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[Anderton]

"Time after Time" is a great song, I love the Miles Davis version. And despite the initial shock at the "new wave"-style treatment, I like the cover version. If I walked into a club and saw a band playing this, I'd stick around. The vocals I think are the high point, guitars are good too - a nice, aggressive edge. I see two main problems. First, the drums are too busy in several sections. The song could groove a lot more, make you want to move, if the drums were more supportive. They need to PUSH the beat, not play all over it. Second, there needs to be some more variety in the overall arrangement. I think adding some keyboard sweetening starting at around 1:50 would add a nice touch. Something combo-organish would work. The main thing is to get some additional textures in there about 2/3 of the way through. Overall, an original take on a great song, make some of the mods I mentioned and you'll nail it.

[Yuri T.]

Here's a couple to check out. I'm on guitar. This was a quickie weekend demo. 1 day to track 6 tunes live to ADAT and overdub vocals. The next day I mixed it. http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/12/butternut.html

[Bruce Lash]

Craig, thanks for the comments. I don't know, I was coming from the Keith Moon school of excessive drumming here. I like drumming that can barely be contained. I will take your words about the keybaord part under advisement. Thanks again.

[spigotsaol.com]

Bruce, I REALLY liked your take on the tune. I disagree with Craig. The drums add a tension that gives it more excitement. To each his own... Frank http://www.mp3.com/spigots

[Bruce Lash]

Thanks, Frank. Yes, there is room for many tastes when discussing music. That's one of the reasons I like doing this stuff. Each opinion is valid and can be helpful. Cheers.

[Lee Flier]

Whoa, Bruce! I really dug your cover as well! And I too disagree with Craig about the drums - they sound killer from where I sit! But, we all know how I feel about drums. [img]http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img] You did a great job recording them, too. I DO agree with Craig that the arrangement could use some more variety as the song progresses. A couple of ideas just to get you started thinking: after the solo, try breaking the verse down a lot more than you do - get a lot softer and maybe you could get all psychedelic even, put a phase shifter on the vocals and make them move around a little with panning and reverb. Have the drums keep the tension going with soft hi hat and kick drum, but maybe vary the pattern some from what it has been. An organ pad there WOULD be good too, as Craig suggested. So totally break up the mood like that, and then really explode back into the chorus! Anyway, it's very cool, glad I listened! And glad to hear somebody cover it well - I too always thought it was a great song but I thought the original version of it sucked, it was too bland and boring. Thanks for picking it up! --Lee

[cristofemusician.org]

Ok, I'm doing a headstand, and I'm about to light my ass on fire.....the sound of which can be heard at: http://www.mp3.com/cristofe .....Thanxx for listening

[Jeff Klopmeyer]

Okay, I'm feeling brave today, so I'm going to throw my little tune into the ring here. http://www.mp3.com/JeffKlopmeyer PLEASE read my disclaimer before you listen: 1. The guy who did vocals on this track is a lyricist/engineer/producer who is a great guy and a good friend. Note that I did not add the word "singer" to this description. He's got some issues with pitch and tonality, as you'll soon see. 2. What I did: wrote all the music (except the vocal melody), arranged the piece, co-engineered, co-produced, and played all instruments (ac. guitar, el. guitar, bass, piano) and did drum sequencing. Lyrics, vocals and most of the engeering/production work is my friend Mike. 3. The tune is about four years old and it's already starting to sound dated. I would change the arrangement if I were to re-record it today. 4. I do NOT like the drum sounds for the most part...the cheesy splash cymbal is probably the worst, followed closely by the too-up-front snare that is completely lacking in dynamics. This song screams for real drums, or at least a real performance of triggered drums. And the electric guitar tone is pretty thin...I think we had to DI through a Boss SE-70, though I greatly prefer miking my cabinet to get "my" sound. Okay, done making excuses. Check it out if you want. - Jeff

[Tedster]

Bruce... Liked the cover as well, especially the way you sneak the doubled vocals and harmonies in there. But what really kills me is the rhythm guitar tone! Guitar? Amp? Effects? Mic technique? Reminds me of old Elvis Costello...which is verrrry good.

