LAST FAST = IDEE FIXX

[rayc]

Hello Folks,
I did the vocals for this one this arvo.
I had sketched a vocal yesterday but it was partly too low, partly too slow and partly no go SO I ditched it all, rewrote the "chorus" and took another half a dozen passes until I'd almost reached some of the notes.
It's a 130bpm song, One guitar on the left, two on the right bass n BIAB drums up the middle along with the lead intro & M8.
I KNOW the vocals need heaps of work - at least a have a better place to start than with the Dismissal.
My main concern is the level of the more sustained guitar opposite the choppy one.
Yes the verse bvox are too loud - how about the chorus one?
Thought & reccos appreciated.

LASTFAST.mp3

Here's an update...I added an accent guitar to the verse, levelled the bvox a bit and used some artificial stereo widening on the drums as they are VERY narrow.

LASTFASTJbc.mp3

MASTERED
Based on your comments and suggestions I think the tweaking went well so I closed the book.

IDEE FIXX.mp3

Idee Fix

Streets filled with methylated ghosts
Keep company with fear
Stoned, cold & lonely
An everyday Monday year
And the euphemists, alchemists, pessimists
Pay fifty cents a glass

Armed salvation warriors
Professing inanities
Like real human dolls they come
With peroxided personalities
Inner city mutants
Die a little every day this
Contagious fast food famish is
Carcinogenic so they say

A clock drinker’s promises
Of a brand new second hand world
Fighting tenement phobia
Like defensive autistics curled
And the euphemists, alchemists, pessimists
Pay fifty cents a glass

Armed salvation warriors
Professing inanities
Like real human dolls they come
With peroxided personalities
Inner city mutants
Die a little every day this
Contagious fast food famish is
Carcinogenic so they say

SOLO

Streets filled with methylated ghosts
Of a brand new second hand world
Stoned, cold & lonely
Like defensive autistics curled
And the euphemists, alchemists, pessimists
Pay fifty cents a glass

A clock drinker’s promises
Of a brand new second hand world
A brand new second hand
A brand new second hand
Brand new second hand world

[vomitHatSteve]

The vocals are a good start. You're mostly in your upper register where there's a lot of good energy. (The low harmonies are a good supplement)

That left guitar is a really close feeling on cans. The BIAB drums are feeling very canned. You said they're up the middle. Are they totally mono?

[rayc]

The vocals are a good start. You're mostly in your upper register where there's a lot of good energy. (The low harmonies are a good supplement)

That left guitar is a really close feeling on cans. The BIAB drums are feeling very canned. You said they're up the middle. Are they totally mono?

[mention]vomitHatSteve[/mention] ,
Yes, the drums are VERY narrow - there's almost no spread in the stereo file. I double checked and that is how the file is in it's native state.
I've used a touch of stereo widener to spread it a little but only a touch as it sounded weird with more.

[rayc]

[mention]Greg_L[/mention] ,
If you've the time...how's the guitar tone and balance in this one?

[Greg_L]

@Greg_L ,
If you've the time...how's the guitar tone and balance in this one?

I'm finding the left channel guitar a little overpowering, but the tones are good for the song. Just balance the rhythms and you're set there. It's kind of like The Clash and Talking Heads had a baby. I like it.

But more importantly, I wanna say that your vocals are great on this! That's what I've been talking about. Get into it, give it some energy and confidence, and look what you did. By far your best vocals yet and it's perfect for the song. Great job there. Keep improving!

[WhiskeyJack]

It's kind of like The Clash and Talking Heads had a baby.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

[mention]rayc[/mention], No nits from me really. I like the drums as they are in the second mix. That left guitar seems to stick out quite a bit from the rest of the stuff in the verses. But feels a more cohesive when the solos happen.

Also your vocal performance is freaking AWESOME! I feel you feeling it dude. Awesome job.

[TripleM]

Guitars sound terrific. So does the bass.

Talking Heads thing is funny. At the start I was immediately thinking Psycho Killer.

I think you could pull the guitars down a nudge. Let the vocal come though a little more. I thought the vocal performance is a huge step up. It was excellent.

[rayc]

Thanks Gents,
Mastered version in the OP.

[Armistice]

It sounds good ray. More confidence in the singing, both performance and treatment - a real evolution underway there - guitars good as always. Maybe your next project is to ditch the BIAB drums and explore VSTi drums? It will slow you down but you have a lot more control and can do things you may hear in your head but won't find in BIAB. Just a thought...

I got the Clash feeling from the rhythm... not getting Talking Heads though.

[rayc]

It sounds good ray. More confidence in the singing, both performance and treatment - a real evolution underway there - guitars good as always. Maybe your next project is to ditch the BIAB drums and explore VSTi drums? It will slow you down but you have a lot more control and can do things you may hear in your head but won't find in BIAB. Just a thought...
I got the Clash feeling from the rhythm... not getting Talking Heads though.

Thanks David,
I started this one singing more quietly as you advised. it didn't work as I was thinking in terms of a quiet melody too...it ended up shockingly bad. After that I compromised by moving further from the mic and singing louder which garnered the final result. There're a few instances of the same chord over a couple of bars too...so you've an imprint on the song.
VSTi Drums? Hmmm, one thing at a time perhaps.

[JD01]

Ah, I've missed this one - you're done?
Sounds good anyway. Your vocal sounds tidy on it. What's your vocal chain these days?

Good song, Ray. Bet its nice to not be relying on anyone else for vocals?