What Am I? - NEW MIX again...

[davekershaw]

Yeah, good rocker!

[zoom]

Hey Mark!Song is very cool, and definitely fits comfortably in the sound I know you for. Very Elvis Costello meets the Beatles! There are some lyric diamonds in the verses... very cool indeed... though to me the chicken bone line seems more like a temporary lyric that stuck... but that Blarney Stone line is pretty awesome, so I understand it!Ok.... the mix needs some help, but you've already noted it. I think overall it just gets a bit heavy handed... partly because there are a lot of different parts floating around. Wrangle 'em in a little bit and bring in a good grounding bass sound, and you're at least close. You may even find that less is more in spots... but I'm sure you'll work it out. Watch the vocals too, as they sound a bit hollow to me in their current state. Just thought I'd mention it.And I like the idea wrds threw in above about a stripped down part. Your songs are (and this one is no exception) solid enough so that you don't have to rely on production to make your songs shine. I would at least recommend you listen to a more stripped down version and see if it flies! Lyrically and melody-wise, this song already has it. Nicely done!

[heinsite]

hi mark!cool tune, my only suggestions are:i'd actually like to hear the piano more up front...and on that line, i'll have to swing it the other neg way...i'd like to hear you go more direct to the metaphor there, instead of "decorate" your bed, hell i'd go with the whole enchilada and be more true to what you started in the bed thing---"just that same old flame that's burnin' up your bed..." or somethin' like that...very nice job, want to hear more in the final (semi-final?) mix.all the best,warren

[Mark Kaufman]

Nov 13, 2008, 1:40pm, feaker wrote:markLively little sucker.Less the lyrics, sorta 65 Beatle-ish? In a good way.I will be singing 'what am i to you" all evening now.good jobPaulThanks Paul! Lively is good. This is one where the Beatles never occurred to me. Was just trying to lay down a groove that grabbed me personally, something I might like to hear.Hope it didn't start any arguments with the wife... Cheers!-Mark

[Mark Kaufman]

Nov 13, 2008, 4:48pm, devin wrote:I'm liking this too Mark! I liked your "bed" line, so I guess that swings it back to +ve ground. I love the vocal melody, and the lyric has just enough good lines in it (you know, just enough of them to make me smile when they hit, and not too many that gives me a headache trying to catch them all). I also liked "Somebody to loveOr just something to do".My humble $0.02 is the mix has a ways to go, as you already mentioned...so no big news there. My thoughts on the arrangement/production that might be new:- the intro takes 2-3 seconds to establish where it's going, I'd vote to just get into your vibe right off the top. That way you can keep or sweep the ending chaos that's in there now...nothing wrong with a little meltdown at the end, just like all those bad relationships we've seen (caused )- piano has a great tone/cadence...might be a bit close to "Werewolves of London"...I dunno if that's good/badAgain, your vocal line and chorus writing are just great, I know you'll nail the performance too. To me the vocal melody is really important, as that's what is going to be remembered after the listen. Let's hope Feaker's wife doesn't think he's singing to her tonight, or you may have to write a make up song tomorrow. Great start on this tune!!P.S. Edited: wordsnmuzik's point #3 is subtle, but really a great suggestion. One of those little details that shows the craft, you know?That's my text on it...please take what you want, and just ignore the rest...I'm a fan of this tune either way.Thanks for all the great input, Devin! Yes, I listen hard to every bit of advice anyone offers...sometimes it's too hard to properly respond to in words. Creativity is such a wordless thing sometimes. But I never forget any of it, and I greatly appreciate all of it.I intend to re-sing most of it, especially the choruses...but I'll probably keep the Kentucky/Lucky verse...I'll never sing that one better. And probably all the electric guitar will be re-done with a better tone, then I'll put the scalpel to a lot of this stuff...less will probably be more with this one.Thanks Devin!-Mark

[Mark Kaufman]

