The 'singles'.

[Steenamaroo]

Hey all,
I've been firing a lot of stuff up lately so I don't expect a lot of replies here.
I thought if anyone's following the album I've been working on they might wanna hear these three.
I guess they're the ones we're most likely to send to radio.


None are completely finished, but they're presentable I suppose.

In no particular order.

Hard Days.
Doorstep Riots.
Crime Scene.

Hope you enjoy these and, as always, any and all feedback is much appreciated.

 

[heatmiser]

I'm listening to Hard Days now...much simpler and catchy and poppy than other stuff of his I've heard. While it isn't necessarily a style I'd gravitate to, I think he does it well. It's a nice fuller sort of band sound too.

There seems to be a strange edit or something right at 1:19 where the whole track skips part of a beat and I feel like we lost a few milliseconds of the song...by 1:20 it's back to normal...do you hear that? Maybe it is just that specific file, or maybe I'm losing it?

lol@ "punters". I hear that used in the forums here and there, but I don't know that I've ever heard it sung before.

Do you think maybe the dropping out of most instruments at 2:42 is a little abrupt? Can you extend the tail of some of that stuff just a little to ease into the sparseness a little more?

His lyrics are actually pretty odd...how he goes from the recession being romanticized to Swayze's ghost...that was funny but strange. Good job as always dudener.

 

[Steenamaroo]

There seems to be a strange edit or something right at 1:19 where the whole track skips part of a beat and I feel like we lost a few milliseconds of the song...by 1:20 it's back to normal...do you hear that? Maybe it is just that specific file, or maybe I'm losing it?

Ah damn. I intentionally made the E chord come in a beat early. I thought it sounded great but after reading your comment it totally sounds like a scratched CD skip. Cheers.

Maybe I can highlight it somehow.... open hats or something?

lol@ "punters". I hear that used in the forums here and there, but I don't know that I've ever heard it sung before.

That's a new one to me too.
I presume it's a radio-friendly alternative.

Do you think maybe the dropping out of most instruments at 2:42 is a little abrupt? Can you extend the tail of some of that stuff just a little to ease into the sparseness a little more?

Definitely. Good call! I think the piano's cut short.
I'm gona layer up a 'choir' over that section tomorrow too. That'll certainly help.

Thanks Heat.

 

[heatmiser]

Phew. Thank god. It could just as easily have been my brain skipping.

 

[DM60]

Hard Days sounds pretty radio friendly. Looks like that could be a good song push. Mix sounded good on first pass.
DR seems like the vocals cut in and out and then there was a place where vocals where overlapping but seemed like it didn't make the cut over as smooth as you probably intended.

Will get back on the other song a little later.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Hard Days sounds pretty radio friendly. Looks like that could be a good song push. Mix sounded good on first pass.

Cheers pal.

DR seems like the vocals cut in and out and then there was a place where vocals where overlapping but seemed like it didn't make the cut over as smooth as you probably intended.

Yeah, he swore so I cut them out,
I think we're recording alternative radio lyrics tonight.

The overlap is just the way the song is, unfortunately. Maybe I should google to see if there are overlap-specific tips...

 

[anoopbal]

This sounds really good!

Only think I feel is the vocals stand out a tad more than the instruments. Or is it how it supposed to be? I would be curious to know how it sounds if the vocal is a bit low. Just a suggestion bro (from a newbie)

 

[Mr Clean]

All 3 sound really good to me mate.

I agree with heatmiser RE: the chord change in Hard Days at 1:19. I don't remember that in the earlier instrumental version? (Just checked my CD, it wasn't there)

Doorstep Riots is great. I think I'll stick with the unedited version I got earlier though. Very good song with fantastic lyrics, performance etc.

Crime Scene sounds really good. The percussion sounds particularly sweet to me. I really like that song a lot.

All in all, top drawer. Just that little nit in Hard Days to sort out. I can't hear anything else I don't like anywhere in these and all the others you've shared

 

[Steenamaroo]

All 3 sound really good to me mate.

I agree with heatmiser RE: the chord change in Hard Days at 1:19. I don't remember that in the earlier instrumental version? (Just checked my CD, it wasn't there)

There's a wee lesson for the masses. Don't mess with it in the box! lol.
It's amazing how great I thought it sounded last night and how much it stands out today.

I do like the idea (if it was done right), so I'll stick at it, but if it doesn't come together I'll just revert.
It's not like us, but this is a copy and paste musical effort (hard days, I mean).

