General Music Chat

Ok so after a little time of listening to your songs Craig, I did notice something.

Although my personal favorites are Train, Falling down and Fall, All I know is the one that sticks in my head all day. The chorus just has that effect. I caught myself humming it all day Sunday without realizing it at first, and intermittently over the past few days. So that's a good sign. I would have though it would have been one of the other songs that I'd get stuck in my head, but to my surprise it ended up being All I Know.

Just thought I'd give you a quick update on that.

Sans,

Thanks brother!!!

Missed your response somehow. I'll tell my wife about what you said. And you know what's interesting? When she was a little girl, her aunt told her she has a dream about her. When asked about it, the aunt said "You were helping people. Healing them with your hands." My wife said "Like a nurse?" and she said "I didn't see a hospital in the dream, you were kind of healing them with your hands."

Isn't alot of physical therapy, moving their legs and joints around, even massaging them, until they get to the next level?


Shredd,

One thing I have been told all my life, is that my songs have a way of growing on you, and getting stuck in your head. I would LOVE this to happen on first hearing, but it seems like it takes a few listens to accomplish for some reason.

When I wrote "All I Know", I had the melody first and chords under it. I KNEW it was a hit-potential song and I was VERY happy to start working on lyrics to get it done. Just then, I felt God tell me "Your wife deserves a song like this. You should write it for her." - I said "Yes, sir" and in my heart, I knew, that God was right. She really did deserve a song like that, for all the sacrifices she has made in the last year and a half, and particularly in the last 6 months.

When I finished it. It moved her to tears of course. And I also had a strong feeling that this song was going to become a hit, whether by me or licensing it to someone. I felt it also had the potential to become a wedding song, like a first dance song.

What I like is that it is not "fluffy". It is REALISTIC.

He can't promise a fairy tale. What he can promise, is that for her, he has walked a thousand miles, just to be with her, and he would walk one thousand more.

Thanks for still listening, and giving feedback!

I'm working on a few more songs, to upload soon, and then I am starting work on another 10-song debut. Christian and Spiritual songs, that I will put on a separate MySpace, and be available for FREE DOWNLOAD, because as everyone here knows, I don't believe in selling Christian music. To me it is like selling Jesus' message. If people believe in your MINISTRY (because that's what it is) then they will SUPPORT it through donations. You don't CHARGE someone for ministering to them.

After that, maybe 6 months from now...

Another 10 song-debut on yet another MySpace site.

This one will be INTERNATIONAL music, sung by me, in other languages, like Spanish, Korean, Danish and a few others.

The big opportunitys for PT's and PTA's in in home health.
Healing hands is what it's all about.

Sans,

WOW! God is soooo cool!

He trips me out all the time!

Bingo! LOL

OK Craig. I had to give the tracks enough listens BEFORE I started reviewing. Your talent deserves that much attention. I'm going to start with the first one that grabbed me. The one you had listed first on your myspace from day one.
"All I know"
First, it sounds like a hit to me. Hooks, chorus, arrangement. Your vocals have changed a little, not much, for the better. You have such a big, fat, rich, voice. I read a Darius Rucker comparison from JHaley I believe. I hear it. It's a good thing. The keys sound is kind of gaudy to me. The lead tone is melodramatic but totally appropriate. Your "p's are hitting" even your C's and H's are hitting too. You know, breath hitting the mic. That's the only production problem I see. Production overall is great. ESPECIALLY for being done IN a keyboard. I don't mind the amount of reverb you put on the vocals. My main suggestion is - where is the moderately distorted rhythm guitar starting at EXACTLY the beginning of the first chorus? I have been playing along with it and for me it was screaming for it from the first listen. Let me preface this comparison with I HATE CREED but listen to "my sacrifice" starting at about 3:30. At 3:38 the little muted harmonics right before the gargantuan rhythm guitar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMMpy81xInc
That's what I'm talking about only less distorted. And like Shredd said it sticks in your head. The chorus is EPIC! The fade out is a little long for my taste but I can absolutely see why you did it. And some of your leads are so emotionally charged especially nearing the end. The bass is a little busy for me in places and takes away from the classic chord progression. One more funny comparison..
Starting at :18. Does this little half step descending chord progression/melody thing sound a little familiar?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDvqdb_dzfI
It sounds like the " I can't promise starry skies " part. Bozz Scaggs wrote that BTW.
And the layered vocals on the outro are also epic!

I see your total listens are 25,552!!!!!

Dude! Killer!!

I wish you the best.
As you can see I'm thorough. I'll need to give the next song I review more attention before I post on it.

GO CRAIG GO!!

Paul,

Good critiques.

I also thought the first chorus was aching for more build, maybe I'll tweak it some later. I think I left it plain, because it repeats 3 times, and I always want the songs like this, to climax steadily, with a big finish. And going through it three times, I thought it might be better to leave it simple, so it didn't get worn out before song end. But I COULD have just added a little something, not too much, but something more.

And Rita Coolidge!

LOL - I grew up on her, and many others, like Carly Simon, Roberta Flack, Carole King, Judy Collins, too many others to mention.

I NEVER thought of that, but I see it now. LOL

I was FAR MORE worried about the Jeff Healey sounding intro, and I even heard a little Dixie Chicks in the mix too.

In the end, you have to sometimes block it out, and go forward and see whether it is still there when all is said and done.

I felt, that as a complete package, it stood on it's own, and was not a rip off of anyone else.

I mean, we only have 12 notes in western music to work with. You know? A little overlap is inevitable! LOL

My mom, really groomed me (unintentionally... I listened to her records alone, all the time) in really good artists, and songwriters. It may be that early education that gave me an appreciation and love, for the BIG BALLAD.

I'll never get tired of a really good ballad, that pulls on you emotionally.

