Not sure about the mix for this one. My left ear hears much better than my right, and I do all of my work with headphones. Sometimes when I have two doubled tracks split left/right I end up having a hard time keeping them balanced. I over compensate…
I kinda like this one, although the cutting and pasting sounds really obvious to my ears. I usually try and get my punches cleaner than this, but I seemed to be slacking on this day. The lyrics are part of my current atheist bent. The guitars…
Not sure about the mix for this one. My left ear hears much better than my right, and I do all of my work with headphones. Sometimes when I have two doubled tracks split left/right I end up having a hard time keeping them balanced. I over compensate…
I have a manual called "The everything home digital recording book" and it suggest you should never use headphones to judge your mix down and mastering work, but whatever, I think you've done a wonderful, professional, masterful job with this number. It ROCKS! Rock on!
Last month I did a bad instrumental thing inspired by the quiet little instrumental breaks in the last couple of Pink Floyd records. I don't like the way it came out, but I did decide right away I'd try something similar again before 50/90 ended…
Last month I did a bad instrumental thing inspired by the quiet little instrumental breaks in the last couple of Pink Floyd records. I don't like the way it came out, but I did decide right away I'd try something similar again before 50/90 ended…
So 50/90 is an unnatural forcing of a crap ton of songs in a relatively short period of time. We're half way though and I've learned one thing. I've learned how easy it is to repeat something you've already done. This one sounds a LOT like…
There's a lot of weirdness going on here.
First, King's X has a song on their Dogman album called "Go to Hell". It's 30 seconds long and it's balls to the wall and just when you start to feel the groove it ends. I thought I might try something…
This one feels forced. I don't know, it just isn't doing much for me. I like the part after the first solo where the drums ride on a crash cymbal, but the rest of it doesn't seem to gel. The lyrics are gibberish made up on the spot. The guitars…
So 50/90 is an unnatural forcing of a crap ton of songs in a relatively short period of time. We're half way though and I've learned one thing. I've learned how easy it is to repeat something you've already done. This one sounds a LOT like…
I appreciate wanting to bring the vocals out in the mix more but that would mean someone might hear my awful voice and nonono we can't have that. Not to mention the terrible lyrics. Urgh. Bury those vocals!
I also like having the excuse that as I am a guitar player first and foremost, I naturally want the guitars to overpower everything else.
In all seriousness, I agree the vocals need to come up... I just can't bring myself to do it.
So 50/90 is an unnatural forcing of a crap ton of songs in a relatively short period of time. We're half way though and I've learned one thing. I've learned how easy it is to repeat something you've already done. This one sounds a LOT like…
I will have to disagree with the commenter below me -- I dig the vocals as they are in this one. Choice lead break, dude! Yeah, I'm into this, and appreciate the mix down and mastering job as is -- Rock on!
So 50/90 is an unnatural forcing of a crap ton of songs in a relatively short period of time. We're half way though and I've learned one thing. I've learned how easy it is to repeat something you've already done. This one sounds a LOT like…
This one came really quick as I was working on another, completely different, idea. Lyric wise it's a simple little love song about the love of my life and I sticking it out. Usually I tend to match that type of lyric with something less dumb…
Another simple arrangement that uses dynamics to differentiate between verse/chorus/ect. I really like that gimmick, but I have to force myself not to do it, or I'd do it 100% of the time.
The lyrics are about depression and were written the…
He was a genius. He was a miracle. He was a good man. But despite that he was wealthy and loved by millions, he was in pain. But though his pain is over, we have lost a giant, so this is a giant lost.
Digging the music and the vocals and lyrics. Good stuff, great job, Rock on!
This one is a little sloppy. There's a bum note in one of the guitars in the chorus that got copied and pasted a whole bunch of times. I don't have time to go back and fix it though.
Lyrically, I haven't mined the endless source of inspiration…
I have no clue what the lyrics are about. I guess maybe it's about not wanting to go to work on a Tuesday morning and looking for some existential way out? I don't know, something stupid like that.
