New "Smooth Jazz Original." (reimaged Timbo 2-12-12)

I wrote it and I'm doing everything, comments on everything appreciated. 

At the top, "Just a lie..." (it's not a happy song)

www.reverbnation.com/rockinrobby

Nice.

cool tune, I like the lyrics and the EP... sounds like a wurlitzer... I need to hear more bass... this needs some work, but has a load of potential... no doubt it will get there...

this is great Robbay. Lyrics are wonderful. 
I got no crits other than to maybe rein in some of the dynamics just a teeny tiny bit.
And, maybe, bring up the voc a teeny tiny bit. Really nice tune and production.
As Frank said, it could probably use some tweaking, but, I wouldn't know specifically just what. Maybe, as it is claimed to be "smooth", well then, smooth it out a bit:) I like it mostly as is though.

Powerful.

I'd float the vocals over the keys a bit more and bring up the bass a bit... maybe bring the sax down so it just cries in the distance.

Otherwise.... powerful!


Nice job all around.


best regards,
mike

Great song. +1 on great lyrics too.
Sax sounds like a backwards guitar lead here and there. I would work on the articulations more (that is Mojo, isn't it?)
The mix sounds hollow. Really didn't care for it. I would do a mono check and see what the issue is.

Nice job on the song.

Obviously you know this needs more work.   +1 with James' observations. 

to me.... Too much reverb and it sounds distant.... The instruments are not "present" enough.... kinda like listening through a door at times.    

The acoustic guitar sounded "to country" to be in this song with the other instruments in the mix. 

Just my 2 cents..... 

Very nice tune.  I like the sparseness of the arrangement.  I agree that the vocal and bass could be boosted a bit, but you are very close.

I like the chord progression and vocals at around 2:20.

Regards,
Lance

Ok, I tweeked it based on input from people who are much better at such things than am I. I kicked it in the ass on the Ozone MB comp on the main (hopefully not too much) as a result, re-eqed the bass a bit. Brought the LV up a weence, removed a bit of the delay, changed the reverb, lowered the sax a bit, and changed the compression significantly on the main. It's way different? I hope it's better. Thanks a pantload for the input! 

Vast improvement, but still needs a smoother mix. Send it to me and I am sure I can fix it in an hour or two.

Great tune Robby, and the vocal is terrific, as always, though it needs to be more prominent IMO.  The mix does feel like it's holding the song back.  If it were my tune, I'd be all over James' kind offer (above).

loving your vocal on this Robbie...it is smooth and the mix isn't bad, i see where James is coming from, maybe a quiet Hammond-esque pad might fill out the sound more. the sax doesn't really do it for me, but brass is sooooooooooooo hard to programme/get a decent midi performance out of. maybe Scotty could do a violin part instead? anyhow, it's worth working on.

Robby,
 
Great song, very haunting, cool chord progression/melody.  The organ and sax work great together.   Like the vox and lyrics too.   Quite outstanding song.
 
Regards

Great songwriting! Vocals were really, really nice.

I like the saxophone "in theory". Judging it as MIDI sax, it's really good. Judging it as a a real sax... I'd rather have lead guitar. :)

Acoustic sounds *a tad* harsh on my speakers...

Overall, great job!

Excellent stuff Robby.  You vocals are very emotional without overselling the song.  They complement the lyrics (good lyrics also) very well.  Ditto on to the above comments concerning the melody/progression/chords/etc. --- Niiiccceee.  You must have done a good job on the fix to the mix 'cause it sounds good to me.
 
Freddy J

Good tune, good performance.  You're stong in a lot of instruments and vocals.  Good tune.  Good performance.

It needs a synth or something to fill in the cracks, it sounds sort of hollow.  It needs some synth full and deep and more bass, something lush.  Something more "smooth jazz" sound, not sure how to describe it.

Very good song.

Daryl

Remix 1 2-8? What the hell? And that was in mid-afternoon stone cold sober (unlike now...) Wow, I must say I am overwhelmed by the positive response to this slinky tune. 

