New song - Opinions on all levels please

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jagular
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Bill - Thanks for the listen man. I always appreciate your comments. Two of my favorite songs that break convention are Marty Robbins "El Paso" & Don McClean "American Pie" :D. I would love a song of mine to get the full treatment some day, steel, fiddle, guitars up the wazoo… Some day :D. As far as the breathing goes, that is probably a result of running the compressor while tracking. I could have edited them all out, but I like to leave them in there because it sound more natural to me to hear a singer breath between phrases. Otherwise I get a picture of some guy turning all blue and it just ruins the mood :p :D. The compression probably brought the breathing up a little too far though. The guitar is compressed a little on tracking. Probably about 2.5:1 at -10db, so not really that much. I don't think I compressed them at all in the mix either. Part of what you are probably hearing in the strummed parts is, since I did this all in one take (actual doubled one takes), I didn't switch to a pick when I was done finger picking so I was strumming with my thumb which is a pretty dull sound. When I track this for real, I'll probably track the finger picking and strumming parts separately. Thank you for listening & the kind words.

David - Goosebumps huh? To bad you ain't a girl ;) :D. Thanks for the listen and I appreciate the compliment. I'm glad you liked it.

B. Sabbath - Thanks, I appreciate it. I think it's way :cool: that folks with such diverse musical styles can come together and listen and appreciate each others work. I our styles are pretty close to as opposite as you can get, yet I really find your work interesting & quite well done. Sorry for rambling. I just think it's cool. Thanks.
 
This is very good!

You have an excellent voice, and I personally like the stripped-back, sparse arrangement.

You've got a good recorded sound on the guitars, and the double-tracking is one of my favourite "effects". Maybe move the guitars back a wee bit compared to the voice? (i.e. try doing what I singularly failed to do with my own tune! :) )

I don't think you've got too much reverb on the vocal - I think it's just right.

I agree with Crawdad about the need for a "payoff". Maybe something along the liens of verse 3 is you singing many years later when *you're* somebody's Grandpa, thinking about the journey you took through life? Or is that too cliche?

Anyway, very good performance, well recorded. Nice one.

Cheers

AB
 
alibish said:
This is very good!

You have an excellent voice, and I personally like the stripped-back, sparse arrangement.

You've got a good recorded sound on the guitars, and the double-tracking is one of my favourite "effects". Maybe move the guitars back a wee bit compared to the voice? (i.e. try doing what I singularly failed to do with my own tune! :) )

I don't think you've got too much reverb on the vocal - I think it's just right.

I agree with Crawdad about the need for a "payoff". Maybe something along the liens of verse 3 is you singing many years later when *you're* somebody's Grandpa, thinking about the journey you took through life? Or is that too cliche?

Anyway, very good performance, well recorded. Nice one.

Cheers

AB

Thanks man. Glad you liked the guitar sound. I’ve been struggling to get a decent sound with what I have. I think I’m getting there. It will be interesting to see how the sound I’m getting now translates into a more full production. Well, as soon at my 1010lt is delivered and I get it installed and figure out how to use it :rolleyes: we’ll find out :D. I agree on the payoff thing. In my song “The Gift” I went a similar direction to what you are thinking. I got a critique from NSAI (Nashville Songwriter’s Association International) and got the feedback that it was a well constructed song and well written, just that it’s been done a million times. Call me a glutton for punishment, but I still like hearing those kind of songs. Then again, I can watch the same movie over and over again :D. Thanks for the listen man. I appreciate it.
 
You know, I like you...not just as an artist, but you seem like a good person, so I'll just say that the most constructive thing I could possibly say is to listen to Crawdad. We co-wrote one awhile back, and having his input was a huge gift.

Now, that doesn't mean you should do whatever he says :D...but definitely think about it...he's probably right.

I'm not gonna' bother with a mix thing b/c I have a feeling that this is gonna' be redone.

Hey, but the guitar sounds very cool to me!!!
 
I am pretty selective when it comes to listening to Country music, but this song is beautiful. I loved the vocals, the instruments, the lyrics, the mix...everything! What talent!