The music to this was written while I was…
This one is a little sloppy. There's a bum note in one of the guitars in the chorus that got copied and pasted a whole bunch of times. I don't have time to go back and fix it though.
Lyrically, I haven't mined the endless source of inspiration…
I don't need every song to sound like a power trio, even if I want every song to be arranged for a power trio. Does that make sense?
Also, is it the biggest cliche in the universe to write a song about writing a song?
All of the guitars…
I don't need every song to sound like a power trio, even if I want every song to be arranged for a power trio. Does that make sense?
Also, is it the biggest cliche in the universe to write a song about writing a song?
All of the guitars…
I don't need every song to sound like a power trio, even if I want every song to be arranged for a power trio. Does that make sense?
Also, is it the biggest cliche in the universe to write a song about writing a song?
All of the guitars…
I liked this one a lot more before I mixed it...
I don't know what the lyrics are about. All I know is that my Strat's neck pickup is sah-weeet.
The rhythm guitar is the Strat. The lead at the beginning is the Les Paul. The lead at the…
So, what do you think... could it use more wah-wah?
This was written for the 2014 RPM Challenge. The chromatic thing at the beginning had been rattling around in my head for years and years but had never found a home.
The lyrics here…
That plinky little sound in the verses is an organ with some distortion on it. I wanted Jon Lord to play the part but he wasn't available. It's playing eighth notes in the verses and a sustained pad in the chorus. If I remix this I might bring it up. I haven't decided yet.
The sound at the end is actually a grunt of frustration. This is the easiest song every written in all of the history of music and it took me 700 takes to get the rhythm guitars right. I was going to cut it out but when the time came I thought it was funny so I left it there.
The first song completed for the second round of re-recorded Quarantine Tunes. This one was written on the last day of the 2016 RPM Challenge. I had written a bunch of songs saying that people who think the Earth is flat are somehow defective…
It's not a cocked wah, all of those mids are coming from the Klon pedal. I was a scooped mids guy for 30 years before I finally figured out that if I just boost the mids a little the rest of the band can hear me without me cranking my amp until it hurts. Now I overdo it in the other direction. heh
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here we go - Edith FINALLY gets it...
Actually, she's been getting it ever since I wrote it on the 29th May. I thought it would take a week or so, but it proved to be more of a fight than I was expecting.
On…
RPM 2k15
vocal by Gregg Todt
is it the medication
that makes her stare off into space?
those little pills in the bottle
grab your collar
smack you in the face
i want to make an appointment to see
that drug, so he will give her back to…
I thought going into 50/90 that I would need to do some quick recordings of really simple arrangements. Maybe just acoustic guitar and voice. Nope, not really.
This isn't meant as filler. This idea is something I noodle on almost every…
So 50/90 is an unnatural forcing of a crap ton of songs in a relatively short period of time. We're half way though and I've learned one thing. I've learned how easy it is to repeat something you've already done. This one sounds a LOT like…
I appreciate wanting to bring the vocals out in the mix more but that would mean someone might hear my awful voice and nonono we can't have that. Not to mention the terrible lyrics. Urgh. Bury those vocals!
I also like having the excuse that as I am a guitar player first and foremost, I naturally want the guitars to overpower everything else.
In all seriousness, I agree the vocals need to come up... I just can't bring myself to do it.
Opening song by Kent Good. We played pretty good in Feb. We are not "chops" players, but i think we rocked this one pretty good.This song will evolve a bit as we break it in live.
Apologies to Peter and the rest of Genesis - from back when they were good - 1974
And the lamb lies down on Broadway.
Early morning Manhattan,
Ocean winds blow on the land.
The Movie-Palace is now undone,
The all-night watchmen have had their…
"Stupid Punk Song" is... well... stupid. I woke up one morning and the entire song, lyrics and all, was stuck in my head. I let it rattle around for a few days before putting it down on my new 8-track. I played it for Break Even once but they…
This is a pre-release of a song from my new album. The song still needs some polish and rubbing. I will change it out once i get done with the final version. The lyric was written a long time ago, of what could or couldn't have been:) Thats the…
Comments on Robert James's stuff
nice gitarre riffs :D
Your punches aren't obvious to me. What you're doing works for my layman's ears. Great topic, expertly delivered.
