New Music for your scrutiny!

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SLuiCe

SLuiCe

New member
First off, I've been reading these forums for about a week and I gotta say it's a blessing to have found you. I've taken a break from bands for a while to get some of my own demons/angels out of my head and into the speakers without the limitations of the 3 or 4 piece "rock band". There are some very intelligent people here and it's great to listen to all the music and hear people's thoughts and suggestions. So...

I'd love to hear some opinions about a couple tracks I've "finished". They were recorded in Sonar. All instruments except the Vox and guitars were produced with my Korg Triton.

I'd particularly like to read your thoughts about the composition, production, and whether you think there's any market for this sort of thing. I'd still keep doing it either way, cuz I'm hooked on it like a crackhead, but I've had some good response from family and friends- but not enough response from people like you.

Thanks a lot!
-Tom

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/5/1469/singles
 
I listened to 'the wind and a tumbleweed' first and I loved it...
This is some of the most interesting stuff I've heard hear in awhile.. IMOP... There were things that could be better about the mix, but someone else can tell you what they are...

This is a really good song...I wasn't expecting this..

As far as your question, 'is there a market for this'...I would say definitely.... I will hear the other song later...but if it's anything like this, I'm sure I will like it...


very interesting tune....I really liked it alot..:cool:

I'll comment more later



B
 
The Wind and a Tumbleweed
Interesting, I echo sabbath's comments in that respect. I thought the vocals got lost in the mix a bit. There's definitely enough in there to hold the interest, i liked the variation and some of the small composition touches.

Townie
What is that high pitched instrument sound, bit like an electric violin or something. Did you do that on guitar or was it a synthesiser sound? Like the song, not as much as the first but they are very different, this is more laid back, i thought it had a cool rhythm overall.

I think there is a market for your stuff, probably not in the highly commercial, but who's to say?

Jags
 
Thanks for the feedback, fellas. Man, there are a lot of cool forums here! Especially that microphone board. If you go in there, wear a helmet. It can get rough!

Jags, it's a synthesized violin (Korg Triton) that comes in during that mid-section. I think that's what you're talking about.

I think I just need to have someone else mix my vox for me cuz I'm primarily a guitarist and that's usually where my ear tends to go.

Thanks again guys.
 
Pretty cool, the bass was a tad heavy. It seems like it may need a more obvious transition into the verses but the parts themselves are very cool.
 
Well, this took a while. I didn't read any other comment, so here goes:

The Wind and the Tumbleweed -
Seems like too much stuff is panned center. Also, the hihat seems to overpower the vocals. Try cutting some conflicting frequencies. The vocals should also be louder. The music is very different. It flows good enough, though. When the distortion guitar kicks in, you can hardly hear what the singer is singing, so you might look into what's going on there. Sounds like too much high-end. The song sounds like there's almost too much instruments at places, but maybe it's just the mixing. Good song anyway.

Townie -
This song better mixed, and this time the vocals are just about the right level. I like the drums on this song more. I especially like the clean guitars, and the sax. There's only too much reverb after the vocals anyway. It sounds too noisy. Maybe not use reverb so much in all the instruments. The mood of the song is great. I imagine sitting in a smoky hawaian bar, and there are all these white suited petty gangsters drinking margaritas :) For some odd reason it also makes me think of Monkey Island. Nice mood.

Away From the City -
Now, the intro makes me think of Monkey Island (again). Maybe it's that voodoo image it conjures. The acoustic guitar is what I love about this, but I usually love acoustic guitars anyway :) The song starts after the intro kinda weirdly, but again, good stuff here. Now I'm hearing some old Genesis type stuff here. After all, they were also great at making these different atmospheres. The drums sound distant, which is nice for this song. The song is VERY professional sounding to my ears. Maybe too much reverb here and there again, but it's what makes the mood sometimes. Pretty tasty use of different instruments. This song is the best so far.

The Passing -
Oh, here's some psychedelic indian type stuff. You're very good in creating these weird moods. Again, too much reverb when there's more instruments. You might take a look there somewhere. This sounds a lot like Pink Floyd, but also you have some original ideas here. Trippy stuff, there's no denying it. I like this song. I realise I've really got a lot to learn when I listen to your stuff.

Acting Alone -
The acoustic guitars are absolutely fabulous in the intro. I don't quite like the FM radio type vocal mixing, I think it's been overused. The backwards drum stuff sounds weird here. There's too much reverb and / or high-end here. At least it's evident when the heavy guitars enter. The drums sound a bit too programmed. Nice space travel mood here too.

So, you really know how to handle your Triton and Sonar. There's definately a market for you music. I don't know if it's commercial though, but I love your songs, and you really should find some output for these songs. You're miles ahead of me as far as song composition goes. In the mixing department, there's too much reverb overall, but still, the soundscape you create is amazing! I was a bit hesitant to listen to all those songs, but they were really worth the listen to.
 
