New Song: "20/20 Foresight"

"20/20 Foresight" is the 2nd song I've recorded so far...I move depressingly slow. :)

In any case, it's not what I typically write/play (it's the only "love song" I've ever written), but it's the song I wrote for my current wife when I decided I'd propose to her, and which I sang just before popping the question. (Btw, she did say yes, so it can't be THAT bad. :) )

You can check it out here: http://www.reverbnation.com/garagespin

Thanks!

-Mike

Maybe she felt sorry for you

Just kidding... song is great. Very nice sounding and well performed.

Cheers
Shad

Excellent production and performances...
Really very good...
I just listened to both tunes again... Very impressive...
Great vocals and guitar playing... also some very interesting production techniques... How did you do the reversed guitar trick? Very cool...

Wow, you guys are fast!

Maybe she felt sorry for you.

Ha! Foxwolfen, I hadn't thought of the "sympathy 'yes' " scenario. That's definitely a bias I'll need to lookout for... ;)

Excellent production and performances...

Notnat, thanks, I really appreciate it! I was especially worried about the production aspect of it...mixing, and especially mastering, completely baffle me.

Thanks for listening, guys.

-Mike

Baffled? Sounds to me like you've got the talent and a good ear... That's your most important tools for a great production...

I love your acoustic guitar work and vocals. You're achieving what I someday hope to with your sound. I'd love to hear your vocals on some of my songs!

NotNat: Thanks so much, man. By the way, I missed your question earlier: "How did you do the reversed guitar trick?" For "Spinning Daydream", to get that reversed guitar effect, I just selected the audio clip I wanted to reverse (about 2-3 measures' worth), and went to Edit >> Process >> Reverse. (Shoot, that might not be the exact path to the "Reverse" option, but it's something like that...I don't currently have my DAW on, and need to run.)
ADDING: I meant to also mention, I figured out what melody I wanted to hear once it played in "reverse" first, then learned to play the melody backwards, THEN recorded it. A little tricky, but not too hard.

Texrat: Hey, thanks so much for the awesome compliment! Any time. :)

You can hear why I need help: http://www.cynicalsigns.com/projects/frc/tos/collaboration/waylaid/Waylaid%20(with%20vocals).mp3

The harmonies bring back memories of CSNY.

Very nice production on this.

Ron

That's probably why I liked it so much.

Mike, have you ever heard the band Thorns?

Very nice and clean guitar souns and the vox just rides perfectly on top, like the sound of them very much how have you treated them? Strings and brass is filling out the rest of the spectrum nicely as well and ads interest and movement to the song. First very low brass, is it, sounds a bit like a didgeridoo wich might be unintentional but I think it's cool. Nice indeed

mixing, and especially mastering, completely baffle me.

I'd stay blissfully baffled, in your case. You got it down almost pat. Only minor nitpicks as to levels here and there, but wow - 2nd song, eh? Giddoutahere. Nah, really well done.

Ron: The harmonies bring back memories of CSNY.

Interesting comparison. I actually love CSNY's So What album. However, I'll need to be careful of getting overly harmony-heavy if I want the song to sound more modern. (I constantly have to struggle against the temptation of adding multiple vocal layers to choruses. :) ) My wife told me that at times (when the harmony kicks in), it sounds like an 80s song...I may turn the harmony vocal down a bit for that reason.

Texrat: Mike, have you ever heard the band Thorns?

No, but I just Googled them. Good stuff! Definitely reminiscent of CSNY!

Legion: Very nice and clean guitar souns and the vox just rides perfectly on top, like the sound of them very much how have you treated them? Strings and brass is filling out the rest of the spectrum nicely as well and ads interest and movement to the song. First very low brass, is it, sounds a bit like a didgeridoo wich might be unintentional but I think it's cool. Nice indeed

There's a little EQ, and touch of reverb, but not much. It's mostly close micing, and double tracking the choruses that produces the effect. Funny, the "brass/ddgeridoo" you mention...it's actually a real cello! But I totally agree with you...it sounds like a Bassoon to me...and I haven't been able to figure out why, unfortunately, and have kept the audio as is. But I do wonder if some EQ could help bring out the "cello-ish" qualities out of the recording more...

Roflcopter: I'd stay blissfully baffled, in your case. You got it down almost pat.

Ignorance is definitely bliss. ;) Thanks so much for the compliment!

-Mike

Listening to 20/20. You have an excellent voice. The harmonies are really nice. This is delivered quite well. I have no crits other than I totally enjoyed this.

