"Paranoid Android" Radiohead cover - looking for a singer.

[Bubba po]

This track is virtually completed, but for the lack of lead vocals, so apart from your welcome criticisms, I'd like to know if any potential Thom Yorkes are interested in helping me finish off the project? I just can't hit the notes.

My son: Drums, percussion, electric piano, string synth, acoustic guitar.
Me: Electric guitars, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals, percussion, string synth.





Updated mix with some e.q. tweaking and more backing vocals

 

[NotThatBright]

Can't help with singing and I don't know the song, but you guys did a hell of a job on the music.

 

[Bubba po]

Can't help with singing and I don't know the song, but you guys did a hell of a job on the music.

Well thanks, NotThatBright. That's very kind of you to say so. I'm a bit pleased with it myself.

 

[Bubba po]

I'm just gutted that I can't finish it off myself.

 

[gecko zzed]

It's a great song, and you've done a wonderful job on the backing . . . enough to tempt me . . . but sadly it is way too high for me. My vocals are more your neo-brutal waits type.

 

[Armistice]

Nice bubba. Very nice. I'm going to have a listen to that album in the morning now...

If you thought it worked with a wavery baritone I'd give it a shot...

There's an occasional timing thing there you might need to look at... either the stick is occasionally off the beat, or the music is occasionally off the stick, if you follow me, not sure which way round you've done it. If the stick is real, a quantize will fix it, if it's programmed, that's a bigger problem.

 

[Bubba po]

Nice bubba. Very nice. I'm going to have a listen to that album in the morning now...

If you thought it worked with a wavery baritone I'd give it a shot...

There's an occasional timing thing there you might need to look at... either the stick is occasionally off the beat, or the music is occasionally off the stick, if you follow me, not sure which way round you've done it. If the stick is real, a quantize will fix it, if it's programmed, that's a bigger problem.

Thanks, Armistice. Yes, I'm aware of the slight timing oddities. How do you quantize a real drum track? I would want to keep the real instrument sounds.

 

[Bubba po]

It's a great song, and you've done a wonderful job on the backing . . . enough to tempt me . . . but sadly it is way too high for me. My vocals are more your neo brutal waits type

Ta very much Gecko. About five years ago I could have attempted this myself, but over the last few years my range has got worse. I've lost notes in the lower register and my falsetto's almost completely gone.

 

[Pinky]

Thanks, Armistice. Yes, I'm aware of the slight timing oddities. How do you quantize a real drum track? I would want to keep the real instrument sounds.

You can't quantize 'real' drums, it would cause them to pitch bend slightly as they're slowed/sped up. If the timing was close, it may not be enough pitch change to notice. I've done split and drag, rejoin on live drum tracks in the past with good success, but it's time intensive.

 

[Pinky]

I'm very familiar with the original and really like the performance of your cover (although IMO it follows the original too closely and doesn't offer much other than the 'I can play this too' cover band effect).

While listening it struck me that this would be perfect closing credits music for a movie or background music for a commercial. Get it BMI registered and in the hands of an advertising agent. [and of course Radiohead will get their cut as well]

 

[Bubba po]

I've done split and drag, rejoin on live drum tracks in the past with good success, but it's time intensive.

Yes, I've already done some of that on the track, perhaps I need to work on it a bit more. Thanks.

There's a bit where my bassplaying is slightly off the beat too. There're always little niggles, aren't there?

 

[Pinky]

Yes, I've already done some of that on the track, perhaps I need to work on it a bit more. Thanks.

There's a bit where my bassplaying is slightly off the beat too. There're always little niggles, aren't there?

I didn't find there to be enough timing issues to warrant addressing them. You would need to really nitpick to even find them. The performance is very solid.

 

[Bubba po]

I'm very familiar with the original and really like the performance of your cover (although IMO it follows the original too closely and doesn't offer much other than the 'I can play this too' cover band effect).

While listening it struck me that this would be perfect closing credits music for a movie or background music for a commercial. Get it BMI registered and in the hands of an advertising agent. [and of course Radiohead will get their cut as well]

I agree. My son was the instigator of this project and it was partly his and partly my intention to get it as close as possible. My reasons for doing this song this way are because I learn a hell of a lot doing it, and I listen very, very hard and critically to my subject material. I see it as a bit like using references of my favourite mixes when mixing and mastering. Hopefully I'll gain the transferrable skills to improve my own songs from this exercise. . I never thought about the commercial possibilities - I never thought it would turn out half so well.

 

[Armistice]

You might have to just split and drag stuff around - sort of depends how you have the drums recorded though, as to success. Move the main snare and then you have the overheads to worry about etc. There weren't many, so if it can be done at all, it shouldn't be too much work...

 

[Bubba po]

You might have to just split and drag stuff around - sort of depends how you have the drums recorded though, as to success. Move the main snare and then you have the overheads to worry about etc. There weren't many, so if it can be done at all, it shouldn't be too much work...

I've worked on it today and I've at least got the dodgy first couple of bars fixed, so thanks for that kick up the arse
. Also the transition out of the "ooh, aaahhh" dreamy bit, where the kick was a smidgin late. It's not too bad if you move everything at once. There's at least as much kick in the overheads as there is on the kick track, and taking it out has a very detrimental effect to the sound.

I've hooked a singer on Facebook, he's coming over Thursday night. Hopefully he's not a total chancer who, when he opens his gob for the first take, emits a noise like a castrated moose. I wouldn't know where to put myself.

 

[NotThatBright]

I've worked on it today and I've at least got the dodgy first couple of bars fixed, so thanks for that kick up the arse
. Also the transition out of the "ooh, aaahhh" dreamy bit, where the kick was a smidgin late. It's not too bad if you move everything at once. There's at least as much kick in the overheads as there is on the kick track, and taking it out has a very detrimental effect to the sound.

I've hooked a singer on Facebook, he's coming over Thursday night. Hopefully he's not a total chancer who, when he opens his gob for the first take, emits a noise like a castrated moose. I wouldn't know where to put myself.

You just better hope he doesn't show up wearing a bondage mask and holding handcuffs!

Wait... you didn't say craigslist. Yeah, you should be fine.

 

[Bubba po]

You just better hope he doesn't show up wearing a bondage mask and holding handcuffs!

Wait... you didn't say craigslist. Yeah, you should be fine.

LOL. Bring out the gimp.

 

[Pinky]

The gimp's sleeping.

 

[Armistice]

Next track: Let Down.

One of their finest, I reckon..... especially the chaotic middle bit sequencing back into the verse. Chills!

BTW, I've never had any problems at all moving bass notes around when I *ahem* occasionally get the timing wrong. It's usually a pretty simple fix.

Look forward to hearing the finished product, complete with gimp caterwauling a la Thom... I imagine you'll be beating him, saying "Emote more ya bastid!!!" if he doesn't deliver...

 

[Bubba po]

Next track: Let Down.

One of their finest, I reckon..... especially the chaotic middle bit sequencing back into the verse. Chills!

I like Let Down, but my second favourite track on the album is "Airbag". Always wanted to do that one.

Look forward to hearing the finished product, complete with gimp caterwauling a la Thom... I imagine you'll be beating him, saying "Emote more ya bastid!!!" if he doesn't deliver...

LOL. Got my big stick at the ready! I'm worried about the singing, actually. If he does an impression of Thom, that would be as wrong as sounding nothing like him at all. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.