Woke Up Dead again........

  • Thread starter Thread starter RAMI
  • Start date Start date
Dude the guitars sound awesome. You've really stepped it up there. That solo was cool as shit for the song. Just perfect to me. Everything else is awesome as usual. I really like the more subdued drumming too. Not really subdued, but you know, less flash and more straight going. The song is slow but it really drives strong nicely. Well done! :)
Thanx a lot Greg. I think I found the sound I'm looking for from this amp. I had too many choices and now I've narrowed it down to 2 or 3 different crunchy/distorted sounds, which is all I really need.

Like I mentioned earlier, the solo is just the same solo reversed and super-imposed on itself. I can't remember how that happened, but I think it was an accident and I went "Yeah, that's cool". Unless a song really calls for it, I've been keeping my drumming simple lately on most tunes. Too much and it starts sounding like "Who cares what the song needs, listen to my awesome drumming skills", which is not what I'm about.

Thanx man. :cool:
 
Not sure how I missed this for 4 days. But anyway, I can't say much. It sounds great. Everything.

A couple of suggestions. I think the lead vocal might sound good if it were double tracked.

the other thing is the kick has a little "thwap" to its attack that's a little distracting. I'm really digging hard to find mix issues.

What guitar/amp do you use for the rhythm guitar?
 
Not sure how I missed this for 4 days. But anyway, I can't say much. It sounds great. Everything.

A couple of suggestions. I think the lead vocal might sound good if it were double tracked.

the other thing is the kick has a little "thwap" to its attack that's a little distracting. I'm really digging hard to find mix issues.

What guitar/amp do you use for the rhythm guitar?
Thanx a lot Trip.

The vocals are doubled in the "choruses" that everyone's talking about.

I'm using a Fender Super Champ X2 for all the guitars. Different settings for rythm and lead, obviously, but same amp.

Thanx a million for the comments and suggestions. I'll have to see what you're talking about with the kik. I might have gotten so used to my sound that I don't hear the flaws any more. Complacency tends to set in when you get used to doing something the same way for a long time. :cool:
 
I've been keeping my drumming simple lately on most tunes.

I've noticed and I like it. Not that your drumming was too much before, it was great, but this is a nice step back and it works awesome.
 
The vocals are doubled in the "choruses" that everyone's talking about.

Sorry - I didn't read the other comments. The verses was where I noticed the vox would sound good doubled.
 
Sorry - I didn't read the other comments. The verses was where I noticed the vox would sound good doubled.
Sorry, I didn't mean that everyone mentioned the chouses were doubled. The choruses came up a lot because a few people thought they can use a change of guitar sound to make them stand out more. I'm on the fence with that but can see why people would say that. :cool:
 
That guitar solo/reverse solo sounds great. Happy accidents are one of the best things about songwriting I think - most of it is just agonising about levels and parts over and over, that when you get something for free, it's great :D

Everything sounds level, well balanced and there's enough interest to sustain the song throughout, so I think all the suggestions elsewhere in the thread would just come down to personal taste. Didn't hear the previous version, so can't say where you think the improvements were, but all sounds good man.
 
I've been avoiding this one cuz I've got a song with a very similar line to your title. I got over it.

I don't know how you do, but I love the clarity you got in this one - guitar sound, drum clarity. I think it's pretty much in the bag, but if you unleashed me on this one, I'd want to hear what a slapback on the vocal would sound like. You know how to nest the vocal with perfect clarity, but the drama of a slapback on that vocal... think about it... :D I'm not joking. Crazy maybe.
 
That guitar solo/reverse solo sounds great. Happy accidents are one of the best things about songwriting I think - most of it is just agonising about levels and parts over and over, that when you get something for free, it's great :D

Everything sounds level, well balanced and there's enough interest to sustain the song throughout, so I think all the suggestions elsewhere in the thread would just come down to personal taste. Didn't hear the previous version, so can't say where you think the improvements were, but all sounds good man.
Thanx a lot Mr. Green. Yes, those happy accidents are rare magic moments that happen once every 10 songs if you're lucky. :)

I've been avoiding this one cuz I've got a song with a very similar line to your title. I got over it.

I don't know how you do, but I love the clarity you got in this one - guitar sound, drum clarity. I think it's pretty much in the bag, but if you unleashed me on this one, I'd want to hear what a slapback on the vocal would sound like. You know how to nest the vocal with perfect clarity, but the drama of a slapback on that vocal... think about it... :D I'm not joking. Crazy maybe.
Hehe...Not crazy at all. I do find the vocal a little dry when it first comes in, though I get used to it by about the 3rd line. But I'll try a slapback, might be cool. Right now I have a subtle, longer delay and a little reverb on the vocal, but they're barely noticeable in the mix. Thanx a lot Dobro, I'll try anything once. :)
 
....and your point is? :eek:
`

Dobro said he had a line in one of his songs that was similar to "Woke Up Dead". That kept him from listening to your song, "Woke Up Dead" for awhile.

I thought the point was obvious.

Decent song and all (yours)...I'll just be over here...hiding in shame now... :eek:
 
`

Dobro said he had a line in one of his songs that was similar to "Woke Up Dead". That kept him from listening to your song, "Woke Up Dead" for awhile.

I thought the point was obvious.

Decent song and all (yours)...I'll just be over here...hiding in shame now... :eek:
No man, it's all good. My mistake. I thought I was subtly being accused of ripping someone off, which was stupid on my part. Thanx. :cool:
 
I only listened once quick here, but it sounds pretty great to me. Not exactly my thing, but we're talking about the mix here...

