What Will Be Will Be ....

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bpoco

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My 2nd post.

I dusted this one off. I can't really categorize this song. Pop? Other? Pop most likely. I can't stay away from that damn Vibraslap.

I've listened to this so many times I don't know which way is up. The synth pad is really making it hard to figure out the EQ.

Give it a chance to at least the bridge ..... before jumping off (LOL).

I had to go with 128K sampling for the MP3 - just too big otherwise.

http://www.nowhereradio.com/bpoco/singles

BPOCO
 
ok, you're getting a stream of conciousness review cause i got shit to do tonite.

i don't like the keyboards. the guitar sounds like a direct acoustic. you sing well, harmonies are nice during the chorus.

i'm hard to please. i'd rearrange this without all the keboards n stuff but i usually like sparser arrangements anyway.

hey, that's a nice bridge. i like vibraslaps. i like cake too.

oooooo, i don't like that fake horn section. ouch!

the drums sound pretty good.

overall this sounds like a pretty overly midi sounding arrangement. not a lot of human feel to it, but pretty good singing anyway.

i'd like to hear you do this with just an acoustic. i like a lot of things that way though.
 
I like it.The chord progressions make me think of the beatles for some reason.....the vocals are good.....nice bridge.

Good tune dude.
 
I thought it was great, regardless of the category. I gotta agree about the synth horns. However, I know first hand about making do with what you've got. You did a good job of getting what was in your head onto "tape". Good vocals, and the bridge was very cool. Glad I stuck around for that!


Twist
 
I could hear all the tracks well. Each one had its space but some of the levels could be brought up like the guitar, and the drums would come and go away too fast for me. I like the acoustic, it was really clean but quiet. Nice arrangement on the tune as well. Good vocals, tight, most dynamic part. The music could just use some dynamics in levels. You got a unique presentation with your stuff, deja-vu like, but still different. Cool
 
Nice feel, good harmonies.

The song sounds a bit all-in-one or MIDIized. The horn is killing the mood. Needs a good muted horn player (real).
I like the writing style alright. The heavy part is way to thin and whimpy....needs real guitar pounding but I would ditch it completely for a really mellow part... (but I'm stoned so .....)

That's all subjective though. Nice writing/ recordording overall.
 
Is it just me or does the vocal sound make you think of old Beatles albums only not on tape. Still it seems to be very beatley to me.

It is a cool thing you have going! I would never think to come up with this sound. That's one of the cool things about this forum. It gives you different ideas.


F.S.
 
Hey man. This is about 100 times easier on the ears than "Mr. Stairs," and that wasn't a bad mix in its own right. This is just smoother. Kick sounds great to me.

There's that ratchet...lol. NEVER give up the ratchet, brother. Make them pry it from your cold dead hands.

Man, I like this song SO MUCH. The horns don't bother me...that element works really well right there...sure, a better horn sound would be cool, but we don't all have a dedicated horn player who is generous enough to...HEY WAIT!!! There *IS* a guy around here somewhere...hrm..where is he? Do you have a french horn patch that doesn't suck? I'm hearing french horn in this, and I don't think that has ever happened in my life, lmao.

Only 2 things kinda' bugged me...that crash over on the right is pretty blurry, which seems to be a recurrent theme in the 2 that I've heard from you...is it a bad sample maybe? Or the mp3? Do you hear what I'm talking about? Are you wondering how many questions I'll ask?

The other thing is that fuzztone during the break...sounds like a toy. But (big caveat here) I TOTALLY BELIEVE THAT TONE IS A PERSONAL CHOICE, SO LONG AS IT'S INTENDED...LOL. I just want you to plug it into an amp and let it rip, but it doesn't sound bad at all...it really kinda' fits, actually.

This is such a cool song, and I've looped it a few times typing this... I'm giving you stars for the improvement partly, for the song mostly. Some jackass will probably come along and rip a couple away for the midi stuff, but all 5 of my thumbs are up (yes, I have 5 thumbs...I'm a freak - but I can hold onto ANYTHING :D).
 
Good mood you're setting IMO. I have difficulty digesting direct line acoustic gits, so I can't comment on them other than that.

Have you tried this mix with the vocals a little more natural and up front. I think this would sound nicer with a more intimate vocal. This has a Lennon feel to it, and your musicianship is solid. But your choice of tones needs work IMO. Personally I would recommend trying a more intimate vocal, and then see what that inspires you to do with the instrument tones. The keyboard is weird, especially because it leans way to the left, which becomes more obvious at the end.

Aside from the actual sound, I'm really impressed with the composition AND performance! The singing is terrific and so is the writing.


Just some thoughts to add to the collection. Great stuff. Beautiful song.
 
Thanks all who took the time to listen and post.