I was just happy to write a new one? The creative juices were feeling dried up? I was considering "Replens for writers?" And then BAM! in like a day or 3, the damn song wrote itself? I'll never understand the process... I'm there? I participate? But I feel more like a conduit. 

I'm sending my buns to some folks who can do that part "way" better than me... I feel the music and the performance? But I feel like Bevis and Butthead when it comes to the mix :-( Fire! Fire!! I need TP!  mmhumumum ahhh heheheh.

Thanks Daryl! I enjoy your stuff too, classic sound!

Fredaaaay! "You vocals are very emotional without overselling the song." Thanks, I've been bleeding for the last couple of days? I think that helps (from the nose! the nose!)


Dave, It's MIDI. It's one of my new toyz... (I get myself something this time of year) This is Sample Modeling's "Mr. Sax-T" It is really, really cool SW... I have an EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument) coming in a few days that will help milk this new plug like a dairy cow... Here's the link, it's not cheap for a single sax plug? But again, I think it's really cool.  http://www.samplemodeling.com/en/products_saxes.php Play the video on down the page...

Awesome tune and performances, great choice of instrumentation. I especially like the Sax. Great vocals, melody and lyrics.

Marky Mark and the funky 999s! Thanks very much, "haunting?" I like that :-)

Marky Mark MGH, yeah I may twiddle with the sax a bit more when I get my wind controller? It has a bite sensor? And you can really get control by how you blow (no intern jokes please?) Thanks very much for listening and contributing. 

Philz the bill! Yes, I am tarded when it comes to the mixing. Actually erratic would probably be more apt? I don't really know all the good/right/best things to do? So I do different things? On different songs? And sometimes it works? But more often than not, people say, "good job, but the mix sucks!" LOL! Thanks!

Yo yo YO! "You've got mail" probably not for another couple of hours? But it's in flight :-)

Lancelot Link, thanks for your listen and comment!

Lynn, I'm glad you liked the sparseness? They didn't really appreciate my sparseness at the 1/2 off clothing sale at the mall over the weekend? I guess I removed the wrong half... :-(

Herb, I put the ry in country! :-) " The acoustic guitar sounded "to country" to be in this song with the other instruments in the mix. "


Mike, thanks for stopping by and your constructive comments


Timmy/Jimmy - Yes, it's difficult for me to rein in much? I still tell that old, I hate the winter cause the water is so cold joke at the urinal to complete strangers? Thanks!


Mr. Tanton, you are correct sir! That is indeed a Worthlessetzer!

Mark, thanks for your comment. I'm a broke clock, and fortunately for me, it was noon! :-)

Way different song for you.  I like it.  I think the sax sounds cool.   And it sounds like singing is pretty easy for you.  :)  Leave this mix up after Jim works his magic, cause I'm curious to a/b them.  

Yeah, it is different? But as you know "well" from years of communicating with me, "I am an antenna?" Things come streaming in... This song presented itself and did so recently? I was very pleasantly surprised... Jim sent me his 1st blush this evening? And it sounds "way" better than what I did. I wish I could spend time with someone like him, or some of the other mixmasters :-( To try to learn how they do what they do. It's a black art to me, it's a mystery. Hey look! LYRICS! " It's a black art to me, it's a mystery." :-) THIS is how I write songs! They jump out at me? Like a man in a raincoat at the park? 

Lotsa nice pieces in this.  I listened a couple days ago and I think you've tweeked the mix.   It sounded in a hole the other day and now it's more up front and present.  Make sense?  I told you I'm not much of mix commenter BUT I hear beautiful music and I get moved.  This moved me.

Well I just posted a remix by someone who knows a lot more about how to do it than do I. And I think it sounds better :-) To paraquote Marty Fieldman in from Young Frankenstine, "damn your ears! (too late...)"

Hold on a second...just sending you a new one.

Ok, sorry, I try not to do things prematurely :-( I rested for few mins and was up to repost your newest (un-balanced) version. 

Well, that sounds much better!

Tried to listen but it won't load.  I'll be back. 

