Listen to my stuff and critisize.

santucci218 · #1 03-09-2010, 01:33 AM

http://www.myspace.com/mysteriousstrangermusic

Now, they arent done. Everythings Perfect needs drums, but i cant find anyone to take on the task....Any help? haha.

The other one has a gap in the middle where an odd guitar part will sit.

Listen to the whole songs though! Ill have more up soon. Add me, hate me, say you dig it though you think it blows, haha.

Thank you guys!

crusie · #2 03-09-2010, 06:54 AM

well I'd love to check in again when the tracks are done. personally I would never throw anything halfdone on myspace - you might have record labels looking through there - I'd rather have nothing, than something that ain't done.

sounds like the tracks are made with superior drummer or DFH - if it's actually a real drummer playing I'd encourage him to work with dynamics.

are there gonna be any vocals on these tracks ? if not then add some kind of lead to it.

now I know I sound negative - and please don't take it the wrong way - I'm merely "critizising" as you told us to.

as for what I think of the tracks - that's really not important - just trying to give out guidelines to what I would do to improve the tracks - but if you really want it I don't like the electronica sound the first one have - might be better if there was a vocal or something to distract you from it I don't know.

just my 2 cents

BTW if you don't like what I had to say - just ignore it- I'm no god's gift with this. the most important thing is that you put your nerve into the music - it should be like giving away a piece of your soul each time you make a track - that track should define you - as a band and persons.

santucci218 · #3 03-09-2010, 09:27 AM

haha, well thank you. Anyways, "everything's Perfect" is just a drum track i used to make the song. I'm waiting to find someone who plays drums to do it for me. The second song though is an actual drummer. Vocals? that all depends if i find a singer or not. I agree that a singer would be a good addition, but I personally will not sing. Thank you though.

**barebones** · #4 03-09-2010, 09:37 AM

Interesting ideas. Try focusing on dynamics.

SirGrotius · #5 03-09-2010, 09:46 AM

I really like the second song, and dig the drums (esp the ride). The songs definitely have a mysterious vibe to them.

There's a certain "been-there-done-that" feel to the first song in terms of the main guitar riff, but if you can change things up with vocals and percussion it may stand out more.

You'll probably want a real crooner. I could see someone with a nice soft, mid-range-y voice or maybe something a little harsher with a rugged feel to it.

santucci218 · #6 03-09-2010, 10:34 AM

ok, Utsettelse is done, so check it out. i changed a few things things in the middle and end. i try to think what i want, and do something else. i like the raunchy mysterious kind of feel i had going, and i didnt want to mess that up with a guitar "solo."

bassteban · #7 03-09-2010, 10:37 AM

Liked it- +1 on developing some dynamics. As is, it's very consistent; I want/expect to hear some kind of hiphop-esque rap/poetry over it.

santucci218 · #8 03-09-2010, 10:42 AM

When you say dynamics, you mean the song Utsettelse when the lead kicks in that is too loud? if so, i like it that way, thus i kept it. its not hard for me to turn the volume of it down, but the reason some notes are louder and such is because the harmonics for a few parts just dont ring out like a regular note would. either way, i dig the dynamics and odd recording method of that song.

The second song really needs some drums and vocals. I dont have any friends that make their own vocal lines or anything.

Vakmere · #9 03-09-2010, 10:45 AM

Finish it and then post it. Right now it doesnt hold my attantion however there is a good foundation. Dont over do it either.

santucci218 · #10 03-09-2010, 11:02 AM

well, the one is done. Ill let you know when the other is done, though, i will never find a singer, so...ill let you know when i get some drums.

heb9_28 · #11 03-09-2010, 11:07 AM

Sounds good. You definitely have some serious talent. But everything sounds a little "generic". Add some lead parts, definitely a talented vocalist can help.

But yeah, you definitely have both recording skills as well as playing skills! You have a good ear.

santucci218 · #12 03-09-2010, 12:02 PM

if i may ask, what do you mean by generic?

**barebones** · #13 03-10-2010, 09:19 AM

When I said "dynamics," I meant that the rhythm tracks--bass, drums, guitars--remain at a pretty constant level throughout the song. Building the song with an ebb and flow of quieter and louder parts would make the songs a little more dramatic, emotional, interesting. Sounds like these tunes are pretty close to finished for you, so dynamics would just be something to focus on as you continue writing and recording.

santucci218 · #14 03-16-2010, 01:13 PM

Im bumping this because i realized that i had 2 tracks way too loud on this song and just fixed everything. Please, let me know what you think, and check out Santucci's Interlude No. 13 while youre there! Thank you

Vakmere · #15 03-19-2010, 11:46 AM

#13 sound like it should be in a TV comercial, maybe a bike ad, has that sort of motion.

The other one doesn't do it for me unless you can put a video with it. For just listening it's a little too busy and for lack of another word, industrial.

santucci218 · #16 03-19-2010, 01:23 PM

well, if you know any bike stores looking for a song...

thank you though. it was just a composition to try some more odd timings and keep them in a listen friendly manner.

djt820 · #17 03-22-2010, 03:36 PM

I really admired the first one. It had great songwriting. The mix was extremely flat and uninteresting though. Nothing had any depth to it. I notice you're using EZDrummer. You gotta EQ them drums, bro.
The second one sounded much too "MIDI" for my liking. It had admirable songwriting but it sounded much too fake.
You have a lot of potential, you just have to make your overall mix more unique and in-depth for the listener to completely enjoy it. Thats my 2 cents.

santucci218 · #18 03-22-2010, 03:46 PM

any tips on eqing drums? the second track is all midi, thus the sound, haha. I just wrote it as an exercise for odd rhythms. I never intended to record it myself, though, maybe i should?

wideyes · #19 03-22-2010, 03:51 PM

Always nice to see someone making their own tracks from scratch!

My thoughts: Utsettelse sounds like Kraftwerk to me. Have you heard their track "Metropolis"? They're from way back in the 70's, when it took a room full of "refrigerators" to make music like that. If you're making electronically inspired music, might want to pay attention to how some of the masters of the form build the feeling in their tracks. Plaid is a good example of this: they build and change things very fuidly, and inject a lot of life into electronic music. Check out their album "Not For Threes". Here's a track I like from it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh5su4GgOBY
Looks like someone uploaded the whole album. Check it out.

Then, if you're feeling more adventurous, check out Aphex Twin. He's the electronic music world's Chopin. He's done everything from acid house to jungle to drum 'n' bass to ambient.

Another good band to check out would be Boards of Canada. "The Campfire Headphase" is an excellent album, and along the same lines as you've outlined here.

Why the recommendations? I think it's important to study what makes people who are better than you so much better than you. You'll find lots of education and inspiration in these three artists.

santucci218 · #20 03-22-2010, 04:14 PM

excluding one or two Aphex Twin videos, i never listened to any of this kind of music. I'm mainly into progressive metal. This stuff just kind of comes naturally to me at times. I will check them out, thank you very much.

That link was cool. I really dug a few of these parts, but some of the more out there stuff i could do without. like the random clapping with a ton of reverb, haha.