General Music Chat

'The Weatherman and I' on my BM player, submitted for your harsh critiques! The song (and my singing!) is what it is, but the mix is still a work in progress - the drums during the lead and last chorus may be a bit loud, although when listened to at low volume, they are fine.

Mike your voice is growing on me. I dont know how to describe it other than it has that Neal Young kind of feeling. I mean that as a compliment.

I do like the melody of the song, it has that quailty where it sticks in your mind.

Nice guitar licks, but the drums just sound too busy to me when you start the lead, they sound better on the ending.

I like the song, good structure and I can certainly relate to the weather man being wrong.

Keep it up and thanks for sharing!

Mike that is a beautiful song, I agree with John about the drums during the first solo. The harmonies are very nicely done. The lead vocals are flat in just a couple of spots. I would listen to them and touch up those area's after that do a final mix or 2 and its a keeper for sure!

Yeah !

A Young meets Dylan kinda thing.

If you were to "soften" your voice a little, I don't know, back of the mic, some "edge" reducing effect, perhaps not quite so far out in front (especially like in the first minute or so of this song)

On both the songs you have on your player now as you blend vocals deeper into the melody the better it works for you IMO.

Take the piano strikes in DARK STREET for instance . . . they are so "hot" that the "attack" is a little distracting.
Perhaps if your vocals we not so "hot" . . . hard for me to put into words.
I hope you understand what I'm try to say here.

Thanks for MUSIC !

Mike a very thoughtful song...Composition...Well Done! Bro...!

Now I swear if i ever get up to MA I'm gonna look you up and were gonna work on that vocal capability of yours...

Thanks for the words, guys. I'll definitely work on the mix - it's hard to balance vocals vs instruments at times, but I know those drums need to be tamed. For those 'flat spots' - think of me like Dave Grohl, I 'slide' into the right notes (at times)!
I wish I hadn't let my vocal abiities go dormant for so long (smoking for 30 years didn't help either). The more I do it, the more tolerable my voice becomes.

This is the last song I had to record for my next CD, now its going to be a constant 'retweaking' the mixes to make them fit together better before mastering.

Nice recording Mike kind of early 70's feel. Melancholy for sure. Took 3 or 4 listens to sink in but I like it. Don't be offended... some songs hit me on the first go others I have to get a little deeper to find it out.
Yeah the drums need some attention and the vocals in spots but nothing that major. If you're going to be the "vocalist" you have a pretty well defined sound. A bit of Youngish After the Gold Rush in the tonal quality to me ears.
He's not for everybody. Personally I love him.
Good Luck with finishing your project.

Thanks Jahva. Neil Young is one of my idols - like him, I was born in Canada, like him my singing and lead guitar playing is rudimentary, at best!

My first CD was mastered by the guy who is doing all of Young's archive productions now - an old college mate. Too bad Young has him too busy to master my next one ($$$ work before freebies).

Melody and subject are 'ok'.

Vocals don't cut it.
Either work like hell, or just get a vocalist to sing it.

Melody and subject are 'ok'.

Vocals don't cut it.
Either work like hell, or just get a vocalist to sing it.

You can't please everyone ....

Mike I have to agree with gtZip. You need a singer.

The song is pleasant. Drums are awkward.

Regarding your vocals. You are generally on pitch. That's not good. Your phrasing is sometimes clumsy. You have a recurring thing going on. You trail off melodies... a lot. Like 2 or 3 steps. The first instance of you doing it is in the opening phrase. On the word sign at about :17 you end the phrase with the word sign. You try to end that note on a B, but it ends up dropping all the way to E. That's 4 steps down! Neil Diamond does that. But it's less than you do it. Maybe 1/2 - one step. Holding the notes solid would help you. My suggestion would still be to get a singer.

You said 'let me have it'.
I'm not gonna pat you on the back and lie.

Paul - not everyone can sing like you do! I threw a pitch analyzer on the lead vocal, not sure what you are hearing about the B to E drop on 'sign' - it's not there. There is a note tail drop off, but it drops to A. Yes, I do the trail-drop a fair amount on this song, not sure I do it on all songs (maybe I do), but that's the style that comes out for this particular song.

Hey, I'd love to find a singer -why do you think I'm searching for a band/partner? I've been looking for years, on and off.

Anyway, thanks for listening and commenting.

Here you go Mike. http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll10 ... 24907a.mp4

Here you go Mike. http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll10 ... 24907a.mp4

Excellent NP!
If you don't, you should teach.