General Music Chat

Alrighty then, here's one for ya. Hopefully this will be a good release for us all. Here's an opportunity to select one song/lyrics/instrumental that you are proud of and let us all hear it. Next, we critique it in hopes to strengthen our bond and get a real perspective on how we perceve our work.

Please be respectful and objective. There are many levels of artists here from beginners, novice to semi pro's. So lets hear what our peers say.
Remember the best way to gage your progress and sound is to hear it from your own kind.

I got pretty thick skin so I'll go 1st. Anyone jump in at anytime but please review the others that post as well.

Hope this works for you.

SUBMISSION FOR REVIEW:

On my page there is a song called SOIL My friend and fellow collaborator wrote and proformed all the muisc and I wrote the lyrics, recorded all vocals. This is a collaboration all recorded and mixed completely on 2 PC's during the process. I like it but I offer myself to you to give me your honest opinion and critisizm. My hopes are to record this one and a few others in a studio ... someday.

Thank you in advance.
Thom

I'll take you up on it Thom. Soil - At first listen I thought Queensryche. Long about '91 I developed a contempt for 80's metal bands. There are however a few select albums and tracks that shine from the era. I like several tracks from the first 2 motley crue albums. I think David Coverdale is very VERY talented. The first 5 metallica albums are tight as well. Back to your track "soil" It's pretty dated. The pronunciation is kind of metallica-ish. For instance me is pronounced "may-uh". You are a pretty decent singer on that track as far as talent goes. It's just a matter of taste for me. The only vocal thing that truly got on my nerves was the way you held out the word soil. The tone was a little forced. It really reminds me of beavis and butthead. The solo was kind of weak and then it went to the fast noodling that to me is just cheesy. My tastes aren't going to be the norm I suspect. Metal still does and probably always will thrive. So in summary you are a talented singer. I just think the style is tired. We are close to the same age by the way. ON the 4th listen I thought "peace selld" by megadeth. So now I'm wide open!!! Tear me up! Why don't you critique a song I posted here before it's called "I don't know yet" Vox, guitars, bass, drum samples, written, recorded, by me.

Thom: Soil has a nice driving tempo without being too fast and a quality mix overall. very nice balance between lead guitar volume and lyrical content. I prefer an more pronounced / discernable bass line. I really like to hear every note the Bassest plays (I played bass as a kid and I still listen for that line) Plenty o cymbal in the percussion but I really could not discern the drums either. Yea Its Rock! Rock On Bro! Our front and local computer geek Ray is working on a mix of a song we began to rework last night. when He gets it to me I will put it up for sacrifice.
And I would not worry to much about that male bonding or musician bonding stuff. Aint gonna happen and it'll just make you insane like me.

Thom, I'm not good at critiquing other peoples music. For one thing, I have a wide taste in music. On any given day I might be listening to anything from bluegrass to death metal to symphony. It's also hard for me to break someone else's song down in pieces. I always take the song as a whole and I either like it or I don't. So I will give a short boring Mikey critique. I really like it. I like the style, the playing and the vocals. Very well done!

I thought it was well recorded.

Nothing obvious to point out that was wrong about it.

Struck me like Queensryche with Don Dokken doing vocals, maybe a guest riff by George Lynch.

Thom,
That sounds like a really good band to me. I share Mr Gentry's distaste for giving harsh criticism. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to listen to the song "Soil" if I had it in my collection. In all honesty, I have trouble getting through most of the stuff in my vinyl collection like Journey, Foreigner, Styx , Kansas, ect. , even though they were great bands. That type of music didn't stand the test of time for me.
I will say this however. If I found myself in in the audience, listening to you singing with the conviction I perceive in your music, I'd be "boppin"! In short' It isn't "groundbreakin' music" in my opinion, but good music just the same.

I have nothing current as yet on my profile. I hope to start recording my new band's practises soon. We are contemplating developing it as a trio rather then hassling with more people. If any recordings turn out OK, I'll put them on my profile for scrutiny.

Meanwhile, You my be interested in listening to my low quality recording of my old band , Tentative Relationship (1982). The song "Misguided Madness" is not one of my favorites, but I always liked "Obi's" drumming in it. I think young Howlin' did a good job on writin' and singin' the lyrics too , (although his sax playin' was nearly as bad as Bill Clinton's).
Howlin'

OK New posting from NKF name of the song is A New Way To Live!
I / we recored it last night on my Zoom H4, we did lots of cuts due to a change in the way we play this tune and it really threw me off on the ending of the song also Ray was working up a new lead line for the end as well. This was my first attempt to slice and dice on my computer it was origanally recorded in wav format 96kHz. Unfortunatly our best cut was a corrupted file so I threw this together from three other files. Give her a try and tell me what you think.

George,
Had my foot tappin' under the ol' 'puter!
I think it's time fore a digital delay in that P.A. system. Anyways, sounds like Kilgore was ROCKIN' last night! (keep er up)
John

well here goes....as a whole the piece works and the vocals suite the tune..as paul said it does sound dated but that doesnt mean there isnt a market for it...you do sound a bit like james mr metallica at times and i dont know if its intentional or not but if you changed it so it sounds more like you i think it will sound better...and i dont like the low note "soil" its the only part of the vocals that doesnt work with the counter melody..
i would go up with it and not down..maybe even try it for shits and giggles..

and i think the mix is a little too clean for this style of music..dont get me wrong its a great clean mix but if there was a little bit more sonic dirt thrown in the mix it could give it a little more vibe or feeling...me thinks..
well thats how i feel about it thom...

good job amigo....i liked the song and your vocals.

so i guess its now my turn for critique...i can hear capt spanky sharpening his butchers knife...

You think I don't have big balls?. I know how most of you feel on this style of music so I'm prepared. This is the latest song I've written. I also wrote the lyrics at least the ones that can be understood. Wade through the screaming parts and then let her rip. I just write them and play them so at least listen to the whole thing. Thanks!

The song is called "Left To Remember"

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=792461

to be fair mike you did hit capt spanky with a few good solids...
the one about his myspace cracked me up....no my friend you got the "balls".....

ill check out your new tune later...my wife is a callin me for dinner..

slain.

John I have delay effect inboard in the PA system and I have a delay pedal for me gitfiddle but I hate to admit it I'm not so sure what its for, so I dont utilize it. guess I'm gonna have to do some spearmintin.

Mike I really liked the parts that were sung, I'll have to pass on the scream. (although as I've said before At least I can discern the lyrics and for that I'm gratefull) Forgive the strait left bro but you be too talented a musician for a screamer band. But your playing and having a ball so to hell with what I think. Rock On !!

Thanks sanshouheil. I understand my friend. Right now it's about writing, playing and performing. I will find my niche in the world of music when I find the right people to help me put it together and that's the only part that's holding me back right now.

Hey thanks for the input! I appreciate you all taking the time to listen to it and mostly for giving me your honest opinion. And no I didn't have Hetfield in my mind when I recorded that song but it's funny that my wife said the same thing when she listened to 3 of my last songs. My latest work does have alot of that type of vocals because I am trying different voices when I sing. Mostly I sing really clean vocals high, mid and low notes so I wanted to add a Testament meets Priest'ish vibe. I will take the advice that you guys gave and apply it to what I do next.

Thanks again. Now I gotta listen to Mikes ..