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Here's the first pass of a song I wrote in the bad old days. Times were so hard that writing this song felt like the only way I could strike back at the world somehow. Anyway, time passes and things change, and now that I'm a generally happy guy, the damn thing actually lifts my spirits. I'd love to hear any suggestions or comments. Thanks! http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7217120The Only JoyListen to the squawking of the winners and the losersOn the all night party lineTrue love's hard to come by, I pray for anything to save meFrom the boredom or the wineYou're the only joyYou're the only joyComfort's for the comfortable and money's for the wealthyAnd the violence is freeWisdom's for the elderly and pain is for the victimAnd a lonely voice for meYou're the only joyYou're the only joyAnd maybe I'm just reacting to the side effects of timeOr believing that I'm just another nameBut when I think I cannot pluck a note or stand another rhymeYour beauty overwhelms me once againWhen telephones are blasting, when the television's screamingWhen the last best friend leaves townWhen man is on the rampage while God is in His HeavenWhen the walls come tumbling downYou're the only joyYou're the only joyYou're the only joyYou're the only joy Copyright 2009 by Mark Kaufman

Mark, Nice tune. There are some good lines in here. I think this has a singer/songwriter sound to it. It's like Dylan meets CSNY meets celtic band. It's really cool. I don't think I have any advice. Just kudos man.Andy

Mark this is a great song. I really like it just the way it is. If I was forced to pick nits I would say that maybe the guitar was a little on the brittle side and that something that sounded more like bagpipes would be really cool for the solo. But these are really small subjective things. You can tweak until doomsday but like i said, this song is really REALLY cool just the way it is.

Thanks guys! Yes, I noticed when I popped it into my car on the way to work that I've got too much high end on the mix, I'll back that down a bit. And yeah, the VST bagpipes ain't got nothin' on the real thing... But I might double or triple it, re-EQ it, mess with the reverb and see if I can broaden the spectrum in that section somehow.Thanks for the comments!

Jan 7, 2009, 4:11pm, lyle wrote:Thanks guys! Yes, I noticed when I popped it into my car on the way to work that I've got too much high end on the mix, I'll back that down a bit. And yeah, the VST bagpipes ain't got nothin' on the real thing... But I might double or triple it, re-EQ it, mess with the reverb and see if I can broaden the spectrum in that section somehow.Thanks for the comments!Mark, I don't know the proper term, but real badpipes always have that very LOUD couple of notes droning thing going on. Maybe you can whip that part into shape with some bigger drones.

You're right Bill...new mix posted, beefier bagpipes.Are the guitars still too crispy? I thought I'd reeled them in, but listening in the car, maybe those didn't change much. Need monitors, need monitors...

Mark, Very nice. Thanks once again for sharing with us. Solid message. I agree with Bill regarding the Bagpipes. I love Bagpipes, but realize that it isn’t easy to create a full and authentic sounding BP track.Andy mentioned Dylan--which I did hear a bit in parts of the vocal, but more than Dylan I can't help but hear some Jackson Browne--lyrics and mood. GB

Mark,I took another listen to the song and thought that if you cannot get the BPs the way you want, you might consider reworking the instrumental section and work some complimenting instruments around a full and gritty harmonica track (if that's an instrument either you or someone else can lay down).2 cents.GB

markTop notch stuff. (again)Film I would say.Paul

Jan 8, 2009, 12:34pm, gburgess wrote:Mark, Very nice. Thanks once again for sharing with us. Solid message. I agree with Bill regarding the Bagpipes. I love Bagpipes, but realize that it isn’t easy to create a full and authentic sounding BP track.Andy mentioned Dylan--which I did hear a bit in parts of the vocal, but more than Dylan I can't help but hear some Jackson Browne--lyrics and mood. GBThanks GB. I kind of like the bagpipe sound now...I created three copies of the bagpipe track, gave each one a different pan and a different EQ and nudged them into slightly different start times, then added another big drone to lead them in. It gave the more expansive sound I didn't have yesterday. Still, the real deal would be better.It always surprises me when I hear voice comparisons like that...I'm like most people who are kind of uncomfortable with their own voice, even though I try to make it match whatever mood it needs. I wanted a little edge to this one and couldn't do hit the low notes properly on the first pass, so I had four beers and tried again the next morning, and it worked.Thank you!-Mark