Speaking of sucking...

  • Thread starter Thread starter macle
  • Start date Start date
Just so you know, I wrote a song 8 years ago called "Let It Suck".
I'm thinking about litigation.

What's with the somber pics? Your faces are completely antipathetical to the mood of your songs. Oh well, I love irony.

Jon
 
A1A2-Hey there! Max thanks you very much. Thanks a lot for checking out the tune, appreciate it!

jjtcorsiar-My dead lawyer's gonna be busy. Irony is our middle name. So, you no likey the pictures or the song?

Macle
 
Well I don't just wanna waste yet another post saying, "you're cool, macle"... but



uh.....














you're cool. :p


This was yet another great recording (although I wasn't as partial to the song itself as I am to Despair and Fingerprints)... The only complaint I had aboot this one was the vocals. They sound very "autotuned". Not that I mind autotune.. :p autotune is my friend.. :cool: But sometimes when it's too "noticeable", then it detracts from the vocals... just my two pence. :p


P.S. Your drums rule this clinic. :D The drums are the number one aspect of the submissions around here that detract from the quality of the mixes,.. but not so in your case. They sound good, they're played well (read "tight"), and they sit well in the mix. And that's consistent throughout all your mixes..... so you get a cookie. :p

WATYF
 
WATYF said:
The only complaint I had aboot this one was the vocals. They sound very "autotuned". Not that I mind autotune.. autotune is my friend.. But sometimes when it's too "noticeable", then it detracts from the vocals... just my two pence.

My golden ears must be failing me because I cant even hear the slightest hint of Autotune...ya know,a lot of people can sing really tight vocals.....especially with layering it makes it even tighter....I wanna hear macle say he used an autotune......I dont wanna believe it!:(
 
Macle,

I've seen this post for days and can't seem to get to your music. Am I doing something wrong. I wanna hear, help :rolleyes: :D
 
Barometer said:
Macle,

I've seen this post for days and can't seem to get to your music. Am I doing something wrong. I wanna hear, help :rolleyes: :D

Read through the whole thread Barometor..I posted 2 alternate sites to download the macle's tune.;)
 
Thanks Kramer, I did try the alternates but didn't get through. It's working this time, WOOHOO!
 
Actually all of a sudden all of the links work for me now. Hmmm...

OH MY! this DOES NOT suck. I'm waiting for the music video already (and that's not meant negatively ;) ). Great recording, great mix. But I guess everyone covered that already. Listening to the rest of the songs now. Man this stuff is incredible, all equally impressive. What great writing. You indeed have my respect Macle, keep up the great work! :D :D :D

Oh I have to add now, just got through the buzz is over, I hope you don't mind, but I have to compare you to Lennon at this point. beautiful...

sorry if it seems like I'm blowing sunshine up your ___, not intentional, I truly dig all of your songs that much :cool:
 
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i *highly* doubt any autotune whatsoever was used. i certainly don't hear any <shrug>. max is golden...she don't need that heezy in her sheezy.

oh btw - i think that the "faces" themsevles are great for the music (pop starish)....true the album shots need to be a tad more colorful...black etc.

macle, have you decided what you are going to name the album yet? I say "Buzz is Over" is a perfect title...dunno if you are into the whole song title is album title thing.

oh, also man..check this out. remember a while back I told you about that white album on white vinyl I got on ebay? well after spending a fortune getting it framed etc, here is how it turned out...it's in a shadowbox, the records themselves are suspended on little hooks (so they are not damaged)...it is kinda 3D looking in person. dunno if you can see the background really, but its like a deep red suede. you should do something like this...one of a kind artwork, made possible by ebay :)

http://www.student.gsu.edu/~whatchett/pics/whitealbum3.jpg
 
Kramer said:
My golden ears must be failing me because I cant even hear the slightest hint of Autotune...ya know,a lot of people can sing really tight vocals.....especially with layering it makes it even tighter....I wanna hear macle say he used an autotune......I dont wanna believe it!:(
Well my ears are far from "golden". :p It could be some kind of heavy compression, vocal layering and/or chorus... or.. something.. I dunno.. But I've heard her vioce in other songs and in this one it sounds more "artificial".

