For fans of raw funk, soul, boogaloo, etc.

gratt · #1 06-02-2010, 09:10 PM

Hey guys,
Could any fans of these styles please check out the first track by my new funk/boogaloo group? We're a pretty new band, but we've worked hard on a recording sound that sounds lo-fi but modernly pro. Let me know your criticisms, especially in terms of my playing :P

www.myspace.com/mackenzierhythmsection

Thanks,
Garett

FilterFunk · #2 06-03-2010, 08:07 PM

I like it a lot; I grew up in the '70s so I dig that lo-fi sound, and it does sound pro, IMO. Actually, I can't comment on the technical part of your playing, because I'm a keyboardist/wannabe bassist, but it sure sounded good to me! Everything was nice and tight. I'm not a fan of panning instruments 100% left or right in the mix (the guitar and Rhodes), but that's purely personal preference. Overall, it's great, and definitely keep that lean, lo-fi sound! Beats the heck out of most of the overproduced, overly compressed stuff that's out there.

Corey Y · #3 06-03-2010, 08:23 PM

Good song man, I dig it. Great energy, all the instruments have character and energy and I like the tones and the production. I'm into that raw, dirty, hard funk and you guys nailed it. All the shiny pretty 15 piece nu phunk bores me to tears. Thank you for sharing, I wish I heard more new bands like this, good stuff.

JimmyM · #4 06-04-2010, 12:36 AM

good stuff...great playing...digging on that one C note you play in the main riff that doesn't belong in the key of E but it works really well. don't lose that...it's outside just enough to where it's freakin' badass!

only one small criticism...the bass isn't dirty enough for that kind of music. i'm not talking about like fuzztone or obvious buzzy sounds...i'm talking about just a hint of overdrive that sounds clean in a mix but really isn't. sort of like those soloed jamerson tracks you can hear on youtube...like a b-15 pushed ever so slightly into the red. also, i might roll off a little bit more of that high end as well, at least where your bass is being soloed. the fret clank is a tiny bit distracting. i might tame it down just a little by rolling off more high end and ever so slightly boosting between 125-200hz.

but i think you guys are onto something and you should keep it going...lot of promise in that track.

JerBo · #5 06-04-2010, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

good stuff...great playing...digging on that one C note you play in the main riff that doesn't belong in the key of E but it works really well. don't lose that...it's outside just enough to where it's freakin' badass!

only one small criticism...the bass isn't dirty enough for that kind of music. i'm not talking about like fuzztone or obvious buzzy sounds...i'm talking about just a hint of overdrive that sounds clean in a mix but really isn't. sort of like those soloed jamerson tracks you can hear on youtube...like a b-15 pushed ever so slightly into the red. also, i might roll off a little bit more of that high end as well, at least where your bass is being soloed. the fret clank is a tiny bit distracting. i might tame it down just a little by rolling off more high end and ever so slightly boosting between 125-200hz.

but i think you guys are onto something and you should keep it going...lot of promise in that track.

I think Jimmy's right on the money here!

Nice track man.

Plinkerton · #6 06-04-2010, 01:44 AM

Awesome.

+1 to the overdrive.

gratt · #7 06-05-2010, 12:10 AM

Thanks a lot guys, really great feedback. I had also considered a bit of overdrive- I always find it hard to find the tone I hear in my head versus the mix but I'm a bassist for a reason and thus the mix generally wins, so I'll see what I can do.

I'll try and remember to post some new tracks as they come. Thanks again,
Garett

**funkybass4ever** · #8 06-05-2010, 12:33 AM

i liked it- it sounded a little like a jam sesssion broke out in the middle but i made it all the way through to the end and that is proof you guys kept it true throughout.

tobo · #9 06-05-2010, 03:49 AM

only 17 friends? criminal!

keep it up man, love the intro, good stuff

zulujack · #10 06-05-2010, 04:44 AM

Loved it! Would love to hear it with some horns too.

Unrepresented · #11 06-06-2010, 06:05 AM

Diggin' it.

Agree with most of what's posted here: might shift the extreme pans a little more central, at least as they first enter, and would consider adding a touch of "hair" to the bass, but otherwise it sounds really good.

mrjim123 · #12 06-06-2010, 06:17 AM

Sounded really good, nice groove. The only suggestion I would make about the playing is to occasionally go up the neck a little, you know, play a few higher register notes. And I agree witrh previous posters - a little grit in the tone would be a plus.

monroe55 · #13 06-06-2010, 10:11 AM

+1 on what JimmyM said. I like the tone of the singer's voice too. Sounds like he has the potential to belt out some really cool vocals/melodies. So many good bands with good musicians never really shine because they dont have good vocals. Not just singing in key but a having a voice with some real pleasing tone. Need that sweet tone from any instrument to make its music irresistable.

What do you guys mean by "low-fi" ? I too feel that most modern funk stuff I try and get into usually sounds too....something else, just never as cool as that 70's stuff.

zillo · #14 06-06-2010, 10:27 AM

Reaalynice...you guys have something good brewing up there!

the general · #15 06-06-2010, 11:08 AM

sounds good. keep up the good work

derJackal · #16 06-06-2010, 12:14 PM

Sweet! Really liking it!

Like everybody else here, I'll suggest putting a little more grit on that tone and maybe push up the mids and high end just a tweak to give it more cut and bite at the low end (I guess I'm just hearing Verdine White's early tone - '73 - '80, in my head)

You've got a lot of sonic space to play with because of the guitar line and a sweet bass line to highlight!

gratt · #17 06-06-2010, 12:27 PM

Thanks again guys, glad to get some feedback. We've been swapping around the

Quote:

Originally Posted by monroe55

What do you guys mean by "low-fi" ? I too feel that most modern funk stuff I try and get into usually sounds too....something else, just never as cool as that 70's stuff.

That's exactly it, we love the classics and we'd like to make an EP that sounds as dirty and 70s-ish as possible, but we're doing final mixdown/mastering at a semi-pro studio to give it that extra something something. A few friends have chuckled at our setup:
2 sm57s, Garage Band, a multi-headphone jack and an old preamp with a VE meter. The rhodes and kit are recorded in our noisy flat apartment with ambulances and police cars driving by incessantly, the guitar and vocals were done in our closet, and I just DIed my power amp (BBE Bmax-T) straight into the board.

JimmyM · #18 06-06-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gratt

2 sm57s, Garage Band, a multi-headphone jack and an old preamp with a VE meter. The rhodes and kit are recorded in our noisy flat apartment with ambulances and police cars driving by incessantly, the guitar and vocals were done in our closet, and I just DIed my power amp (BBE Bmax-T) straight into the board.

next time, combine the di with a mic'ed cab and chop the high end past 4k off the di. you'll be glad you did.

bass12 · #19 06-06-2010, 01:37 PM

Sounds good, man! Good to hear some soul coming out of Ottawa. I'm in Montreal and I may just have to come and check you guys out at the Babylon.

seventhson · #20 06-06-2010, 09:50 PM

good stuff, man! i totally dug it.