N'suck would have had a bassist but not a wildcard

[JuSumPilgrim]

ha ha YA! More like something from the "California" album than Disco Vilante or their first one. I didn't notice that, but you're right. Very cool. I like this song personally.

Hooray! Another Bungle fan at homerec. At long last. Yeah I was totally thinking of California. One of my fav albums of all time. Cyan's song has that *Bungle* hypermelodic, sweet, mournful and tragic yet joyous carnival quality to it.


Cyan,

My pleasure, anytime.
I woud stick with whats original about this song (the vocals and "wildcard" melody) and push that as far as it can go. This song has sig market potential. I really dig the high register of your voice. Very unique and good.
I have some beats I wrote for some other stuff that you might want to try for this song along the start-stop syncopated line. Whats the BPM?

 

[CyanJaguar]

Cyan's song has that *Bungle* hypermelodic, sweet, mournful and tragic yet joyous carnival quality to it.

A friend of mine saw that and started looking at me like I was a hero.

The song is 103 bpm, and I just uploaded the wav and mp3 of the vocals only if you want to try it with one of your beats. I'll pm you the link right now.

Thanks

 

[Cwadroon]

A hit in the making.

 

[Slackmaster2K]

I like you cyan, and I've known you for a long time in BBS terms, so I'm going to be honest.

First of all, everything is so dry I'm physically thirsty right now. The piano gave me a headache. Nothing meshed together at all. You need to apply some serious glue.

Secondly, the vocals are out of tune constantly. Flat, but consistantly flat. Even the backing vocals are flat. Maybe if you could just trick yourself somehow... Ease up on the high notes.

Third, you forgot to apply the bottom end. No bass, and the kick samples aren't cutting it. The piano doesn't have enough bottom to help out either. The overall sound is extremely brittle and ready to crumble apart.

Fourth, that hi hat needs to be taken down a zillion notches or be replaced by the real thing.

Fifth, what wildcard? The songwriting isn't bad or anything, but you need to do more than just say "wildcard"

Slackmaster 2000

 

[Slackmaster2K]

Oops, just realized you haven't added bass to this yet. Disregard the low end comments.

 

[participant]

CyYoungJaggedWire,

Finally got around to ya. Flat singing, everyone says? Ah, all I'm hearing (and maybe I'm not paying good enough attention) is the tendency for you to go falsetto (WATYF will eat this up ) oh yeah... a couple long held notes are flat. But not too bad. Sounds to me like you're trying to sing through a pinhole (on the highest notes). That's how it was once described to me, the phenomena of a rising larynx. "singing thru a pinhole". Your adam's apple when it rises shuts off the air flow in your throat, and you REALLY have to strain, or just plain go falsetto to hit those notes. My new personal motto (when training my voice) is "No pinhole throat!"

Something I've noticed while trying to train my own voice is... the advice about "singing from the diaphragm" makes sense. No, your voice doesn't come from there but it kind of makes your larynx stay put. If you imagine your voice coming from below the stomach area, somehow -- it works. It's like psyching yourself out -- the same idea as using a dummy mic (for LD mic mic'ed vocals) or how the Disney elephant "Dumbo" held that feather in his trunk, and believed he could fly

It's all about relaxing the throat and not getting all tense. (Here come the throat relaxant jokes )

Another mental "key" might be to remember not to sing "from your face". Takes practice and concentration, but it works

BTW good song ideas, and a decent song to boot. Can't believe nobody said "Funk On!"


Chad

 

[yiordanaki]

CyanJaguar,
I found myself humming your song at work yesterday!! so i thought i had to reply and tell you what i thought.

I think that its definately a "wildcard" song -(like you say) or else i wouldnt have it in my head for like 3 days straight.

So at grass roots level i think the song is a great one.
It still needs more work and instruments though - but this is something you guys have already discussed. Also, your singing just sounds like it was a rush job (maybe it was) but still sounds good. Do you warm up before you record??? that could help with getting the higher notes.

Anyhow, i look forward to hearing this song finished and also your next song.

 

[JuSumPilgrim]

I like you cyan, and I've known you for a long time in BBS terms, so I'm going to be honest.

First of all, everything is so dry I'm physically thirsty right now. The piano gave me a headache. Nothing meshed together at all. You need to apply some serious glue.