I have a manual called "The everything home digital recording book" and it suggest you should never use headphones to judge your mix down and mastering work, but whatever, I think you've done a wonderful, professional, masterful job with this number. It ROCKS! Rock on!
Nice
Good one , fade out on drone background at times might work better.
You don't need to make excuses for anything here. It's your song, you can present it just how you like and feel good about it. Jolly good song.
I DIG! Freakin' groovy, man! Love it -- Rock the hell on!
Oh yes indeed, this is a groovy crank-her-up!
I appreciate wanting to bring the vocals out in the mix more but that would mean someone might hear my awful voice and nonono we can't have that. Not to mention the terrible lyrics. Urgh. Bury those vocals! I also like having the excuse that as I am a guitar player first and foremost, I naturally want the guitars to overpower everything else. In all seriousness, I agree the vocals need to come up... I just can't bring myself to do it.
I will have to disagree with the commenter below me -- I dig the vocals as they are in this one. Choice lead break, dude! Yeah, I'm into this, and appreciate the mix down and mastering job as is -- Rock on!
I like this. Reminds me of Steven Stills. But you need to bring your voices out in the mix. As loud as the guitar, at least, when you are singing.
Thaaaaaaat's the way!!!! Cool ;)
He was a genius. He was a miracle. He was a good man. But despite that he was wealthy and loved by millions, he was in pain. But though his pain is over, we have lost a giant, so this is a giant lost. Digging the music and the vocals and lyrics. Good stuff, great job, Rock on!
Good lyrics, good vocals, good music. Rock on!
You're a groovy songwriter, and I'm digging the way you handle your axe. Style, man! Choice!
Sloppy, huh? Whatever, I dig this number. Rock on!
Groovy! Sounds like some background music of a '60s James Bond movie, like some secret agent, spy, private detective stuff. I dig it -- Rock on!
Liking that!!
This track, and No Dice, sounded darker than your usual stuff. Very nice - moody suits you.
Great as usual - and loved the percussive flourishes.
Comments made by Robert James
That plinky little sound in the verses is an organ with some distortion on it. I wanted Jon Lord to play the part but he wasn't available. It's playing eighth notes in the verses and a sustained pad in the chorus. If I remix this I might bring it up. I haven't decided yet. The sound at the end is actually a grunt of frustration. This is the easiest song every written in all of the history of music and it took me 700 takes to get the rhythm guitars right. I was going to cut it out but when the time came I thought it was funny so I left it there.
It's not a cocked wah, all of those mids are coming from the Klon pedal. I was a scooped mids guy for 30 years before I finally figured out that if I just boost the mids a little the rest of the band can hear me without me cranking my amp until it hurts. Now I overdo it in the other direction. heh
Love the slide! What a great song. No one warns us that vowel sounds matter when writing lyrics, but you nailed it.
Damn it man, each song is better than the one that came before. Nice work. Really loving it.
The acoustic bass sound comes from GarageBand. I haven't been using it much lately, but every once in a while I feel the need.
I appreciate wanting to bring the vocals out in the mix more but that would mean someone might hear my awful voice and nonono we can't have that. Not to mention the terrible lyrics. Urgh. Bury those vocals! I also like having the excuse that as I am a guitar player first and foremost, I naturally want the guitars to overpower everything else. In all seriousness, I agree the vocals need to come up... I just can't bring myself to do it.
I love everything about this song.
Live music! Sounds great.
Have I mentioned that this is the BEST! SONG! EVER!!!!? Because it clearly is the BEST SONG EVER!!!
BEST! SONG! EVER!!!!!
Syd would be proud. Thanks!
Put on a fox head mask and channel Peter Gabriel. Nice!
Hey Steve, I don't think you were there that night. I know i played it for at least Jeff and Dave and they both sort of looked at me funny.
I like both of these songs a lot. Thanks!
Great song! Here's to hoping you add some more.
Some excellent guitar playing! Thanks
I'm so impressed that I can't think of anything complementary to say. Thanks!
Wow!