Chris Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 Since my last band finished I've been writing some solo stuff. Mostly a folk vibe with a bit of pop and alt influence as well.Anyway I finally got around to recording one of the songs recently:Causey MounthWould be interested to hear any thoughts about it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOX Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 Just going to say the vocals are quite off-key (for the need of a better word) for a good part of the song and the levels/quality of the recording isn't perfect, but you must know that. (In particular the solo is exceptionally loud to me.)As for the song itself, the solo fits in really nicely, the general feel is ... oddly reminiscent of Hallelujah, but that'll be the chords doing that. Lyrics are pretty nice, too, nothing too stand-out, but the solo's the hook for this song I imagine.Really the main fault are the vocals, in my opinion, but it's a good start. And yes, I feel bad saying this after the kind words in the Kilau topic. ): 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 Just going to say the vocals are quite off-key (for the need of a better word) for a good part of the song and the levels/quality of the recording isn't perfect, but you must know that. (In particular the solo is exceptionally loud to me.)As for the song itself, the solo fits in really nicely, the general feel is ... oddly reminiscent of Hallelujah, but that'll be the chords doing that. Lyrics are pretty nice, too, nothing too stand-out, but the solo's the hook for this song I imagine.Really the main fault are the vocals, in my opinion, but it's a good start. And yes, I feel bad saying this after the kind words in the Kilau topic. ):That's fine, vocals are not my strong point and I don't intend them to be perfect (I like them a bit rough). It's my first attempt at a proper solo recording of anything (see recording techniques thread) so I don't mind if it seems a bit low quality in general.I'm a bit disappointed you thought the solo was the best bit, that's the part I spent the least time on! I agree it's a bit too loud in the mix. It's on my to do list next time I touch the song.Cheers for the constructive comments! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOX Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 That's fine, vocals are not my strong point and I don't intend them to be perfect (I like them a bit rough). It's my first attempt at a proper solo recording of anything (see recording techniques thread) so I don't mind if it seems a bit low quality in general.I'm a bit disappointed you thought the solo was the best bit, that's the part I spent the least time on! I agree it's a bit too loud in the mix. It's on my to do list next time I touch the song.Cheers for the constructive comments!Ah, I see. Still, they can be rough and still be a little more in tune. As for the recording quality, yeah, I can understand that - might need to splash out a wee bit on a good mic (mine is about 70 worth from Bruce Millers, with the stand).I don't know, I just liked how it slotted in! The chord progression's nice, too, I mean. But you'll find a lot of the stuff that stands out as good takes you seconds.Not a problem at all, glad you got some use from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOX Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 Also, out of curiosity - any origin of your name, there? (I keep reading "caustic mouth", sorry ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 As for the recording quality, yeah, I can understand that - might need to splash out a wee bit on a good mic (mine is about 70 worth from Bruce Millers, with the stand).Oof! I've got a decent mic...Causey Mounth was the name of the old drovers road that linked Stonehaven and Aberdeen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOX Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 Oof! I've got a decent mic...Causey Mounth was the name of the old drovers road that linked Stonehaven and Aberdeen.Ahh! Sorry, then! Awkward now.Didn't know that... Interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 Ahh! Sorry, then! Awkward now.Don't worry about it. Might be worth expanding on why you think the recording quality (excluding dodgy vocals) is poor in the recording thread:http://www.aberdeen-music.com/forums/musicians-corner/63494-whats-your-recording-setup-method-new-post.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest idol_wild Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 Bookmarked for later listening.On the issue of Causey Mounth, Chris, do you know of any resources that actually follow the track of it? Being brought up next to it, I'd like to know exactly where it ran - I don't know of any traces of it, despite hunting around the internet several times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 On the issue of Causey Mounth, Chris, do you know of any resources that actually follow the track of it? Being brought up next to it, I'd like to know exactly where it ran - I don't know of any traces of it, despite hunting around the internet several times.You can get onto it from a signposted path where Leggart Terrace becomes South Deeside Road (the same turnoff as Banchory-Devenick). I know that the Aberdeenshire Council ranger service also do guided walks along it during the summer but to be honest I've never gotten round to walking it myself yet (despite planning to use the name for a year or so).There's a few bits and bobs online that detail the route:Causey Mounth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaCausey Mouth walkCausey Mounth [Cowie Mounth] Ancient Trackway : The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map:Old Roads of Scotland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyEB Posted December 12, 2010 Report Share Posted December 12, 2010 I like that, nice tune and I like the lyrics, proper heartfelt stuff. I think the vocal suits the song actually and super smooth vocals are not the be all and end all of a good song to me. The singing is maybe a bit out here and there but if you are nervous or uncomfortable singing I think that is easy to do. The first time I sang on a song it was all over the shop but I find forcing myself to listen to that one is helping me hear where I went wrong.Did you try doing the rhythm guitar with an acoustic? I think that could have sounded really nice but its a nice progression as is. Cool solo, it is a bit loud though. Did you crank it up because you were worried about the vocals? I've done that a few times.Anyway, I like it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2010 I think it was a case of not turning the solo down rather than cranking it up. The difference didn't seem so stark at the time.I might add some acoustic to it, but UPS are shit and didn't deliver my strings direct order on time or I might have done i yesterday. Also I go through phases of playing the acoustic heaps or playing through my amp and at the moment I'm loving the valves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2010 I've uploaded a different version with reduced volume on the solo and trimmed the ends slightly so there's not a couple of bars of silence at the start and end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
