Why I won't be rejoining Taxi next year...

[flood]

Just listened, and agree with some of the others regarding production quality.You are close, but not quite there.The sibilance on the vocal is an immediate killer, IMHO. There is a clarity lacking about the rest of the work, that could probably be cleaned up with EQ and compression. It is important that all the parts work together yet "punch through" on their own as well.You may want to try running the music, by itself, through some multiband compressors to see if that will help somewhat. Probably you want to go back to the original mix parts and look at each individually first, though.These songs are good, and they deserve the extra attention, to get them that "big" sound. I am not talking maximizers and the like-they have their place, but more along the lines of working the dynamics and eq to carve a place in the spatial plane for each element. If you can accomplish this, the individual parts will not lay on top of each other as much sonically, and that will add a depth that is currently missing.There are a gazillion books and sites that talk about general mixing techniques. Also, don't work at it too hard for too long.One of the greatest challenges is avoiding ear fatigue and maintaining objectivity over a long period of listening intently to these things. Frequent breaks or even stretches of days off can help.Good luck!

[inyourdefense]

Oct 14, 2008, 8:40pm, hummingbird wrote:Just go and listen to some Sara Bareilles on iTunes and listen to her songs and try to assess how they are produced. Listen to the mix and see how "clean" her vocal line is - no sibilance or fuzziness. You definitely have a similar vibe, but IMO it's the production of your songs that is working against you. They aren't yet at the level needed for film/tv. And I don't think they serve you well as examples of your singing, since the mixes don't compliment your vocals.Vicki, I love that you used Sara B as the comparison there....it's just ironic, because her and her band were actually friends of mine (I KNOW that sounds like bullshit nowadays, but I actually knew her and followed her career long before she hit the big time!)And man, I've listened to her CD endlessly trying to pick apart the production techniques, because Eric Rosse is a genius... so you gave me very sound and relevant advice Vicki!!! I really, really appreciate all of you guys taking the time to offer up all of these suggestions, especially about the production. I completely agree that production is not my strong point. To be honest, Salt Water is the first thing I personally have EVER attempted to produce in my life, so I'm more than willing to accept that fact that it sure ain't perfect, and I really do want to learn how to improve in that area, so any suggestions anyone may have are very welcome.I also really appreciate all the positive comments about the songs, and my voice. As a singer/songwriter those are the two types of compliments I live for I know a couple of you guys said you might be willing to work with me on the production end of things... honestly, if you were serious, send me a message! I do need some help to improve in that area!You guys are really cool though...you all take the time to help out, which is amazing. Despite the rocky start, I'm glad I popped into this forum to check things out. Thanks again,Janine

[maceman]

Hi Janine,Maceman here from Hamilton. I totally see your beef here. It is difficult to work so hard on music, only to find that reviews are not up to par to what we expect.First of all, you need to continue to believe in your own music, no matter what some say, and take the good reviews with the bad and try to gauge the overall message, that is, is 20 reviews say the same thing, then you know the message is true. But if you get one GREAT and one SUCKS, then you need to follow your own thinking. The fact that you had a nomination the same day tells me what you need to do..... so follow that route....I have been listening to music and critiquing on forums for many many years, and I can tell you honestly that Gas Tank is your strong song. I would use this one as a benchmark and try to bring the others up to this standard of production and arrangement technique.You have a beautiful and winning voice and look and will do well, but some of the songs do "run on" as it were.... I personally don't think that is all bad IF it is on an album of songs that do not all do the same, and in fact it may work to compliment the others when done...but this is the trick with reviews because the reviewer is only hearing the one song, and so is basing their opinion on that.I would like to keep in touch because we are so close geographically, and I know some good people in this area- if you are interested.... we email all the time while working on songs and believe me it is superb.... I have worked and continue to colab with artists all over the world on songs and have several on the go right now, and if you want help with that (i.e. some more ears), I would be happy to do that... and of course the folks here will add more as well...You have a good vibe going on, it will just take some more time- please keep doing what you are doing..and pm me if you want my email etc....Cheers,Maceman

[ckbarlow]

