New Song Up - Tell me what you think!

  • Thread starter Thread starter BJW
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BJW

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Hello,

I've posted this song up before, but I didn't get much response, and the vocals were terrible. I've finally managed to sing them almost in tune and I've re-done the song a bit. Go here: http://www.feelslikefridaymusic.com/music.htm and listen to "The Way It Has To Be". If that doesn't work for you, try this site: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/feelslikefridaymusic.htm.

Let me know how it sounds for you - what you like and what you would improve.

Recording notes:
Vocals: Studio Projects C1 -> Presonus Firepod (used for pre's on all tracks)
Acoustic Guitar: Takamine FD-360sc -> pair of MXL 603s's -> Firepod
Electric Guitar: SRV Custom Strat -> original POD -> Firepod
Bass: Yamaha Bass -> Firepod
Drums: Loops from Drums on Demand (Vol. 1)

I use Cubase SX 2 and I monitor with Event PS-5's in an absolutely terrible room, which probably kills me the most.

I think that's about it. Thanks in advance for taking time to listen.
 
Really enjoyed the song. Great rythm guit throughout, liked the rumbley dist. guit that came in on chorus.....maybe it could use some more dynamic tricks like that.....maybe some pads that come in and out.

Intonation on the chimey guit. intro is off.
Maybe cut the mids on the snare a bit.

Thanks for sharing man. Is this all you?
 
Best song I've heard on here yet mate... loved the vocal tone and accent... but can't help feeling that you haven't quite got the perfect vocal take just yet... some lines you hit the nail right on the head and there's something there.. real power and emotion... others are in tune but just not the best take you can do... really warm up and then sing it like 100 times and then go through and pick the best ones...

sometimes the electric guitars are a bit much... I think maybe too loud or something... I'd tone them down a bit and let that vocal do the talking... I think you could also get a better tone on that acoustic guitar... again... 100 takes different mic positions etc... find the one that sits perfectly in the mix...

Overall... a B+ - great as it is but could be greater...

don't know why but your singing really reminds me of Idlewild... if you haven''t heard them you should have a listen... top band... and scottish too...
 
Wow thank you both for such kind responses. After listening to this a few times, I think I might have overdone the compression at the "mastering" stage (at least what I call my mastering stage). It sounds a bit squashed - but I haven't listened to it in my car, which is always my final "listening test". It sounds pretty good to me on my monitors, and bad on my computer speakers (but what doesn't?).

Flamin' Lips - this is all me - the only thing I can't take credit for really is the drum track. They are loops from Drums on Demand, but at least I put the loops together.

Handsome Al, I'm flattered that this is the best you've heard on here yet - I've heard some good stuff from some HR.com members. Lots of stuff would be considered in a different genre - most people around here don't record much rock-pop radio-esque type of stuff, but it's what I like. I'm with you on the vocals thing - sometimes they are great, sometimes they are just "good enough". To be honest, I'm so sick of trying to sing this song right in the studio - but to get a truely good sound, I should record it till its right. Something about the vocal line in this song - it's hard for me to sing right. I don't know what it is. I'm gonna check out that band you recommended. Most people (including myself) just say "Hey, you sound like John Mayer", which is a compliment in itself, but its cool when I get compared to people I've never heard of - I love to check out new stuff. By the way - your stuff it top notch, too.

Thanks again for listening - I really appreciate it. Any more thoughts out there? Feel free to comment on any of my other stuff as well. "Something Better" is probably my best song and recording.
 
nah... "The Way It Has To Be" is your best song... and it still sounds good in the morning... Something Better was ok... but it didn't quite do it for me... good stuff keep it up...
 
Handsome Al said:
nah... "The Way It Has To Be" is your best song... and it still sounds good in the morning... Something Better was ok... but it didn't quite do it for me... good stuff keep it up...
Click to expand...

Hey thanks - "The Way It Has To Be" has much more of a meaning to me personally, as well - glad you liked it. I've got a LOT of material that I need to record, just no time to record it.
 
Nice song! It seems that the production level is quite good, even on my crumby little pc speakers. Big sound.. well done.