I really think this BBS is great!! Prior to coming across it, I'd been working in a vacuum, with only friends, neighbors and family to get feedback from. In general, they'd say "I really liked it", but not much else. You know, they didn't want to hurt your feelings no matter what they thought. As a result, I never got any good, constructive feedback. I've been on the board for a little over a month and have learned a ton. Plus, I've gotten to hear some really great music.

erichenryus

Wow !!! What do you really think? "Overly MIDI sounding" ...? ... ugh!! That hurt. But I can't argue with you. It's just one of those things that get's lost when you're so close to a song. You know ... can't see the forest for the trees ....

Gee, I kinda liked the horns ...... not anymore (LOL) ..... oh well.

And yes, that's a direct acoustic. And again, I can't disagree that the direct acoustic sounds cold. Side note - this entire song was recorded over three years ago. I decided to resurrect it for the board - but was too lazy to redo it. At that time, I didn't
think you could record a good sounding acoustic with a mic. This BBS has sobered me in that respect. My new philosophy is that I can't record a good sounding acoustic with a mic (LOL). My next tune is an acoustic picking song, I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Net-net .... appreciate your honesty.

Kramer

Thanks dude. Yeah, people have mentioned the Beatles thing before. I think it might be the way I double tracked the vocal - somewhat Lennon-esque.

Twist

You give me too much credit. I had no idea what this song should sound like. The production just evolved over time - but, based on the feedback, me thinks this species needs to be extinct (LOL).

I totally agree in trying to the best with what you have. Unfortunately, I had to layoff my horn section. I like going after fuller arrangements (helps hide the crap .. LOL). I find them more interesting. Although, the board may be right that this song is poster child of the phrase "simplify, simplify, simplify".

Toki987

Dynamics? I don't need no stinkin' dynamics !!! You're probably right. I just have this addiction to all things compressed (which is probably why I like Chris Harris' stuff so much). I did compress most of the tracks on this one.

jake-owa

Hey, hey, no piling on!!! Again with the MIDI name calling (LOL). And the bridge was "thin and wimpy" ... ? ... ouch!! I'm throwing away my BOSS distortion pedal (LOL).

Freudian Slip

Thanks. The Beatles thing was unintentional - probably subconcious - I've always liked their stuff a lot. I appreciate how they (er, no I mean, George Martin) came up with these unexpected arrangments and mixes.

ChrisHarris

If this song has any reedeeming tonal value, I can thank you for it. I used a lot of your tips in EQ-ing the tracks and final mix. Biggest help ..? ... taking out some of that harshness in the 800 Hz to 2000 Hz range (and cutting the low end). I've now done the same thing on "Mr. Stairs" and it really made the slide guitar much warmer (see Mix 4 on Nowhere).

Your right on about the cymbals. Mr. Stairs used some drum loops with my MIDI (sorry for the swearing !!) cymbals. This tune was entirely MIDI drums ... same cymbals. They're directly off my Turtlebeach sound card - as well as all the MIDI instruments on this song. Sounds like I'd better find a replacement patch.

Fuzztone: Here's an example of doing as best you can with what you have. Let's see, that was my Cortez Les-Paul copy going into an old BOSS distortion box, direct into the mixer. I've always hated having to mic stuff - much preferred to go direct. My experience on this board has forever changed that.

Thanks for the stars (your check is in the mail (LOL)). I've never really liked the "star-thing" on this BBS. I think it clouds people's opinions before they listen to it. Having said that, I cut them out and put 'em on my fridge (LOL).

SLuiCe

Thanks for the songwriting comment.

In regards to the vocal, while I feel I can carry a tune, I find my voice a bit ordinary, so I'm always looking for an effect to make more interesting. As far the piano, oh, that was General MIDI patch 150, "Weird Keyboards" (LOL).

BPOCO
 
just realized i probably came off kind of negative. overall it's a very ambitious and well engineered arrangment it just sounds like a lot of midi going on. i can definitely sympathize with a lack of human beings just waiting on you to record them playing like 50 different instruments so i think you did an awsome job with what you have.

if i've learned one thing since hanging here, it's that an acoustic will sound better miced 98% of the time.

i think that's cause an acoustic guitar is engineered (used that word twice in one post) to project it's tone and when you put those little mics inside an acoustic right next to the strings you lose the entire tone that the instrument is intended to produce.

sorry if i'm preaching. i really do like the song. i'm trying to get better at writing more critical and hopefully useful feedback....since i never post anything of my own here.
 
erichenryus

Dude,

No problem. Keep up the "brutal honesty". I think your post may have been the most helpful ... not only for this song, but more importantly, for future ones. A lot of lights went on in my head after reading it. I'm looking forward to your thoughts on my next effort.

Thanks - BPOCO
 
Good thread...

I agree with everything Eric said, especially the bits about the acoustic guitar and about wishing we could have like 50 musicians available. But the nice thing about synths is they help you realize your ideas...even if the tone isn't perfect. But remember too that there are a lot of musicians here as well. I've had some great tracks added to my songs from guys around this board. Perhaps the internet will one day replace the synth. :)
 
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