[KHAN]

I guess you could call this ..."The wrath of Khan"... [img]http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net4/128.gif[/img] I recorded these in '95 with a buddy of mine on a 4-track [img]http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net3/eek.gif[/img] ,a drum machine [img]http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net3/unhappy.gif[/img] , and lots of guitars!!!! [img]http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net4/icon16.gif[/img] I'm starting to re-record them ,and would appreciate any suggestions on arrangement, production etc...I promise not to [img]http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net4/splat.gif[/img] KHAN [img]http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net4/orb.gif[/img] http://www.mp3.com/SurBigger This message has been edited by KHAN on 02-28-2001 at 05:02 PM

[Curve Dominant]

>>And despite the initial shock at the "new wave"-style treatment,<< Yeah, I thought it was the Romantics! Well done, tho. Yo, KHAN: how come you ain't singin' on those tracks? That's some beautiful background music for some onesinging or speaking some cool rhymes, or a saxophone solo or something. You need to finish that, open it up, develop it. Sound ok, tho. Maybe get a Korg Electribe•S and use sampled percussion to enhance that Eastern influence. This message has been edited by Curve Dominant on 03-01-2001 at 01:14 AM

[Guest]

Yeah Bruce! I enjoyed Time After Time. The drums are great, really good mix on everything, levels are loud, good stuff.

[Tedster]

Way to go, Khan! Nice guitar sounds...really airy. Was there a Scholz Rockman involved...??? Kinda reminded me of the sounds I used to be able to get outta one of those. Nice ambient prog jazz, great chops. Unlike Curve, I personally couldn't hear vocals in either cut...they kinda stand on their own instrumentally. But, I could hear additional instrumentation, like perhaps a sax. But not necessary.

[Bruce Lash]

Thanks to everyone who listened and commented on "Time After Time". The drums on the cut are sampled and sent through an 1178 on their way to ProTools. The guitars and bass were DIed and ran through Amp Farm (some Marshall pre-set for the guitars, I think, and Bassman for the bass). Chad Ashley sang all the singing parts. He sings with a band called notaword. http://www.notaword.com It was his idea to double some of the vocals. He was very particular about the level of the double. I would have made it louder, but, listening to it now, I really like the effect as it is. The idea of him echoing "Time after time" at the end was mine. It's sort of like the end of Cheap Trick's "Dream Police". At least, that was my intent.

[MusicMan]

Howdy, I haven't been around much to listen, but will rememdy that today. I have a new song that is IMO, the best thing I have done sonically. Please feel free to tell me I am an idiot. Thanks, John The song is called [url=http://mp3.com/johnmpalumbo][b]Sandstone[/b][/url] .

[Tedster]

John, There's only room for one idiot on this board, and it be me...so therefore, you must not be an idiot...hehehehehe. [img]http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] I'll listen to yer toonz soon... Ted, the village idiot..

[Bruce Lash]

Frank, I checked out the Spigots' "Sampler Sampler". Very nice. I liked its textures. There is so much there--little guitar parts that you pick up on at the second or third listen; little vocal things; little percussion things. Also, I liked that the lead vocals were not on top. They blend nicely with the rest of the track. It was a bit hard to understand the lyrics sometimes this way, but I think that encourages the listener to come up with his own lyrics/meaning. That gives the listener more "ownership" of the song, which I applaud. It adds up to more repeated listening. Good work.

[KHAN]

Curve ,I have been thinking about buying a Sax lately.(I played clairinet in highschool, and the technique is similar).I will also be adding some keys to the new versions. Ted, the electric guitars went through a Peavey Tubefex and a digitech TSR-24and a Duel Showman. No Rockman in sight... Thanks guys for the insight.It is very much appreciated. I have posted two more songs at the same sight, they should be up in a day or two. http://www.mp3.com/SurBigger

[sbrock1san.rr.com]

Kahn- I liked Vujahdai. It's difficult to program drums that complex. I would have left out the tom-tom fills but I liked the high-pitched elements. A real dejembe or congas would work wonders on that tune. Nice guitar work. The track had too much reverb for my taste but it did add to the atmosphere. John- On Sandstone the vocals are really well recorded and I like your voice(is that you ?) I wouldn't change a thing. The string/pad was very effective and the backing vocals were great. One of the best tunes I've heard on these boards.

