Song of the Month Club - November

[Deleted User]

JohnnyGoodyear said:

monzo said:

Jocphone said:

monzo said:
You can definitely hear the confidence in this track, you've got control over the machine, rather than the other way around. Saying that though, I hope you don't lose the happy accidents. Some of the tracks I enjoy most of yours are the ones where you're experimenting, and testing stuff out. I love the freedom of expression that comes across, to me that's more important than getting recording levels right. I think it's all come together on this one - a happy balance between creativity and technical skill.

This new forum editor is doing my head in!

No need to worry monzo, have spent enough years railing against technique and uniformity that I don't think I will suddenly get my head turned by a few tips on how to boost certain frequencies etc.. And there is plenty more experimentation to come, I don't settle that easily.

Cool, look forward to your next one! 

Yeah browsing the forum's a bit if a chore on a phone now, too much vertical padding and increased leading = more scrolling.

I have a rule about software updates/improvements; give it a month. Suspect we will not want our toys taken back, but will always feel nostalgic for the somehow simpler days of clumsy little bits of mark-up etc.

Forum-wise, if this fine institution continues*, I have also found this kind of 'upgrade' to lead to a Before and After feeling ("You kids and all your cyrillic smileys, back in the day we usta hafta to communicate with the Queen's English and nothing else...").

Still miss the plus one button however.

*For the record this is taken already....

No, the line spacing is too big, and padding around the quotes. It's making each reply taller. Nightmare on a phone.

Jocphone

Oh I don't mind new toys but the simplicity of indenting with angle brackets was perfect for the task when quoting, especially on mobile. The new format looks nice but is struggle. 

JohnnyGoodyear

@jocphone @monzo ;

Yup. I feel your pain, but don't, you know, *actually* feel it because I don't use modern telephony much. Can imagine it is icky. Might see (like this one) an increase in posts which DO NOT 'quote' but just add the person's handle etc to obviate all the padding.

[Deleted User]

JohnnyGoodyear said:

@jocphone @monzo ;

Yup. I feel your pain, but don't, you know, *actually* feel it because I don't use modern telephony much. Can imagine it is icky. Might see (like this one) an increase in posts which DO NOT 'quote' but just add the person's handle etc to obviate all the padding.

It all looks very pretty on the desktop (I'm on that now), but it's not so good on an iPhone (old one). The editor has an inline style which looks like it's imposing line height and 12px padding, and then the blockquote.Quote is also adding 10px padding. I haven't checked the mobile stylesheet but if it's the same then it'd benefit from a tweak.

Jocphone

@JohnnyGoodyear @monzo ok I understand. The problem I've found is editing around indented quotes. Even in desktop it is difficult now compared to when it was based on text editing. 

LostBoy85

@rkmonkey Well done mate! You made some excellent adjustments that brought more balance to the song. 

LostBoy85

@JohnnyGoodyear Hey man,nice song! If u say it's only 25% done then I'm gonna spare u any critique.Nice piano playing,good singing,some interesting ideas with the different sections.My fave is the piano section.I like how it just plods along nicely.

6 plus minutes eh?? And who says a leopard can't change its spots. 

[Deleted User]

@rkmonkey said:

Late as usual.

Yeah I like that - tight playing, nice, warm analog feel to the recording. Vocals put me in mind of Robert Wyatt in some places. Good stuff!

JohnnyGoodyear

LostBoy85 said:

@JohnnyGoodyear Hey man,nice song! If u say it's only 25% done then I'm gonna spare u any critique.Nice piano playing,good singing,some interesting ideas with the different sections.My fave is the piano section.I like how it just plods along nicely.

6 plus minutes eh?? And who says a leopard can't change its spots. 

Thanks. I'm going to revert to type for December and produce something pithy and dour. Minute thirty I reckon

JohnnyGoodyear

rkmonkey said:

@JohnnyGoodyear great story and feel. Rock opera in the making. Which one's Pink? I think it is great. Could listen to an album.

Thanks Mister Monkey. Much as I've written (back in the real world) a fair number of short stories/novellas etc I'd never considered a concept/operatic piece, but this made me at least think about it.

Also thought about how 'we' don't listen to albums anymore and -weirdly- because of that I can easily imagine someone releasing something that would or will be very popular because it was long form. The novelty of it at this point in history etc. Probably won't be me, but think it could be someone....

BvsMV

JohnnyGoodyear said:

This is a WIP in a three acts (Tell them you're going to tell them a joke, tell them the joke, tell them you've told them the joke.). The first one is someone sure that his girl is going to leave him. The second, perhaps years later, is the same guy wishing his girl would come back home. The third is a short piece of information only available to us, the audience, explaining what happened to her and why she won't ever be back.