Hhhmmm... I just found Kramer's site with all the macle songs on it... and her voice sounds the exact same way in "All About You". (which I don't think I've heard before) The only reference I've had for her voice is "Despair", and it seems like it sounds different in that one. (more "natural"?) I guess I'll just say I liked her vocal sound on Despair the best and leave it at that... (cause I couldn't tell you what the difference is... :p )

WATYF
 
maybe it's just that despair is her most natural "singing" alltogether.

in all about you, and esp. this one - she is pushing more...more of a gritty sound.

i think i remember hearing macle say before there was some kind of chorus or something that he used on the gritty singing....but i could be wrong...or that could have just been for one song.

we'll wait and let "the man" field this one ;)
 
Well I like the hell out of this song. How did you get the vox to sound that way. It's almost got a "chipmunk" sound...very cool.
I can't comment on the mix 'cause I just got home from doing my second gig of the day and I'm fried......But I do like the song very much.

Hey Macle......I need a drummer. PM me if you might want to help with that or e-mail me if my inbox is full.
steviewondercow@cox.net

And wes480. I have a copy of that album. the best thing to do with it is put it on a good turntable and play it. That's a nice sounding pressing! How much did you give for it?
 
Other than the obligatory "d@mn, macle and max have completely shown me up AGAIN!" feelings...:D

I agree that there is something about the vocal...effects? layering?...that sounds slighly plastic or artificial. I have no idea what it is, so I can't lay my finger on it. Its thick in a way that makes it sounds a bit unreal. Maybe a chorus thickening thats a little too up front? A doubled vocal that is a little too loud? I dunno.

Sounds poppy, though. If that's what you were goin' for you got it. :) It left me feeling a little like I was listening more to the production than to her voice. I was wondering why that nice voice was being covered up.

And now I'm back to hopelessly filing through my mixes to see what comes close to a macle mix...

Take care,
Chris
 
Another great tune, well recorded, mixed, etc etc. What more can I say?

My wife loves it too, so you get two very different POV's here, hence the 5 stars.
 
Ok, I've been putting it off...but I've officially jumped on the macle bandwagon.

Fantastic job!

Slackmaster 2000
 
Lt. Bob said:


And wes480. I have a copy of that album. the best thing to do with it is put it on a good turntable and play it. That's a nice sounding pressing! How much did you give for it?

Lt.Bob - well, I am happy enough listening to it on CD...something about that white vinyl, I just didn't want to play. I thought it would be cooler than a poster...

the record itself cost 108 on ebay. the framing was the pricey part. heh.
 
WATYF, Kramer, Wes, Lt.Bob, Chris- Regarding the vocal sound, I think what you're hearing is mainly a combination of simply the sound of Max's voice combined with (tight) doubling. She has a really high voice, and the tone, and her ability to double almost perfectly, gets a really slick almost artificial sound. Sometimes, when mixing, I would think myself, what's on there?! On Despair, not only is it not doubled, but she's also singing in a much lower register. As far as a "chipmunk" sound, hmmm, not sure what that means. On the backgrounds, too, I'm chirping in there in
falsetto, as well, so......:eek:

Of course, now that you guys point all this out, is it a good thing or not, I don't know!? :confused: On one hand, I've been trying to get a "pro" sound at home, trying to be "slick"...on the other hand, I've been trying desperately to get away from an artificial sound, (and cutting my own throat, apparently, or saving it, not sure...), so...it's been a real struggle...I think, though, many of these songs could have been worse, as far as sounding overly artificial and cheesy...

Macle
 
performance and sound wise...i think it's just right. max's vocals are great, no one is disputing that. As far as the "cheesey" factor...

I think it will be interesting to see how you put the whole thing together as a "package" - I think with the right pictures/colors etc. on the CD itself, there could be a really good satirical effect that you seem to be going for.

