The Cracks tracks online.

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The Cracks

New member
I am a Baltimore area singer-songwriter that calls
my "band" (me) The Cracks. I've posted four of my songs on my
website. They are mp3 and feel free to download them for free. I used the most simple recording technology (digital tape recorder) to record three of the songs and I am now using a Tascam US122 (on the final song). The four songs make up the "Rough Cuts" EP. I am low budget lo-fi. I like to think that I am taking minimalist rock of bands like the White Stripes one step further.

Anyway, thanks for reading this. If you'd care to listen, my web sites are:

The Cracks (www.soundclick.com/thecracks)

The Cracks (www.audiostreet.net/thecracks)

Feel free to make any comments you'd like. I'm just happy that anybody listens.

Thank you.
 
The trick around these parts, if you "just want people to listen" is to pretend that you are looking for advice on how to improve your sound. Just asking people to listen for the sake of listening isn't really what HR.com is about. However, being the nice guy that I am, I decided to listen to "I knew you when." It sounds like you might fall asleep mid song at any point. Or possibly that you recorded the vocals at 4 in the morning after a long night out drinking. Get some life in the vocals and it will sound better. Also, kill about 80% of the reverb on the vocals, so it doesn't sound so bathroomy. Actually, same goes for the guitar. Too reverby, I think. And I love reverb (usually).
 
That's funny, here is how this area is advertised:

"Do you have something worth listening to? Convert it to MP3, post it to your Web site, and tell us where we can listen to it!"

So, what you may think this place "is about," isn't what the web site creators believe this place "is about".

Hey, you didn't like the songs, that's okay with me. I really do apprciate you listening. But, please, don't give me a raft of sh*t about a post I made. After all, is it really that important?
 
The Cracks said:
yap, yap, yap......
...
...
...Hey, you didn't like the songs, that's okay with me. I really do apprciate you listening. But, please, don't give me a raft of sh*t about a post I made. After all, is it really that important?
Click to expand...

AH didn't give you a raft of sh*t. You want to see a raft of sh*t???? We can give you a raft of sh*t........

He was trying to be helpful, and was talking about the spirit of the forum.

Now, I would suggest getting a little time (and posts) under your belt here before you go sprouting off and telling other members what they can and cannot say.
 
Well I listened to "I'm calling".

Not a bad song at all. Sounds very Springsteen-Nebraska-ish to me :) But that's probably coz I'm old.

It's very lo-fi alright. Works on the vox, but that guitar would sound way better recorded and/or EQd so that it didn't sound like a cheap guitar playing through some sort of tube (if you know what I mean). Too "middy" and overall too much noise that detracts from a great song.

If you retracked this you could turn it into something great.

BTW don't worry too much about the rights or wrongs here. But best not to slag off people replying either :) The purpose of this forum is a little ill-defined, as many will attest. But there seems to be a bit of a culture that kind-of works... You do get honest feedback, which is fanfreakintastic, and far more useful than some family member going "That's all very nice little aspiring." Remember: pros understand the difference between criticizing the work and criticizing the artist.

Anyway. Thanks for the listen. If you work up the song some more will be interested to hear it.

Good luck
aspiring
 
The Cracks said:
That's funny, here is how this area is advertised:

"Do you have something worth listening to? Convert it to MP3, post it to your Web site, and tell us where we can listen to it!"

So, what you may think this place "is about," isn't what the web site creators believe this place "is about".

Hey, you didn't like the songs, that's okay with me. I really do apprciate you listening. But, please, don't give me a raft of sh*t about a post I made. After all, is it really that important?
Click to expand...

OK, Fair enough. sorry about my raft of shit. I was just going based on my experience and observations in this forum. I was honestly trying to help you get more traffic to your songs. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less. Nobody really drinks Klah in the Dragon cave either (except for possibly Gbondo9), despite the description of it. But you do have a point.