One day, maybe I'll write something close to "Send in the Clowns". Some people here will laugh, but that is a beautiful and deep ballad, and fairly complex, alternating between 12/8 and 9/8 meter. Did you know that, that song has been on over 900 albums, recorded by HUNDREDS of artists over the years?

There are just not alot of songs of which that can be said!

In the end, you have to sometimes block it out, and go forward and see whether it is still there when all is said and done.

I totally agree

I felt, that as a complete package, it stood on it's own, and was not a rip off of anyone else.

Again I totally agree

I've been playing with it since I wrote the critique. Just the chorus actually. I'll send you my email addy in a PM so I can email it to you. You will trip. It's down and dirty. Like since my last post down and dirty lol. But I have some surprises you might get a kick out of.

I've been playing with it since I wrote the critique. Just the chorus actually. I'll send you my email addy in a PM so I can email it to you. You will trip. It's down and dirty. Like since my last post down and dirty lol. But I have some surprises you might get a kick out of.

Ha ha,

That's what I appreciate about you Paul. A songwriter after my own heart, very creative and PROLIFIC. The creativity jumps from here to there, ANYTHING creative, even tweaking other's stuff, is a joy!

Quite a while back, I was actually going to propose a contest, to write 7 songs in 7 days, or something similar. It wasn't really a contest, but more of a challenge, something to get the writer's juices going here. A focused goal, hopefully to get us to pull stuff out of the hat, maybe even surprise ourselves.

I didn't know if anyone else would take me up on it, but I had money down, that you would!

I thought you might not have time for it though, between work and leading music for service at your church, so I let it slide.

But HOPEFULLY, one day, we'll collaborate on something.

That would be fun!

Now I am the one with my hands full. LOL

I've set a goal of writing and recording 10 Christian/Spiritual songs within the next few months, and putting them up for FREE download on a new MySpace I am about to put up.

After that, I plan on doing an international song page on MySpace, and put 10 songs in several different languages up (Spanish, Korean, Danish and one or two others).

I've also been playing with a song meant for a James Bond movie. Just for fun, but if it's good enough, you never know. But then this made me want to elaborate on that theme, and I decided that I want to write a WHOLE ALBUM (at least 10 songs) of James Bond movie inspired songs. So, for example, a James Bond fan would KNOW that one of the songs was about "The Spy Who Loved Me" and another about "Goldfinger", etc...

If I decide to go through with that plan, that would be a 4th MySpace of music. LOL

Wow... I've got alot of writing to do!

Better get to it!

Well it's ready! Email me! I sent you a pm with my addy.

And on the challenge...
Check this out. I stumbled on this looking for looper tech data. 50 songs in 90 days!
http://5090.fawm.org/forums/general/?n=25

Paul,

Sent you an email.

Sorry for the delay. I'm not used to checking messages here. I do it about once every month or two. LOL

I'll check the link out.

That's insane!!! 50 songs in 90 days?

Let's do 50 in 60 days and kick his ass!

Tear it up!!
It's a whole forum of folks trying to pull it off. I only listened to about 6 artists there and only heard one with any talent.

I sent the track. Off to pick up the kids. I'll check back in a little bit.

Ok Paul,

You put that together quickly! Kudos!


The only thing I wouldn't like about it, is that it lightens the emotion up too much FOR ME THAT IS, on that particular song.

It would make a good remake.

I wish it was another song.

It would be a good song, done that way as a whole separate song.

I always like your style and grooves.

But grooving this up, takes away from the emotional power and makes it a little too happy. I mean, the song is not sad, but it is meant to be deep, movingly deep. He has the girl of his dreams, but he's paid an enormous price. I can't be sure it does, for everyone, but I HOPE that emotion comes through. Some people who have heard it for the first time, actually teared up. That was the heart I invested in it.

I HATE not being able to just LOVE IT, particularly when MUSICALLY it was good. But EMOTIONS are so important to me, on songs like this.

I went round and round with my former band on this VERY issue before. Where they had a solo lead, for example, that was musically fine, but emotionally, it took it somewhere else.

I would have to argue with the lead player, "Bro, that break is too busy for this song. It needs some longer held bends. People are moved by bends like that, on a sad song, cause it resembles crying. They know what it feels like, in their deepest times of despair, to cry AUDIBLY, and it is like WAILING, long slurs of sound. When they hear that same sound on a guitar, a longer more dramatic bend, it immediately GIVES THEM the feeling of a deep cry. It is instinctual, unconscious, they don't think about this, they just FEEL IT. And that will make the song more impactful to them!"

Sometimes they would accept the advice, and when they did, it usually became a crowd favorite, and requested often.

Well, when you posted that U2 song, I said something similar. That you had done it a little too casually, which didn't let us plummit to the depths with you, which is where the song wants to take us.

Don't hate me bro!

You know I think you're one of the most talented people here.

You need some TRAUMA in your life! LOL

I would be happy to give you some of mine. Lord knows I've had several lifetimes of it.

Can I trade some of your happiness, for some of my despair?

You are right as usual Craig. It doesn't hurt me at all. It's just some sense you are throwing my way. I did groove it up and you are right. I don't have any trauma. My music is mostly positive. I did write one recently that is gripping and emotive. At my most recent show a girl near the front had her face winced in pain and understanding. That was very rewarding. But I do usually play happy or groovin' songs. On the U2 cover I got a bad review from everybody here (my only song here to get bad reviews). But go check out the comments on the video. Only positive comments like this one.... "Dude they should use you in the ad for Boss. This blows away their demo " 2069 views, 18 ratings and 4.5 stars.

But what about the high harmony I put on "walk one thousand more"?!!

... And I can't wait to meet you Craig! So far I've met Philby, Sans, JW123, and JimmyDanger.