New songs/mixes up!

Re: New songs/mixes up!

Chris, you are a talented singer and songwriter. You have a very listenable, understated expression to your vocals and an intrinsic understanding of making the lyrics 'sound' good, if you know what I mean, along with a strong melodic sense. You have the elements that are missing from so many songs, but there are many ways in which these songs could be improved from a production standpoint, which would get the ideas across with more intent for the listener. Here's a few ideas...

"All You've Known" is a well written song. What's lacking is a more substantial foundation from the drums, and some variation or 'lift' to separate the chorus from the verse, ie, it needs to build. With a more substantial drum foundation in the chorus, you could add another element, perhaps an overdriven guitar part, which would increase the 'drama' of the chorus. You would also then get the effect of dropping back down into the verse for contrast. A similar approach could be taken for the mid 8, introducing yet another element. But this is a great melody, and a very cool song.

"Something To Think About" again is a great melody and vocal, but could also use a more substantial rhythmic foundation, and again more separation between the verses and choruses. The end of the mid 8 needs to be tidied up, but this would be easily fixed. Another very cool song that just needs more support from the rhythm section.

"Mr Everything" benefits from the loop, which gives it a stronger foundation, but you might consider not dropping it out for the keyboard solo, because the song loses energy at that point. Also, the keys are probably too loud in that solo. Another cool song that just needs more attention paid to the variation between parts.


I'm not sure how you've set up your recording system, but if you are working with computer and software, I would suggest that you would benefit greatly from something like Addictive Drums http://www.xlnaudio.com/ which I'm sure would provide you with some very inspiring rhythmic support. Your songs are simply too good to not be given their best possible chance of capturing the listener's attention, and I think these are a few of the ways this could be achieved. You're a gifted songwriter and singer, excellent work.



Cheers.................................... Geoff.
 
Re: New songs/mixes up!

Chris, you are a talented singer and songwriter. You have a very listenable, understated expression to your vocals and an intrinsic understanding of making the lyrics 'sound' good, if you know what I mean, along with a strong melodic sense. You have the elements that are missing from so many songs, but there are many ways in which these songs could be improved from a production standpoint, which would get the ideas across with more intent for the listener. Here's a few ideas...

"All You've Known" is a well written song. What's lacking is a more substantial foundation from the drums, and some variation or 'lift' to separate the chorus from the verse, ie, it needs to build. With a more substantial drum foundation in the chorus, you could add another element, perhaps an overdriven guitar part, which would increase the 'drama' of the chorus. You would also then get the effect of dropping back down into the verse for contrast. A similar approach could be taken for the mid 8, introducing yet another element. But this is a great melody, and a very cool song.

"Something To Think About" again is a great melody and vocal, but could also use a more substantial rhythmic foundation, and again more separation between the verses and choruses. The end of the mid 8 needs to be tidied up, but this would be easily fixed. Another very cool song that just needs more support from the rhythm section.

"Mr Everything" benefits from the loop, which gives it a stronger foundation, but you might consider not dropping it out for the keyboard solo, because the song loses energy at that point. Also, the keys are probably too loud in that solo. Another cool song that just needs more attention paid to the variation between parts.


I'm not sure how you've set up your recording system, but if you are working with computer and software, I would suggest that you would benefit greatly from something like Addictive Drums http://www.xlnaudio.com/ which I'm sure would provide you with some very inspiring rhythmic support. Your songs are simply too good to not be given their best possible chance of capturing the listener's attention, and I think these are a few of the ways this could be achieved. You're a gifted songwriter and singer, excellent work.



Cheers.................................... Geoff.

Wow, thanks a lot Geoff, I appreciate it - especially coming from such a gifted musician as yourself! :beerchug:

Great advice, I will continue to work on it :) One of my next investments is going to be Stephen Slate Drums 3.0, it's about time I stepped away from the Logic drum loops. I've heard great things about Addictive Drums though, so I may have to look into them as well.

I've definitely fallen into typical song structure and it's nice to have someone critique where I'm taking the music because I tend to put that on the back burner sometimes. Building dynamics hasn't been a strong point of mine - it's more "catchy verse, catchy chorus, repeat, catchy bridge, catchy chorus, out" :D I promise to start working on that aspect of my music because you bring up some very valid points ;)

Thanks a lot for listening - I appreciate it :fing2:
 
Re: New songs/mixes up!

Wow, thanks a lot Geoff, I appreciate it - especially coming from such a gifted musician as yourself! :beerchug:

Great advice, I will continue to work on it :) One of my next investments is going to be Stephen Slate Drums 3.0, it's about time I stepped away from the Logic drum loops. I've heard great things about Addictive Drums though, so I may have to look into them as well.

I've definitely fallen into typical song structure and it's nice to have someone critique where I'm taking the music because I tend to put that on the back burner sometimes. Building dynamics hasn't been a strong point of mine - it's more "catchy verse, catchy chorus, repeat, catchy bridge, catchy chorus, out" :D I promise to start working on that aspect of my music because you bring up some very valid points ;)

Thanks a lot for listening - I appreciate it :fing2:

Yeah, I think you'll be inspired to rethink those drum parts once you have some inspiration from new loops or patterns. I don't think there's anything wrong with your song structures, they follow a standard format, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, more often than not that's what feels right, probably through our familiarity with it. I think all that's needed is maybe to contact a trusted drummer friend and say "Hey man, what would you play here?" and then find the loops or MIDI patterns that will give you that result. I guarantee that once you've done that, you'll get some different ideas for building the choruses to support those catchy melodies. You've already got the most important part covered, this is simply about presentation.



Cheers..................................... Geoff.
 
Re: New songs/mixes up!

Nice songs Chris! The songwriting, as wahwah said, is fantastic, and the instrumentation throughout is very well done. I really like your voice too, it reminds me a bit of Alexi Murdoch's voice, has that deep quality to it. Sounded very full even when you went into the falsetto range, and definetly fits the music well. I'll echo wahwah's suggestions on the dynamics between verses and choruses, but otherwise I thought they were really great, keep it up!
 
Re: New songs/mixes up!

Nice songs Chris! The songwriting, as wahwah said, is fantastic, and the instrumentation throughout is very well done. I really like your voice too, it reminds me a bit of Alexi Murdoch's voice, has that deep quality to it. Sounded very full even when you went into the falsetto range, and definetly fits the music well. I'll echo wahwah's suggestions on the dynamics between verses and choruses, but otherwise I thought they were really great, keep it up!

Thanks a lot man :) I really hate the sound of my voice and I have a pretty limited range (I can't get deep like I'd like to so I stay focused on higher notes), but I do my best to try to make it work :oo
 
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