Sappy Balad

[PhilGood]

Ugh! I don't know why I'm posting this for review when I'm not happy with it, but I am still mixing and need objective viewpoints. I know I've got to redo the lead vocals and the guitarist I brought in to do the intro and main solos (I don't solo) didn't know what to write. I may can the both of them. All the other instruments and all vocals are me "by my lonesome".

Brief note: I actually wrote and recorded this song 12 years ago after the worst thing to ever happen to me suddenly walked back into my life, and it probably sounds like it's from that time period. I decided recently to re-record it "full out" and dedicate it to her!

Why, you ask? Well 'cause the bitch showed up again and got my head all confused and then all hell broke loose.

The song is called "7 Years" because of the first event. She and I broke up, she got married and divorced and after 7 years contacted me again but wasn't receptive to the relationship succeeding.

So 12 years after I wrote this - Wham! There she is again!

So the song should probably be re-written as 20 years, but I like 7 better.

Anyway, have at it! Tell me what could be better, what is off, and what I should change.

Thanks,

PhilGood

 

[RAMI]

I love this tune, man. It has a mix of a modern sound with an older feel to it, but not dated. Something about it reminds of Coverdale-era Deep Purple. Pretty good mix, too. I got nothing to criticise. Can always tell when a tune comes from the heart as opposed to just trying to make up something that sounds cool. Not sappy at all.

Good stuff...It's a PhilGood song.

 

[PhilGood]

I just listened with fresh ears.

Something about the solos just doesn't fit. I almost think it'd be better empty on the intro. The middle one is acceptable. I also gotta tight up the first verse vocals.

 

[RAMI]

You're welcome.

 

[PhilGood]

You're welcome.

Oh, sorry! Thank you!!!

I've heard your mixes, so coming from you that's a real compliment! I like your stuff Rami!

 

[RAMI]

Thanx Phil...I was just teasing you. Being the sarcastic prick I am.

I do like the tune alot.

 

[PhilGood]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to RAMI again.

 

[CIRO]

Hi, Philgood!

Beautifull song, very good Drums, Bass and Acoustic guitar playing, sound and mix ( great acoustic gtr sound ).

About Eletric guitar (sound, not performance,which is great), I will give a personal opinion:
while drum/bass/ac gtr are "close" and with a good pressure in mix,it seems to me eletric guitar is "far" (room or reverb effect on mix, don´t know) and without same punch. But not a "compression", perhaps an "eq" or "mic" issue (is a miked amp guitar?).To my taste, the tone is a little thin ,without definition on mids.
And Too low in mix.

Voice :good performance , very good singer!
(only more ~2 DBs and little adjustments on eq/comp can help on vox too)

Ciro

My songs here, thanks!
http://www.soundclick.com/openstation

 

[true-eurt]

You have a heart-grabbing voice Phil. I love this song. I am going to download when you finish tweaking~!!!....if you don't mind anyway.

I would love to hear the vox come up just a bit. They need to be showcased a bit more.

Volume on right panned instruments could come up a tad. Just my preference.

The guitars sound fine to my ears.

I like what you do with the drums, but the popping snare sounds a little disassociated with the rest and a bit boxy? Perhaps you wanted this?

I love your tom rolls and the cymbals are excellent!!

Crap, after rereading this, it sounds like I am ripping on your tune!!

I'm not meaning to...I think it is great!! Besides, what do I know?!!

You have a lot of talent Mr Good.

See me....
Phil me.....
touch me.........

 

[PhilGood]

Hi, Philgood!

Beautifull song, very good Drums, Bass and Acoustic guitar playing, sound and mix ( great acoustic gtr sound ).

About Eletric guitar (sound, not performance,which is great), I will give a personal opinion:
while drum/bass/ac gtr are "close" and with a good pressure in mix,it seems to me eletric guitar is "far" (room or reverb effect on mix, don´t know) and without same punch. But not a "compression", perhaps an "eq" or "mic" issue (is a miked amp guitar?).To my taste, the tone is a little thin ,without definition on mids.
And Too low in mix.

Voice :good performance , very good singer!
(only more ~2 DBs and little adjustments on eq/comp can help on vox too)

Ciro

My songs here, thanks!
http://www.soundclick.com/openstation

CIRO!!!

Great to hear from you man! I tend to agree with you on the guitar sound, especially the leads. I'm trying to hide the solos until my friend can write something that fits. The rhytmn guitar is miced with a ribbon on one speaker and a GLS ES-57 on the other. The ribbon sounds fatter to me so I should pump that up. I do have some echo on the tracks. Maybe that should go.

It all becomes a balancing act at this point.

 

[PhilGood]

True, you were the one person I wanted most to review this song. I need a woman's perspective. I was counting on you tremendously!

Thank you!

You have a heart-grabbing voice Phil. I love this song. I am going to download when you finish tweaking~!!!....if you don't mind anyway.

It would be an honor to be in your collection! ...When it's finished!

I would love to hear the vox come up just a bit. They need to be showcased a bit more.