[sbrock1san.rr.com]

Kahn- I liked Vujahdai. It's difficult to program drums that complex. I would have left out the tom-tom fills but I liked the high-pitched elements. A real dejembe or congas would work wonders on that tune. Nice guitar work. The track had too much reverb for my taste but it did add to the atmosphere. John- On Sandstone the vocals are really well recorded and I like your voice(is that you ?) I wouldn't change a thing....maybe I would edit the count-in at the beginning. The string/pad was very effective and the backing vocals were great. One of the best tunes I've heard on these boards. I'd love to know what mics were used on the vocals.

[MusicMan]

Steve, Thanks a whole bunch. I am glad you liked it. I used an AKGC3000 through my DBX 586 dual tube mic pre. The vocals got a 2db Eq boost at 2khz. -john P.S. That is me singing.

[Tom Aragon]

[b]Any Beatle Fans?[/b] [url=http://artists.mp3s.com/artist_song/968/968075.html][b]{{{ Magical Mystery Tour }}}[/b][/url]

[lbjmusic]

Is there room for one more? [b] [url=http://artists.mp3s.com/artist_song/1288/1288750.html]Beautiful Day[/url] [/b] is the latest song that I have recorded. As a heads up: there's a lot going on in this song, it make take a couple listens...if you can stand it. [img]http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img] Robert

[m2]

[quote]Originally posted by Bruce Lash: [b]Thanks to everyone who listened and commented on "Time After Time". The drums on the cut are sampled and sent through an 1178 on their way to ProTools. The guitars and bass were DIed and ran through Amp Farm (some Marshall pre-set for the guitars, I think, and Bassman for the bass). Chad Ashley sang all the singing parts. He sings with a band called notaword. http://www.notaword.com It was his idea to double some of the vocals. He was very particular about the level of the double. I would have made it louder, but, listening to it now, I really like the effect as it is. The idea of him echoing "Time after time" at the end was mine. It's sort of like the end of Cheap Trick's "Dream Police". At least, that was my intent.[/b][/quote] I think it's really good. The only thing that bothered me was the sound of the snare, which was a tipoff the drums weren't real. How did you program the drums? Midi, or did you put together loops? Other than the snare, excellent. Better than the original, IMO. macle

[Tedster]

Tom Aragon said... >>Any Beatle Fans? You betcha! Great arrangement, harmonies...liked the way it builds into it in the beginning. The only thing that got me were the programmed drums, but, who am I to talk...I've used a drum machine too.

[Curve Dominant]

Yo, Khan, "Signs Of Spring" is fierce, ah tell ya. You can shred that axe, bro. I gotta get ya to shred a solo or two on one of my releases. BTW TO Y'ALL: After seeing one of my tunes on MP3.com, I quickly realized the marketing potential, got wit da program, and put up a full-fledged site. It has excerpts from my soundtracks for modern dance, some commercial soundtracks for TV & corporate clients, and some funky tunes that are either off-market or outtakes of stuff I'll be putting on future releases. It also has some background on these projects that I don't normally volanteer. Props to y'all for getting me on the mp3 tip wit da quickness. [url=http://www.mp3.com/TransluxTheater]www.mp3.com/TransluxTheater[/url]

[KHAN]

Curve , any time bro. Cheers [img]http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net7/beerchug.gif[/img]

[Chip McDonald]