Janine:Quickly, I must reiterate that you are a champ for coming back after the thrashing you received on page 1. And definitely heed the excellent remarks about the production quality. But having listened to Salt Water and skimmed the comments regarding the melody, I'll offer an opinion: "run-on melody" was accurate IMO. Of course it's meant as an analogy to "run-on sentence." The melody continues out of the verse and into the chorus without sufficient delineation or distinction from the verse. At first I thought that your "Please, please" was the first time you went as high as sol (fifth scale degree) but it's not; you hit it in the second part of the verse. So that extended range isn't reserved, saved as a special thing, for the chorus. And there's another factor that makes this particularly problematic: the chord progression and accompaniment's rhythmic feel are identical from verse to chorus. So essentially, there's not enough to set the chorus off from the verse. Now, to quote one of member Dean Krippane's awesome songs, "This ain't country," in which you have *got* to have a chorus that leaps out. There's much more leeway in singer/songwriter/artist material. But still, it's missing the change, the pow, the release, the splash of cold water, the revelation that the listener should feel at the chorus.You could deal with that partially in production -- backup vocals, energized accompaniment, something. But is there anything more you can do melodically to lift the chorus a bit? Can you keep the verse below the high sol? Can you provide some rhythmic change-up with the durations on the hook: holding a single "Plea....se" up there and resume the melody as is at "I'm beggin' you," and again a single "Lea....ve"? And keep it as is in terms of entering on 1-and (if you entered on 1 and held it, it would be way too traditional ballady...). If you don't know what I mean by this, I'll record you a simple clapping-and-voice example. Just some ideas to set it off from the verse. Congratulations on your success so far and best wishes for continued such,CK

[ottlukk]

Janine: Well, you're one forward ahead of me. I listened to your stuff, and liked it. No way it deseves 4's or 5's. I just finished reading "The Secrets of Songwriting", Susan Tucker, editor/writer. There's an interview with Tia Sillers, where she's asked what's the most intimidating thing about songwriting. "Somebody in the same room is doing the same thing that you are . . . then you have to demo it . . . you have to have to make it brilliant, have the right person sing it . . . and then you hope the songplugger really loves it . . . and hope that anybody who listens has gotten up on the right side of the bed . . . and then they have to play it for the artist, producer, whoever, and they all have to love it . . . and then the radio record promoters, and then the consumers . . . So I understand your frustration -- door #1 won't open, how you gonna get to door #2? Here's my philosophy: You only need one person who likes your stuff, only one A&R rep who agrees, to get the ball rolling, so to speak. That's why I keep trying, and since you're way more talented than I am, so should you.Ott

[christophersclaybo]

Music - 6Marketability - 6Arrangement - 4Production - 6Engineering - 6Musicianship - 6Lead Vocal - 7vocals are good when singer is singing.Status: Forward ReturnStylegood pop song.Overall CommentsOverall I like this song but have trouble with the very intro/first verse which is kinda whispered and then rushes into the chorus I believe before the song actually opens up. Too much time goes by before the instruments come in. not enough singing here. I think this has potential if you take a closer look at the melodic structure and redo the vocals so there's less whispering and more cool singing.Sound Quality:works ok for listing.The main reason(s) you were or were not forwarded for this listing is:combination of singer whispering and run on melodic structure ruins much of the song. DAMN! Sounds better than the past 5 or so critiques I've gotten, although I must admit it doesn't glow like the quote does. (ha HA!)A run-on melody is a melody that goes on and on and on and on to the point where it is beginning to get a bit monotonous just like this sentence I am writing would be called down as a run-on sentence... Get the picture?The last critique I got used poor grammar. Instead of focusing on and trying to "fix" the screener's kinda-colloquial grammar, work on fixing YOUR SONG so you can have, not just a "good pop song", as the screener said, but a HIT pop song. (We ARE artists, aren't we; SONGWRITERS and NOT essay writers.) Swallow your pride--it's the one thing that won't make you FAT this holiday season.I, personally, would LOVE to hear the song for myself and see what created all the fuss in the first place...I'd MUCH RATHER have a private screener constructively criticize my song where no one but him and I can see it, than to hear my listeners telling their friends just how BAD my song SUCKS! ...NOT saying your song sucks, hell... I haven't even heard it!