Langley

p.s. I love fishing; nothing like sitting in a boat or on the bank and reflecting on the surrounding beauty. And I don't mind a bit putting my own worms and crickets on the hook. :)
 
John:

The good stuff:
- The theme of the song is great.
- Guitar sounds pretty good, as does your voice (what a surprise!)

The bad stuff:
- The melody sounds very forced to me. Like where it wanted to go down, you went up instead just to make it different. The notes just don't flow for me.
- Some of the lyrics were a little cliched.

One man's opinion. Take it for what it's worth. :)
 
Pretty song. Nice playing and singing.

I found the twin hard panned guitars a little dominating, maybe because of a bit too much verb overall.
 
Terriel - Thanks for listening and the compliment. I need to get out fishing again some time. It is very relaxing and I am thinking I'm in need of a bit of that right now. I assume from your bating the hook remark you are of the fairer sex. Girls baiting hooks are the coolies :cool: :D. Thanks again :)

Mike - Thanks for the good the bad & the ugly :D. Just out of curiosity, if you wouldn't mind, give me some spots where you think the melody is not flowing well for you. I have a hunch this song will be changing some before it's done so I would like to know where you are talking about so I can consider it. I may have an idea of where you are talking about, but instead of playing 20 questions it might be more efficient if you told me what you are hearing :D(if you've got time). Thanks for the listen & I appreciate the feedback.

Doug H - Thanks for listening. Being pretty new at this recording thing I appreciate that feedback. I was thinking the other day as I was listening to this in my car that these naked acoustic guitar & vocal tracks I am doing seem kind of "big" and that maybe the sound would be a little more intimate if I brought the guitars back in toward the middle a little bit. Is that what you are referring to? That and maybe cutting a little verb?
 
Jagular said:
Mike - Thanks for the good the bad & the ugly :D. Just out of curiosity, if you wouldn't mind, give me some spots where you think the melody is not flowing well for you. I have a hunch this song will be changing some before it's done so I would like to know where you are talking about so I can consider it. I may have an idea of where you are talking about, but instead of playing 20 questions it might be more efficient if you told me what you are hearing :D(if you've got time). Thanks for the listen & I appreciate the feedback.
John - I'll give it another listen over the weekend and take some notes. I'll PM you with my thoughts.
 
Quote
"guitar & vocal tracks I am doing seem kind of "big"

Ya that's what I meant, especially the guitars, they sound good but I think they might be a bit too "high" key for the mix. I'm no pro at this either so it's just a listener's ear talking.

Doug
 
I really like the sound of the guitars. Tight performance.
You have a powerful voice going on too my friend.
Good song man, Its nice to hear heart felt songs.
Its crying for some percussion.

All in all the recording is clean, the preformance is tight, and the song is great.
 
Thanks again Doug H :)

demensia - thanks a lot man...I appreciate that. I can't wait to get recording with my new soundcard :D:D
 
Sounds really nice John!
Great guitar sound and performance,and the vocals are outstanding.
I dig the writing,there's just something about Grandpa's and fishing.:)

I love country music,and this is some of the best of it!

Tough singing with just acoustic guitars.
You sound great though,can't wait to hear a full version.

Good luck with the soundcard,hope it dosn't give you too many grey hairs!:D

Pete
 
muzeman said:
Sounds really nice John!
Great guitar sound and performance,and the vocals are outstanding.
I dig the writing,there's just something about Grandpa's and fishing.:)

I love country music,and this is some of the best of it!

Tough singing with just acoustic guitars.
You sound great though,can't wait to hear a full version.

Good luck with the soundcard,hope it dosn't give you too many grey hairs!:D

Pete

Thanks man. I appreciate that. I'm starting to like the sound of just me and the guitar. I may not do any more production than that ever...Nah...j/k I can't resist doodling around with it :D.

I pretty much have the new card figured out. I just have to remember to go into the patchbay software and route things properly. A lot more options on an 8x8 card than the old SBLive :D

And no, I don't need any more grey hairs :D:D
 
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