As mentioned previously, the song is quite outstanding.  The new mix sounds good, bass and drums are much punchier and overall more balanced.  My only crit would be that there is a little too much verb on the LVOX.  Of course, that is a matter of opinion/taste though, and I have a light palate for reverb generally.
 
The Sax still sounds great. 
 
Regards

OK, Jim so what'd you do?  Even I can tell the difference! Wow! 

Well, he trimmed some things? (Grrr) But everybody's a producer? So that's OK? And he sprinkled magic pixie dust on the mix? :-) I think he did a pretty good job? I APPLAUD HIS TALENT AS AN ENGINEER! Bravo! 

<edited...> One of my stupid comments? No violation? But I just need to be slapped sometimes. 

Robby this is one of my faves from you.  Totally cool.  The mix was great (awesome job James).  I really liked everything about it.

This is probably my favourite of yours Robby, just wonderful. I have a fondness for this atmospheric, jazzy feel when it's well done, and this is top notch. Vocals are very good indeed, really emotional. James has done a great job wrapping this up.

Fantastic.

The new versions  are pretty good.   

Much better than the first one posted a few days ago.  

And yeah,,,, James knows what knobs to turn and how much to turn them. 

HELP !  I can't get any of your tunes to play on Reverbnation. 

Kev

nice work i agree with all said  thanks for sharing  eric

I don't know which version this is, but it sounds really cool to me.

:-) Well, this came farther than I expected it would... I've actually posted a new version at the top, titled Just a lie - Reimaged Timbo? That would be TIMIDI (Tim Bowman.) Which actually added some strings, and did lots of "things" to the tune that I could not have imagined? I nearly wet myself when I listened to it this evening. And that is by NO MEANS disrespectful to my mixmaster hero James yo Yo YO! It's just two takes from two different masters. 

It's at the top, www.reverbnation.com/rockinrobby

Just a lie - reimaged Timbo

Robby ,
I listened to your first mix the other night . I figured you posted the tune to get in gear and rise up to the occasion 

well I just got listening to your most recent version of your song

Wow bro I love the way you sing 
yeah, this tune is really coming  together on all levels
from  the individualized instruments and parts you play to the mix

I made a mental note to myself to listen to this again w a guitar in my hand  , it would be a nice one to play over

Kenny

bandontherun19


:-) Well, this came farther than I expected it would... I've actually posted a new version at the top, titled Just a lie - Reimaged Timbo? That would be TIMIDI (Tim Bowman.) Which actually added some strings, and did lots of "things" to the tune that I could not have imagined? I nearly wet myself when I listened to it this evening. And that is by NO MEANS disrespectful to my mixmaster hero James yo Yo YO! It's just two takes from two different masters. 

It's at the top, www.reverbnation.com/rockinrobby

Just a lie - reimaged Timbo

No disrespect taken...it is all about serving the tune in the very best way you can imagine it. Or somebody else imagining it.


This is your best song, so it would be appropriate to have multiple mixes/takes on it.

I think I still like my mix better, but that is so subjective it is hardly worth mentioning. Super job, Tim.

I'm not going to make any comments on the mix here, I just wanna say how wonderful this is. What a great song and arrangement!

Oh yea that Timbo remix really sweetened this up. Oh my that's smokey and sweet, awesome job

Tim's sounds great too.  Both his and Jim's take forever to load (or buffer or whatever.)  Are they way bigger files or something?  

Janet


Way different song for you.  I like it.  I think the sax sounds cool.   And it sounds like singing is pretty easy for you.  :)  Leave this mix up after Jim works his magic, cause I'm curious to a/b them.  

Thank you Janet, and you're right, I need to find out what it is that they do? And learn to try to recreate it "on some level!" Thanks very much for listening and commenting.

jamesyoyo


Well, that sounds much better!

James, Much respect... Thanks again.

markno999


As mentioned previously, the song is quite outstanding.  The new mix sounds good, bass and drums are much punchier and overall more balanced.  My only crit would be that there is a little too much verb on the LVOX.  Of course, that is a matter of opinion/taste though, and I have a light palate for reverb generally.
 
