Can we just do another music thread?

[Makensha]

I'd love to hear what you guys think of it.

Okay.

It is absolutely awful. Give up music. I'm joking.

I don't have time to listen to it all right now, so I'll just give some first impressions and give a full write up later.

Reminded me a lot of this, probably because the first thing I notice in a band is the vocalist. The band as a whole sounds fine, but I'm not sure what to make of the vocalist. He either sounds nervous or drunk. Compare it to the Hawkboy song I just posted. Cody Bonnette (the singer) is confident and precise. Every note is exactly where he planned it to be. Your band's vocalist seems a lot more haphazard. Off kilter. Novato 0:35 comes to mind.

[Moff Chumley]

You'd better believe we've heard that one before.
His band, his songs, though, so we kinda take it for granted.
Look forward to seeing your complete thoughts, though.

[OhJohnNo]

Yeah, I thought the singing was a bit off personally. Also the lyrics needed a bit of work, but then they always do at this stage. Still, great work other than that, keep going!

[Moff Chumley]

Huh, the lyrics are my favorite thing about Evan's songwriting. What didn't you like about them?

[OhJohnNo]

They certainly have a great deal of potential, but at the moment I think they seem a bit... clumsy. It was a while ago that I listened to your stuff (got distracted before I could comment) so I can't remember any specific examples. I'll get back to you.

[Makensha]

They certainly have a great deal of potential, but at the moment I think they seem a bit... clumsy.

Clumsy is a good way to put it. The rhythm of the vocals seem like there should be additional "beats" (music theory class is failing me for the proper word. But overall it just feels like the rhythm was drawn up carelessly, like a first draft to something that needs more refinement. Sometimes he holds a note that should move with the instruments, but instead he holds it in the past, like he's afraid to/can't change tone in a single syllable. I feel like just a little more work throughout the lyrics could have solved a lot of this.

But the vocal issue isn't just that the syllable count sounds weird: the vocals themselves feel like they belong somewhere else. He is singing it like he's focusing on playing guitar while singing at the same time. Kind of a mumbling singing voice. Which works better with something softer/more bizarre, but for a rock album such as this he needs confidence. He needs to belt it out; not mumble. Every songs sounds like he's depressed, regardless of what the song is about (though lyrically, from what I've caught in 2 1/2 listens, the songs do seem like downers). In short, he doesn't sound like he's found his singing voice.

But once you get past the vocals, the album is actually very solid. I found myself enjoying it quite a bit. Reminds me of a lot of Hawkboy. The instrumental are good without being distracting. It is overall a fine tuned machine, and that is what makes listening to the singing so depressing. There is clearly a great deal of talent and finesse in the band, but they are overshadowed by the weakness of the vocals.

Oh, and sorry for being such a harsh reviewer, but I generally find nothing interesting to say about the stuff I like besides "I like it." And I did like the album overall, just to be clear.

And since I'm in the general music thread and critiquing someone's self plug, I'll go ahead and self plug myself. I have most of my music up on a YouTube channel in my signature, but the best song is probably this. Feel free to complain about how awful and cheap it sounds.

[Moff Chumley]

I appreciate the review, and I'll give your music a listen when I'm not sitting in an airport terminal.

I can see where you guys are coming from vis a vis the clumsiness of the vocals, but the idea of sacrificing lyrics to be more rhythmically viable never so much as crossed our minds and I can promise you, will not be a step in our songwriting process at any point in the future.

[Makensha]

...the idea of sacrificing lyrics to be more rhythmically viable never so much as crossed our minds and I can promise you, will not be a step in our songwriting process at any point in the future.

It isn't about sacrificing artistic integrity or song meaning in order to make it flow rhythmically. There is no sacrifice that need be made besides the time it takes to meet "lyrical perfection." The point at which the artist says what he wants to say without odd syllables or stretches.

If there is some rule of lyrics the writer is following, such as the flow is there to convey a point or only use "raw" (aka first draft) lyrics, then that is one thing, but I'm not saying sell out. I am saying there are points that can be improved upon, and is something to at least look at for future endeavors.

[JoshL]

Sharing music is fun!

So then, Moff:
What I like:
-the diversity of the songs
-the tone of the singer (at times kinda Dean Wareham-ish, dig that)
-the cover art...love it!
-some nice basslines, and some interesting guitar riffs/leads

What I didn't like:
-The mix. Bass is a little too "woofy" for my tastes, could be tightened up in a lot of places. The static position guitars I'm not a fan of, but that's a style thing.
-the recording is a little on the noisy side, but I'm overly picky about that sort of thing.
-songwriting's just not grabbing me. Again, personal tastes.
-expanding on what was said before, when the singer goes to let loose, he doesn't. His softer parts are good, but when he tries to be more passionate, he just sounds a little bored (maybe that's why I'm thinking Dean Wareham!) He's putting the dynamics into the songs, just not really hitting it.
-I'd like to hear the guitars play off each other a little more. Too often it sounds like two guys wrote parts to a song, rather than writing a song together, if that makes any sense.