If it were my stuff...and esp. knowing that you are going for the more "stripped down" sound maye, on your next album...

I think I would do the album cover, with a *very* colorful, almost cheesy "teen pop" feel to it, background wise (along with a hint of retro...which can also be achieved with the color/hippie thing)...

then I would put your pictures on there (if you don't want pics on the front cover, then put them on the back)...but I would have you guys in black and white. And...with a seemingly expressionless, "out of place" mood going....of course as i mentioned..I'd call the album "buzz is over", or "the buzz...." whichever you like the ring of. So it's like you are in the middle of this "pop" fantasy almost...and the same with your music...you pull it off perfectly - but it isn't neccessarily what you think your true musical identity is. Or that being an artist in 2002 isn't exactly the time period you wish you were a part of, as far as artists go.

Becuase there is definately deep satire to this stuff. Which this song hits on probably more than any other. And there is also a lot of "overprodcution" that to me, is very tongue in cheek. For example the kazoos...(they sound great btw..)

It's a commentary on the state of music...and the state of pop culture. But, it's done while having very enjoyable pop tunes to back it up (irony as you mentioned several times)...and you can obviously hear the artistic triumph behind it. Also the fact that it was recorded at home....gives it an interesting dynamic.

I gather from you that most of this was definitely intentional....but, if it wasn't, my advice would be run with it. I don't think the stuff sounds cheesey at all - I *love* the music...and the lyrics are great. But there is that hint of "intentional cheese" here and there...that comes off perfectly.

That's the kind of sophistication that makes classic rock records. From Sgt. Peppers, to Ok Computer...whatever.

Going at it in that way will also set you up for your next record. When you come out with your drugged out 3 piece rock band effort...no one will say "hey, that's not my macle!" - because if it is presented correctly the first time, then they'll get the uhhhh..."joke" ;)

-wes

p.s- hmm, why do I feel like i just wrote a book report?
 
So, that was about that, now here's a regular reply...

WATYF-Thanks a lot! I agree that Despair and Fingerprints, and some others, are better, this is just sort of a fun piece of whatever. Thanks tons for the cookie on the drums. I've probably put more effort into that then anything...practicing, tuning, micing, trying different rooms, mixing and remixing and remixing and remixing, etc etc etc....drums are the bitch of all bitches (except for singing, that's probably my number one demon). So often, there was pressure to just use loops or drum machines, etc., but, I refused!! So, is the cookie iced molasses!?

Barometer-Wow, thank you very much, all your sunshine,very much appreciated! :D As far as the Lennon comparison, I suppose I don't mind. :rolleyes: Seriously, he's me all time fave, I am worthy not.... Thanks very very much!

Wes-Thanks for the thumb's up on the faces. :) What do you mean "colorful...black"? Buzz Is Over could be good, I've got no problem with song title as album title. I've been thinking "Future Junk", which is from the lyrics of Which Way To The Future. What do you think? Your Beatle White Album, very nice! Can I have it? :)

Lt.Bob-Thanks alot for checking out the song, glad you like it! You need a drummer, and you want me to help you find one? Or are you asking me? :D Wow, I've never been called a drummer before, how cool (or, really, I guess that's an insult :p ) Seriously, though, I'm way too busy, but I sure do appreciate that you would ask me! Maybe check with WATYF or Eric? Thanks again.

Chris-Hey Chris, how are ya? Thanks a lot, man. I answered the vocal thing above, but I know what you mean about listening to the production instead of the voice...was sort of going for that on this one, but, still a good point. Thanks again!

a modifed dog-Alright, thanks for the stars!! Always fun to get stars (and my girlfriend is especially happy, cuz she was sort of bummed before that the ones she sings didn't get stars :( ) So, thanks for that, and say, "Hi and thanks!" to your wife, always great to get the female point of view. :)

Slackmaster 2000- Alright, glad you finally jumped on, don't know what you were waiting for!? :D Thanks!!

Macle

http://www.angelfire.com/rock2/3songs
 
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