The Counting House

[Xeries]

I listened to this song on my way to golf today and enjoyed it so I thought I'd post it here. Hard to decide what to post and don't want to go to the well too often. The guitars are a bit too busy and I'm thinking of remixing.

Fender Classical, Two Washburn steel string cutaways, Honer recorder, Yamaha PSR 510 drums, Roland XP-30 bass patch, not sure which.

I did all the parts myself except an additional lead acoustic git by Ton Sams.

Hope you like it.

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=5933221&q=hi

 

[Rokket]

I normally won't say anything about vocals because I am a terrible singer, but the vocals on this are its weak point. The lyrics aren't all that either, but if they were sung well, you may be able to get around them.

Instrumentally, I loved the intro, and the music under the vocals was very good. I just wasn't too keen on the vocals.

 

[Xeries]

I normally won't say anything about vocals because I am a terrible singer, but the vocals on this are its weak point. The lyrics aren't all that either, but if they were sung well, you may be able to get around them.

Instrumentally, I loved the intro, and the music under the vocals was very good. I just wasn't too keen on the vocals.

Can't win em all. Here are the lyrics that you don't like. Thanks for the review.

“The Queen”
By Wig Nelson c. 2007


The queen is in the counting house – the princesses can’t sleep.

They hear the counting very loud – and pray the gold to reap.

Can she buy her way to heaven? Has she lied way to hell?

Will she ever be forgiven? I can only wish her well?



The princesses are bargaining and digging heels in deep.

Soon they’ll lose the only thing they’re better off to keep.

Can they buy their way to freedom? Have they lied their way to hell?

Will the queen be there to lead them with another mother’s spell?



The jingle jangle echoes as the hungry babies cry.

The counting drowning out the sound of mother’s milk run dry.

Will she need a soul to borrow or another lie to tell?

Will she ever feel the sorrow of the ones who served her well?


The queen is building barricades – a legacy of lies.

Hoping to elude them as the evil arrow flies..

Will she buy her way to heaven? Has she lied her way to hell?

Shall she ever be forgiven? I can only wish her well.



The princesses are circling above the queen below.

They may not leave her anything to pay the boatman’s toll?

Can they buy their way to freedom? Have lied their way to hell?

Will the queen be there to feed them? I can only wish them well.


The queen has nearly counted out and soon will lock away –

The coffers of her counting house to count another day.

Will she buy her way to Heaven? Has she lied her way to hell?

Shall she ever be forgiven? I can only wish her well.

 

[Chili]

Yeah, the music is great. I enjoyed listening. The vocals can be brought up a little, but not bad, imho.

Lots of good playing here....

Cheers,

 

[Rokket]

Can't win em all. Here are the lyrics that you don't like. Thanks for the review.

“The Queen”
By Wig Nelson c. 2007


The queen is in the counting house – the princesses can’t sleep.

They hear the counting very loud – and pray the gold to reap.

Can she buy her way to heaven? Has she lied way to hell?

Will she ever be forgiven? I can only wish her well?



The princesses are bargaining and digging heels in deep.

Soon they’ll lose the only thing they’re better off to keep.

Can they buy their way to freedom? Have they lied their way to hell?

Will the queen be there to lead them with another mother’s spell?



The jingle jangle echoes as the hungry babies cry.

The counting drowning out the sound of mother’s milk run dry.

Will she need a soul to borrow or another lie to tell?

Will she ever feel the sorrow of the ones who served her well?


The queen is building barricades – a legacy of lies.

Hoping to elude them as the evil arrow flies..

Will she buy her way to heaven? Has she lied her way to hell?

Shall she ever be forgiven? I can only wish her well.



The princesses are circling above the queen below.

They may not leave her anything to pay the boatman’s toll?

Can they buy their way to freedom? Have lied their way to hell?

Will the queen be there to feed them? I can only wish them well.


The queen has nearly counted out and soon will lock away –

The coffers of her counting house to count another day.

Will she buy her way to Heaven? Has she lied her way to hell?

Shall she ever be forgiven? I can only wish her well.

It's a well written song, actually. I think it's more in the delivery. I have a couple songs that I did that I sang (which is terrible, trust me) that were pretty flat and dead. I had a friend sing them and the difference was night and day. I didn't keep those, or I would post an A/B comparison for you.

 

[Xeries]

Bump Bump!