Overall, you guys are a good band and you've got a good foundation to grow on. Not really my cup of tea, but I bet you guys are a lot of fun live. Let me know if you guys hit the road and end up near Pittsburgh!

Also, Makensha:
(listened to the one you linked and a couple other tracks at random)
What I like:
-like the sorta chip-tune style
-some interesting prog-like melodies

What I didn't like:
-kicks could be a bit punchier
-individual lines could use a bit more expression. There's an overall dynamic to a lot of your songs, but not to the individual parts. Work on that and it'll help you build a little more naturally.
-when you use vocals, you seem to bury the rest of the mix, and they seem to not be a part of the song. A bit more balance, and some reverb to tie it all together will help a lot.

You've got some good ideas in there, keep at it!

To play fair, also in my signature, my band is Ghost Estate and can be heard here. I also just uploaded a couple tracks from my third feature length film score over on my film music page.

[Raistlin1040]

I will not be putting up my crappy chiptune for you to listen to because it's not ready.

Have this instead.

[dehro]

being Seasick must be awesome

[Raistlin1040]

no but actually are we not talking about the fact that david bowie released his first original material in 10 years and has an album coming out in march

[Kindablue]

I thought he retired from music forever?

[SDF]

I will not be putting up my crappy chiptune for you to listen to because it's not ready.

What software do you use to make your stuff?

[Kindablue]

I like this way too much.

[Raistlin1040]

What software do you use to make your stuff?

Ableton Live.

[DJ Yung Crunk]

Hey kids, my band's record's out. I don't know if rock's still cool or not, but rock's what it is.

I'd love to hear what you guys think of it.

Giving your own album five stars on RYM? That's pretty weak, dude.

When my mixtape comes out I'm probably only going to give it 3.5 at best.

[Shadow of the Sun]

Of course he's going to give it five stars; he and his band think they did the best they could do or they wouldn't have released it.

[DJ Yung Crunk]

Of course he's going to give it five stars; he and his band think they did the best they could do or they wouldn't have released it.

If only Emerson, Lake and Palmer had thought the way you do.

[Shadow of the Sun]

Entirely different situation.

ELP had a contract; they were obliged to release something, even if it was bad. Chumley is in an 'indie' band, ala, on a independent label if on a label at all, and as such isn't contractually obligated to do anything. So they can spend longer working on their album, trying to make it perfect.

[DJ Yung Crunk]

Entirely different situation.

ELP had a contract; they were obliged to release something, even if it was bad. Chumley is in an 'indie' band, ala, on a independent label if on a label at all, and as such isn't contractually obligated to do anything. So they can spend longer working on their album, trying to make it perfect.

Whoosh, bro.

[Moff Chumley]

When my mixtape comes out I'm probably only going to give it 3.5 at best.

Why on earth would you release a mixtape if you didn't think it was as good as you could get it? If you know you can do better, why wouldn't you?

[Jimorian]

Some friends collaborated on a new song, Calling Out. Autumn Sky and Musical Charis. I think this is one of the best locally recorded songs I've ever heard. Really lush ear candy that I'd expect from major label releases, but without being overproduced to the point that robs it of energy.

They play a show tomorrow along with Foxtails Brigade from San Francisco, who I also really liked when I heard them a couple years ago. A really different sound that I'd almost describe as Renaissance Pop. "Don't Look Down".

[DJ Yung Crunk]

Why on earth would you release a mixtape if you didn't think it was as good as you could get it? If you know you can do better, why wouldn't you?

So much whoosh!

[Crimmy]

So much whoosh!

Whoosh. Yes, Whoosh. Hey, Chumley, whoosh whoosh?

[Malfunctioned]

So much whoosh!

Whooooooooosh.

[Crimmy]

Whooooooooosh.

But, man, whoosh? I mean, just whoosh the whoosh.

[Moff Chumley]

Whoosh. Yes, Whoosh. Hey, Chumley, whoosh whoosh?

Whoosh indeed.

This is now a shoegaze thread.

[DJ Yung Crunk]

Whooooooooosh.

Whoosh. Yes, Whoosh. Hey, Chumley, whoosh whoosh?

I've opened a door here.

[dehro]

In my time we didn't smurf the smurf, we smurfed it.
because that's what we're doing, right?

would someone explain the concept of woosh to me?