Demo Nearing Completion (please critique)

[AdamCU81]

Curtis and I spent the last two days improving the recordings we have, and making new ones. If you have a free minute please give a song a listen. If you have any advice feel free to unleash your critiquing knowledge. Thanks.

Summer Song: http://www.avalancheartists.com/Summer%20Song.mp3

Rise and Fall: http://www.avalancheartists.com/RAF.mp3

Doze: http://www.avalancheartists.com/Curtis% ... 20Doze.mp3

Escape With Me: http://www.avalancheartists.com/EWM!.mp3

Thank you.

[Jc]

I'm commenting specifically on "Summer Song"--I like the direction you are trying to take it with the guitars really contrasting each other. You are definitely taking a chance in the mixture you are trying to get to gel together which is cool imo. As for what I hear, I've got this feeling that you had something that always happens to me happen... You felt you should cover your vocals a bit with some effect such as reverb/echo/flange/etc... I really think in the end it sounds best with your natural voice coming out. I would raise your vocals up, especially when you get to your hook and let them come out more clean. Also bring up the drums a bit, you need a beat to help carry a guitar riff like that. Just my opinion though, I'm in the same boat with some of my songs... I've got to find the right balance for everything.

[Jc]

Ok just listened through some of the rest of your songs. I think for all of them it applies that your voice needs to come out clearer and stronger which seems to be more of a mixing issue than actual vocal technique. Btw I'm listening to "Rise and Fall" right now, totally digging the arrangements man Call me crazy but I hear a mix of James Taylor and Dave Matthews in your music Good song.

[AdamCU81]

I agree with you for the most part. Right now these mixes are fresh, but they may turn obnoxious in which case we'll change them. We were going for a kind of off-kilter sound that plain vocals didn't work well with. And we recorded that song completely at home so the quality wasn't that hot. Thanks for your opinion.

[AdamCU81]

Haha....thanks for the compliment! I'll have to wait for a few more vocal critiques (which I'm sure will happen) before changes are made. Thanks again.

[Jc]

Lol we were mixing some stuff at Summerhouse records at 4 in the morning for Shattered Glass last week. We patched a leslie through to add a vocal distortion to my voice and we thought it was just pure genius. The next day I listened and though "WTF WAS THAT?" The version I just put up isn't leveled out yet but I put cleaner vocals in this mix at least

[HumbleMonkey]

i think you should go with natural vocals, i have never really digged effects for vocals, maybe minor things but not like yours. the music is good though. i like escapse with me, its really funky. your voice reminds of david byrnes

[mgoedman]

good shit man...i like all the songs. good variety, and its cool that you are down to take some risks (i.e not just acoustic and vocals). keep it up.

the last song reminded me of queen.

[GreyBlueAnt]

I'm commenting specifically on "Summer Song"--I like the direction you are trying to take it with the guitars really contrasting each other. You are definitely taking a chance in the mixture you are trying to get to gel together which is cool imo. As for what I hear, I've got this feeling that you had something that always happens to me happen... You felt you should cover your vocals a bit with some effect such as reverb/echo/flange/etc... I really think in the end it sounds best with your natural voice coming out. I would raise your vocals up, especially when you get to your hook and let them come out more clean. Also bring up the drums a bit, you need a beat to help carry a guitar riff like that. Just my opinion though, I'm in the same boat with some of my songs... I've got to find the right balance for everything.

yeah, more natural reverb would have been fine.