My buddy Reed and I have recently formed a two-man band. I write much of the music, play the instruments and do the computer stuff (mixing, keyboards, etc). Reed sings and writes lyrics and melodies.
Neither of us has much experience playing music live, so we've decided we need to debut our band, and it just so happens Reed's having a party next weekend! Perfect timing. So we've been working on our very short set list. We've only got a few songs so far and we picked the 3 we liked best:
Sylvia
Heartbreaker
Potential
"Heartbreaker" I posted a few weeks ago and got some great feedback on the mixing and so on. Last night we finished the recording of "Sylvia" and "Potential". I'll post "Sylvia" later, but here's "Potential"--
http://www.progressions.org/music/racketeering/potential-mix-10.mp3
It's mostly a bossa-nova style jazz song, intimate and sweet. The chorus/end section is a little different. Here's the lyrics:
"Potential" by Jeff Coleman and Reed Oliver
You know I'd never push you into anything baby
think of yourself as totally free,
but when I see all the potential there behind your eyes
I can't help myself thinking what you'll be.
Not everybody has the gifts that you do
they'd kill you for your intellect alone
and when it's mixed with all your charm and sexy
can't wait to see the great things you'll get done.
It breaks my heart to see you selling cell phones
or that substitute teaching gig last year
whatever happened to that novel you were writing?
What you described had me in tears.
No no never let others judge you
You're perfect just the way you are
And never think I love you less for wasting yourself
It's just I'll love you more when you're a star.
I'll be mixing the song more this week, but I wanted to post it here and get some pointers on how it sounds. Thanks all!
Jeff
No comment on "Potential"? Here's the latest mix:
http://www.progressions.org/music/racketeering/potential-mix-12b.mp3
Still working on the drum track for the ending rockish sequence, but otherwise it's pretty much done.
Also here's "Sylvia", a pop tune that's my attempt at a Phil Spector "Wall of Sound" type production:
http://www.progressions.org/music/racketeering/sylvia-mix-11.mp3
As usual, any comments or critiques would be welcome! Thanks,
Jeff
Hello Jeff I'm listening as I write I like a little string squeek but there is just too much on this track and it distracts. Not sure how you have your guitar mic'd up but if you can't get rid of it in the mix, try some flat wound strings.
Bass is a little boomy might try narrowing it down in stereo field or mono it.
Not sure about the change as I was really getting into the Bosanova feeling and maybe that change is a little too far out in keeping with the track if you know what I mean.
Potential it has but still needs polishing up I think. Hope that helps a little and a nice job in doing something different from the norm.
Gerry
Those who can't dance always blame the band.
Hey Jeff, You have some really good tunes IMO.
Potential: Nice Basa Nova vibe. The keyboard is well done also. The vocal could be fuller. Nothing wrong with the Vox, in fact its really good. It just needs to be up in the mix :wink: I really dig the ending BTW :twisted:
Sylvia: Another great tune. To much reverb in the mix IMO. The vox is to distant sounding. Nice keyboard , you might bring it up a bit. Has a nice Kinks vibe.
Good tunes, Just need some tweaking in the mix. :D
Thanks guys!
Gerry, I have been meaning to re-record the acoustic guitar to get rid of that string squeak, but with all the mixing and getting ready for the gig I'd let it slip my mind. Thanks for reminding me. If I only had a nylon-string guitar!
Thanks Smokindog! Are you sure the vocal in "Potential" should be louder? It seems pretty high up to me.
I'll tweak the vocal reverb on "Sylvia", and when you suggest bringing up the keyboard, do you mean the piano sound? Or the horns section? Or the strings?
My partner Reed digs the Kinks a lot, I'll mention that to him, he should be pleased!
Thanks again!
Jeff
Well maybe just a little fuller, a bit out front. The more I listen the more I like them tunes :D
Okay, in the last couple of weeks I've been tweaking the mixes of these songs a lot.
We performed them last Saturday in front of an audience and it went great. Before that I decided to step away from the mixing and call them "done for now". That was a good idea, I think, because this week I was able to come back to them with a fresh ear and clean things up a bit.
I still need to consult with my bandmate, but barring minor tweaks, I think these really are "done" now.
For "Sylvia", I've changed a lot of the levels and effects, reverb, etc. I also switched to a new string synthesizer that seems much better than the old one I was using. Here's the mix:
http://www.progressions.org/music/racketeering/sylvia-mix-18.mp3
"Potential" starts out in bossa-nova and has an ending section in rock style. The original mixes included a lot of analog-synth type sounds and was just generally a mess. I re-recorded the acoustic guitar for the ending section and added a full horn section and string quartet.
http://www.progressions.org/music/racketeering/potential-mix-19.mp3
All the feedback I've gotten has helped a lot! Thanks gang,
Jeff
Silvia has major timing issues as in the instruments are not in sync . don't know what software you use but you should be able to nudge or move the guilty tracks. Get the percussion and bass together first then work in the rest.
I'm getting more and more hooked on bossa nova part and you reduced that string squeak a treat. Still not convinced that the Potential break works but that could be me LOL
Way to go.
Gerry
Those who can't dance always blame the band.