@JohnnyGoodyear you've done it again. Very original and unique. I love the drone for part one. Very cool. Part two somehow flows in very easily. Nice vocals and the small organ lines in the background give it a cool sixties vibe. I can't wait to see how the project unfolds. 

High5denied

I have something/comments written down for everyone's songs for November.  I keep forgetting to bring the hard copy papers to work to transfer them to the forum.  

Question:  Is it still worthwhile, and important for you guys for me to offer my comments on this past month now that December is here?  I am not an expert of mixing/mastering.  Just a lonely ol' musician tryin to do some mix/masterin things. As others more qualified than me have already offered plenty of thoughts on yer songs, do you want to hear my thoughts?  Or should I move on to December?    

richardyot

If you've already taken the time to listen to the songs and written your thoughts down then by all means share them, the threads normally linger into the following month while people add their comments.

High5denied

@richardyot said:

If you've already taken the time to listen to the songs and written your thoughts down then by all means share them, the threads normally linger into the following month while people add their comments.

Sounds good to me!

Here they be:  Oh ya........SOTMC, I try to say what I like about the song, and if there is anything my ears think might need tweaking.  There were a lot of posts throughout this month that talked about this.  Hell, I blasted metal and techno waaaay too loud growing up.  So my ears are shiat.  But I looooove music....  

Matt_Fletcher_2000:  Love the synths in this song.  Very nice soothing and relaxing melody.  Wow, such a great song @2:20 lots of different FX going on.  

Simon_Acetone: Right off the bat, the synths remind me of the 80's.  @.55 sec It's like a perfect cross of the song Electric Avenue and some Late 90's house/trance.  @ 1:24ish there s the synth again, I love the sound of it.
@2:10ish the Arp synth is great, it adds to the natural progression of the track.  @3:50ish it's like an 8 bit break down.  Very cool track, very nice voice overs. 

gburks:  Starts off cool with the Uke and drum.  But....when the piano hits, I absolutely love the piano melody!  Love the harmonized vocals as well.  Very nice song.  So sorry to hear of your father.  I can appreciate his fight being a cancer survivor.  

touchconspiracy:  Deff. hear the techno from back in the day on this one.  @58 sec. I love the change, the Arp is sweet sounding.  I could have easily had this playing next to Praga Kahn or Lords of Acid in my car, when I was a punk.  lol.....

NoiseHorse: It's like a chaotic piece of melody.  I like all the sounds except one.  I don't know how to describe it?  It's on the 1st beat of every measure.  It seems to be too loud compared to the other sounds?  I love the acoustic guitar sounds.  @1:40 it gets quite cool with all the added sounds.  Great track!

LostBoy85:  Wow, this polished up nicely!  Everything fits together so well.  The mix of the instruments and sounds are great.  I wish I could get my mixes to sound like this.  Very catchy tune.  The oh, oh, oh ah's sound mint!  

Igneous1:  Very cool peaceful track.  The Bass behind it all, throughout the song is wonderful.  A great backbone to the piece.  Very nice track, even a bit funky sounding.  

richardyot:  Anticipating beginning.  I am on edge waiting to see what the intro will bring.  The vocal harmony seems off to me?  Maybe this is intentional?  Or, maybe it's not, like I said I am not an expert by any means.  at 3:10 the vocal harmonies sound excellent.  It's like the music fits the lyrics perfectly.  Like eerie, and doomful.  I like it.  And........as cool as the lyrics are, I don't understand them.    

mrufino1:  Very nice rock tune.  It reminds me of someone, some band????  Nice melody.  @1:33 I love the guitar solo.  It's very simple but effective.  It's deff. got a 60's vibe to it as well as a hint of the 90's.  

Question?  So throughout the whole song, the vocals are doubled up?  or....how are your achieving the sound, of such a full vocal?  Thanks.  

Matt_Fletcher_2000: this is all constructive critique.  opinions and such.   I think it needs another element.  The pulsing synth at 1:30ish I think is a bit loud.  And at 2:06.  I like the song, when I'm in my electronic mindset it hits just right.  hope that as you asked for thoughts, you'll take my comments as just that.  

JeffChasteen:  I like it, it's like slow, crust, punk rock....or something.  When the lead guitar comes in, the vocals seem like they need to be brought up a bit more.  I do recognize the muckracker in there!  I think the distortion even has distortion on this track!  Good stuff.  


monzo: I wouldn't even know where to start putting a track together like this......I don't know how to critique it.....It deff. is a "meat based snack"  @3:00 the effect in there is like a rising...... What's going to happen next FX!  Cool song, crazy listen.  

Bluepunk: I love it.  Someone mentioned Sex Pistols earlier....Deff. in the vocals.  The tone of the guitars is mint.  So cool how you use guitarism to put this together.......Great song

BvsMV: Beautiful peaceful sounding track.  Very nicely put together.  Each instrument fits perfectly into the song.  I lie the acoustic fret sounds delicately placed throughout.  Very nice!  

rkmonkey:  I thought georgia satellites right off the bat.  Then I think, it's got a bit of a 60's vibe as well.  Great fun song to listen to.  Vocals might be a bit loud, but then I tend to mix my vocals too soft.  So don't listen to me.  