Only two people respond to this song? I thought it was a bit better than that. Play it on the guitar. It's a really fun progression if you do the pull-offs and give it the vibrato it deserves.

Maybe a bit too produced for your taste. Perhaps a minimalist version is in order.

One person thought it was good. The other liked the song, but not my voice.

I know it's a bit long. What would you suggest, short of "throw it out?"

How about combining verses and ditching a chorus or two?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[true-eurt]

I really love the intro...the playing...the arrangement...the lyrics...the voice too.

It is long...but I don't mind long songs, if I like em. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is one of my favs!!

The flute is haunting...

The guitar emphasis at 1:46 ...4:44

I like the blend of Mystical-Classical-Folk with a twist of Easy Rock and a Dusting of Blue

The recording sounds fine to me too.

 

[DavidK]

It's a good song and has a good vibe. I dont mind the vocals at all.

Personally, I would ditch the drums. All I can really hear is the snare, and its flat and dead. Dig the flute.

My only other nit woud be that sometimes the geetars could be a hair tighter. Not the licks, the rhythmic stuff. Overall, its got a nice 70s, Jethro Tull meets folk music vibe.

 

[Xeries]

I really love the intro...the playing...the arrangement...the lyrics...the voice too.

It is long...but I don't mind long songs, if I like em. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is one of my favs!!

The flute is haunting...

The guitar emphasis at 1:46 ...4:44

I like the blend of Mystical-Classical-Folk with a twist of Easy Rock and a Dusting of Blue

The recording sounds fine to me too.

Thanks for the kind review, True,

I'm glad you think the flute or recorder is haunting. This is from my haunting period of Mysitical-Classical-Folk.

I remember you mentioning Ghost Ship's Parade - you really do like long songs.

 

[Xeries]

It's a good song and has a good vibe. I dont mind the vocals at all.

Personally, I would ditch the drums. All I can really hear is the snare, and its flat and dead. Dig the flute.

My only other nit woud be that sometimes the geetars could be a hair tighter. Not the licks, the rhythmic stuff. Overall, its got a nice 70s, Jethro Tull meets folk music vibe.

Thanks, David,

Yeah, that's good advice to ditch the drums. I was a bit stumped as always. I tried to think of what barroque period drums would sound like. Maybe just a tambourine might do the job. I remember that Ringo used only a tam on "Hide Your Love Away."

The progression on the nylon guitar is fun to play with the pull-offs and vibrato. The steel strings step on it a bit and I think that's what you're hearing. Thanks for listening.

 

[ido1957]

Vocals could come up a bit in this, otherwise the mix sounds great. The lyrics are quite good - olde English theme to them - cool... The acoustic instruments recreate the old fashioned medieval well. The drum is as mentioned a bit stiff and could be taken out and/or replaced by a tam.

 

[Xeries]

Vocals could come up a bit in this, otherwise the mix sounds great. The lyrics are quite good - olde English theme to them - cool... The acoustic instruments recreate the old fashioned medieval well. The drum is as mentioned a bit stiff and could be taken out and/or replaced by a tam.

Thanks for the listen, ido. I'll bring the vocals up as you suggest when my new equipment arrives. I'm dead in the water at the moment.

Glad you like the lyrics. I feel they are some of my best.

It's unfortunate that many people can relate to them.

 

[joeym]

Really nice song, I love the lyrics, the guitar work, the flute, but most of all I find your voice haunting! Olde english countryside mood, laid back! Not being especially good technically, I tend to listen to the song first and then the recording. If the song's good you can do lots with it....this is definitely good!

Cheers
Joey

 

[Xeries]

Really nice song, I love the lyrics, the guitar work, the flute, but most of all I find your voice haunting! Olde english countryside mood, laid back! Not being especially good technically, I tend to listen to the song first and then the recording. If the song's good you can do lots with it....this is definitely good!

Cheers
Joey

Thanks, Joey. I enjoyed your new tune also. Bring that kick up a tad.

 

[joeym]

will do!

 

[eyema_believer]

I like it!

In fact, I'm gonna go buy me a recorder... Who needs a weird synth patch of some pipe when you can get one of those for ten bucks?? Heck ya!

Peace!

~Shawn

 

[XLR]

Very nice. I agree with David to ditch the drums. A tambourine (real one) on the backbeat would work in place of the snare IMO. Guitars sound very good in tone, playing and panning. Not too busy at all. Cool flute.