emeraldsoul
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dcumpian
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/20 08:47:28
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It's a good track either way, although, without the "spoken word", there are periods where you can tell that something is missing. I think if you want to do a music-only version, you should have another instrument carry a melody (or something) to keep things in focus. Really liking all of the instrumentation you chose, and those drum grooves are slick!
Two thumbs (and a pinky) up!
Regards,
Dan
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bjornpdx
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/20 11:49:57
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Tom
I liked the spoken word version better. (I thought the spoken word part was from a Lyndon Johnson speech at first, but nope.) The instruments played off each other very well. Nicely done.
I focused more on the words than the music so to me it would be better to leave out or shorten some of the instrumental sections between the spoken word parts. I found myself wanting to get to the heart of the matter but didn't get there until half way through, not that there's anything wrong with that.
I enjoyed the listen. Thanks.
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daryl1968
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/20 14:52:50
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this is really good Tom - love the sounds you've used and the drums sound great.
All the little breakdowns here and there are spot on.
Listened to the spoken word version
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bapu
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/20 16:46:48
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I Listened to the spoken word version. Very (troublingly) poignant. The music was great.
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eph221
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/20 18:34:46
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We have a local pianist/producer named Tom Grant. He has done similar productions. I like your style.
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skinnybones lampshade
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/20 19:29:56
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Hi Tom,
I really was absorbed by this; I hope the troubled soul is not a troubled emeraldsoul.
I think it's just great (although obviously distressing)! It's a very moving piece of work.
It did cross my mind as I was listening that if you wanted to try an alternate arrangement, you might experiment with (while keeping the "I come to you tonight with.... troubled soul" section as the "chorus") splitting the long "verse" that articulates the details of why his soul is troubled into two shorter "half" verses. You could then place the first one somewhat earlier in the piece, to be followed by another "chorus" or so and then the second section of the "verse" and then another "chorus" ....Hmmm, this is as clear as mud. :) I mean:
a) Chorus or a few chorus sections as you already have them
b) The first half of the verse (coming in earlier than where the one long verse starts now)
c) More chorus sections (as you have them)
d) The second half of the verse (starting around where your complete verse starts now)
e) More chorus sections
f) Maybe even one complete verse near the end?
Anyway, those were just musings. As I said, I like it very much just as it is. Thank you very much for this piece, Tom.
LJ
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emeraldsoul
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/20 20:19:01
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Skinnybones! - Thanks, and that's quite funny because at one point I was working on doing exactly that! As is, the middle is a little bit like drinking through a fire hose, with all the lyrics. I probably need to lose a few. The trouble with that suggestion I think is the added song time it would seem to require - right now the song runs around 4:10 and I wanted to avoid it going 5 or 6 minutes, 'cause overall it's slightly distressing in subject and who needs that for 6 minutes? :) Eph221 - many thanks, I do what I do, as do you . . . glad you liked it. Portland, OR has a piano player by the name of Tom Grant and he's waaaaay better than me, as far as I can tell. Is that your guy? Ed - glad you liked the music, and perhaps if bad stuff happens, it hopefully won't be as dire as what's not-so-obliquely being discussed in my song. Or, if it does, the compensation will be some Shiny New Infrastructure. Most likely, though, "Everything Is Going To Be Fine" . . . fingers crossed! Daryl - thanks for the listen, particularly on those drums, which I spent forever on. I still think the snare is a bit light in its current presentation; I just can't find the right way to fix it up. Oh, well. Thanks! cheers, -Tom
post edited by emeraldsoul - 2017/01/21 03:17:23
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skinnybones lampshade
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/20 20:32:17
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Hi again Tom,
Just to make sure: I didn't mean for a minute that there were too many words; in fact, I hope you don't cut a single one of them! They have great impact. I just thought maybe squishing some of them in a little earlier might work. I completely get what you mean when you say you don't want your song to end up being too long (says the queen of the too-flippin'-long song! :)
LJ
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eph221
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/20 22:19:15
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I've never heard him live! emeraldsoul
Skinnybones! - Thanks, and that's quite funny because at one point I was working on doing exactly that! As is, the middle is a little bit like drinking through a fire hose, with all the lyrics. I probably need to lose a few.
The trouble with that suggestion I think is the added song time it would seem to require - right now the song runs around 4:10 and I wanted to avoid it going 5 or 6 minutes, 'cause overall it's slightly distressing in subject and who needs that for 6 minutes? :)
Eph221 - many thanks, I do what I do, as do you . . . glad you liked it. Portland, OR has a piano player by the name of Tom Grant and he's waaaaay better than me, as far as I can tell. Is that your guy?
Ed - glad you liked the music, and perhaps if bad stuff happens, it hopefully won't be as dire as what's not-so-obliquely being discussed in my song. Or, if it does, the compensation will be some Shiny New Infrastructure. Most likely, though, Everything Will Be Okay . . .
Daryl - thanks for the listen, particularly on those drums, which I spent forever on. I still think the snare is a bit light in its current presentation; I just can't find the right way to fix it up. Oh, well. Thanks!
cheers,
-Tom
http://tomgrant.com/biography-2 I've never heard him live so can't make a comparison. As far as recordings go, I remember he was kind of a prog. jazz guy. It'd be cool to see him play straight ahead stuff sometime.