framheim Posted December 12, 2010 Report Share Posted December 12, 2010 i was quite surprised by the vocals actually, i like the vocal melody and think with a bit of practice they'd be pretty good. i really like the first part of the solo but think it descends into a pointless rock solo. keep it understated for this song. overall a pretty nice little song, nice lyrics too, though the opening chords are very hallejulah. good work chris! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2010 i really like the first part of the solo but think it descends into a pointless rock solo. keep it understated for this song. It's nice to rock out occasionally! Actually I agree completely. I recorded the solo in two takes, just as a quick little improvised piece to fill in that section. I like it but I plan to go back and write a proper melody line to replace it at some point.Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 I've swapped the rock solo for something a bit more understated now that I think suits the song a lot better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorkusmalorkus Posted December 21, 2010 Report Share Posted December 21, 2010 listened to this the other night and enjoyed it muchly. The solo was very good, nice tone and well crafted and suited to the song. I will listen to the revised version 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigsby Posted December 21, 2010 Report Share Posted December 21, 2010 Finally got round to listening to this.First thing I thought was "Hallelujah".Agree that the vocals sound a bit half arsed. For a start they were mixed low down and I couldn't really work out the lyrics. Were a bit out tune at points too.I agree that "imperfect" vocals can sound good and some of my favourites can't really sing, like Dylan for example. But Dylan's never out of tune, he just speaks in certain bits rather than singing. Not really any excuse for being out of tune on a recording, live maybe, on a recording, do it again.Liked the second half of the solo a lot, I assume I was listening to the revised version. Hope these comments are useful. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2010 Liked the second half of the solo a lot, I assume I was listening to the revised version. The original version had a bluesy rock solo which was hastily done as a placeholder for something more interesting. The revision is a more laid back section with lots of delay.The song uses the same two chords in the verse that Hallejulah uses at the start. It's unfortunate and I didn't realise until this thread. I don't think it sounds too similar (different time signatures for a start) but there you go.I'll try and do a better job of the vocals at some point but I am faced with the fundamental problem that I'm not a very good singer. I hope for improvement but it may be a while coming! In the meantime I think I'm done with this song for now as I want to try and get a couple more recorded over Christmas. I don't think the singing will be any better on those.Thanks for the comments! I'm just happy that anyone took the time to listen and give feedback. Even better that it's been constructive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oedo 808 Posted December 21, 2010 Report Share Posted December 21, 2010 First thing I thought was "Hallelujah".Agree that the vocals sound a bit half arsed.The whole song is played without a sense of ownership. It sounds more like a lack of confidence in the performance rather than not being arsed. There's no discernible commitment to a precise vocal melody, likewise with the rhythm guitar. It's a song that is still being worked on and the recording doesn't lie.I think the comparison with Hallelujah is brief and quickly cast aside once the song starts. Nothing to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOX Posted December 21, 2010 Report Share Posted December 21, 2010 Nothing's original these days. I was writing a song and then discovered I was doing a cover of "Sex on Fire", a song I despise, without even noticing. It happens, and there's not much you can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TR!ΔNGL€ T€€TH Posted December 22, 2010 Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 I'd say it's an encouraging start Chris. I think that yr vocals will improve dramatically with practice and the prospect of performing in front of an audience. The revised second guitar solo is much better, a lot more tasteful but sadly lacking harmony pinch harmonics. Are you planning on doing this live? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 Are you planning on doing this live?Eventually. Just need to get a couple more songs written and practiced. No plans to put a band together for it at the moment so it would be more stripped down than this recording. Hopefully I'll get another couple of rough recordings started over christmas to give more of an idea of the general direction and then I'll start thinking about taking it live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Easy Wishes Posted January 8, 2011 Report Share Posted January 8, 2011 Just got round to a listen now. You know yourself that the vocals are the weakest part, but as has been said that will continue to improve the more you practice. Recording-wise I think the guitar sounds muddy and the vocals are too quiet in the mix.Definitely has loads of potential though, looking forward to hearing a some more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted February 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2011 I've just put up a new song on Causey Mounth called Staring At The Storm.It was inspired by the Moray Firth fishing disaster of 1948 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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