Volume on right panned instruments could come up a tad. Just my preference.

The guitars sound fine to my ears.

Well, I just re-did the vocals tonight and on this mix they seem too loud and the backing instruments disappear. I didn't want to, but I'll post it anyway and you can tell me if I'm getting closer.

The panning on the right is due to the fact that my left ear is my bad ear. My old guitarist cranked his amp to 10 and was always on my left. I have to have people check balance for me all the time.

I like what you do with the drums, but the popping snare sounds a little disassociated with the rest and a bit boxy? Perhaps you wanted this?

I'm pretty sure that has more to do with the room I recorded in. Pretty dead! I couldn't get the sound from the bottom head without micing it, and I didn't like it. I have a way to make the boxiness go away! I'll make a note of that.

I love your tom rolls and the cymbals are excellent!!

Crap, after rereading this, it sounds like I am ripping on your tune!!

I'm not meaning to...I think it is great!! Besides, what do I know?!!

You have a lot of talent Mr Good.

See me....
Phil me.....
touch me.........

No, it doesn't sound like you're ripping the tune. You're giving honest comments and that's what I need!

I'm counting on you to tell me if the emotions are being convayed properly! If they're not, then I'm not doing my job properly! I want you to be able to believe this might be about you from an old sweetheart!

Thanks again True! Oh... and just call me Phil.

Good is just an 'honorary' title that some feel I have earned.

Glad your on board with it!

 

[rayc]

The philgood song of the year!
I agree about the intro solo. It has merit but a) sounds grafted on & b) would take too much work to "fit".
For the 1st minute or so I go click/crackle sounds in my L ear. An artifact of MP3/streaming compression?
Nice song &, as Rami said, sounds real. Good recording & perfromances. On a personal taste level I'd change the solo tone to something more organic but the line & tone work very well as is.
Good digs cobber!

 

[PhilGood]

The philgood song of the year!
I agree about the intro solo. It has merit but a) sounds grafted on & b) would take too much work to "fit".
For the 1st minute or so I go click/crackle sounds in my L ear. An artifact of MP3/streaming compression?
Nice song &, as Rami said, sounds real. Good recording & perfromances. On a personal taste level I'd change the solo tone to something more organic but the line & tone work very well as is.
Good digs cobber!

Ah! The crackeling sounds. I've been debating that! The basis of the song is in 6/8, but the "turntable" drum intro is played in 12/4 across it. That's intentional. (basically 4 across 6) I thought maybe it would be neat to be part of the verse pattern, but it might be too much with all else that's going on. Maybe if I removed the vinyl VST pluggin at that section it would fit better.

The solos's WILL be redone even if I have to brave playing them myself and be simple. This song really isn't a showcase for a guitarist.

Thanks for the input!

 

[true-eurt]

True, you were the one person I wanted most to review this song. I need a woman's perspective. I was counting on you tremendously!

Thank you!

Thank you Phil! Your song is #1 hit material, in my blatant, loud opinion.

It would be an honor to be in your collection! ...When it's finished!

Great!! I am honored that you are honored!!

Well, I just re-did the vocals tonight and on this mix they seem too loud and the backing instruments disappear. I didn't want to, but I'll post it anyway and you can tell me if I'm getting closer.

Man, your voice is so good, so very good. I can't hear enough of this. I am going to crank it up in the morning!!!....

...the harmonies on the chorus are just on the edge of too loud.

The panning on the right is due to the fact that my left ear is my bad ear. My old guitarist cranked his amp to 10 and was always on my left. I have to have people check balance for me all the time.

I have been wondering about my own hearing, by not hearing what some of the guys hear, or hearing something totally different.

I'm pretty sure that has more to do with the room I recorded in. Pretty dead! I couldn't get the sound from the bottom head without micing it, and I didn't like it. I have a way to make the boxiness go away! I'll make a note of that.

Even if you can't change it, it won't ruin anything. I only dislike the sound in a few places. Mainly the intro.

No, it doesn't sound like you're ripping the tune. You're giving honest comments and that's what I need!

I'm counting on you to tell me if the emotions are being convayed properly! If they're not, then I'm not doing my job properly! I want you to be able to believe this might be about you from an old sweetheart!

Thanks again True!

Glad your on board with it!

Oh yes, the emotion is there Phil. It brings a lot of emotion out in me too. Listening to the lyrics, your voice, the instruments and knowing the story behind it...wow, it all comes togather as a journey, I think all of us have traveled at some time in our life. If an old sweetheart had penned me something like this and sang it the way you do...well....he wouldn't be an old sweetheart anymore!!

I would keep the guitar the way it is. I am not hearing what the others are I guess. I think the lead compliments the emotion you are conveying. It is dramatic. Your heart obviously is feeling this.

I hope your lady realizes just how loved she is and stays with you....if not, then I hope one day you'll meet a lady worthy of this kind of love.

True

P.S. I was wondering. Is the sharkdive, something you are going to do Oct 7th?

 

[PhilGood]

I hope your lady realizes just how loved she is and stays with you....if not, then I hope one day you'll meet a lady worthy of this kind of love.

