Yes, I am serious about people being intimidated. A case in point:
Post a song on the MP3 Clinic, wait two weeks and compare the number of responses to the number of actual listens the song gets. Why are these numbers so out of line with each other? 80 listens and only two comments. Possibilities:
1. You suck, and people are trying to be kind.
2. Your stuff is not their cup of tea, and they don't feel comfortable commenting.
3. Your stuff is better than their stuff, and their ego will not allow them to be generous or encouraging.
You'll never know what their reasons are for not commenting pro or con, so don't go crazy trying.
I have found most musicians to be very egotistic, self-aggrandizing, self-centered and vain. This is the nature of the beast. The music business is a cutthroat biz, and a healthy ego is a prerequisite.
As for the quality of the recordings - if you're not happy, hire someone good to mix them. Sometimes it's good to bring in another pair of ears. I think it sounds just fine, though.
Bob