I'm listening to 'The Wind and the Tumbleweed'. It's good. I like the tune. It seems like there's too much high end in the hi-hat, though. I agree about the distorted guitar overpowering the vocals, too. I find it hard to get distorted guitars to a level in the mix where they have some cojones, but don't sound too loud.
 
Very nice. I listened to Wind and the Tumbleweed. Great tune. Vocal is having a hard time peaking out from under the music. The hi hat is a little bright and the drums need a bit more butt in general. Nice style on the song. Some where between Queensryche, Metallica (Black Album) and Pink Floyd.
 
The Wind and a Tumbleweed - Very Nice. Couldn't hear the words but I'm thinkin it must be from the tumbleweeds point of view. A kind of distressed, "reaching out" feel. You got a good voice, bump them vox up! Wished the drums were more real sounding though. The music really says "The Wind and a Tumbleweed". Very cool.
As for if there's a market. I have no idea.
 
Brutal honesty

I'll be very blunt about this because that's what i expect when people comment on my songs and i dont see the point in sugar coating things. I've listened to Acting Alone and i didnt like it. May be its too different to my music (Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead The Strokes and The Beatles), may be its because its doesnt have the production that a bought CD would have or maybe they're its just not a good song. I wouldnt realy call alternative as you have. I doubt theres a huge market out there for it. But if you enjoy what your'e doing then dont stop.
Maybe its just to wierd for me.
Just listened to tubleweed, same opinion.
Sorry if it sounds cruel but honesty is important here.
 
I like the music. I found the recording to be thin and fragile sounding, and lacking thickness...aka dynamic punch and a fullness to it....not meaning more bass and stuff like that, but a something more solid in the middle registers..as it is musically bass dominate(even with just the one bass instrument) with a bunch of crispy stuff on top of it.
 
Thanks for all the critiques

Much appreciated. I did everything myself so i find it challenging to give everything its proper space. Wish there was someone else near to help with mixing with an "outside ear," but that's more or less what you've all done. While my target is far from mainstream, your comments have been spot on. Lots of good advice there. Thanks again!


Tom
 
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Hey SLuiCe,
Thought I'd jot down these comments and then see how far off base I am with the bulk of your previous responses.

I listened to "Acting Alone" and "The Passing"
On "Acting Alone" I've this. The intro was stellar. Definitately placed a "mood" on things to come. I detected a bitch-lump of sibilance on the first vocals, seemed to disipate as the tune went along. Cool voice though, very effective and dramatic. Nice playing throughout but at around a minute and a half (when it all comes to a head) the mix got crowded and shoved down the center. I missed the full run of some seemingly fitting git fills and such. Nice composition and conception.
I had to listen to "The Passing" cause I wrote a tune with the same title (thanks for reminding me, I like the tune and will maybe record it now that your title has jarred my putrid memory). The Passing was very theatric and very solid. I can't/don't write in this way so maybe I'm easily impressed but, impressed I am.

Hope these thin words help,

Theron.
 
O.K. I speed read (read, didn't pay a lot of attention to) some previous comments and I've two more tidbits. In the stupid, yet fetching, world of comparisons I will document mine as a post mushroom blend of Type O Negative and Tangerine Dream.
To try and fill the soundscape out, I'd first try a more liberal aproach to your panning. I'll lend no unsolicited specifics, just try spreading out the congested sections with a little more balls.
Theron.
 
I listened to the "Tumbleweed" song... and while it's not my bag,.. (nor are any of the others) it is original.. relatively. (Considering there really is no such thing as a "new" thing) :p

I would give one piece of tweaking advice. The drums are too busy. Tone em down a bit... (in addition to the hi-hat level suggestions already given) there's nothing wrong with fills, but if the entire backbone of the song (the drums) is one big long "fill", it kind of makes the song feel unstable, as if it never really had any definitive foundation.. it's like you're always waiting for it to plateau out, but it never happens.

yeah.. I know.. I don't know what I meant by that either... :D

WATYF
 
I couldn't get no audio

Hi Tom,
I'm sorry dude I tried to check out your tunes but I tried lo-fi and hi-fi and got no tunage. Hey I don't know if your aware of iuma.com but I've recently posted my own website on there at http://timothyscottdavis.iuma.com and it was a sinch to build and edit that website. Check em out at: http://www.iuma.com

Later bro, good luck and let me know if you post a site with them I would love to check it out. Timmy D.
 
I listened to a cdr in the truck and I agree with 95% of what you guys have said.
I just got the Korg about 2 months ago and have been using it to sequence drums through its own system. While quite a tedious task, it has at least allowed me to get these ideas down and to not have to rely on anyone else for any process other than this one....feedback, which you all have been terrific about. It also allows me to experiment with writing other instruments other than my usual guitar and vocal, which I'm sure future songs will feature more of.
My first two months of home recording has been a blast and I appreciate all the help a lot. I can't wait to put all the advice to good use. Since "Wind" seems to have been heard the most, I'll start with that by adjusting the drum tracks, and bringing up the Vox. Also need to clean up the climax of the song by trimming some of that reverb down. I'll post a new mix soon.

THANKS GUYS!!!!

Tom
 
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