Actually, I like the songs. I never said I didn't. I was just giving some feedback on the recording quality, techniques, etc. - essentially a suggestion to drink a cup of coffee (or Klah), turn down the reverb, and retrack the vocals, and it'll be a nice sounding song.

Sorry I offended you. Good luck, and hope you stick around.
 
andyhix said:
OK, Fair enough. sorry about my raft of shit. I was just going based on my experience and observations in this forum. I was honestly trying to help you get more traffic to your songs. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less. Nobody really drinks Klah in the Dragon cave either (except for possibly Gbondo9), despite the description of it. But you do have a point.
Click to expand...

Yeah The Cracks, you should cut down the crack for a while
Just j/k :)

I actually found andyhix feedback very helpfull :p , and he was just joking by the fact you will have more atention if you post like you need some techinical help
The thing is that ironicly, we prefer to help then listening :rolleyes:
I am also a noob here, but i could see that the law of respect applies here
Not that i'm acusing you for being disrespecfull for nothing. I could see that was a reaction of something you took as an ofence...but it was actually just a joke, wich is like the blood that keep this forum alive and interisting


As for the songs, i must say i liked
I would take the advices of others that said to cut down the reverb, especially in " I am calling".... Overall i found your music very nice :)
 
Thanks everyone - I didn't mean to barge in and start rearranging the place and I do apprciate your advice. I post often on muse's muse, so it's not like I don't contribute or put in my leg work. The fact is that I really am just looking for a place to post links to my music. I am interested in home recordings, so I'll probably be back, but, for now, it seems muse's muse is my home forum.

Does anyone know a site that lets you post without worrying about giving so much advice and comments first? I wish there was a place where you can post a song and promise to listen to two others for every song you post. I want my music heard - is that a crime?

Anyway, thanks for letting me up easy, and, I'll return when I have more to contribute.

Thanks.
 
Hey, if anyone is interested in "shameless self-promotion" of your music, I've found a place that allows link-sharing between bands and posting of links (without having to actually critique each song you play). The website is:

http://austintexas.proboards20.com/index.cgi

So, if you have one web site that you actually trade tips, etc, but want another to just post your songs and listen to other songs without actually having to type up reviews every time, than this might help.

Thanks.

p.s. I visit this site to actually read tips on recording, so I'm very happy here, but I do most of my reviews on muse's muse.
 
The Cracks said:
Hey, if anyone is interested in "shameless self-promotion" of your music, I've found a place that allows link-sharing between bands and posting of links (without having to actually critique each song you play). The website is:

http://austintexas.proboards20.com/index.cgi

So, if you have one web site that you actually trade tips, etc, but want another to just post your songs and listen to other songs without actually having to type up reviews every time, than this might help.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

This place really isn't about promoting music, that's for sites like www.getyourcrapdemosheardhere.com

This is all recording orientated
 
LemonTree said:
This place really isn't about promoting music, that's for sites like www.getyourcrapdemosheardhere.com

This is all recording orientated
Click to expand...

No sh*t. Didn't you read the other seven posts to this thread? I acknowledged that this forum area is not for what I thought it was for (despite description - see post 3 & 8). That is why I am posting the link that I did in post 9.

But you have demonstrated in post 10 that you and some like you actually do very little reading of posts, which leads me to believe you probably do very little listening too.
 
The Cracks said:
No sh*t. Didn't you read the other seven posts to this thread? I acknowledged that this forum area is not for what I thought it was for (despite description - see post 3 & 8). That is why I am posting the link that I did in post 9.

But you have demonstrated in post 10 that you and some like you actually do very little reading of posts, which leads me to believe you probably do very little listening too.
Click to expand...


I listen most days in the studio while recording bands. If I wanna hear something new I generaly turn on the radio. I do read the posts and yes you are 100% correct when you say I probably don't listen much. I didn't listen to any of your tunes.

If however you had them posted up asking about advice on a certain element of your mix I would have been on it in a minute offering what pointers I could.