[quote]Originally posted by KHAN: [b]I recorded these in '95 with a buddy of mine on a 4-track [/b][/quote] "Signs of Spring" Would that be a Yamaha 4-track? Alesis HR-16 drum machine, right? Ah, the memories... Anyhow, nice ideas. Sequenced soloing in a Gilbert-ish vibe. "Vujahdai" DiMeola influenced? Again, nice ideas. A lot of structured changes. Carnival cruise lines vibe... I'd want to hear more aggressive production to set the parts off from each other. Each section stands on it's own, but because of their busy nature kind of blends together. "The Gate" Yeah, you like the newer-ish DiMeola stuff, right, maybe Yellowjackets/Russ Freeman? Again, nice stuff. Something I don't care for is the the constant drum machine closed high hat sound; there's too many rhythmic accents happening without it changing, which seems unnatural. Nice details in percussion elements - I'm certain that's an HR-16... I wouldn't bother programming a drum machine like that anymore. I used to spend hours doing ridiculously complicated parts that only lasted a few seconds... It's possible to get it close, but.. The elaborate little syncopated break towards the end is cool, I wish you'd made that about 4 times longer.. Cool ending pitch bend effect. "No. 7" That's not a bass through a Rockman on the "Clean 2" setting? Nice stuff, cool shredding. I think the constrast of the sections is more dramatic in this tune than the others... Listening to your playing we have some similar influences. Again, I like the bits where you do the elaborate "dissonant wandering" melody bits the best... I like the offbeat theme you solo over in the "chaotic shredding" section best; I'd want to hear a slightly overdriven guitar to make the "lighter" section not quite so light.. The break where the bass drops out is a nice effective constrast with the thickness of the other parts. I'd want to hear more of a thematic developement happen when each part repeats... I like how you made the clean strummed section have an A/B effect by allowing to morph in the second half of the section to the muted arpeggios. Hmm.. I hear Vai, a tiny bit of Holdsworth _Metal Fatigue_ era, _Synchronicity_ period Police in the muted arpeggio bits, Rush _Signals_ era hat and ride influence.. Maybe Scott Rockenfield subdividing? Maybe a late 80's Lifeson influence on the clean guitar parts? The washy guitar-into-reverb reminds me of the end of the end of a song off of _Signals_, but I can't place it... Did you ever learn Vai's solos off of the first DLR record, specifically _Elephant Gun_ and _Shyboy_? Interesting stuff: this reminds me a lot of what I was doing back when I had a similar setup... I now associate that "sound" with a couple of t.v. commercials some of it ended in. My perception of my efforts with that drum machine was so naively ambitious back then, hearing your stuff makes me remember just how much of my life was wasted programming that thing - and how I hope I never meet the engineer who decided not to allow you to back up in HR in step mode: stabbing the button with quantizing set to 64th notes or greater, only to miss the beat and have to start over. Or get it wrong, go through and erase, THEN go through AGAIN ... Man. If I had a time machine I'd leave myself a note: find a drum machine that let's you back up!!! Don't waste anymore of your life doing that! Ahg. Nice imaginative ideas and non-banal arrangements. [b]http://www.mp3.com/chipmcdonald[/b]

[Tom Aragon]

[b]Tedster[/b] That was done about 10 years ago in my bedroom on a Portastudio 8 track cassette, using two instruments. One Guitar and one Korg O1 WFD. Thanks for listening! [img]http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

[Bruce Lash]

[quote]I think it's really good. The only thing that bothered me was the sound of the snare, which was a tipoff the drums weren't real. How did you program the drums? Midi, or did you put together loops? Other than the snare, excellent. Better than the original, IMO.[/quote] Macle: Thank you for checking it out. The drums were a sample preset that a friend of mine made. He recorded a lot of band in a lot of different studios and would roll a DAT after each session and go out into the studio and hit some drums. I played the samples on a keyboard, playing along to a rhythm gtr playback. Nothing is looped. Nothing is quantized. I would get a take that felt good and then go in and fix the clams to my satisfaction. That snare is one that usually works pretty well. I guess it gave itself away in this instance. I listened to "Joke". Very smooth production. Good details. Good singing. You are obviously comfortable with the Beatle comparisons. I've done a fair number of Beatley recordings myself and, at this stage anyway, I want to get as far away from it as I can (taking the lessons I've learned from listening to their records with me, of course). It's hard enough to find your own voice, you know what I mean? Anyway, "Joke" is a top notch effort. Kudos! I've got another couple of tunes I'd like to share here. They are from a record I did called [b]Prozak for Lovers[/b]. The idea of the record was to do bossa nova versions of songs like [url=http://hitme.net/prozak/aqualung.mp3]Aqualung[/url] and [url=http://hitme.net/prozak/reaper.mp3](Don't Fear) the Reaper[/url] and "level" them out a bit. Let me know what you think.