The Only Joy - New Mix

[Mark Kaufman]

Jan 8, 2009, 1:21pm, feaker wrote:markTop notch stuff. (again)Film I would say.PaulI'm getting closer to pulling the trigger and joining up...but I have no idea who would use a song like this. The cool thing about TAXI is that they DO know where this sort of oddball song might find a home. It sure won't be George Strait or Avril Lavigne.Thanks for your generous assessment! -Mark

[ideascapes]

Mark,I'm listening for the first time here, as I've been away. I'm assuming that I'm hearing a version with corrections thown in already, since I only see one link.The guitars do sound a little brittle during the intro. I'm hearing a little Mark Knopfler in the vocal.The bagpipes are playing now...wait, lemme get my son to stop playing the trombone...they don't go together at all! On my headphones, the BPs were overwhelmingly loud. I think it's a good sound for the part, though.Interesting idea to double the lead vocal panned hard left and right in the bridge.The 3 part vocal parts are really effective.You're right--this song has an uplifting quality to it, which is interesting for such a downtempo piece. I do think there's a use for this somewhere--in a film, most likely. Hard to predice where or when that would happen, but it's certainly a keeper and worth pitching!Vince

[Mark Kaufman]

Thanks Vince! You hit two of the notes I wrote to myself for the next remix:-Bagpipes too hot-Guitars still too trebly-Adjust 3-way harmony on the last verse (more middle voice, less high voice)Really appreciate your help! Thanks.-mk

[cameron]

Hey Mark,I knew by the time it got to the end of the second line that I was going to like this song. Everybody's hit on what needs fixin' already. It's just a real nice nice tune. My only complaint is if you're gonna have bagpipes, couldn't you throw in some cowbell too? And was that Yoko Ono I heard in there around 2:40?One of these days we gotta get a Best of Taxi CD going. Cam

[Mark Kaufman]

Hey, don't knock Yoko...I'm one of the few people who seem to really like her. I don't know why I did that bit...just a random impulse. I kind of like it, but it could stay or go.Thanks Cam, but I've heard enough TAXI songs to give up on being in any Best Of comp--too much seriously good stuff here.Hey I actually got a cowbell for Christmas!There is yet another mix posted...I think I have things in order now, but the bagpipes are probably still too hot.Thanks again, Cam!-mk

[billg]

Mark this by far is my favorite of all your songs (that I've heard). It's hard to put into words but it still has a "shrill" quality to it whereas I think "warmer" would be more what you need. I was listening at a pretty healthy volume and when the bagpipes came in my right ear started to bleed. I think that the top end could be knocked down with the right "soft" compression setting. Just making a guess here . . . if it were mine I'd also take a tiny bit off between 5 & 10k and maybe try boosting a tiny bit at or around 200k. Not enough to loose the sparkle or make it muddy but just enough to warm it up & take the edge off.This is a fabulous song imo. One of those melodies that makes me think "damn I wish i'd written that". maybe I'll just steal it

[Mark Kaufman]

Thanks Bill, I'll knock them back tonight or tomorrow, and sorry about all the blood! Something about pipes just makes me want to crank up the volume too high.

[deantaylor]

Mark,Real good song. I heard touches of Warren Zevon in there in places. And I always liked his sad ballads.Dean

[Mark Kaufman]

Thanks Dean! I need to explore Zevon a little deeper...I know he has a lot of buried gems that I've never heard.

[kitz]

Mark - real nice tune wow - harmony sounds like Todd Rundgren (one of my heroes) for an instant "on Your beauty overwhelms me" - really nice!I really like the way you build the harmony and backup vocal parts. Very effective IMO. The bagpipes are a little weird sounding - they don't sound real enough to me but then your probably using real BPs and I'm just not getting it. I might be tempted to bring out the mandolin and drop back the pipes in that spot but - you know it's all just experimenting until it knocks you off your seat.This almost sounds like a folk song in the beginning and then broadens out with more complex harmonies and such. I think maybe it could stand a little percussion as it builds. Nice interesting melody and lyrics!!I like it!!Kitz