Nov 13, 2008, 5:08pm, aldicicco wrote:Hi Mark,Cool tune. I really enjoyed your lyrics. Personally, the Blarney Stone line made me smile.I liked its bar room quality too.As a piano player, I'd brighten up the keys a little by playing more octaves than triads. Sort of Lynyrd Skynyrd type stuff. Even with the keys in the background, I think it will brighten things up a bit. And keep the same rythm going.Thanks for sharing this.Al Di CiccoHello Al,Now for the past day I've been fascinated by your suggestion. I saw Skynyrd in December 1976, and remember being the most impressed by the keys...that guy was SO good, and he was on fire that night. So you thing a few octave runs might sound better than triads...I will play around with that. I was actually leaning toward cutting more than adding...I meant to keep the keys only on the intro and first instances of that same riff, and the chorus, and cut all the rest to make things leaner. But I will definitely play with your suggestion first.Very grateful! Thanks for the kind words, too.Cheers,-Mark

[Mark Kaufman]

Nov 14, 2008, 2:26am, davekershaw wrote:Yeah, good rocker!Yeah, good post! Thanks Dave. -mk

[Mark Kaufman]

Nov 14, 2008, 2:01pm, zoom wrote:Hey Mark!Song is very cool, and definitely fits comfortably in the sound I know you for. Very Elvis Costello meets the Beatles! There are some lyric diamonds in the verses... very cool indeed... though to me the chicken bone line seems more like a temporary lyric that stuck... but that Blarney Stone line is pretty awesome, so I understand it!Ok.... the mix needs some help, but you've already noted it. I think overall it just gets a bit heavy handed... partly because there are a lot of different parts floating around. Wrangle 'em in a little bit and bring in a good grounding bass sound, and you're at least close. You may even find that less is more in spots... but I'm sure you'll work it out. Watch the vocals too, as they sound a bit hollow to me in their current state. Just thought I'd mention it.And I like the idea wrds threw in above about a stripped down part. Your songs are (and this one is no exception) solid enough so that you don't have to rely on production to make your songs shine. I would at least recommend you listen to a more stripped down version and see if it flies! Lyrically and melody-wise, this song already has it. Nicely done!Haha, truth is the chicken bone came after the Blarney Stone...I inverted them later. But I've fallen in love with singing "Am I a chicken bone?" Try it. Sorry, can't give up that simple pleasure. I need some sort of help for my bass tone...man, I have a 1972 Rickenbacker 4001, and no amp...the true sound of that bass just eludes me. Guess I need to acquire a Bass Pod or some sort of excellent VST I haven't yet found. I want this bass to sound very crisp and growly, yet still deep as hell...I want the Chris Squire tone. Sigh.But your advice, again, is great, and I do intend to trim more than I add. I may re-play most of it, but the instruments will trade off and take turns on this. And the drums haven't even been filled out yet...same beat plays throughout.Thanks for the nice compliments! Truly appreciated.Cheers,Mark

[Mark Kaufman]

Nov 14, 2008, 7:01pm, heinsite wrote:hi mark!cool tune, my only suggestions are:i'd actually like to hear the piano more up front...and on that line, i'll have to swing it the other neg way...i'd like to hear you go more direct to the metaphor there, instead of "decorate" your bed, hell i'd go with the whole enchilada and be more true to what you started in the bed thing---"just that same old flame that's burnin' up your bed..." or somethin' like that...very nice job, want to hear more in the final (semi-final?) mix.all the best,warrenWarren my friend, I will definitely follow both pieces of your advice. I was also thinking that a flame would do a better job of burning, heating up or warming a bed than decorating it... And the piano is too dim on this version, for sure.Good advice, will follow!Thanks,-Mark

[billg]

hey Mark, regarding the bass sound . . . This free compressor has a couple of very good bass pre-sets that I use all of the time.http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-compressor.phpI think the right compression might be the key to getting the bass sound you want. Just be sure to not to track you bass with too much low end. I think that's a mistake a lot of people make.