The Sax still sounds great. 
 
Regards

Marky Mark and the no 9's bunch, thanks! You were actually the 1st other than me to hear it :-) And yes, I understand the whole 2 Verb, or not to Verb, that is the question? However, I'm writing a screamplay for a new soap opera called, "On the edge of wetness..." So I err on the side of "2 Verb..." Thanks, and I hope your palate gets better soon! :-D

I usually don't critique mixes because I listen with my heart and not my ears on most songs.  Make sense?  Of course my heart knew that the first mix (Robby's) posted up here didn't do justice to the song or Robby's vocals.  Then I hear JYoYos mix and things were revealed in the song that got to my heart.  Now Tim's mix does the same thing.  Both mixes improved the vocal track's treatment.  Soooooo.. I can't pick one and I don't have to because both mixes allowed my heart to be moved by a wonderful song.  I don't give technical advice and couldn't here if I wanted.  Two different mixes, both excellently done!

jamesyoyo

bandontherun19


:-) Well, this came farther than I expected it would... I've actually posted a new version at the top, titled Just a lie - Reimaged Timbo? That would be TIMIDI (Tim Bowman.) Which actually added some strings, and did lots of "things" to the tune that I could not have imagined? I nearly wet myself when I listened to it this evening. And that is by NO MEANS disrespectful to my mixmaster hero James yo Yo YO! It's just two takes from two different masters. 

It's at the top, www.reverbnation.com/rockinrobby

Just a lie - reimaged Timbo

No disrespect taken...it is all about serving the tune in the very best way you can imagine it. Or somebody else imagining it.


This is your best song, so it would be appropriate to have multiple mixes/takes on it.

I think I still like my mix better, but that is so subjective it is hardly worth mentioning. Super job, Tim.

Thanks James. Super job to you too.I think the fact that 2 participants here came out of the woodwork wanting to remix Robbie's song speaks volumes about the song. 

LpMike75


Robby this is one of my faves from you.  Totally cool.  The mix was great (awesome job James).  I really liked everything about it.

Thanks Mike, I need to write a happy one now... I "strongly recommend" that you do NOT clean your guns while listening to Just a lie.

Hey Robby,

Just ran the "Just A Lie" marathon...listened to all three versions back to back.

It's cool to hear 3 different takes of such a great tune. Regardless of who did the mixing, the quality of the songwriting and the sparseness of the arrangement really allow your vocal and lyrics to shine.

Excellent work.

Emotional and sparse..to me it sounds like the perfect combo!! One of your best IMO Robby. Kinda just poured outta you I'm thnking (the song I mean) Those are the best kind!

jamesg1213


This is probably my favourite of yours Robby, just wonderful. I have a fondness for this atmospheric, jazzy feel when it's well done, and this is top notch. Vocals are very good indeed, really emotional. James has done a great job wrapping this up.

Fantastic.

James, thank you... Coming from someone who I am a fan of? Well... Thank you.

Guitarhacker


The new versions  are pretty good.   

Much better than the first one posted a few days ago.  

And yeah,,,, James knows what knobs to turn and how much to turn them. 

If I was a woman? I'd have his baby... Thanks Herb!

HELP !  I can't get any of your tunes to play on Reverbnation.  Kev

drumstixkev


HELP !  I can't get any of your tunes to play on Reverbnation. 

Kev

Kev, I asked for a PM w/an email to shoot you a copy? There seem to be some people who have issues with the RN player :-(

eric paul


nice work i agree with all said  thanks for sharing  eric

Eric, thanks very much! Tim and James both did such a great job helping to make me sound better :-) It's nice to have friends like that... I only hope I can help them with some vox or something one day.

Nice work Robby, Jim and Tim. Excellent vocs Robby. I think there are different aspects of both Jim's and Tim's mixes that I really like.  I think Jim's is truer to the overall composition, whereas Tim's concentrates on each individual contribution.  Really fine performances and productions.