I suppose I was keen to just change stuff. Thanks for pointing it out guys.

Doorstep Riots is great. I think I'll stick with the unedited version I got earlier though. Very good song with fantastic lyrics, performance etc.

Aye, I just did the cuts on the fly so they're easy to look up later. I guess he'll come up with alternate lyrics that we either keep permanently or commit to the radio edit.
Either way some words will be put back later.

All in all, top drawer. Just that little nit in Hard Days to sort out. I can't hear anything else I don't like anywhere in these and all the others you've shared

Hehe...that's me tapping various parts of a cupboard. I did the same thing on "Through all the years" last year (sig line), but it was a different cupboard.

Thanks guys!

 

[Mr Clean]

...that's me tapping various parts of a cupboard. I did the same thing on "Through all the years" last year (sig line), but it was a different cupboard.

It's surprising what good sounds you can get from objects in a room for percussion.

I use the back of my Ukulele a lot for a variety of sounds

 

[Steenamaroo]

There's actually the back of a uke in there!!! Nice.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Just updated Hard Days - HD.mp3

Yes, that 'pull back' section was too much.
I lowered the vox and upped the verb, added piano and subtle oohs/aahs.
I think that's done the job.

I also reverted the jumpy rhythm coming out of the second chorus.
Cheers for those.


There were two things I was concerned about in this tune and no ones mentioned them, which I take as a good thing.
May as well float them though.

1:
The gang vocals idea on "Hard Days" each time....is it enough? does it work at all? Did you know there was a 'gang'?
I'm thinking I need more and possibly gruffer voices?

2:
The electric guitars...I'm not going for a full blown rock sound but do they add anything? Do they sound too wimpy for what this is?
Again, did you even know they were there?

Thanks all.

 

[Mickster]

Hey.....nice stuff there sir. Well done...........all around. I liked all three........but my favorite was Hard Days. I'll have to get more familiar with your work. I'm guessing there are no ballads?????

 

[Steenamaroo]

I'm guessing there are no ballads?????

Thanks Mickster.....guess again.

Thief
Ten Pounds In My Pocket (needs new vox)
Gone (3 minutes of ballad but with a big twist at the end)

 

[Mickster]

STANDING OVATION >>>>>>>> Awesome work!! I loved all three and "Gone" sure knows how to take you up and back. Loved the piano sound in both "Thief" and "Ten Pounds In MY Pocket". You ARE a song writer. Thanks for letting me hear them!!

 

[Steenamaroo]

STANDING OVATION >>>>>>>> Awesome work!! I loved all three and "Gone" sure knows how to take you up and back. Loved the piano sound in both "Thief" and "Ten Pounds In MY Pocket". You ARE a song writer. Thanks for letting me hear them!!

That was beautiful up until "you ARE a song writer" - Pete Gardiner wrote them. lol.
Anything that isn't acoustic guitar/main vocal is me in fairness though.

Thanks Mickster. I'm really glad you enjoyed them

 

[Mickster]

Oh Geez....very sorry. My fault for not being more informed but I'm new here so.......what can I say. Still............all in all.......what fine work........and I mean YOU TOO!!!

 

[Steenamaroo]

Hah! No apology necessary. I'm grateful for the listens and comments.

Welcome to HR.

 

[Manslick]

lol, I listened to Hard Days and thought I heard it on the radio but it must have been an earlier post.

Doorstep is like epic. Did you edit a bad word at 00:42? Yes you did. Still sounds great.

Crime Scene is a bit louder than the other two. Nice percussion and chords. This sounds like a major hit. So this is the Rob Thomas guy again, he is freekin scary good.

Paul, you must be smiling from ear to here.

 

[Steenamaroo]

lol, I listened to Hard Days and thought I heard it on the radio but it must have been an earlier post.

Sorry, I don't getcha?

Doorstep is like epic. Did you edit a bad word at 00:42? Yes you did. Still sounds great.

Updating now. All cusses are gone. Keeps things simple.

Crime Scene is a bit louder than the other two. Nice percussion and chords. This sounds like a major hit.

Aye, I hasten to use the word 'mastering' but I'll certainly be bouncing final wavs into a session and checking my levels at the end.

This sounds like a major hit. So this is the Rob Thomas guy again, he is freekin scary good.

Sheeeit! I hope you're right dude.

Paul, you must be smiling from ear to here.

I am now! lol. Feedback here has been great. Giving me things to do and confidence in equal measure.