Coming on here and saying "listen to my tunes and pat me on the back" is as good as spam. Spamming with a shitty attitude to boot....well, need I say more?
 
Lemon Tree - I know anything I type here will be read by you as me sying to you: "F*C* you Lemon Tree!" But let me (again -read the thread - read the tread) explain:

Yes - I came to promote my music and listen to other music, without having to review.

Yes, that is how this area is promoted by homerecording.com ("Do you have something worth listening to? Convert it to MP3, post it to your Web site, and tell us where we can listen to it!")

Yes, I was wrong.

Yes, I said I would not post links to my music here, because I do my reviews on another forum, and I think I can only give a good critique of songs on only one site.

Yes, I said I wished there was a place to post links to my songs and listen to other songs without having to review each song.

Yes, I found that site.

Yes, I posted a link to that site on this site to demonstrate to the good people here that I was sincere in my search.

So, although you probably did not read any of this, and, if you did, you probably thought I said "F*C* you Lemon Tree!," I hope I may depart this place with both mine and your honor in intact.
 
Not a problem, Cracks

I know what the subheading of this catagory says, the site has been up a long time and I THINK at the time it was intended as..."home recorder? let's here where you're coming from then". I've been here only 3 years and in all that time that's exactly what the clinic has been used for. It's a very usefull place for that kind of thing. But, can you imagine the 1000's of users that use this site trying to post up mixes for critique and guidence here if it was full of wayward strangers floating in and filling up the boards with "listen to my new song", "Here's my bands new single" etc etc?

Sorry if you thought I was jumping down your throat, that wasn't what I intended. I was a big part of the indie music promotion thing 10 years ago when MP3.COM opened doors for business so I know how hard it is to get your tunes listened to.

I think the advice you were given right at the start was spot on but you jumped on that guy like he was slateing you. Top tip for visiting new boards....lurk a while and check out the scope of things before you jump in on your second post and act like an ass.

Good luck with your music, which I might just go take a listen to now seeing as you've made such a fuss about it :D

peace
 
Constructive critisism

I knew you when: tune the guitar, lay off the reverb

I'm calling: try playing to a metronome or a click track. Is this recorded at 8Bit or what? Did you double track the hiss for effect?

Crack in my heart: I've got vynil 78's that are better quality than this. Are you really going for that telephone line effect? If so you need to cut more bottom of the vocal...I suggest a high pass filter set to atleast 400Hz

Outahere: sounds like you recorded this onto a mobile phone. Is this some warped perception of art for you?

Looks like you just clogged up the clinic for no other reason than to give me ear fatigue.

You may now leave with honour.

Peace off
 
I'm with you - all hail the all-powerful LemonTree.

I agree that AndyHix was spot-on, and I reiterated that he was being helpful about the SPIRIT of the forum. But the OP wasn't molified, remained stubborn as an ass and defensive as well.

He picked the absolute WORST industry to be in if he wants to be like that.

As I said, he ain't even BEGUN to see what sh*tting on is like here :)
 
Didn't read every line of comments, but did listen to all four of your tunes. This isn't so much about subjective we like or don't like your tunes. Actually I heard some pretty nice ideas in them, but man the recording quality, not song or writing quality, needs major work. That's what this forum is about. Not so much is the tune and writing good, though sometimes it gets sidetracked, but how the mix and recording quality is. And in that category you have your work cut out for you. I would like to hear you work at the recording and mixing of your good song ideas and repost. I'll bet if you listen to good advice and learn a bit on the recording end, you will come out with some really cool stuff.
 
I picked Outahere from your list - got to say I had to turn this off after just a minute. Totally too much noise/static/distortion going on.

I agree with the previous posts, that the songwriting is good and the intent is good but the production needs work.

The telephone sound always impressed me, ever since I can first heard it (Lady Madonna) but this need some help before it is listenable. Just MHO.....
 
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