Secondly, the vocals are out of tune constantly. Flat, but consistantly flat. Even the backing vocals are flat. Maybe if you could just trick yourself somehow... Ease up on the high notes.

Third, you forgot to apply the bottom end. No bass, and the kick samples aren't cutting it. The piano doesn't have enough bottom to help out either. The overall sound is extremely brittle and ready to crumble apart.

Fourth, that hi hat needs to be taken down a zillion notches or be replaced by the real thing.

Fifth, what wildcard? The songwriting isn't bad or anything, but you need to do more than just say "wildcard"

Slackmaster 2000

I dont think this was being premiered as finished work.

 

[doulos]

the wild card thing needs to be pulled in closer in the mix or better sprerad the mix out and the vocals sound off center to me to the mix its leaning right about 20 percent or around 1 oclock
just my advice what would be cool would put the drums in the center and the piano stero with the vocal in the middle would fill this out a lot then pan that wild card thing around or a echo 6 8 to 10 db lower depending on your style on the slap in the right ear just some thoughts

 

[muzeman]

Pretty cool song!

The drums sound really good,and I like your piano work.
Looking foward to hearing it with the bass!

I have some links to a free Lame encoder,front end for it,and a great ripper,if you want them.

Best to you,
Pete

 

[CyanJaguar]

CyYoungJaggedWire,

Finally got around to ya. Flat singing, everyone says? Ah, all I'm hearing (and maybe I'm not paying good enough attention) is the tendency for you to go falsetto (WATYF will eat this up ) oh yeah... a couple long held notes are flat. But not too bad. Sounds to me like you're trying to sing through a pinhole (on the highest notes). That's how it was once described to me, the phenomena of a rising larynx. "singing thru a pinhole". Your adam's apple when it rises shuts off the air flow in your throat, and you REALLY have to strain, or just plain go falsetto to hit those notes. My new personal motto (when training my voice) is "No pinhole throat!"

Something I've noticed while trying to train my own voice is... the advice about "singing from the diaphragm" makes sense. No, your voice doesn't come from there but it kind of makes your larynx stay put. If you imagine your voice coming from below the stomach area, somehow -- it works. It's like psyching yourself out -- the same idea as using a dummy mic (for LD mic mic'ed vocals) or how the Disney elephant "Dumbo" held that feather in his trunk, and believed he could fly

It's all about relaxing the throat and not getting all tense. (Here come the throat relaxant jokes )

Another mental "key" might be to remember not to sing "from your face". Takes practice and concentration, but it works

BTW good song ideas, and a decent song to boot. Can't believe nobody said "Funk On!"


Chad

hey chad, thanks for that. It was really helpful. My voice teacher says not to push down on the voice, but when you describe it as pinhole thoat, it makes it all the more real.

thanks.


thanks Muzeman Doulos, Yiordanaski and Cwadroon for listening. You guys spoil me with replies. I have to keep telling myself over and over that this will not happen the next time.

Slackmaster. Thanks my man. I hear and understand everything you said. The gel was not there. I decided to not try and be every musician in the group since I am not good at anything anyhow. I appreciate the frank comments and I always take your comments into consideration when I write the next piece.

 

[wes480]

cyan,

i didn't like this so much on the first play but on the second play i got into it a little more..

i actually like the "manifestation" talking background...

the vocals are pretty good i think, but the overall production somehow I think should be more "open".

the artist that comes to mind to me for this song is Phil Collins...maybe go after it with that slightly more "world music" kinda production and feel. i don't really care for the piano just sitting there alone...I think some nylon string guitar with piano accenting some of the chords would give the song a good vibe.

I guess by your definitions, most of Phils songs would be considered "wildcards"..

though I am starting to think that you throw that word around too much

-wes

 

[SLuiCe]

Something I've noticed while trying to train my own voice is... the advice about "singing from the diaphragm" makes sense. No, your voice doesn't come from there but it kind of makes your larynx stay put. If you imagine your voice coming from below the stomach area, somehow -- it works.

Chad

Ya Participant is right on. If you magine yourself screaming, most of your tension is in the stomach area. It's the same feeling in singing, but more controlled. Good full voice singing should come from the gut. A more experienced singer would be able to describe it better i guess.