True

P.S. I was wondering. Is the sharkdive, something you are going to do Oct 7th?

Well, that's kind of the problem. She will never be with me again. She is married to an abusive guy and that's where she chooses to be. This song is about me healing and moving on, as the last verse indicates. She hurt me very badly, but I have found a wonderful woman who has replaced her.

I'm married now too and trying desperatley to put old feelings behind me. The best way I can think of is through music. I don't want her back, I just want to deal with the feelings left behind. There was no goodbye.

The shark dive is another adventure for me, like skydiving was at one point. It's a way to live life as full as I can. I don't want life to be a boring, mundane event.

Guess I'll find out October 7th!

 

[true-eurt]

Well, that's kind of the problem. She will never be with me again. She is married to an abusive guy and that's where she chooses to be. This song is about me healing and moving on, as the last verse indicates. She hurt me very badly, but I have found a wonderful woman who has replaced her.

I'm married now too and trying desperatley to put old feelings behind me. The best way I can think of is through music. I don't want her back, I just want to deal with the feelings left behind. There was no goodbye.

The shark dive is another adventure for me, like skydiving was at one point. It's a way to live life as full as I can. I don't want life to be a boring, mundane event.

Guess I'll find out October 7th!

Hey Phil! I am happy to hear this is about putting it all behind you. I think I got confused in your first post. All the different years and such.

Music is the way, I can deal with the things life sends my way too. If not for the heartsounds, I don't know where I would be...what I would do.

I am also happy, you do have a woman worthy of your love.

I am sorry to hear your ex lady is staying in an abusive relationship.

I hope this song takes you to the place of healing, as you want and need.

I don't want to Shark dive, but I want to surf...could have the same results though.

I love this song!!!

 

[rayc]

Phil,
I've used iZotope Vinyl on a couple of pieces. Perhaps the compression etc for MP3 took away some of the subtlty of the effect. It did appear a little too random to be a relic effect. Maybe re-apply it at another setting that hints bluntly for the MP3. If you've not tried iZotope Vinyl it's a freebie.
I like the idea of aging this song in parts. It reinforces the narrative - did you use different settings for different eras of the relationship? Perhaps crossing the rhythm is a little too complex & obscure for cloth eared folk such as myself. Interesting that the effect was L oriented.
It's a top song so nuture it some more. My failure to pickup the intent of the crackle is another nail in MP3 & streaming fidelity for me. I'd love to hear this as a nice FAT wave file.

 

[PhilGood]

Phil,
I've used iZotope Vinyl on a couple of pieces. Perhaps the compression etc for MP3 took away some of the subtlty of the effect. It did appear a little too random to be a relic effect. Maybe re-apply it at another setting that hints bluntly for the MP3. If you've not tried iZotope Vinyl it's a freebie.
I like the idea of aging this song in parts. It reinforces the narrative - did you use different settings for different eras of the relationship? Perhaps crossing the rhythm is a little too complex & obscure for cloth eared folk such as myself. Interesting that the effect was L oriented.
It's a top song so nuture it some more. My failure to pickup the intent of the crackle is another nail in MP3 & streaming fidelity for me. I'd love to hear this as a nice FAT wave file.

iZotope Vinyl. That's exactly what I used. I wanted that drum intro to sound like an old, warped scratchy record. I should probably just have it at the beginning and then not anywhere else in the song.

I gotta stop rushing on mixdown. I was trying to get this to a guild today. I need to take my time.

 

[true-eurt]

"Call me up just to hear my voice"....priceless.

Speaking of voices...I have fell in love with yours.

I have been listening Phil. I really love the drums on this. Your timing and feel is awesome. The tone of snare is even starting to grow on me. If you change it, I will be thinking...whoooa...don't do that!!!
I love the tom rolls.

Sometimes it may take several listens, for the whole of a song to really sink into my soul. This one is such a keeper...my heart is on fire. Wow. As I said before...#1 material...real heart stuff!!

I still think the axe should stay the way it is too. The axe and the vocals are the heart of the song. The vox tells the story with emotion of your heart, while the axe is a witness to that emotion, an musical amen if you will. They seem to embody one another. The song will not be the same, if you take one from the other.

I wanted to mention the acoustic. I wonder what it would sound like, if it were to be upped just half a db(if possible)...is that the correct term?

The drums are the seduction, that keeps one grounded to it. The bass has that deep penetrating vibration, echoing of the shadow of the past. All of the other accompaniment instrumentation adorns the whole of the song, setting it off as the masterpiece it is....this is only my opinion, but if I were a rich bitch, I would back you on this one!!

I keep forgetting to mention the intro...is that a synth or the guitar making the watery sound?

I also hear a flute later. Is that a virtual one ?

True

 

[XLR]

I like the rhythm of the guitars and the way the vocal fits against it. Vocal could come up a little - very nice vocal performance and sound. Dunno about the vinyl effect... I'd remove that I think. Good guitar tone. Well done song.

Tim