Seeking Honest Critique

We're getting ready to start on the (hopefully) final, updated, version of this song for our demo. We're looking for honest critique and any advice, on any and all aspects; from mixing, to guitar work, to effects, to song structure, etc, etc.

The updated version will have an added verse and chorus, as well as a middle eight break, so it won't sound as repetitious.

All feedback is welcomed - from both a technical or artistic point of view.

Thanks in advance.

Thank you. It will be very much appreciated I can assure you.

sidenote:
The link above is a direct link to the song, however. If you go here and click on the top song, "Every Soul Needs Love," it seems to be a better sound quality on this one. I'm not quite sure why that is - but it is.

I've heard that some don't want to respond if they have to jump thru too many hoops to get to the song, so I provided the direct link. But there is a definite difference in sound quality between the two - for some reason.

Thanks again everyone.

Thank you. We're probably going to tone the wah down a bit in the final mix. I was told it sounds like a 70's porn flick. Not exactly what we were going for.

Thanks for the comments. I've also been told to leave the reverb completely off the vocal mix. I guess one man's trash is another man's treasure. If we all liked the same thing there would only have to be one song. . . then what would we all do?

like a 70's porn flick

nice critique .. sheesh .. that's
when you say "name a couple .. 'cause I don't remember the
soundtracks all that well" ;-)

anyway .. listened to it .. and i think the vox has way too much
verb on it and it makes it sound far away (cavernous) .. but the
song wants it to be close and personal. the guitar at :58 needs to
come up .. and have a little more warmth / presence to it .. maybe
a touch of distortion. the vox needs compression to level it out a bit.
the bass and kick on the drum need to come up a bit to give this a
bit more of a skeleton. i would let it sustain out at the end .. it's a bit
abrupt. is the vox a bit "R" .. i would say you probably want it dead
center.

anyway .. it's a good song . got potential .. mostly just mixing stuff.

jeff

Thank you for the insight. I tried the vocals at a lower level and the words got lost in the mix. Could just be bad articulation, or the wrong mics.

The version we're getting ready to do is pretty much the same, except where this one cuts off - it goes into an instrumental break with a variation on the chord progression (just to break it up a bit). Then it comes back in with another verse, the chorus, and a much more polished ending.

I appreciate your honesty. And yes, I tend to keep my G string a little on the flat side and everyone gives me hard time about it. I guess it's just my ears.

Vocals moving left and right? Hmmm. I don't know why that could be. They were recorded on one track in stereo with a MXL 990 large condensor mic and a MXL 991 condensor mic slightly overhead and back, with the pan set in the center.

The Rattles must be my playing. The guitar is a Martin that I only bought about three months ago, and it's one of the sweetest sounding instruments I've ever picked up. I'll definitely keep an eye on that when we start recording.

Keeping all the reverbs the same makes a lot of sense too. As soon as I read that it seems to me I heard that a long time ago and just forgot about it. I tend to focus on one track or instrument at a time as far as sound goes, and pretty much just adjust levels on the overall mix. But I'm learning with each project.

Thanks again for your help.

Hi,

Liked the tune, liked the vocal a lot (voice has a rich, full quality). The others have pointed out some of the things that could use some tweaking – I guess I’d just say it really could use a bridge (I know, you’re working on that). When you have a good tune and someone that sings it well, you’re pretty much there – the rest is just hammering out the details – nice going.

I like this song as well, but I always keep the "less is more" saying in mind when reverb is used...
of course it may be a matter of personal taste, but I would back off on the vocal and drum reverb...go for a drier, closer, more intimate feel...
I also hear some tuning issues with the stringed instruments...
This has great potential...give it some more thought!...

RLD