No wonder she said yes. I imagine she was a little hesitant with those other bandmembers around when you played this. Just kidding. I wonder where all of these great players and writers come from. This is a knockout. I love acoustic guitars and I am stuck on the harmonies in mine. just a choir boy at heart. You should be proud of this tune and the production.

Of course she said yes after hearing this. She'd of been foolish not to. Gives me goose bumps listening to this, great lyrics. Very heart felt. Vocals are amazing, makes me want to cry. Beautifully done.

Great song, well written and sung. Good mix.

Do I hear guitar and a mandolin? I like how you introduce the other musical elements in the song.

Both songs are very good. Keep up the good work!!

Steve.

WOW, that sounded great. Production and structure of this tune is just awesome. You really have a great voice and the harmonies are tight. A hook that sticks in my head, nice. FANTASTIC song, hope to hear more from you.

LATER
Kev

Ihanson: I have no crits other than I totally enjoyed this.

Not even one? I won't complain. :) No really, thanks for listening, I really appreciate your compliments.

Evadianpug: No wonder she said yes. I imagine she was a little hesitant with those other bandmembers around when you played this.

It definitely was a little awkward...and a little cramped, quite honest. The string players' bows kept getting tangled in the choir members' music stands... The applause when she said yes caught me by surprise a bit as well. ;)

Exiled in Suburbia: Do I hear guitar and a mandolin? I like how you introduce the other musical elements in the song.

No mandolin, just acoustic guitar (double tracked), cello (triple tracked), and a violin and double bass, courtesy of Reason 2.5. Funny you mentioned it, though, as I had planned to add a mandolin part, but then decided to stick with the "less is more" moto. Part of me misses it, though. :)

DrumstixKev: A hook that sticks in my head, nice. FANTASTIC song, hope to hear more from you.

That's a huge compliment, thank you. Those all-illusive hooks are tough to find..! I'm looking forward to taking less than many months to finish another track... Thanks again for listening, seriously.

tdye: Of course she said yes after hearing this. She'd of been foolish not to. Gives me goose bumps listening to this, great lyrics.

Thank so much, Tom, that means a ton. (And I was pleased that she made the smart decision. ;) )

Thanks, everyone!

-Mike

Very nice work, man. I like it a lot. When the performance is strong like that, no one is going to care about any technical nits.

very good man, i like your voice, it sounds great. The guitars sound quite nice too, but a little 'flat.' I dunno, i think the top end could 'shimmer' a little more?

Dean: Thanks. It's a comment like yours that enables me to call it all "good", and move on to my next track. That is, after I spent another 3 hours tweaking it just now. (sigh). But I think I'm going to stop now. Thank you!

Adji: I actually think you're right...but I may just leave them for the time being. (Though I did google "EQ acoustic guitar shimmer" and other variations of those words...to no avail..!) :) Thanks so much for the compliment!

-Mike

Great job all around. I've noticed alot of really tight talented music on this site but it's a rare thing to have that combined with superb vocals also.
Kudos to you man!

Rick

Rick: Thanks, man. I really appreciate your checking out the track. I'm always amazed by the talent that's on this board as well; everyone's hugely talented, and always willing to help. It's a pretty amazing community. Thanks again!

-Mike

Good, strong performance.

J.

In case anyone's interested, I posted a 'final' version of the track online for free download here:

http://www.garagespin.com/2009/05/05/new-song-2020-foresight/

I made a couple small changes: reduced volume of harmony vocal, and reduced guitar volume a bit. Thanks so much for your feedback, everyone!

-Mike

Yo Mike,

Good accoustic love song. The song itself is quite good and I like the spare arrangement which gives it an intimacy and warmth that fits the lyric. Vox are really smooth with good harmonies.

Good stuff. No crits.

Cheers,

Bert

Thanks, Bert!, much appreciated!

-Mike

Good production. My only crit is that the panned guitars were not in sync. Not sure if you were delaying that but its distracting to me form the song. The song itself is beautiful and very original!

Funny, the "brass/ddgeridoo" you mention...it's actually a real cello! But I totally agree with you...it sounds like a Bassoon to me...

Listening again I hear it's a cello later when it's a little higher in the register. It's only that first note, I don't think I'v ever heard a cello played that low before. Maybe adding a little high or high mid eq on just that first note or just some compression to bring out the sound of the bow hitting the strings a little? Then automate any eq or compression away, the rest of the cello sounds beautiful (as does the whole song)