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Hey guys, I just finished writing and recording a new song. I just uploaded it to my site here at BM. What do you guys think? It is the first song it is entitled "In My Mind" This is one for all you Rednecks

I love it!

Might be a redneck if, EH ... LOL

Nice job Jeff!

Its a toe tapper fer sure. It sounds like something I would hear on mainstream the radio. The only thing that I would change is the mix would have to be more refined to give it that big FM sound.

I don't have any flat response studio monitors. I mixed it with headphones and watching the graph! I am going to look on CL and get some monitors next month. I am off work all week and had a chance to get in the studio this morning and do some cleaning. I had the chorus to this song written a couple of months ago. This morning about 11:00 I fired up the BR1180 (recorder) for the first time in about 3 or 4 years. I decided to just come up with a song and built it around that chorus. I didn't have a structure in mind when I started this song. I believe when I get those flat response monitors I will be able to mix a lot better!

good solid country rock
just needs to be tightened up a bit in the lyric dept.
or better yet, just go perform it

Southern Rock is back, baby!

Seriously, Jeff, that's the first really, REALLY, good, Southern Rock original I have heard in years.

I respectfully disagree with JCP61 about the lyrics, to me, Southern Rock lyrics aren't really meant to be complicated or super-refined. You know, .38 Special wasn't trying to re-create Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass when they wrote, "Hold on Loosely."

I think the only change I would make would be to bring it back to a chorus repeat at the end of the song, via extending the length of the song another thirty seconds, and maybe end the song with a long, "In my miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind."

Thanks guys for the critique. After listening to it there are several things I will do in a remix. The harmony vocals are too loud and so is the acoustic guitar that I have panned right. Also the harmony guitar part is not loud enough.
Funny thing Pierce I was thinking of extending that end chorus with another round of vocals. I was really running out of time. I have to start wood shedding for the Vegas gig it is coming up in just a week from this Monday!

J-HALEY wrote:Thanks guys for the critique. After listening to it there are several things I will do in a remix. The harmony vocals are too loud and so is the acoustic guitar that I have panned right. Also the harmony guitar part is not loud enough.
Funny thing Pierce I was thinking of extending that end chorus with another round of vocals. I was really running out of time. I have to start wood shedding for the Vegas gig it is coming up in just a week from this Monday!

So who is the actor??? Inquiring minds wanna know !

Jeff, I love the song, arrangement and lyrics.

Now for my critique.

The rythym guitar seems a little too crunchy, a little too reverby to me. When you play your leads over the top they seem to clash some to me. Maybe a more strat rythym sound and think les paul for the leads.

I agree bring back the acoustic a little in the mix, I love acoustics on this type of song, but I dont want to hear them that well, just use them for ambience, if that makes sense.

Your leads maybe come on too strong on the front part of the song, nothing wrong with that, but this is a song that to me, lead wise should build slowly and then really tear it up toward the fade out, they kinda take away from the vocals to me, I find myself trying to listen to the leads more than the vocals, of course thats one guitar player too another when I say that.

On that thought make sure your guitar lines support the vocal line melodically, Im terrible on my own songs of overplaying during vocal parts, just a guitar slinger mentality.

I love the harmonized lead break in the middle it fits and feels perfect. If it were me right after that I would almost drop all the instruments out but the drums and basically do a couple of chorus lines accapella.

Another thought might be some slide guitar on the front of the song.

Jeff Im nitpicking here, this is a great song and its really good in my mind, Im just trying to listen and think in the third person, what would I do with this song. So dont take what Im saying negative, because its not.

You are an advanced player and rather than just say great job, I think its good to really think what I say thru and share it with you.


Hey Good Luck in Vegas, we expect a full report after the gig, and you and your family have a Happy New Year.

Jw, I don't take anything you said negatively in fact quiet the opposite. I agree with everything you are saying and I was hoping SOMEONE would critique this song as intricately as you have here. You and I are very similar in our playing but not too similar. The idea's you have put forth here are invaluable! Initally I struggled with the leads on this song as I am a strong believer in 2 heads are better than one. There is too much of me on this recording and not enough collaboration! I am a hell of a slide player wished I would have thought of that ! The acapella part is also a great idea as I am a huge fan of a singer harmonizing with themselves as I have here.

Dog, think of the movie Crazy Heart Is that hint good enough? They are keeping this thing at such a low profile. They won't come out and confirm or deny! I just know we had to learn 2 songs from the movie Crazy Heart! I have also been told that it is a Academy Award winning actor that is also a musician!

J-HALEY wrote:Dog, think of the movie Crazy Heart Is that hint good enough? They are keeping this thing at such a low profile. They won't come out and confirm or deny! I just know we had to learn 2 songs from the movie Crazy Heart! I have also been told that it is a Academy Award winning actor that is also a musician!

Oh Hell Yess ...I Know zactly who you speak of...Awsome!...

BTW Your song is outstanding... DO NOT mess with the ACOUSTIC right side...Its fine! In fact I was really impressed that you merged that in there with the electric side, so cleanly.
RE Vocals: Sound good...I would maybe bring them forward a little more (for clarity from the instruments) .

All in All Dude...I bow and pay tribute !

what RG said... rock on

Yessir. That is pretty nice.

Wouldn't hate a little more gain on the lead early on. The bass / drums were just where I like it so i wouldn't want that to come down. Just a bit more ring to the lead.

Talbot