A critique - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

vanblah · 10-18-2004, 06:12 PM

I would like a moment of your time. If you are interested in giving a constructive critique of a couple of songs I would really appreciate it.

My band has several demos and I would like your opinions.

The band is sort of a power-pop/lush-pop thing. The four members are from pretty different backgrounds.

I have an industrial/goth/world music background (playing keyboards).

The guitar player is originally a bassist into heavy "progressive" rock and indie who switched to guitar (he is also our lead vocals).

The bass player is from an LA punk background.

The drummer is into theater and most of the great drummers ... lots of world music.

So anyway the songs over at www.myspace.com/chessclub were recorded about a year ago at my house (with a different drummer). We also have two new songs that we recorded at a local studio. I think you can hear how we progressed.

new songs:

www.chessclubrocks.com/songs/leche.mp3
www.chessclubrocks.com/songs/apes.mp3

old songs:
www.myspace.com/chessclub

If the type of music isn't your style and you still feel the need to post ... please be constructive. If you just want to say "Your band sucks" that's fine but won't hurt my feelings. I'm really interested to hear what you think about the new songs compared to old songs. I realize the recording quality is pretty bad on the olds ones ... I'm not sure what I'm doing when it comes to recording.

Trace · 10-19-2004, 12:19 AM

homerecording dot com is a very instructive sight with some helpful people if you want to pursue it further

vanblah · 10-19-2004, 06:06 AM

I'm not looking into recording myself anymore. We are working with a local studio now.

I've exhausted homerecording dot com as well as numerous other sites in the pursuit of recording knowledge. I do know how to record just fine ... it's the mixing and mastering that I have trouble with. It only comes with experience ... no website or book can give you a cookie cutter recipe. And it also comes down to budget. I don't have the budget to produce a recording of the caliber that my band is looking for.

Also, I am not a big fan of artists in a band recording their own material ... the songs become sort of myopic. It's great to have an engineer/producer to offer opinions during the process.

That's just my opinion though.

I am more interested in people's opinions of the songs themselves rather than the recording.

Draconis · 11-17-2004, 01:21 AM

Damn man. This music is fun. "Hey" sounds like a mix between Ben Folds Five and Ziggy Stardust. "Hardcore Pink Hearts" has a more upbeat Pixies sound, with a dash of Kenna and Lou Reed. The Kenna comes out more in "Everyone Here Hates Me", along with Pink Floyd, the Go and Cream. "This Human Sound" is a strange mix of optimistic early goth and a depressed Beach Boys. It's a really original sound. I'd love to hear this on the radio, especially considering I'd get to hear a leslie on a recent song.

vanblah · 11-19-2004, 08:44 AM

Thanks for the critique. Those songs were written by just the guitar player and myself a while back. The newer songs are actually more of a band effort and they have taken a much more dynamic turn.

10-18-2004, 06:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
vanblah Junkie	A critique I would like a moment of your time. If you are interested in giving a constructive critique of a couple of songs I would really appreciate it. My band has several demos and I would like your opinions. The band is sort of a power-pop/lush-pop thing. The four members are from pretty different backgrounds. I have an industrial/goth/world music background (playing keyboards). The guitar player is originally a bassist into heavy "progressive" rock and indie who switched to guitar (he is also our lead vocals). The bass player is from an LA punk background. The drummer is into theater and most of the great drummers ... lots of world music. So anyway the songs over at www.myspace.com/chessclub were recorded about a year ago at my house (with a different drummer). We also have two new songs that we recorded at a local studio. I think you can hear how we progressed. new songs: www.chessclubrocks.com/songs/leche.mp3 www.chessclubrocks.com/songs/apes.mp3 old songs: www.myspace.com/chessclub If the type of music isn't your style and you still feel the need to post ... please be constructive. If you just want to say "Your band sucks" that's fine but won't hurt my feelings. I'm really interested to hear what you think about the new songs compared to old songs. I realize the recording quality is pretty bad on the olds ones ... I'm not sure what I'm doing when it comes to recording.

11-17-2004, 01:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
Draconis Insane Location: Normandy, June of '44	Damn man. This music is fun. "Hey" sounds like a mix between Ben Folds Five and Ziggy Stardust. "Hardcore Pink Hearts" has a more upbeat Pixies sound, with a dash of Kenna and Lou Reed. The Kenna comes out more in "Everyone Here Hates Me", along with Pink Floyd, the Go and Cream. "This Human Sound" is a strange mix of optimistic early goth and a depressed Beach Boys. It's a really original sound. I'd love to hear this on the radio, especially considering I'd get to hear a leslie on a recent song. __________________ STEVE MCKENNA!

10-19-2004, 12:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Trace Banned	homerecording dot com is a very instructive sight with some helpful people if you want to pursue it further

10-19-2004, 06:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
vanblah Junkie	I'm not looking into recording myself anymore. We are working with a local studio now. I've exhausted homerecording dot com as well as numerous other sites in the pursuit of recording knowledge. I do know how to record just fine ... it's the mixing and mastering that I have trouble with. It only comes with experience ... no website or book can give you a cookie cutter recipe. And it also comes down to budget. I don't have the budget to produce a recording of the caliber that my band is looking for. Also, I am not a big fan of artists in a band recording their own material ... the songs become sort of myopic. It's great to have an engineer/producer to offer opinions during the process. That's just my opinion though. I am more interested in people's opinions of the songs themselves rather than the recording.

11-19-2004, 08:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
vanblah Junkie	Thanks for the critique. Those songs were written by just the guitar player and myself a while back. The newer songs are actually more of a band effort and they have taken a much more dynamic turn.