"Throw Me a Line" - New hard rock original

Here's a new one I just finished up for our album release next month.   I've learned some new tricks/tools and I really like the way it came out (Among others, parallel compression -kinda fattened it up a bit and the Ferric TDS plug that Jonbouy recommended helped too!).
 
  I am on lead vocals on this one.  It's probably the 1st song I have ever just written the lyrics to music as the rest of the guys were writting the music.  I usually write lyrics first.  The goal was to put out at least one heavy hard hitting song because so many local acts here are heavy heavy bands and some of them seem to think that because we act like we are enjoying ourselves (and we are) on stage that we somehow aren't as tough or cool as them.  HAHA!   This one blows em out of the freakin water.
Enjoy!  and of course your comments are appreciated!
 
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11440613&q=hi
 
-Chuck

This one is a blast! I'd love to hear more on what you used for the guitars and how you mixed them. !

Vocals are well done.  Guitars are tight.  My only slight criticism is around the drums. They sound great, but the groove becomes too monotonous at times.  I especially notice this as the guitars pick up in the verse and start chugging..the drums never really change or increase in energy or dynamics until the chorus.  Other than that- sweet, sweet track!

Lynn- Thank you for the compliments on the song, the mix, and my developing skills.

Dragonlips-  Thank you aswell.  The guitars (Left & Right) are each recorded the same way...  1 take with 2 different mic's. and sm 57' & an Ev Cobalt, both off axis on each of the 2 lower speakers of a 4x12 cab, Eq'd and blended to taste.     Generally the 57' is 100% out and I think the EV is about 60%   (L/R)  both tracks sent to a bus with a single sonitus comp used conservatively.  Then I added a send from each bus to a separate bus  together for parrallel compression  where I kinda set the threshold low, with a pretty fast attack/release til I had the (sonitus) compressor kinda jumping in rythem with the music.  I blended that comp bus in just enough to fatten the tone.
  Thanks about the drums, and I understand, though I like the performance.  JJ is one hel of a drummer and has pretty good intuition on when not to overplay and when to really go to town as long as the song calls for it.

Jonbouy-  Thanks man!  Yep, I am a bit of a perfectionist which is tough when the you realize that it's not perfect because of you, not inspite of you.   What I mean is learning has been fun, and I am learning and reading as much as I can, as fast as I can.  I don't like to suck at doing anything.  I think I am coming along fairly quickly though.  I appreciate your listening and yer opinion.  I know I have the guitars a bit separated.  It becomes real obvious during the dueling leads as I had each of them play it just like they do live (there is no consistent rythem track throughout the lead section)  but, that's how it is live so....Screw it!  haha

Very cool Chuck ! You guys have a great band , best of luck with your music . I enjoyed your music , the mix sounded great in my ears !

Radio

This is definitly nice and heavy. I love it!

The vox could come up a bit. It seems the bass and guitars are masking. Maybe roll of the guitars a touch and take out the bass a bit at around 400hz. The lead on the left was buried then the one on the right was fine.

Great song! I like how it starts.

Funny story about your local scene. When I was in college there were those who weren't happy unless the singer sounded "pissed off". The only problem was they were all mama's boys. lol! Forget those guys and just keep rockin!

Guitarpima- Thanks dude! 

Congalocke- Thanks for listening.  I just got a new HP laptop myself that actually has a pretty decent little sound system in it and this song sounds good on here too.

Thank you Whack,   Other than some very helpful advice (which is also available to you here too) there has been no magic wand to what improvements I have made over the past 6 months.  It just took a lot of hours at the helm and trial & error.  I didn't do anything that you couldn't do I am sure.   I am a bit of a perfectionist and so I drive myself crazy trying to get it "right".

Btw... I have this one pretty much where I want it and I am happy about that and I take some pride in it when I feel I got it there, but I have already learned that it doesn't mean the next one will be any easier for me.  I have had songs come out real well before then the next project throws me a curveball I haven't seen yet and I am lost again.   It's a constant battle to gain experiance and knowledge.  Putting in your dues as they say.

Great tune and great playing.

THe only thing I would say is that your left/right guitars need something to balance themselves, they are kinda on islands out there by themselves. Try this:
add a buss
put on a short room reverb at 100% reverb mix
on the two guitars, add a send to this reverb bus, but pan it 100% to the opposite side of where the track is panned
adjust to taste

This way there is a little stereo image on the opposite side of each guitar and it feels a lot more full when you have headphones on.

James- That is something I could easily try as I already have a verb bus set up with a send from each instrument going to it.   When I solo the verb bus I adjust the sends and mix that on it's own.  I kinda have a mental picture where I try to imaging... if this band was playing an arena and I was back in the pisser what would it sound like?  haha  I get that little submix on the verb bus right and then mix it in till I notice it, then pull it down a bit.  I want it where you don't really notice it's there but you'd notice if it was missing.

ProjectM- good ears!  Even though I have a send from the drum bus going to my verb bus, the snare didn't seem to have enough, so I put a 2nd send directly from the snare track.   thank you for the compliments and wanting a copy of the album is one of the best compliments in and of itself.  I appreciate it!

Nice job all around bro!! \m/ (>_<) \m/ I'm listening on cans and sounds great. Only thing I'd tweek...and this just the bass player in me talkin, just a little more kick during the chorus. I could be wrong because of the cans, but I'll check it out on my modest project studio later today.
2 thumbs up tho!! 

Took another couple of listens on the studio system...do you have a big verb on the drum? if so dail back how it effects the low end of the verb, the punchie-ness of the kick sorta gets lost down there. Just suggestions,I like to feel a kick pounding me in the chest. But its still a powerful tune.
Rock on!!