"Officer Mean"

[LeeRosario]

I put up another mix at my link. However, I'm not sure this is a final mix. I'm debating a few minor changes with the band, so it might change in the future.


But anyway, definitly check this one out and give me your input


Officer Mean

Lee

 

[rayc]

Too many ideas competing for space & control.
The intro electro works, the metalish 2nd bit is OK tto but the guitra runs & bleeps break the flow entirely.
There's a good song inside this if the band could settle on a style or three.
The recording is very good, the mix is equally good thought the vocals are a bit loud for me.
They sound like somethings I have in my collection but being that it's a couple of more I can't pull them into my head at present.

 

[LeeRosario]

Too many ideas competing for space & control.
The intro electro works, the metalish 2nd bit is OK tto but the guitra runs & bleeps break the flow entirely.
There's a good song inside this if the band could settle on a style or three.
The recording is very good, the mix is equally good thought the vocals are a bit loud for me.
They sound like somethings I have in my collection but being that it's a couple of more I can't pull them into my head at present.

Good input, man.


Could you give me an idea of what you think better guitar work could flow like? How would you describe that? Any suggested listening?

I think that's the next level I'm trying to get to. I've never been a phenominal guitarist myself, so I find it the hardest trying to convey my ideas to guitar players. Including this one. Plus considering that he writes all the arrangments, I figured if I can effectively guide him, then the songs can make more sense.

I know he has it in him, I just can't seem to really get enough by simply saying, "I like how that band did it".

 

[rayc]

Try any guitarist who uses emotion over speed & technique. Page, Townsend, Lee, Hendrix, Beck etc fro the 60's 70's.
The arrangement issues - why not make a wave of the song & edit out the silly noodlie bits & play it back to him explaining that the sections need to be joined rather than seperated by a bridge.
You could also try slicing up the piece into the various stylistic elements then joining those elements together to demonstrate how they fit each other but not the entire piece as in "These three sep stylistic elements have the makings of three great songs."
Pick any good BAND recording that has a bridge played by the ensemble which demonstrates the role of the bridge (stylistic or key change gradulayy introduced)
Alternately mute the silly bits & have him wail at it with a bluesy improv based on the melody on a new track play it back at him &&&&& the band. there area couple of thise bits so diff instruments could take an opp to extemporize.
Lee, I didn't mention it before but WOW you capture sound well!

 

[LeeRosario]

infinite thank yous for the good information. I really appreciate the comment. I guess I've done it for so long that I forget it's a learned skill.

But more importantly, I really want to try what you're saying here. I figure if I can reinvent my approach to interacting with musicians via my understanding of the historical concept of the music, then I think I can start getting better results.

I think what I'm going to try is make a few different mixes for building purpose. One with just drums, bass and vocals. Then maybe another without the vocals. Then hopefully a "safe" version; meaning, something we can chop up to hell and see if we can put it back together so it conveys it's ideas better.

Plus by what you say, I'm seeing the importance of the bridge and really having a proper tie between parts. Which also has me learning more about how to phrase things creatively in the music.

Again ray, really good advice here.

Try any guitarist who uses emotion over speed & technique. Page, Townsend, Lee, Hendrix, Beck etc fro the 60's 70's.
The arrangement issues - why not make a wave of the song & edit out the silly noodlie bits & play it back to him explaining that the sections need to be joined rather than seperated by a bridge.
You could also try slicing up the piece into the various stylistic elements then joining those elements together to demonstrate how they fit each other but not the entire piece as in "These three sep stylistic elements have the makings of three great songs."
Pick any good BAND recording that has a bridge played by the ensemble which demonstrates the role of the bridge (stylistic or key change gradulayy introduced)
Alternately mute the silly bits & have him wail at it with a bluesy improv based on the melody on a new track play it back at him &&&&& the band. there area couple of thise bits so diff instruments could take an opp to extemporize.
Lee, I didn't mention it before but WOW you capture sound well!

 

[NYMorningstar]

The whole arrangement sounds too compressed and screams for some air. Let the cat outta the box! The guitar is too distorted and the thumping of the DB drum is distracting from overuse. The style the band captures is developing well and they have another nice arrangement here.

 

[LeeRosario]

The whole arrangement sounds too compressed and screams for some air. Let the cat outta the box! The guitar is too distorted and the thumping of the DB drum is distracting from overuse. The style the band captures is developing well and they have another nice arrangement here.

You bring up a very good point. This was a big issue when we got into the mix stage. The original mix was completely uncompressed (how I like it) and the band completely hated it.

I couldn't understand why, but when they showed me some reference material, then I realized what was going on. They showed me songs by Muse and RX Bandits, which are compressed pretty well. But I think more in context.

The songs they showed me was like "wow, this is thick". But what they don't realize is how difficult it is to pull that off in a DAW. Plus the engineers behind that are pretty serious people. The tracks sound like they where mixed on an SSL. Maybe even at Abbey Road, but I'm not too sure about that.

In fact, let me show an example to show what I'm referencing against:


Check out "Hysteria" by Muse Song


Also check out the RX Bandits. songs



Again, the whole point being, "just to show how rediculous these mixes are getting"


I appreciate the honest insight. Let me see if I can go back and listen to these items to see if I hear something different.

 

[NYMorningstar]

I couldn't get either link to work, maybe a major router went down or something because there was trouble even making posts here for awhile. Anyhow, just tell these guys they have their own thing going on and they need to be leaders and not followers. They have their own style and should focus on that and leave the audio to you.

 

[danny83]

Listening through laptop speakers, but it sounded great to me. Very nice sounding mix and the levels seem great. Definitely something I'd listen to at the gym, and you have some interesting arrangement ideas. Keep it up! I'm diggin' it!

 

[LeeRosario]

I couldn't get either link to work, maybe a major router went down or something because there was trouble even making posts here for awhile. Anyhow, just tell these guys they have their own thing going on and they need to be leaders and not followers. They have their own style and should focus on that and leave the audio to you.

Very good point. Hey, I also noticed I was having a problem posting here, too.

 

[LeeRosario]

Listening through laptop speakers, but it sounded great to me. Very nice sounding mix and the levels seem great. Definitely something I'd listen to at the gym, and you have some interesting arrangement ideas. Keep it up! I'm diggin' it!

Thanks man