Recording Independent Acoustic Album

[sp4585]

Fixed the Link... try now.

Originally posted in the "Songwriting" category... figured this one would be more appropriate.

Wow... it's been well over a year since I've been on here - probably more like 2. I posted 1 song before but that was before the overhaul so I doubt it's still up here. Anyway, I'm finally putting all of my efforts into one unified album effort. It is a solo acoustic album since I can't seem to get a consistent band together anymore.

Presently I have 2 songs online - I have about 8 total songs for this album finished (writing) and a basket of ideas that should culminate in at least 4 more.

I'm looking for critiques/comments on the 1) the music 2) the lyrics 3) the vocal parts 4) the production and 5) the song as a whole. Feel free to mention one or all of those things or whatever you choose. Be brutal if you need to.

Steve Pierce - Alternative / Acoustic / Indie Artist

Thanks!

[Necromancer]

can't get the link to work, try posting instead

[sp4585]

Originally Posted by Necromancer

can't get the link to work, try posting instead

Fixed the link.

[Quarry]

For an instant, Chicago reminded me of Phantom Planet (and their song, California)...
Overall, I liked the song, but I have a few negative comments. I hope you'll take these with a grain of salt - I certainly mean no ill will...

I found the fretboard squeeks to be distracting. I like the sound of some fretboard noise, but I thought there was just too much, and it distracted from the melody of the song.
I found your vocals a bit too nasal... Please, don't be offended - I'm just telling you my opinion - with regards to my tastes... I also felt that the "strain" you had in your voice was also I bit distracting...

After listening to Pray - I liked it once I heard the whole thing - but I hated the first opening bars... Maybe it was because I listened to it right after Chicago, but I thought your vocals were out of key... Once the song got going, it all seemed to settle down...

Much less fretboard noise in this one. But the same "strained" sound to your voice that bothers me.... Sorry!

I will say, for the simple and "inexpensive" setup you have, you've done quite well.

[sp4585]

Originally Posted by Quarry

For an instant, Chicago reminded me of Phantom
Much less fretboard noise in this one. But the same "strained" sound to your voice that bothers me.... Sorry!

Hey, thanks for the remarks. This is exactly what I'm looking for. I think I've been trying to shape my vocal sound a little too much. I get varied reactions to my voice and I'm just trying to find something that is natural, comfortable, and sounds good. I think I'm going to retrack the lead vocals on both songs tonight. We'll see if I get that up. As far as the fret noise, I'm not entirely sure what to do about it. Perhaps that would be in my high frequencies? The fret noise may also have been more noticeable on the main guitar in Chicago because I used compression on it - usually don't do that with acoustic guitar.

Anyway, I appreciated each and every one of your comments and can only hope to continue to get as well thought out and spoken feedback as yours in the future as such can only make me better. Thank you.

[donkeyman2341]

The first thing I noticed that I didn't like was the guitars on "Chicago" are waaay to brittle for my taste. I'm not sure if its a compression thing or an eq, but it sounds like you boosted a ton of high end and I don't really like it.

The guitar riffs in the...bridge??...sound a lot better, but that main strumming guitar is no bueno for me.

Vocals as well as the song sound really good. Vocals maybe a little naisly but thats the sound today anyways. The guitar lick in the chorus shuold be brought out a lot more. Harmonies sound good, would be cool to hear the backing vox panned in some spots L and R to change it up.

The song "Pray" has better guitar sounds but now they are a little muffled. Try cutting some low end and bringing out some of the middle freqencies. Imo this song sounds forced for some reason. Maybe cuase I like the song Chicago a lot more.

Good work tho and this is just my opinion.

[sp4585]

Originally Posted by donkeyman2341

The first thing I noticed that I didn't like was the guitars on "Chicago" are waaay to brittle for my taste. I'm not sure if its a compression thing or an eq, but it sounds like you boosted a ton of high end and I don't really like it.

I'm pretty sure it's the compression more than anything because I used the same EQ's for both songs... just no compression on Pray.

The guitar riffs in the...bridge??...sound a lot better, but that main strumming guitar is no bueno for me.

I think the whole bridge could be a little more polished... I recorded it as I was writing it basically.

Vocals as well as the song sound really good. Vocals maybe a little naisly but thats the sound today anyways. The guitar lick in the chorus shuold be brought out a lot more. Harmonies sound good, would be cool to hear the backing vox panned in some spots L and R to change it up.

I've messed with the mix a little since then (and even re-recorded the lead vocals but I'm still not satisfied) and I have panned the harmonies to be much wider and a little higher in the mix. I think the sound is nasly too, it's something I struggle a bit with. My most natural register is more of a baritone, so there is a little strain in that range.

The song "Pray" has better guitar sounds but now they are a little muffled. Try cutting some low end and bringing out some of the middle freqencies. Imo this song sounds forced for some reason. Maybe cuase I like the song Chicago a lot more.

I sang like crap on Pray. And I need new strings on the old Takamine. The song is really an electric power pop type song with angst that I just turned acoustic by making the palm muting less present and opening up the chords a little. It's definitely worse than Chicago as a whole.

Good work tho and this is just my opinion.

Your comments are greatly appreciated and I thank you for taking the time to listen to and critique my songs and recording.

[sp4585]

Originally Posted by Quarry

For an instant, Chicago reminded me of Phantom Planet (and their song, California)...

Hah! Just listened to California, I can see where you are coming from with that. There are two major similarities 1) the intro/mood and 2) the subject matter being about a location and traveling.

Good call but I'd never heard that particular song (to my knowledge) before.

[Quarry]

Originally Posted by sp4585

Good call but I'd never heard that particular song (to my knowledge) before.

Just to be clear - I meant that as a compliment... I thought your song, "Chicago" had a similar feel to it - a bit of an anthem.
I never meant to imply that you "copied" it in any way!

[sp4585]

Originally Posted by Quarry

Just to be clear - I meant that as a compliment... I thought your song, "Chicago" had a similar feel to it - a bit of an anthem.
I never meant to imply that you "copied" it in any way!

I wasn't certain of what you meant. I figured it could be either way - I guess I ran my thoughts together in a defensive manner. I'm used to working with overly critical musicians whom I have ceased to jam with because their overbearing attitudes were too depressing. That's actually why I named my album "Finding Out" - I'm Finding Out that I can be who I am and that I don't need the support of my former band-mates.