Year 6 Wk33 The Final Touch/MP3 Added

I noticed their next show is in Chicopee.
I used to live there.
Only I think it was called Chicopee Falls.
Is that the same place?
Where Peace Air Force Base used to be?

Hi,

It certainly looks more subtle and well crafted than the attempt at 'punk' that I'm working on at the moment. :) I'm discovering that I know absolutely nothing about what all the genre labels really mean - so listening to a bit of "Post Grunge Alt Metal Pop Rock" is going to be a learning experience for me. Looking forward to hearing the track.

In the meantime, the lyrics look appropriately angsty, suitably singable, and full of 'hooky' imagery. So coming along well I'd reckon.

Chris

Yes Ken that would be the same Chicopee near Spriingfield.
I never heard of Peace Air Force Base but it is the home of Westover
Air Force Base.
:) I'm discovering that I know absolutely nothing about what all the genre labels really mean

I know what you mean. The genre labels I used were what came up when I Googled the bands :oops:

John

Post grunge alt metal pop rock, huh? THAT takes in a lot of ground!

I've actually heard of Incubus...but nothing by them, so I listened to a few songs on youtube. I was expecting a bit more metal, a bit more thrash, somewhat starker melody....

But anyway, it's still going to be an interesting cross-genre experiment for you, John - I look forward to seeing what you come up with musically. The lyrics as they stand do seem to fit the genre - minimalist, a bit angry and yet sweet at the same time....

I'm certainly broadening my horizons this week, that's for sure! Just waiting for Kath to come up with her thrash-metal ditty now....

:D :D :D

Vic

Well somehow managed to get an MP3 recorded.

It didn't come out quite as I expected.
Then again they never do.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6643738

Yeah Vic, I too was a little surprised by Incubus. They are not nearly as dark as I
would have guessed and I enjoy listening. It's always good to expand you horizons.

Kathy doing Thrash- Metal?

Conjures up images of Jackson Guitars,Spandex,Leather and hair blown
back by a big wind machine. : :lol: :lol: :lol:

Sorry Kath, Just doesn't seem to be your style but
I guess you could make it work with your Blue Suede Boots.

John

Good job, John
Was "Can we still pretend?" in the original lyrics or did you change that slightly?
And yes, it was Westover Air Force Base (Peace was in New Hampshire)
I got them mixed up . . . it was a long time ago.

Edited later:

Nevermind, I remember now.

And every time I think about
What could have been
I find myself believing
Can we still pretend?

When I read it before (you recorded it), I was wondering if it should be
I find myself asking instead of I find myself believing

or

I find myself believing
(That) we could still pretend

That part didn't seem right to me.

Definitely different from your normal style, John. And yet.....you couldn't resist throwing that bluesy lead guitar in.... :D

Lyrics and music go well together, and you don't seem to be straining your voice at all, even though it's out of the normal comfort zone....

Works for me, but maybe a more shrill distorted lead guitar? A bit more BITE? Hey, if you're going to do something different, might as well go all the way!

:D :D :D

Vic

Great MP3, which completely surprised me by sounding nothing like I was expecting. Not quite what I thought the Post Grunge thing might be, but also nothing like I would expect to hear, based on your regular work. So I'd say that you've succeeded admirably at stepping well outside your normal writing and singing style. Now we just need a new genre label for you. AltCelt SpaceMetal maybe?

Chris

Thanks Guys
Was "Can we still pretend?" in the original lyrics or did you change that slightly?

As you remembered it was in the original lyrics but it was all together with the rest of the bridge.
The pause developed during the recording process and I feel it works better for the line to
be separated.

I understand what you mean about it being a little confusing as originally written.
I edited the lyrics to better reflect the pause.
And yet.....you couldn't resist throwing that bluesy lead guitar in.... :D

Guilty as charged :oops: I may go back and try to do something about that later.
Although I'm happy with the way the recording came out I see this getting reworked
in the future.Maybe even being turned into a Blues number.
So I'd say that you've succeeded admirably at stepping well outside your normal writing and singing style.

OK I guess it's confession time. :oops:

The vocals did get a little help with the Change Pitch Effect in Audacity.

There I said it now I can sleep at night. :wink:

Thanks Again

John

Although I'm happy with the way the recording came out I see this getting reworked
in the future.

How did you get that spacey feel, John? I've been thinking for a while that it's time I tried to figure out what the various effects options built into my recorder do. Was that a single effect, or a combination of things?

Chris

How did you get that spacey feel, John?

I played directly into my computer with Audacity through a
Fender Starcaster Chorus pedal.

http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Starcaster-0868524002-STARCASTER-CHORUS/dp/B000VOBUD6

I did three guitar tracks with my SG.

Track 1: Treble Rhythm track bridge pick up with Chorus
medium settings

Main Riff Am Chord variations and 12th fret harmonics

Track 2: Bass/Crunchy Rhythm and Lead track neck pick up
with Chorus medium high settings

Track 3: Single Note Background /Fill track bridge and neck
pick ups clean no Chorus.

Only a bit of post production tweaking
Compression,some Volume Adjustments a little EQ
Stero Mix and that little thing with the vocals.

Hope That Helps

John

Thanks very much for posting that John. Very helpful.

I'm really looking forward to getting to grips with my recorder, and all the things that I'll be able to do with it (at least in theory...) once I've got the hang of keeping in time with the previous tracks. Oddly enough, I don't seem to have any trouble keeping in time in a live situation, even though we don't have a drummer, but playing alongside the tracks on the machine this week was whole new ballgame. Just a case of more practice and experience I guess - as usual. :)

Chris

nice one and great singing!
wouldn't have thought of Grunge immediately (but then you said "post grunge" :wink: ). I rather thought of Neil Young, forgive me (it is a compliment, though) :wink: oh Grunge... some beautiful music there. and love Incubus. seen them live at a festival. i can never say what kind of music bands stand for when i'm asked to describe them.. for me, Incubus is oceanside music :wink:

I think this line stood out:
I've lived this lie
Too many times
clever! and the way "life" still is somewhere in there, too (but that's my mind running off)... :wink:

cheers,
straycat.

nice one and great singing!
wouldn't have thought of Grunge immediately (but then you said "post grunge" :wink: ). I rather thought of Neil Young, forgive me (it is a compliment, though)
Well, going back and listening to it, if it came down to a choice between grunge and Neil Young, I'd have to say, it seems to be closer to Neil Young then grunge to me too.