"Mayans" - I should have finished this before Dec 21, 2012. :(

Hi Tom,
 
Nice to hear something from you! This sounds great through headphones, really nice stereo spread and everything coming through clear and warm. Lovely elec piano sound in that breakdown, and I really like the arrangement there, lots of cool little details appearing. Good stuff, look forward to hearing more soon.

Thanks much! I redesigned my new site a little so the song is up top. Mixing songs is, for me, more guesswork than knowledge at this point, so any observations are quite welcome! thanks, -Tom

Wow Tom, awesome!  I love your lyrics, ultra clever and lots of fun. :) :)
 
I don't think the bass is too loud.  I think everything is sounds great.  This is my new favorite song of the day!  Maybe tomorrow too...

I signed up for your music archive Tom, and have been listening to the various tracks.  I'm hearing retro folk/funk/rock fusion elements combining with your own special "Tom sauce".  Digging it!
 
I was able to find 3 "additional" tracks, plus the 7 in the archive.  Is it just those 10, or are there more that I may have missed?  Also, in my playlist, do you have an intended ordering for the songs?

I agree with Wookie in that it comes across as being recorded a bit hot  (fuzzing out on my speakers).  But that's it!  I really like what you have done with this song.  The performance is good and I love the way that you introduce and retire the various instruments at various times.  Ya the song is a bit quirky but man this is quirky good.  The quirky makes it a treat to listen to.
 
Great job!!
 
 

I love how all the sounds develop and how each rhythm slots in with one another. The bright elec. piano is a real winner, very uplifting. Very good good indeed. Great to hear your work.
 Russ

Love it – “here comes the chorus . . .”  Very moody and with a very interesting arrangement. Some humor in there as well but it doesn’t diminish the quality aspect. I hate it when I find myself saying things like “it sounds a bit like so and so…” – with that said, it does remind me of several of my favorite bands. It’s really good, original material that's  well performed.

Loran, thanks for the  comments! I tried to bring the vocals waaay up front in a lyric-heavy song like this, even though my voice ain't my strongest suit. 
 
Manny, thanks for the appreciation, and I say let 'er rip when mentioning "sounds like" bands. If any of them are by chance Level 42, I am DEEPLY complimented :)
 
Rebel007, thanks, glad you like the feel of it, which is pretty much job 1 in songwriting, I think. Clever lyrics can't save a song that has no vibe/groove/feel . . . as for the Mayans not having wheel technology, it is interesting. There are no discoveries of big wheels, stone or wood or what have you. It is thought that in the absence of draft animals in meso-america (no cattle, water buffalo, or oxen) there was no agricultural advantage in building a big cart, without any draft animal to pull it. Weird, huh?
 
Russ, thanks for the notice on the electric piano part, I like the warbly one toward the end, seemed a good time to add a happy, upbeat texture. Many thanks!
 
guys, keep doin' what you are doin', this forum is a lot of fun and I'm off to comment on yours . . .
 
cheers,
-Tom

I really liked it.

Tom,
I really like this one. One of the best I've heard on this forum.
 
Great intro riff that gives way to a cool medium pace rock groove. A song about Mayans? What the hay, I always thought they were the most intriguing of the the new world ancient civilizations. What ever happened to them? Elegant contrapuntal instramental interlude with keyboard/ GTR interplay. Hip and sophisticated, and, catchy. Reminds me of Steely Dan. Cool warping of song form.
I say you reeled it in. Somehow.
 
Cheers,
 
Bert

Cool tune, Tom.  The bass was clearly present, but I wouldn't say it was too loud.  I thought the mix was dead on, frankly.  Nice job.

Hey all, many thanks again! 
 
Wouter, a common problem I see in my mixes is "the vocals are on top of the mix, rather than in it" to paraphrase your comment. I'm trying to reform my ways! Thanks for the other mix comments as well, particularly the bass - I frankly spend 1/2 my time on a project mixing the bass and low end, and usually I still think my bass sounds like ass.
The upper sparkly stuff seems to take care of itself - the high end is low maintenance :)
 
Philz, thanks again, glad to know it's in the Goldilocks zone!
 
Starise, thanks very much! I've missed the marketability window by a few years, I'm afraid, but next time there is a mythical threat of apocalypse, I'll get a song out there pronto! And there will be a next time. As for my mix being "clean" I'm actually going back under the hood on this one, I think I can do a little better. Your Celtic masterpieces have set the "clean mix" bar!
 
cheers,
-Tom
 
 

Thanks to Bert for "bringing this up." 
 
Tom, I find your "quirky" songs most enjoyable. I think I listened to this back when I started listening to a lot of stuff a couple of months ago .
 
cheers
 
andy