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emeraldsoul
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/21 03:13:14
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Dan - a big thank you, and you are very correct, the "non-words" version could use a guitar noodle or something to go along with. Many thanks and please keep up your excellent work!
Bjorn - thanks and my pleasure, thank you for listening.
LTD,
-Tom
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jamesg1213
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/21 11:20:47
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I like this Tom, the arpeggio synth, percussion and bass fit perfectly together. Clean and crisp, as always.
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Marshall
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/22 07:09:15
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Hi Tom
I've listened to both versions, and although I am no expert on this type of track, as a casual listener I really like the instrumentation. The drums are outstanding as others have commented. I also like the way you use the stereo field to its full extent - listening on headphones is a real pleasure! Beautifully crafted songs, both.
Bill
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Wookiee
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/23 11:02:08
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There is something about the opening groove that reminds this furry mind of another track but the mind is to furry to remember the name Oh well.
Nice track instrumentation and mix, I only listened to the spoken word version. need to go back and listen again.
Thanks for sharing.
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Karma has a way of finding its own way home.
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philz
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/23 15:36:02
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I listened to the spoken word version, being a fan of social and political commentary. I found the piece quite interesting with the clips nicely juxtaposed against the track. The mix seemed really good to me. Nice job, Tom.
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emeraldsoul
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/24 19:51:42
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James, many thanks indeed. I like clean and crisp, but others here are cleaner and crispier. It's good to have goals!
Phil, glad you liked it. I really tried hard not to overplay the political hand, but maybe a little commentary slips through. Thanks for the listen.
Wookster - thanks for the words, and if you think of it, let me know. Furry knows a thing or two . . .
Marshall (Bill) - yes! I sweated over the drums, but there is some bizzarro hard panning that either works, or it doesn't - so I'm glad it worked for you!
cheers,
-Tom
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stevec
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/25 15:52:19
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Great job, Tom. The spoken word clips almost sound tailored for this piece (or vice versa). And the tune itself was cool as-is, nice wide arps and percussion with synth/ep tones that sound crisp and clean.
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Lynn
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/25 18:41:25
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Tom, this is brilliant. I listened to the spoken version, and I'm going to say something that I rarely say about a song: it ended too soon. I'll listen to this a few more times. You filled up my room with that lovely synth bass. The message is very timely. A+
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emeraldsoul
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/28 17:19:24
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Steve - many thanks, I tried to keep the stereo spread in mind on this, many thanks for the listen!
Lynn, you rock, glad you dig it! As for the length, I'll be sure to make my next song twice as long as it needs to be. :) thanks so much!
-Tom
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Leizer
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/01/29 12:47:12
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I listened to the instrumental part first, and then with the spoke words. The words are very well timed and fit in really well in the soundscape. I think this mix and arrangement is fantastic, the instrumental version perhaps needs something more to stand on its own. Great work Tom!
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emeraldsoul
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/02/20 14:04:02
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Thanks, Leizer, I appreciate it! I agree the instrumental version needs sumpin . . .
cheers,
-Tom
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Makke
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/02/26 09:11:45
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Nice groove and melody lines... good arrangement and sounds
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emeraldsoul
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/03/02 04:54:45
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Thanks, Makke! Much obliged.
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kloon
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/03/02 06:46:03
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I really liked this.
Great music, love the panning of the "bongos"!?
Video is great, and very relevant.
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twisted6s
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/03/02 09:39:46
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kennywtelejazz
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/03/02 14:09:32
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Hi Tom , I started first with the video . Little did I know that I was setting myself up .  ... When I saw the flock of sheep walking down the road I started laughing because I had jokingly said to myself "hey there goes my EX " . I was not prepared for the onslaught of Cameo appearances that were soon to follow  All joking aside I did enjoy your video once I regained my composure and got back on track .... Yeah , pretty creative , I like the spoken word mixed w visuals ... Then I went and gave your SoundCloud music only version a listen ... Nice  very different vibe ... I enjoyed listening to it as a tune ...so much different than what I do I found it to be a refreshing pleasure to listen too... Kenny
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synkrotron
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/03/02 19:16:47
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Nice work on the video Tom... I see you are still having lots of fun with the creation process Cool tune. If pushed, I think I'd side with the peeps that liked the spoken word version. cheers andy
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emeraldsoul
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/03/08 00:39:36
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Thanks Andy, the video was fun. Still learning!
Thanks, Kenny, I hope it wasn't your girlfriend (that was funny!) 'cause I didn't have her sign a release . . .
Twisted6, many thanks!
Kloon, yes, relevant unfortunately. Thanks for the listen!
cheers,
-Tom
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kennywtelejazz
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/03/09 17:01:34
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emeraldsoul
Thanks, Kenny, I hope it wasn't your girlfriend (that was funny!) 'cause I didn't have her sign a release . . .
cheers,
-Tom
Hi Tom , she really wasn't my girlfriend but if things keep going the way they are she might as well be Kenny
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Beagle
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Re: "A Very, Very Troubled Soul"
2017/03/10 18:25:18
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Tom, I only listened to the spoken word version. I loved it! this is really great! love the synths, the piano, the mix, the performances - all great stuff!
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