Okay I'm gonna link our myspace but:
it's not loaded with stupid glittery shit
and
we don't have anything for sale
We've got three tracks posted for a demo, they were recorded in two parts. All instruments, amps, drums live and at once using 5 drum mics, 1 guitar mic and the bass by line out.
The vocals were recorded separately.
I'm aware that some of the drum levels are not perfect, but I see very little that can be done about that.
I'm looking for critiques on a few fronts, are the songs any good, are the recordings listenable, do the vocals work, is there any advice you can give in terms of either recorded sound or the way the songs are written.
I will admit that we will not change our core sound, but none of these songs are more than nine months old and we don't mind experimenting or revision over time, so stuff like "the part where you do x is too long" will be considered.
[url]
Http://myspace.com/astrocoven[/url]
Posts
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Your music doesn't have enough energy. "Inanimate objects" is the best example of this, because for almost a full minute nothing really happens. It's a baseline, some drums, and like four notes of guitar, and your vocalist does not change it for the better. I cant understand what he's saying (which is fine by me), but I do notice that the lyrics you guys have written have been stretched over the music, and this just sounds...off. If you've got to hold the word "is" for three or four beats just to make the lyrics fit, it's time to write new lyrics.
I think the sound is fine. I just believe you're playing maybe 10bpm too slow, and that you guys should change it up a little bit. Find some way to play with your sound in a unique way. Your guitarist should maybe think about being a little more involved with the music. He doesn't have to play power chords and crazy solos just to contribute - a little crunchy kind of muted rhythm behind some of that might help. And it doesn't have to just be the same old shit - he can find something cool to toss in.
The distortion you're using for your vocals may also be just a tad overwhelming.
Who is your target audience here? What are you trying to say?
Edit ps pls listen to the other songs, they are all quite different. Inanimate objects is atypical.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
You should be trying to do something specific. I know a lot of stock is put in the music as expression thing where you "just like, jam and stuff comes out and thats cool man" but you should have a solid idea of where a song is going, what influences you're drawing on and what specificly you're going to do with them.
A lot of bad bands dont do this, they list influences as diverse to sound deep as possible or none at all to avoid being pidgeonholed and then make music that hasnt really got any direction or much going for it at all. By contrast if you read interviews with acclaimed successful musicians they tend to be quite upfront about their influences, "we started off really wanting to be our heros X band but then we started incorperating elements of Y too" "I wanted this song to sound very much in the style of Z" its all part of knowing your craft.
Visti, can you point to anything specific? It's hard for me to step far enough back to say "this part isn't exciting to listen to", though I have a few spots in some of the songs that I think could be shorter. I'm not posting my personal criticisms for want of not influencing further comments though.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
WERE YOU PLAYING YOUR INSTRUMENTS WITH YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS BECAUSE YOU SUCK!
The was thinking general dynamics. Switching stuff up within the songs, have a quiet part then a loud part. Have a bass/guitar part be way different from the one before it to add some tension and the release. Right now it seems to be at the same intensity level all the way through.
Like, I know it's bad form to recommend bands to bands, but bands who are even often accused of sort of droning like ISIS have very varied dynamics even in the first two minutes.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH