And here's where I'm coming from (cause I've been accused of liking/loving everything I ever commented on..., not in so many words though and certainly not directly).

I listen when I'm in the mood to listen. I also focus on the positive, things that were well done, IMHO. And to this day, theirs no production that was so awful that I wasn't able to find something positive to say about it. And if that were the case, I would simply skip to the next one. I've never felt the need to offer false praise. It's always been spontaneous and genuine. I also usually comment on the mix only and how it translate in my listening environment, which is the same as the one I mix in (that's why I usually specify what I'm listening on). It's an environment I've come to trust with literally thousands of hours of use and some pretty solid hardware. I try very hard not to comment on the creative aspects of a song also, as I believe this is very personal and if theirs one area where it would be easy to offend (not intentionally of course), this is it.

Its happened occasionally that I've found myself at odds with the majority of comments but, this certainly does not give anyone the right to assume that I've been lying through my teeth about it or that I have a hidden agenda as many have here (self promotion and all that sort of thing). A song is a glimpse into the composers soul, and some have literally poured all their emotions into the making of it. You'll never see me knock it down even if I was unable to find anything positive to say about it, after many listens.

Expectations is what it's all about. If I was critiquing a pro, my expectations would be different and my comments would reflect this. But the majority of contributors in the "Songs" forum are not pros. even though the level of expertise and the results could fool you and me at times, I'm pretty sure that most don't have any aspirations beyond making the best with what they have and hopefully get a pat on the back and a well done (and this includes me). I was there to do exactly that, no more no less. But that's my unique vision on how to handle those murky waters, and everyone should be comfortable in doing this the way they see fit. Mutual respect and all that sort of thing.

Bottom line is..., I may not like a particular genre but I can recognize the effort, the musicianship and evaluate the end result fairly accurately (mix-wise) without being an expert. That leaves a lot of wiggle room to find a positive comment and make somebody's day, IYKWIM. 

Alegria



Its happened occasionally that I've found myself at odds with the majority of comments but, this certainly does not give anyone the right to assume that I've been lying through my teeth about it or that I have a hidden agenda as many have here (self promotion and all that sort of thing).
 
 

I didn't assume anyone else is lying; it is simply MY thought process that if someone wants my opinion, then they will have it, not in a rude or dismissive way, but honestly. I hope they receive it with an open heart, but if they can't, so be it.

I was not referring to you James, even though it may have seemed that way. I have no problems with a knowledgeable member offering technical advice as you do at times. And I certainly don't recall you being rude or dismissive about it either, at least publicly.

Thank you for properly quoting and responding to me, as this seems to be a difficult thing to do for many members lately. 

jamesyoyo

Alegria



Its happened occasionally that I've found myself at odds with the majority of comments but, this certainly does not give anyone the right to assume that I've been lying through my teeth about it or that I have a hidden agenda as many have here (self promotion and all that sort of thing).
 
 

I didn't assume anyone else is lying; it is simply MY thought process that if someone wants my opinion, then they will have it, not in a rude or dismissive way, but honestly. I hope they receive it with an open heart, but if they can't, so be it.

+1


I think you often give excellent advice, even is it is sometime blunt. But then, so am I. I have learned more from you than most.


I try to never lie to somebody. If I think the song has some significant problems in performance or production, but there is nothing I can contribute meaningfully, I try, like others to find something to say, even if its more just to let them know I listened. I think even that simple feedback can go a long way to lending moral support to somebody who is trying like me to learn or master the art of music and production.

jamesyoyo

Alegria



Its happened occasionally that I've found myself at odds with the majority of comments but, this certainly does not give anyone the right to assume that I've been lying through my teeth about it or that I have a hidden agenda as many have here (self promotion and all that sort of thing).
 
 

I didn't assume anyone else is lying; it is simply MY thought process that if someone wants my opinion, then they will have it, not in a rude or dismissive way, but honestly. I hope they receive it with an open heart, but if they can't, so be it.

I always welcome production advice and usually ask for that more than comments on the song. The way I think is that (rightly or wrongly) I can write a pretty good song. Although I'm alway open to comments on that side as well but where I struggle is recording that song and mixing it as well as it can be done, that's what I want advice with.

I've only posted a couple of songs but I've always found your posts helpful. I also respect your comments because I think your stuff sounds great (amongst several others on that forum) and my target is to get better. Everyone has to aspire to something or we just stagnate don't we? I haven't found anybody on there rude and TBH after my first attempt at my last song it would have been easy for people to be rude, because the mix was atrocious with way too much compression on everything.

Isn't the whole point of posting in the songs forum to get a bit of honest feedback, no matter how negative some of that may be? I can't see the point of my bothering to post something just for everyone to say "wow that's great" when it isn't. In those circumstances I come away thinking that there's nothing needs doing so I don't learn anything. I also deep down know that people aren't being truthful because I can hear the differences between my mixes and others.

I can handle someone saying "That's crap because this needs attention etc etc" I'd be peeved at a simple "That's crap" though. Why is it crap? That's what I want to know.

well, I read the whole thread... took almost all afternoon, off & on... what an eye-opener!

"notnat"
what an eye-opener!

Quite true. I've had a few of those not so long ago myself. I can relate.

John T


Feel free to arbitrarily have "little respect or love for" people for flimsy reasons. I imagine you'll reap what you sow. incidentally, I have no view on the qualities of your music, but your song explicitly equating atheists with chIld molestors is not winning me over, conceptually. 

John, this was the violation of my privacy.  Apparently you got hold of my url and misquoted my song Evo-Trash.

Yes, already corrected myself earlier in the thread. It's not atheists you sing are like child abusers. It's anyone at all who thinks evolution is real. A truly charming bit of songwriting. 

That'll be a song publicly posted on your sound click page, by the way. Privacy my arse.