new member's first upload; feedback appreciated

[wickedsmaht]

I intend to submit this for the listing for "AMERICANA/ALT COUNTRY INSTRUMENTALS in the range from Uncle Tupelo to Lucinda Williams to Wilco, etc." with a deadline of tomorrow.

The song is called "Lucy's Time" -- it's the only one on my page so far!
http://www.taximusic.com/artists/jonathandavis

Also soliciting technical advice -- what's streaming on my Taxi page kind of sounds distorted and/or like an extremely low bitrate to me. In "mastering" it, I did try to make it loud, peaking close to 0 dB, but definitely never going over. I uploaded a 192K mp3 per the instructions. Might I have done something wrong, or is this just par for the course?

Here's the file I uploaded, in case you want to compare to what's on my Taxi page:
http://wickedsmaht.com/taxi/Lucys_Time.mp3

Thanks in advance!

[wickedsmaht]

Well, shame on me for not reading all the way to the bottom of the taximusic FAQ page!

Q: I clicked the "Play" button and my song sounds horrible, what gives?

A: The original MP3 (at 192kbps) that you have uploaded to your hosting site will be the exact same version that the TAXI screeners will hear. If you click on the "Play" button to stream your song, the quality might sound diminished as your file is being reduced to 128kbps at the most to stream. The difference between 192kbps and 128kbps will certainly have an effect on the quality when compressed.

[randwool]

Enjoyed it. Works for me as is.

[eeoo]

Hi there Jonathan,
Is this a backing track that normally has a vocal over it? Sounds good but you might think about adding something to give it some melodic movement/interest. I guess it depends on what the listing party wants which is always a bit of a guessing game. Welcome to the forum, if you do add some melody re-post it, I'd be interested to hear. eo.

[wickedsmaht]

Thanks for the kind words, randy.

eeoo -- that was my instinct, but when I called Taxi and asked if there should be a lead instrument taking over where the vocal would be, the person I talked to said that the listing would usually specifically request that if that's what they wanted. I still worry that it may just be TOO unadorned as is, but if so, I'll just chalk it up to a learning experience.

[georginasaint]

Hi Jon,
Well this is not my genre at all, but I took a listen. It sounds pretty good but I'd say what you have there is a "bed".
It does sound like you've taken off a vocal track - but maybe that's what they want?
I wonder if you could add a tune with a slide-guitar - is that what they use for country instrumentals???
I know nothing about it.
Anyway, good luck to you! Welcome to Taxi & the forum.

Georgie

[ottlukk]

Hey Wicked (love the handle):
It's a great background track. It always sounds like it wants to take off to someplace else, but doesn't. Do you have a "second movement" for this? I kept waiting for it, but it never came. Got to give you credit for building some anticipation, though.
Welcome to the boards!
Ott

[Bad Monkey]

Hello John,
I am also a newbie so I can understand the anticipation that you must feel. I liked the track. good structure and I almost caught myself singing a melody over it, so it worked for me. Good Luck!

[wickedsmaht]

Thanks all. The deadline was Wednesday, and I've learned from these forums that the best approach is to "write, submit, forget... repeat." So now I'm onto a different listing for the same company that is due on thursday: CONTEMPORARY ALT/INDIE ROCK INSTRUMENTALS in the range from Kings of Leon to Silversun Pickups to Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc.

regarding the B section -- based on advice I received when I called Taxi to discuss this listing, I didn't go with an instrumental ABA structure, but rather a song structure:
verse - chorus - verse - chorus - bridge - chorus

I tried to make the transitions obvious even though there's no melody.

Anyhow, again, I'm trying to absorb the forum mantra of "write, submit, forget..." but I am somewhat nervously awaiting the screener's critique.

[Penz2nz]

Jon,

I just finished listening to "Lucy's Time" and I was wondering if you only do instrumental tracks or do you also write lyrics?

That track is right in the pocket for the west Texas music scene and if you don't write lyrics I would love to try and write a song to that track.

If you are interested please contact me at: Penz2nz@yahoo.com

Take care and good luck on your submissions.