[mistydawn]

Hi Janine,You have a beautiful voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The songs are fantastic! When your vocals are so clear, its easier to notice that the tail end of what your singing is being cut off in the beginning. At another point, your vocals were drowned in the music. That's it. Its wonderful. And your voice....WOW.I can understand that you're upset after getting completely mixed reviews on your music, that would concern me too. All you can do is not focus on the mixed reviews, but get down to what you can you do about production, if you can. That's all you can do. Your genre is in demand, and that's good. I wonder if they're looking for something a bit more "peppy"? I say that because the names on the list are pretty upbeat. That could be as simple as bpm. Honestly, posting music on the forum and getting feedback from lots of musicians is awesome and can help with tweaking music before sending it in. Nothing beats it.I had to get very particular about what I submit to as well, and make absolutely sure that its mostly an equal match up.Otherwise, it doesn't get forwarded....and then I kick myself and say "I knew it". The listings are very, very surface.If you think of Kelly Clarkson as "Since You've Been Gone" and Sara as "Love Song", then "peppy" certainly comes to mind. Find a popular artist that matches you exactly, and it becomes easier to answer listings.Hope that was positive and also a help to you M

[christophersclaybo]

My interest is PIQUED! I really really REALLY want to hear your song! WHERE can I go to hear it?

[cameron]

She gave the link earlier: www.taxi.com/jfarragherThe song is "Salt Water".

[rivercitymusic]

Oct 13, 2008, 4:15pm, inyourdefense wrote:Oct 13, 2008, 9:51am, sgs4u wrote:This is a bullshit posting. You're too well-spoken to be telling the truth about your experience with a screener. And if you were serious about learning how to write songs that Taxi might find useful, you wouldn't just quit when you read something you didn't like in a review. If you were angry about actually hearing the language you say you read in a review, you'd be indignant enough to not give a rat's ass about getting a screener in trouble. And that screener would take his/her lumps and learn correctly. I don't think you are here to complain about Taxi's service. You are here to convince some other members to stop paying Taxi for a service, because you are working for a competitor of Taxi. Your post reeks of covert intent, not anger. Why call yourself, inyourdefense ? If you want anyone to believe you, link your song, cut and paste review and the listing you sent if for. Otherwise, go away and think of some other way to show us your lame attempt to discredit Taxi's quality standards. I am a Taxi mole, and Taxi pays me $1,000,000 a year to ferret out nimrods like you who show up hoping to screw Taxi out of business. And I sell bridges.I'm actually pretty shocked at your reply, I'll be honest. I certainly don't see why you had to be so downright nasty in your response.I don't quite understand why me being "well spoken" makes it impossible that I'm telling the truth about my experience...what?? I just didn't get what I'd hoped to get out of the service. It's pretty obvious that everyone who's replied doesn't agree with me on that, but I'm pretty shocked that everyone is jumping all over me here. I don't think I said anywhere that I was "angry" about it, so your whole schpiel about me lying about being 'angry' is totally irrelevant. I'm just disappointed. But I'm at a loss as to how me being kind enough to not want to get someone in trouble is proof of me lying.And for the record, my forum name has been 'inyourdefense' on various forums for a few years. It's a snippet from the lyrics of a KT Tunstall song called "Funnyman".I will post the whole review. At this point, I think anyone on here can understand why I'd choose not to post the song, because I'd prefer to remain anonymous on this now. I'm a singer/songwriter from Toronto ON trying to make a go of it and the last thing I need is enemies. Again, I'm very surprised at the viciousness of the replies. My original post was in no way vicious. It was just an opinion.I will call TAXI and report it. I more shared it on here to see if anyone else had had the same experience.Here's the review:--------Music - 6Marketability - 6Arrangement - 4Production - 6Engineering - 6Musicianship - 6Lead Vocal - 7vocals are good when singer is singing.Status: Forward ReturnStylegood pop song.Overall CommentsOverall I like this song but have trouble with the very intro/first verse which is kinda whispered and then rushes into the chorus I believe before the song actually opens up. Too much time goes by before the instruments come in. not enough singing here. I think this has potential if you take a closer look at the melodic structure and redo the vocals so there's less whispering and more cool singing.Sound Quality:works ok for listing.The main reason(s) you were or were not forwarded for this listing is:combination of singer whispering and run on melodic structure ruins much of the song. --------All kidding aside, can you post a link so we can hear it?DocSo there you are. Just not the greatest writing coherence for a paid critique, in my opinion. And for the record, I'm not a mole. I'm just like anyone else on here, trying to make a go of it. I'm sorry that you've made me your mortal enemy.