time if I kept some of the wah wah guitar out of the verses .. that created timing issues.. the wah also added too much comotion .. shouldve use it to taste.. oh well :) Looking back... I notice a couple things I could of done to improve this song.. but its really a learning experience. Listening for the sixth time right now..... you ran out of gas at 2:31 hehehe :D
youve got a million $ unique voice ... it can go very far!
Not too many people can sing over verses like this, so go pour yourself a schooner of beer and relax! Great job!
 
Oh, and the pitch issues...those aren't intentional. I just suck and I'm too lazy to do more than a couple takes. :eek:
 
This is good stuff. It reminds me so much of some Australian artists I can't quite remember the names of (David Bowie ?? and others).... your accent sounds surprisingly Australian toward the end (esp 2:00 - 2:30 3:34->end) ... and at the start you almost have an irish accent (0:30 - 0:45)... very intriguing.

I like the style and I think you've done a good job blending it all together... very 80's just like me (or what I listened to in my teenage years at least). It's good to see lyrics that have some depth with a positive message... that's not easy within this 'dark' style.

Musicly apart from the convincing style, I really like the drifting synth at 3:23 - 3:33 very cool. And of course the lead break is pritty full on like it should be. MY only complaint is that the lead vocal get's a bit lost after 3:50... in this last section the backing vocals sound too forward and the lead too distance... if it were me I'd swap these around.

I'm only listening to this on mediocre phones at work but I've got no complaints about the vocals... it fits the style perfectly.

Good stuff
dres
 
Tom..

this sounds alot better on the monitors.. loud :)

I did some thinking............. If this song used the first break @ :45 as a chorus (very catchy) and a acoustic verse setup ~10bpm slower it could be a hit. Im just now starting to figure out the songs arrangement flaws :^) Its like being able to play winning lottery numers.
There is just way too much happening on the musical front with this song for your average listener :) that would be my fault :)
I totally understand where you are coming from with your lyrical ideas for the song.. very clever. I can see that vocal drop @ 2:31 being appropriate

Boy those lyrics are really super also...

Im burning a copy to listen in the car right now
 
JMarcomb said:
Tom..

this sounds alot better on the monitors.. loud :)

I think that has a lot to do with how loud I've been mixing lately, which is pretty loud. I haven't been balancing it with lower volume mixes.

I hear you about cutting this down...that's what took me so long to commit to recording ideas for it. How to bring the pressing thoughts of the time coherantly to such a changing arrangement. But I was just looking at this whole thing as a brain storm anyway. Some good ideas in there methinks...

Thanks for the thoughtful words fellas!
 
dres said:
MY only complaint is that the lead vocal get's a bit lost after 3:50... in this last section the backing vocals sound too forward and the lead too distance... if it were me I'd swap these around.



Agreed...thanks!
 
Jeff, those guitars sound EXCELLENT... (electrics)...

Signal path? Are they just into a board? Mic? Amp? :D

Tom, is there any exotic Waves plug-in going on here? If not, really excellent stereo image. The whacky falsetto backups rule (after 3:30?) whaaaaaa--ahhh! :p

Good singing as usual... love the bongos. Jeff's gotta do more in this style... cuz that electric rhythm guitar is as tasty as it gets :)

They may overlap the bass on certain notes (would be a slight EQ adjustment on the guits... you're probably rolling off around 180Hz... maybe a bit higher?) The elecs could come up a bit, too (just my taste, tho)

In the heavier sections, I would like to hear more deep snare... but the crack is O.K. as-is.

Good so far... hopefully mix & Track Rat both will hear & comment on this.


Chad
 
Tom, I think this is my favorite one of your songs. Quite cool. I haven't heard anything else from Jmarcomb, but I'll be looking. Personally I think it's your strongest vocal performance yet, I especially dig those slow, soft little bits.
Jeff, this is my first taste of your stuff, but I really like it. I think it's really cool how two people can get their shit together like that.
Good work fellas.
 
Wow fellas, ......cool!

.....Im gonna echo alot of what chad said. I LOVE the vocal stereo image at :47, etc. That panning transition from the regular voc. verse is really refreshing.

Im also diggin those "whacky" falsetto's at the end..... strangely appropriate. I would'a dug em even more if they were locked up a bit more. ......but nice

Good vocs on this Tom..... very creative, and nicely done.

