you wrote:
1) The vocals need to be more consistent in volume. Use a compressor wisely and keep them louder in the mix. As is, the quieter lines get burried by the music, and the parts that are sung louder are sitting about right. I'm guessing you set the levels so the loud parts don't get out of hand, but instead use the compressor or ride the fader.
We used compressors. Was a fast mix I did. It could also be the quality of the mp3. Mp3 degrades significantly.
2) Too much reverb on the vocals. With all the other instruments sitting in your face, (dry), having the vocal dripping in reverb makes it sound like a band in my living room with the singer at the end of the block. A good way to fix this, is to use a group reverb for vocals, guitar, and snare at the end mix, rather than each
individually.
(Which song are you referring to?) We used effects on everything.
Guitars, vocals, bass, drums, you name it......
3) The picked bass sound on the 4th song needs some help. It sounds like it was recorded direct without a direct box. Either that or the EQ was shelved in a nasty way.
(The picked bass sound we were after was intentional. We used a direct box. There is alot to making music I understand. But there are things that people on the outside do not understand what we are trying to do or say. Sometimes the overall effect is lost.
4) The songs themselves arent bad, but aren't particularly memorable either. My favourite was the Spanish (I think) one. It had a cool guitar riff, with a nice tone, (reminded me of Shadowy Men), and the horn arrangements did a great job of hammering that melody home. The more you can do to hook the listener in this manner the better off you'll be. I had that simple melody from Hewletts Daughter by Grandaddy stuck in my head for most of last year because they would sing a melody, then drive it home with the keyboards.
(I appreciate the feedback and your consideration. I was wondering if you would mind checking out one more tune of mine?
If it's not to much bother, please check out a tune called
"Chasin' Dragons". I would appreciate your feedback on this one as well.
Thanks.