S090313PO Pop/Rock Return

[mus]

Hmmm, very disappointed in this return. Thought it was a perfect song for the pitch. Whaddya think, are they right, how can I improve it? And thanks for listening www.Taxi.com/mus - Get Better (female version)S090313POPOP/ROCK SONGS WITH FEMALE VOCALS in the range of Hilary Duff, Miley Cyrus, Ashlee Simpson, etc. are sought after by a successful Music Publisher based in L.A. who has secured tons of Film/TV placements for many TAXI members. Lyrically, this Publisher would prefer songs that are NOT about love Ð clever, original and unique stories will have more appeal for this one. Female vocals only, please. Be sure the performances are outstanding and the recordings are Broadcast Quality (excellent home recordings should be just fine). They offer a non-exclusive, 50/50 split deal Ð you keep your original copyrights. Please submit 1-3 songs online or per CD, include lyrics. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than March 13, 2009. TAXI #S090313POTitle: Get Better (Female version)inspirational and motivating lyrics... i dig it. good vocal performance. I do suggest trying to capture even more personality and vibe in the performance. The overall production and track leave a bit to be desired. The impact/ presence of track is minimal and the simplicity of it detracts form the tunes engagement with the audience. Need to make that hook really slam. its possible a solid mix will do the trick.Status: Forward ReturnStyleOn target for this listingin keeping with the style and artists mentioned in this listing (i.e. Hilary Duff, Miley Cyrus, Ashlee Simpson)Overall CommentsHi Murray-Thanks for letting me check out your tune.This is a good start but it feels more like a demo do to the simple and under produced track. More dynamics and variation to create more engaging and memorable parts for the listener to hold on to and carry the momentum for the duration of the tune will greatly improve the impact and appeal of this song. good luckSound QualityNot great, but clean enough for this listingi think this tune could work with a mix that creates more of a presence for the track. more delineated "swells" into the chorus will help as wellThe main reason(s) you were or were not forwarded for this listing is:the overall impact and engagement is lacking from the vocal performance and the track.Listener ID # 294

[ciskokidd]

Hey mus,I sort of see what he means about the transition into the chorus. It almost sounded like a drop off in energy the first time it came into the chorus. I can't quite put my finger on it, but after a second listen through it still felt like a letdown. The thing that also stuck out to me was the guitars. Although the playing was excellent, the overall sound did not have the punch that songs by Ashlee and Miley have. I think they may have been really picky on this one, because IMHO the track was pretty much on target. Sure it wasn't record quality mix-wise, but they didn't ask for that.It may just need to be mixed again with an emphasis on getting that chorus to pop out at you.Best,Cisko

[t4mh]

This is a really really good song! All the performance and arrangement is in there. I wouldn't change any of that. OK maybe the bass is back there a bit too much but only a bit given the types of airplay this could get. The mix overall has no prescence. Just take it through an enhancer or exciter and make it sparkle. You can do this!Good luck!Keith

[mus]

Thanks very much for the feedback guys. OK, I can hear what y'all are hearing now. There is a male and an instrumental version of the song with pretty much the same arrangement, which have been forwarded a few times. The female version hasn't been 'mastered' as such.Any recommendations on exciter/enhancer plugins? I was reading they might be a bit problematic on mixes sometimes leading to phase problems.

[ciskokidd]

Yeah, you'll have to be careful with any exciters and the phase issues that crop up.The plug I like is the Waves Maxximizer (I think that's what it's called). I don't really like to use them myself as usually the problem is in the mix. But when I've had to use one I was really careful to use it sparingly, mainly as a way of getting a dull drum track to shimmer a bit on the high end.All the best,Cisko

[simonparker]

IMO - I think this song is on the fence, albeit closer to the wrong side of the fence but doesn't need major changes at all. From a mixing standpoint, I think the mix could work better with some EQ and compression on the guitars. The drums don't quite have the kick I'd expect. In other words, this feels "less mixed" and more "flat" than what I'd want to hear. I don't think a "mastering" plug-in enhancer is going to solve the problem. I think it's more EQ and possibly some reverb and compression that can change the sonics of this - especially in the first verse, the 2nd verse has a soft synth to help fill the sonics. The radio effect at 2:15 is a good idea, but doesn't come across very well here as well... I'd try panning that acoustic guitar to either the left or right side to create a spacial feel and drop that crackle... Finally, I think you could also use even more harmonies and layering on the voxes that can help create a little more thickness to the sound here.Lyric wise the song's pretty good, musically, I think you need more sectional contrast between the verses and chorus to sell this song for the listing as well - at least between 1st verse and 1st chorus.genre wise is on target for listing.... I think it's just a combination of a better, more thought out mix with possibly a rewrite of the verse melody going into the chorus....

[ciskokidd]

Mar 26, 2009, 12:18pm, simonparker wrote:IMO - I think this song is on the fence, albeit closer to the wrong side of the fence but doesn't need major changes at all. From a mixing standpoint, I think the mix could work better with some EQ and compression on the guitars. The drums don't quite have the kick I'd expect. In other words, this feels "less mixed" and more "flat" than what I'd want to hear. I don't think a "mastering" plug-in enhancer is going to solve the problem. I think it's more EQ and possibly some reverb and compression that can change the sonics of this - especially in the first verse, the 2nd verse has a soft synth to help fill the sonics. The radio effect at 2:15 is a good idea, but doesn't come across very well here as well... I'd try panning that acoustic guitar to either the left or right side to create a spacial feel and drop that crackle... Finally, I think you could also use even more harmonies and layering on the voxes that can help create a little more thickness to the sound here.Lyric wise the song's pretty good, musically, I think you need more sectional contrast between the verses and chorus to sell this song for the listing as well - at least between 1st verse and 1st chorus.genre wise is on target for listing.... I think it's just a combination of a better, more thought out mix with possibly a rewrite of the verse melody going into the chorus....Good points Simon,I agree, the issues are probably best resolved with a new mix. The rewrite may not be as necessary since this is not really intended as an artist pitch, which I then would absolutely agree with you there as well.Cisko

[mus]

Thanks again chaps. I'll have a go at re-doing the mix at the weekend.M

[rld]

I like the song.Things that stick out to me.1. Guitar lead in the first :10 seconds sounds a bit tentative to me.I'd make it tighter and more precise.2. Make the transition from pre chorus to chorus puncher...end the pre chorus with a snare hit and start the chorus with a bigger tag on the "and" of four.3. The breakdown section with the EQ'd vocal could be pulled off better...bring the vocal closer to the front without reverb...and the acoustic guitar behind it sounds like samples instead of a real player...a more aggressive part would fit better.Again coming out of the vocal brkdwn, end the drum fill on the "and"...would sound bigger and tighter.Anyway, just some thoughts.

[mus]

Thanks RLD, much appreciated.I've posted an attempt at a remix incorporating most of all of your suggestions I hope, if you'd care to listen.Biggest error in the original was probably the lack of volume on the chorus / bridge guitars.www.Taxi.com/mus - Get Better (female version remix)Thanks for your time.