Jeff, ....those rhythm guit sounds do kick some serious butt. Lotsa bite and strength to em...... I didnt care for the tone as much when used in the solo, but it certainly wasnt bad. I agree w/ the Queensryche comparison you made...... ....and in my book, thats a good thing.

Great collab fellas....... when are you guys going on tour?


G & 5
 
Wow........I like it. Two of the best here at the board getting together. I love collabs and this one is great. I really like the vocals and especially the harmonies. Tom, you are a singing fool bro.
And Jeff, nice guitar work. Actually it's the first of yours I've heard that was rockish. Obviously you must have some but I hadn't heard them. Very cool guitar although it gets a little lost at times.

Real good work guys, thanks for doing this. I'm gonna have to burn a SLuiCe and a Jeff CD. :)
 
I love the gtr and vocals...whether or not you guys think they suck or not...
 
That is some tremendous songwriting, playing, singing and recording,...

as usual, and this is an especially great, great, great, great, [repeat, etc...] great song! I swear man, that sounds just like David Bowie. Exactly. I'm totally blown away. This may be the best indie rock I've ever heard. Your songs are so goddam good, my heart can hardly take the adrenalin rush! Damn if that doesn't sound as commercial as hell, I'm a monkey's uncle.

Both of you guys have to be congratulated and thanked for putting out such a great song, an incredible song.
 
Hey thanks guys! I'll try to respond to individuals if I get time this afternoon.

I did some experimentation here, picking up where I left off on my last tune, "Winded". I haven't really been in "this has gotta be perfect" mode lately...just trying things out. The "stereo image" is real. The mono parts are done with a Bheringer B2, and the stereo parts are done with that mic plus an Oktava mc012 slightly overhead and to the side pointing at my lower incisers and bicuspids.
On one stereo track I added a touch of stereo chorus for one of the characters, the one that sounds like David Bowie....actually I got that comparison on Feathers and Bones too. Not complaining...I fucking love Bowie. Funny how I can go from comparisons of Floyd, to Maynard of Tool, to Bowie. But those guys are real singers, so believe me, I know they're just sound references.

Some stuff I like to lay down real precise-like, and some stuff I just wanna let fly, regardless of "musicality", because I think it should go wild. Some day, maybe I'll smarten up and write a normal song, but maybe there's plenty of time for that. :)




A thousand thank-you's to Jeff for trusting me with his music. I'm not sure I would!
 
dude, I have been trying to reply to this for awhile.. I typed a long response and it bugged out!

great tune! something happened @2:33.. it sounded like a bad patch cord or something.. not sure.. lots of great vocal and guitar stuff in this.. the first part of that guitar solo was awesome.. was a POD used at all on this? there's some great songs coming out of these collaborations..

keep em comin'! weekly if possible.. :D


great band..
 
Happy Bird Day

I woke up and read these great comments from everybody and thank all for taking the time to reply. You guys are cool people.
I showed a few people this song and everybody liked it 100x's better on the 2nd/3rd listen. I think thats because there is a lot to absorb in this one. I try to do the impossible task of writing stuff that is accepted across most genres, and pass the daunting vocal privilages over to Tom :) Im putting him on the spot... he loves pressure :D
I think its important to stay open-minded to styles people are doing and their musical direction, I think tom has a strong agreement in that dept. or else musician split-personality disorder corrodes the core.
I hope Tom doesnt want to break my knee caps with a tire iron after giving him this project :eek:


guitars:

.. I recorded the guitars into my POD direct box (Rectified distortion)---> Marshall JCM2000tsl (the one that Sam convinced me not to sell- I have to give him something in return for his brillance :) with a sm57 right off the grill and an octava Mc012 ~2' away. I added reverb from the pod and the Marshall. I believe the guitar tone could be a little better, but im still working on it :) I agree about doing some eq here and there... it does need some in there. yes... the snare could be bigger too :) We'll leave that for when we get a drummer :)

Believe it or not... the bass guitar is going through the guitar pod too........ DO NOT spend the extra money on those Bass PoDs... marketing scam


Im gonna help Tom reply to some of these posts ... but I have to help with this turkey feast first :)
 
Back
Top