donkeyt-hopeless case - indie/retro soul?

[donkey tugger]

After me last bout of mutitrack layered madness, time for something a bit more laid back. One (1) vocal (which may sound a bit like Liam Gallagher trying to do Al Green ), may have ripped off 'Walk On By' a bit (it's a great song, worth plagiarising ...). Over 3 minutes!

http://www.bennyleeds7.myfreeola.uk/don ... s-case.mp3

Might need to do the singing again (when I recover), let's see..

[wagtunes]

My Feedback

Music - 8.5
Instruments - 9.5
Performance - 8
Mix - 8.5

Overall - 8.625

Comments: Couple of pitchy notes on the vocals but you still sing better sick than I do perfectly well. Nice song. Vocals a little soft in parts. Probably could do with some remixing. Feel better.

[donkey tugger]

I ad-libbed quite a lot of the tune, so there was always going to be a bit of wobble... Think I've fixed the worst offenders now (re-uploaded), and boosted some of the quiet singing - probably will need to refine over time as always. I've also resisted the temptation to rename it to something like, 'Dictatorship Of The Proletariat'.

[The Noodlist]

Cool, I like it. Nice variations, doesn't drag.
Sounds to me like a mix of Bowie, Chris Rea and Prefab Sprout.
Enjoyed it.
After thought edit.
Getting a Tom Robinson vibe, also.

[sjm]

Listening on my phone on the way to the mountains, so not the highest quality playback. As per usual, I like it. Not sure you're a hopeless case...

If I had one minor criticism, it would be that the keys sounds just a little too tight in the playing for my tastes. I know you don't play the keys, so I'll assume you programed them in the piano roll. Given that you're going for a bit of that laid back feel, the closeness of the hits in the chords, and the lack of little grace notes as lead ins stick out a bit. You *could* refine that a little. Or you could say sod it, no one really cares, and probably be right.

But if it were up to me, I'd space the notes a bit more (or just play it on the keyboard because I'm lazy).

[donkey tugger]

Listening on my phone on the way to the mountains, so not the highest quality playback. As per usual, I like it. Not sure you're a hopeless case...

If I had one minor criticism, it would be that the keys sounds just a little too tight in the playing for my tastes. I know you don't play the keys, so I'll assume you programed them in the piano roll. Given that you're going for a bit of that laid back feel, the closeness of the hits in the chords, and the lack of little grace notes as lead ins stick out a bit. You *could* refine that a little. Or you could say sod it, no one really cares, and probably be right.

But if it were up to me, I'd space the notes a bit more (or just play it on the keyboard because I'm lazy).

Hehe, I played it on the midi guitar, then quantised it a bit because it was a bit too loose, and guitar-y. Perhaps went a bit too far in the other direction..

[dug]

nice

[bluedad]

I really dig this song, have listened several times now. No real criticism I can offer. Keep up the good work.

[donkey tugger]

a mix of Bowie, Chris Rea and Prefab Sprout.

That's a top combo!

[sjm]

Interesting that you mention playing the midi guitar, because there are one or two sections where I thought it almost sounded guitar like.

I think two things to keep mind... The spacing of the notes in lazy playing can be quite generous, probably more so than a typical guitar chord. But the release /note off will be very close together. And unlike a guitar, the notes don't have to go low to high in terms of timing. Often, the top notes will be a kind of melody line, and will be the first notes to sound, then an arp from low to high. Obviously not hard and fast. Gotta run, am mid-hike and the wife is stressing...

[IncarnateX]

Dt is God. Makes me relax. So much better than Yoga, espcially if you listen together with that lovely girl Mari. You know, Mari Huana.

[donkey tugger]

nice

Jaaaath!

[donkey tugger]

I really dig this song, have listened several times now. No real criticism I can offer. Keep up the good work.

Cheers. About time you did some new stuff surely?

[donkey tugger]

Interesting that you mention playing the midi guitar, because there are one or two sections where I thought it almost sounded guitar like.

I think two things to keep mind... The spacing of the notes in lazy playing can be quite generous, probably more so than a typical guitar chord. But the release /note off will be very close together. And unlike a guitar, the notes don't have to go low to high in terms of timing. Often, the top notes will be a kind of melody line, and will be the first notes to sound, then an arp from low to high. Obviously not hard and fast. Gotta run, am mid-hike and the wife is stressing...

All valid stuff. I think I compounded it because after I'd written the majority of it on the acoustic, the first thing I did was record the midi stuff, but using a guitar patch (which obviously you're always going to play, like a guitar.. ) as I had no clue what sounds I would use at that point. What I might have done is do it as two parts, low and high, as you say.

Anyhow, I'm leaving it as is now, but it's something I'll try next time I go for something with the old Joanna on.

[donkey tugger]

Dt is God.