Hell of a Time

[paul999]

This was a song that I recorded quite a while ago. The client has received some interest from a triple a club that may want to use it as a theme song. I have been remixing and trying a couple of new things. I would love some feedback.

[jjb]

Nice guitar work. But the guitars sound a bit too "hot" for me. As for the vocal, think it could use a little less reverb and be made to sit further to the front. Enjoyed the song, and the performance.

jjb

[paul999]

Thank-you jjb. I appreciate you feedback. I felt this one as a guitar forward song but I do agree that the vox are a little back for a country mix. I almost put them up a little before posting but thought I would see what the feedback was. This may take care of your feeling the guitars are too hot as well. There is no reverb on the vox there is a small amount of quick delay and a long delay that I ride as I want more or less through the mix.

Thanks again this helps alot

[Freddy G]

Hi paul999,
I hear too much 4k....guitars sound scratchy and the vox could use de-essing in that freq. range as well.
I'd also like to hear a bit more bass guitar.
Even though you have it brick walled at "0" I think it would help mitigate the overshoots that may be causing some nastiness if you try setting the limiter's ceiling at -0.2db instead.
Cheers,
Freddy

[paul999]

Hey Freddy G Thanks for the feedback I waited a little while to see if anyone else was going to respond. I agree with the dessing of the voice. I found the guitars on the upper edge but not over the the edge of scratchy for my taste but now there is two of you saying the same thing.

Did you see or hear any over shoots/nastyness with the level brick walled at 0? My limiter is a waves bcl maxx bass hardware. In the manual they reccommend -.03 because of cheap systems it may get played through. I haven't noticed an issue with this.

I do have plans to get more bass or bass guitar out of this. I think it is more of a low frequency problem rather than a bass guitar problem because you can hear the bass the whole time. I just can't feel it like I want to.

Thanks again for the feed back!
Paul

[Bigduggieface]

Very good job, paul999!

This is quite a hooky song with a lot of pop potential, although I admit that I'm not a country music afficionado. The choruses and instrumental sections are stronger than the verses, but then, a song like this is all about the chorus. Hell of a time!

There's a lyric in the song at 1:29 that says "[The girls] got the mud up to their nose, but man they're still lookin' nice." What the hell does that mean? Is this some kind of redneck fetish I'm not aware of?

I suspect that you were not involved with the songwriting, so I'll stop with the songwriting critiques.

All of the instruments are very in-your-face. Compressed and eq'd to be as up front as possible. Perhaps more than I would care for. As previously mentioned, the compression and high mids produce a biting quality with the vocals and guitars. A whole album of this could be fatiguing.

I like the resonator acoustic guitar intro. How about a bit of electric guitar feedback just before the first electric guitars enter? Just to suck ya into the energy. Much like the vocalist when he sings 'whohhhh' before his first lyric.

I agree with FreddyG that the bass is strangely lacking. I'm not sure what's up with that. It sounds like a phantom in the background while the kick, snare, and guitars are nice and clear. Especially when the guitars get big.

There's one or two background vocals buried in there somewhere, I'd love to hear more of them. Perhaps more vocals would provide more of a 'party' atmosphere. In fact, the lead vocal itself could utilize a more energetic performance. Sounds like this guy just woke up. He should be the fuckin' party ringleader!

These are relatively minor objections. Overall, this is definitely a potential pop single. You're the man, paul999.

I hope to hear this song at my local strip club soon!

[paul999]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by Bigduggieface

All of the instruments are very in-your-face. Compressed and eq'd to be as up front as possible. Perhaps more than I would care for. As previously mentioned, the compression and high mids produce a biting quality with the vocals and guitars. A whole album of this could be fatiguing.

This is a good point. I may have cut the low end to much over all while mastering. This may balance out the biting sense.

I like the resonator acoustic guitar intro. How about a bit of electric guitar feedback just before the first electric guitars enter? Just to suck ya into the energy. Much like the vocalist when he sings 'whohhhh' before his first lyric.

I love this suggestion. If the budget permits I will do this.

I agree with FreddyG that the bass is strangely lacking. I'm not sure what's up with that. It sounds like a phantom in the background while the kick, snare, and guitars are nice and clear. Especially when the guitars get big.

If this isn't taken care of from proper remastering I will definitely revisit the bass

There's one or two background vocals buried in there somewhere, I'd love to hear more of them. Perhaps more vocals would provide more of a 'party' atmosphere.

I recorded my harmonies with the clients and mine tend to be really smooth and possibly not what this song needs in fact I recommended to him that we axe my vox and do the group thing. If the song is picked up by the club we will have a budget to do revisions. I thought more of a crowd type backup may be better as well.

If the party vocals can't be done would you turn up the existing vox? I kept them pretty low because I was nervous about changing the feel of the song too much.

In fact, the lead vocal itself could utilize a more energetic performance. Sounds like this guy just woke up. He should be the fuckin' party ringleader!

Very astute listening on your part here. He came in played the acoustic to a click and then sang. I was commissioned to write, perform/record, mix and master the rest in three days total. I had never heard the song before. He had no idea what I was gonna do so his performance was more of a guess. Redoing is essential.

Thank-you so much for your valuable feedback. Much Much appreciated.

[musicmakerstudio]

I think this a really good club mix for the pop country thing. I would like to hear the intro twined with an electric paned opposite to the resonator. It would have to be really tight to work, but it sounds like the players are up to the task.
As for the bass it needs something. What I needs; I don't have a clue, but it's just not quite there. I think the BGV's are fine, but maybe cut another track of all guy's singing unison like a bunch of drunkin' friends. This is a party song, so play it up! Nice work!

[paul999]

I think this a really good club mix for the pop country thing. I would like to hear the intro twined with an electric paned opposite to the resonator.

The idea was to have a thin intro so that when it comes in it almost scare the hell out of you but I do see where you are going with this idea.

As for the bass it needs something. What I needs; I don't have a clue, but it's just not quite there

.

Yeah this has been an issue that has been hit and miss with my recordings. I am making head way though.

I think the BGV's are fine, but maybe cut another track of all guy's singing unison like a bunch of drunkin' friends. This is a party song, so play it up! Nice work!

Agreed about the party vox.

Since posting this it looks as though the club will spring to re-record this so that I can get some better source recordings. I just feel I have worked this demo to death. The redo will be much appreciated.

[musicmakerstudio]

I can't wait to hear the new version. The current track still rocks pretty well, so anything you do from this point will only make it better.
I bet you'll be glad when it's over. I've got some stuff I've been working on forever too so don't feel alone. Sometimes these projects can really drag on& on.
Hang in there. It will be worth it!