I posted this tune quite some time ago and it seemed like the more I worked on it, the worse it got. I finally put it away for several months in an attempt to flush the thing from my brain. So just this week I took the gauntlet up once again and I think I've moved the bar forward a bit with a slightly different arrangement and a new mix. Please give it a listen and let me hear your critiques before I give up on this as a bad job all around. :)
 
Thanks in advance!
 
https://www.reverbnation.com/kevola/song/27718951-see-me
 
 PS: I have to admit to a growing dissatisfaction with MP3 and what it does to the overall sound. It just seems to suck the life out of my mixes, quite a startling difference from the original wav file. Any pointers on how to compensate for mp3's vicious assaults would be most welcome.

Nice '60s sounding song Kevin. A few things on the mix and arrangment;
 
The guitars are very brittle sounding, whereas the vocals are coming across quite 'middley' and muffled. I couldn't really make out the lyrics to be honest. Drums are OK, bass is fine. Lead guitars maybe a bit loud.
 
I liked the synth/guitar section at around 2:25, however, after that it kind of meandered on for a full minute and I was thinking 'where's the song gone?'
 
A bit more tweaking (sorry!) and you've got a good one here.
 
Regarding the MP3 thing, you shouldn't hear much difference between a WAV and a 320kbps MP3, but Reverbnation is no doubt streaming at a much lower rate than that.

No need to give up on it, as such, just say, "that's it, it's done." And leave it there... Move on...
 
It would be wrong of me to critique this song because I couldn't create anything anywhere near this quality. Song itself sounds fine, to me. I'm sure there are things you could do with the mix but I'd be at a loss as to what to do to improve it.
 
cheers,
 
andy

Kevin,
 
I think I remember this from the last time you posted it. I like the song. The mix has two major problems:
 
1) The guitars are too far forward
2) The vocals are too far back
 
Fix those two things and the overall balance will be much better.
 
Regards,
Dan
 
 

jamesg1213
Nice '60s sounding song Kevin. A few things on the mix and arranged;
 
The guitars are very brittle sounding, whereas the vocals are coming across quite 'middley' and muffled. I couldn't really make out the lyrics to be honest. Drums are OK, bass is fine. Lead guitars maybe a bit loud.
 
I liked the synth/guitar section at around 2:25, however, after that it kind of meandered on for a full minute and I was thinking 'where's the song gone?'
 
A bit more tweaking (sorry!) and you've got a good one here.
 
Regarding the MP3 thing, you shouldn't hear much difference between a WAV and a 320kbps MP3, but Reverbnation is no doubt streaming at a much lower rate than that.

Thanks for your comments, I do appreciate you taking the time to listen and to give your thoughts. Vocals are the hardest thing for me to get anywhere close to decent, and the issue you raise with the muffled sound is one of the things I'm really struggling with.  As for the guitars, I'm going for a jangly, sparkling kind of vibe and I'm thinking that if they sound brittle I'm not there yet. 
 
As for the arrangement, I have a friend who says the same thing, just different words. On the other hand, I like it. Maybe I listened to too much Jethro Tull, Yes and Kansas in my youth, I dunno. :)

synkrotron
No need to give up on it, as such, just say, "that's it, it's done." And leave it there... Move on...
 
It would be wrong of me to critique this song because I couldn't create anything anywhere near this quality. Song itself sounds fine, to me. I'm sure there are things you could do with the mix but I'd be at a loss as to what to do to improve it.
 
cheers,
 
andy

Thanks for the kind words, Andy. Fortunately the only requirement for having an opinion about a song is to have semi-functioning ears, so feel free to unleash your inner critic. 

dcumpian
Kevin,
 
I think I remember this from the last time you posted it. I like the song. The mix has two major problems:
 
1) The guitars are too far forward
2) The vocals are too far back
 
Fix those two things and the overall balance will be much better.
 
Regards,
Dan

 
Yeah, I'm back with it again and as always, your comments are incisive and very welcome. I think the core of the problem is the recording quality of the lead vocal. I think I should re-do the performance and then try your suggestions to see if I get less annoyed with the sound when I bring the vocals up. 

Kevin, this is a terrific song, and the fix might be easier than you think.  I think the instruments are in balance with each other, so just lowering them while raising the vocals might get you most of the way there.  Once you do that, then you may be able to better determine if the vocals need to be redone or just EQed differently.  Definitely worth the effort to make this a gem.

Yo Kev,
I still love this tune ! It sounds a lot like a 70's band such as Boston/Kansas doing an homage to a 60's band like Hollies/Byrds. I agree with the thought that the vocals need to be brought out. I have heard of the technique where you compress the entire instrumental track a bit (subtly in real time) while the vocals are sounding. I've never tried that, but it might work.  And the vocals sound like they have too much snot (compression).
 
Great track as it is.
 
Cheers,
 
Bert

Has a combination Beach Boys/Hollies sound, especially with the vocal harmonies and falsettos.  Nice work, but agree with the assessment on the vocals need to be brought forward a bit and the guitars brought back.
 
John B.