Two things that I notice... I think it could benefit form some pads added in some places (chorus,verse or both... bring it in then out.. maybe in again?). Also the synchopation of the drum (programmed?) and the rythmn guitar seems a little off. I noticed it right at the beginning. As the song builds it is less noticeable. To me it doesn't sound right in th ebeginning.
 
Thanks, Miggs6! The drums are programmed, so tempo-wise they are perfect. Any rhythm problems are coming from my attempt at playing guitar.

I feel really stupid asking this, and I plan on searching to find the answer - but maybe some of you could enlighten me. What are pads? Several people have mentioned it as a suggestion. I feel like I should know this.
 
synth/string pads or even better would be a mellotron sample! In other words, some eterial background vibe sounds.

Went back and did a search on synth pads and it was defined as "a warm sustained sound". Funny sounding but true.

But dont listen to me, I never do simple very well, and ofte clutter a great tune w/ too much going on in the background.
 
That's kind of what I was thinking you were referring to. I even have a nice little radium 61 midi keyboard and a bit of piano under my belt (although pitifully little) - I might see what I can cook up. I've been meaning to try that kind of thing, just haven't got around to it.
 
Well, I've been listening to this on a few different set-ups, and I have to say the sound of the mix is growing on me. I thought about trying to make some changes, but I think I'm happy with the way it turned out. Any more opinions?
 
The kick is flubbing the mix out a bit. Sounds like a decent tune. Cheezy but not horrible. Obviously a personal song.

Hey, it's a song, you are ahead of the curve already.
 
jake-owa said:
The kick is flubbing the mix out a bit. Sounds like a decent tune. Cheezy but not horrible. Obviously a personal song.

Hey, it's a song, you are ahead of the curve already.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Jake. I'm glad you don't think it's horrible, haha. After reading several of your other posts, as well as your disclaimer thread about being brutally honest (which I appreciate), I'll take your words as a compliment. Most people think my songs are kinda cheesy. I'll admit - they are pretty radio-friendly sounding, which turns a lot of people off in here. I just write the style that I like to listen to, and I like what I hear on the radio. I'm not really interested in breaking brand new ground with a different sound or anything - personally, I think everybody copies somebody. I just think the stuff that sounds totally different is just a copy of somebody that is not well known or popular - but everybody sounds somewhat like their influences. I'm sure I could be wrong here, just my opinion.

Thanks again for taking the time to listen!
 
Take it for it's worth..

First off the song sounds really good.

Your vocal performance could use a little bit more emotion.

The tune kinda reminds me of uhm.. the calling..they had that tune "where ever you may go" I don't know that singer's name he did that song with Santana, I think.

Anyway, you kinda got that kind of sound going...but call it what you want cheesy or whatever ---I like the occasional - I am pouring my heart out l- isten to me sing about it God damn it--- but you need to "give it" a little more.

That melody electric guitar line that comes in right at the beginning is great, but I think it needs a little bit of uhmm.. ambience (read reverb - delay) sit it back a bit. Duncan Sheik it out a bit.

But again take it for what it's worth -- it's a great song and it's recorded well.

__________________________
another post - another 2 cents
 
Thanks, shookie

I happen to like that "the calling" song - a bit overplayed on the radio, though. Thanks for the compliments/suggestions.

I've also recently made some changes to one of my songs - "Something Better"- so give that one a listen, too. It's on the same page. It wasn't much of a change, but it sounds better now than before, I think.
 
Someone mentioned that the chimey guitar part is not intonated right and I noticed that too.

About the pads--I don't know if that's what it needs but I felt like it is missing the touches that would really push this song into another level. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty darn good the way it is but it could be really good with the right production. Unfortunately I don't think I'm qualified to say what that is.

The songwriting is great and I thought it was sang and performed pretty well. You don't really hear much on these forums as good as this. Some may be better, but I wouldn't knock this at all.
 
as i've said on the acid page i really like this song, far better than anything i've done. and yes i'm still planning on buying a cd, getting around to it soon :cool:

ohh, and thanks for the review of my new "song" dam, lol, yeah, some experimental stuff indeed, i'm taking a college class on sequencing and the such , thats where that song was spawned.
 
Hey thanks for the compliments, guys!

I just put a new song up - "So Far Away". It's on the same pages as before. Listen to that one, too, if you'd like!

Any more comments?
 
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