Jocphone:  Crazy sounds.  I like the track with the vocals.  It seems to bring the song together better.  Vocals might be a bit too loud over the music.  I really like the vibe and instruments you used.  

JohnnyGoodyear:  Nice intro.  The simple chords in the beginning sound really good.  @1:33 I love the piano riff.  I dig the vocals a bit more too.  They sound great, harmonizing done nicely too.  This part reminds me of the Ween album... You know the Country one.  Not that this is country, just the vocals and the story telling.  @5:30 that was a switch.  Sweet way to end it.  Great song.  Lot of depth to it.....

If I missed anyone, sorry.  Let me know.  Hope to have an offering in December.  

LostBoy85

@High5denied hey dude,thanks very much for taking the time to post such epic comments! I'm glad you liked my track.

Bluepunk

@High5denied   Wowzer, appreciate you taking the time to listen, digest & comment on all of the tracks. I tip my hat to you. I'm happy you enjoyed my punk stuff & I look forward to hearing your festive season entry this month. Cheers again.  

JohnnyGoodyear

I vote to send Mister @High5denied his SOTMC reviewer award patch immediately!

rkmonkey

@High5denied thanks

JeffChasteen

Better late than never...
or so I have heard...

Matt_Fletcher_2000:
Really nice feel to this. Relaxing, but your use of DrumJam and Pattern keeps it moving.
Simon Acetone:
Well done. I particularly like your use of the voice.
Simon Acetone:
First class. A beautiful tribute. I really like your singing.
touchconspiracy:
Heavy bass and percussive white noise are catnip to me. Whisker-licking good.
NoiseHorse:
Beautiful layers of sound.
Great vocals and hilarious lyrics. The whole song is just damn good.
Igneous1:
Very nice. I like the interplay of the chiming and percussive elements.
richard yot:
Deceptively complex. Scott Walker without the excess histrionics.
mrufino:
Nice. And. Heavy. Great vocals, also.
monzo:
The best kind of snack. I'm a glutton for dark soundscapes. Well done.
bluepunk:
Timeless and first rate. Fuck yeah!
BvsMV:
Yes, yes, yes. Narcotic (the good kind)
rkmonkey:
Great guitar and glam stomp. Are you Marc Bolan and have you been faking your death all these years?
Nicely done.
Jocphone:
Enjoyed this one. I like the dissonance.
JohnnyGoodyear:
Great work. I particularly like the piano and vocal harmonies.

JohnnyGoodyear

@jeffChasteen .....and breathe

Thanks for your comments Jeff.

JeffChasteen

Lost Boy:
"Great vocals and hilarious lyrics. The whole song is just damn good" was meant for you.

JeffChasteen

@JohnnyGoodyear said:
@jeffChasteen .....and breathe

Thanks for your comments Jeff.

You're very welcome.
I am addicted to the Pinterian...
pause.

JohnnyGoodyear

@JeffChasteen said:

@JohnnyGoodyear said:
@jeffChasteen .....and breathe

Thanks for your comments Jeff.

You're very welcome.
I am addicted to the Pinterian...
pause.

A great
and complicated man. That Mister Pinter.

rkmonkey

@jeffChasteen thanks for the feedback. Funny... I was around 12 or so when Bolan died. I don't think I'm faking, just pretending. Also never thought I would use a C Berry like riff, tired as it may be, in a song. But... There's still Dcember.

Bluepunk

@JeffChasteen  Many thanks for commenting. Onto the next one.  

richardyot

@Bluepunk said:

Onto the next one.

Now that's the spirit. 

LostBoy85

@JeffChasteen thanks man,I appreciate it

Bluepunk

@richardyot said:

@Bluepunk said:

Onto the next one.

Now that's the spirit. 

That "Don't break the chain" article you kindly sent me last month, really does work for me. Everyday since, I have managed to strike a big red cross through each & everyday. Whether it's learning a new chord or writing some lyrics I have MADE time for my passion. You can probably guess which room I visit to achieve this.   No more newspaper reading in there! Only music learning/making from now on & I love it. Thanks.

richardyot

Haha - iPads have certainly made extended visits to the bathroom (American euphemism) much more productive

Bluepunk

@richardyot said:

Haha - iPads have certainly made extended visits to the bathroom (American euphemism) much more productive

Oh yes indeed! Extended visits, more productive & definitely with increasing frequency.  Enough to be continually asked...........

 "Have you got an upset stomach again dear? Do you need to go see the Doctor?"  

Mmmmm....no, I've just got to get this new riff down! See you in an hour!