And it's plenty professional sounding. I felt like there's something weird about the way the solo guitar exits going back to the verse. It seems to come in fairly naturally, but then something about the fade is off, or maybe there's some "final phrase" that's missing. Just feels awkward to me.

Is there something weird with the D's? I'm hearing them almost sucked out, or sucked in, as though you were signing "Waking up dead is getting me Nown." It's a subtle thing, and might just be that I haven't had enough coffee yet, but I wonder if somewhere you're not trying just a little too much to avoid plosives and/or sibilance and it's having a negative impact. I notice it most on the choruses, but since that's kind of the punchline to the song...

These are tiny little things that only an obsessive psychopath would care about. It really doesn't suck at all. HTH
 
And it's plenty professional sounding.
Thanx man. That's surprising considering I barely know what I'm doing, and I'm not just saying that. I know how MY stuff works, but I probably wouldn't be able to use anyone else's set up or mix someone else's tune to save my life.

I felt like there's something weird about the way the solo guitar exits going back to the verse. It seems to come in fairly naturally, but then something about the fade is off, or maybe there's some "final phrase" that's missing. Just feels awkward to me.
That's entirely possible. Like I mentioned earlier, the guitar solo is a regular solo, reversed, and then super-imposed on itself, so it;s the same solo playing foraward and backward at the same time. How it ended up is at the mercy of that fact.

Is there something weird with the D's? I'm hearing them almost sucked out, or sucked in, as though you were signing "Waking up dead is getting me Nown." It's a subtle thing, and might just be that I haven't had enough coffee yet, but I wonder if somewhere you're not trying just a little too much to avoid plosives and/or sibilance and it's having a negative impact. I notice it most on the choruses, but since that's kind of the punchline to the song...
Hmmm...Intersting. I cetainly wasn't worried about plosives or trying to sing anything in a weird way. I'll have to take a listen see if I hear what you're talking about.

These are tiny little things that only an obsessive psychopath would care about. It really doesn't suck at all. HTH
Thanx man. Hey, I need the opinions of more obsesssive psychopaths if I'm ever goong to get better at this.

I really appreciate that you took the time to listen and comment on something that's not your type of thing. Thanx a lot. :cool:
 
Nice one RAMI! :cool:

Not sure if it's been said....but based on how I'm hearing it, I think the guitars are overpowering just a bit....I would have the drums a little louder to punch it up some....or maybe just pull the guitars back a bit, then raise the overall mix level to get the drumps up...and that will also make a little more room for the vocals.
 
Nice one RAMI! :cool:

Not sure if it's been said....but based on how I'm hearing it, I think the guitars are overpowering just a bit....I would have the drums a little louder to punch it up some....or maybe just pull the guitars back a bit, then raise the overall mix level to get the drumps up...and that will also make a little more room for the vocals.
Thanx a lot Miro. I haven't listened to this for a few days. So, Im going to let it sit for a few more and what you're saying will probably pop right out at me, along with things other people mentioned. A fresh listen after not hearing it for about a week will definitely give me a fresh perspective,probably closer to how all you guys heard it for the first time.

Thanx a lot man.
 
Yes. Just a great song and great production, I had mentioned the drums in your previous post, but they feel more present in this version. I love what you've done with the chorus, the change-up with the rhythm guitar works great and so does the resolution via the "down"s (I'm a resolution guy). I like the forward/backward lead so much I still want more of it, another 8 bars please? WTH, they say leave 'em wanting more, right? I did want a touch more of the second rhythm guitar in the chorus, but I only felt that way the last time through. The ending seems a little abrupt, like maybe another "down" into the final chord and the harmonic, but it'll probably grow on me in a couple listens. I really can't say enough about how solid this sounds, the few things I've picked on amount to personal preferences. Cool song, great sounds and a nice package altogether. Congrats!

OK, I have to add, after posting this I went to the kitchen to make myself a sandwich and found myself singing your song, that's just something I'd like to hear if it was my song, though my young daughter heard me and insists that I did NOT wake up dead and am in fact fine.
 
Last edited:
Hey Rami. Nice song, amazing production - I've been working on a song for a couple of days (first time in the 'studio' for months) and thought I'd come check out the clinic to give me some perspective and you just make me want to give up! It sounds totally professional to me, nice job!
 
Yes. Just a great song and great production, I had mentioned the drums in your previous post, but they feel more present in this version. I love what you've done with the chorus, the change-up with the rhythm guitar works great and so does the resolution via the "down"s (I'm a resolution guy). I like the forward/backward lead so much I still want more of it, another 8 bars please? WTH, they say leave 'em wanting more, right? I did want a touch more of the second rhythm guitar in the chorus, but I only felt that way the last time through. The ending seems a little abrupt, like maybe another "down" into the final chord and the harmonic, but it'll probably grow on me in a couple listens. I really can't say enough about how solid this sounds, the few things I've picked on amount to personal preferences. Cool song, great sounds and a nice package altogether. Congrats!

OK, I have to add, after posting this I went to the kitchen to make myself a sandwich and found myself singing your song, that's just something I'd like to hear if it was my song, though my young daughter heard me and insists that I did NOT wake up dead and am in fact fine.
Thanx man. I really appreciate that.

Yeah, had I known the solo was going to be as cool as it turned out, I might have made it longer (though maybe not also, it's hard to say). But at the time I recorded the solo, it was just a generic solo to break up the song and was really nothing special until I stumbled upon the forward/backward thing.

Your daughter's right. None of us woke up dead and we're all still here to talk about it. :D
 
Back
Top