https://soundcloud.com/davdud101/emerald-city
 
here's what i've been working on this week. Lots of all kinds of stuff in there... I likes it, hope you guys do too :D
 

Wow, David, this sounds great! Was it recorded live, or was the intro just a smoke screen? Either way, it sounds very "alive". I think the mix could use a little polish in spots just to refine it, but it is very close.
 
Regards,
Dan
 

I agree with Dan, it has a live feel that is refreshing to my ears.  The song is good, and the vocal is well sung and recorded.  The rhythm tracks are funky, and this makes me want to move.  You're on a roll.  Keep it up!

Thanks, guys! Dan, the live intro is actually a false, I'm glad it served its deceptive purpose  
Lynn, thanks! I definitely wanted to make it have a little more 'vibe' and motion to it than my previous sounds. 
I'm glad you guys like it, I was surprised in how fast I went from concept to (pretty much) completion on this one- about 5 days, a good turn-around for me.

I have found that sometimes the best ones come out on their own. That's when the muse is riding you, not the other way around, lol.
 
Regards,
Dan
 

Yep, has a great vibe. I get a kind of phase thing happening over the whole piece, is that a deliberate effect, soundcloud artefact, or my system?

That was pretty cool!  I like the arrangement and mix, particularly when the instrumentation kicks in for the chorus.  
 
The only nit, for me, was bit of sibilance at the end of the words "emeralds" and gold".   But I liked this either way - it's different.
 

Dan, this one surprisingly happened to be that type! I got home from a long trip 8hr drive, and having written most of the lyrics while on the trip, I just HAD to record some demo tracks. Fun times, I'm gonna definitely use more live brass and variety-instruments in the future!
 
rebel, that's a good question- I'll have to have a look. Thanks for checking it out!
 
stevec, I have to admit that those were a bit intentional - I pronounced them with long, sizzly "t's" instead of d's, thought it sounded cool, haha! Is it too sharp sibilance to be tasteful, do you think? (On a 1000th listen, they do sound kinda strange since no one pronounces those words like that)

Yeah, for me the tune has a certain "sound" about that doesn't seem to support the edginess of those tails.  Obviously it's all a matter of taste, I just think the frequency ranges don't line up.  Did I mention IMHO? 
 

Getting the same slightly phase sound probably an artefact of soundcloud.
 
Thanks for sharing you nicely done piece.