The Wagtunes Corner

[MasterTuner]

Very nice...
I think we'll all be writing a cathartic piece before too long.
Some good chord progressions, I can hear you spend a little more time on vocal treatment and mixing.
Liked the end, 20-20-20 delay thing.
Liked the lyrics "china doll..." some nice wordplay there.
Although "Stock up on Depends" I guess means things you depend on for everyday living.
I did expect "toilet rolls" to make an appearance somewhere though!
Can I ask, what the chord progression on the 1st line-1st verse, especially at the end of the line, when you say "do"?

[wagtunes]

Very nice...
I think we'll all be writing a cathartic piece before too long.
Some good chord progressions, I can hear you spend a little more time on vocal treatment and mixing.
Liked the end, 20-20-20 delay thing.
Liked the lyrics "china doll..." some nice wordplay there.
Although "Stock up on Depends" I guess means things you depend on for everyday living.
I did expect "toilet rolls" to make an appearance somewhere though!
Can I ask, what the chord progression on the 1st line-1st verse, especially at the end of the line, when you say "do"?

I'll try ti answer your questions.

1. Depends is actually a brand of adult diaper. Probably don't have them where you are.

2. Toilet paper was too obvious so I skipped it.

3. And now the chord progression:

Abm/D - E7 - C#m6 - F#

That's the whole first verse.

Thanks for the listen and the feedback. In a perverse sort of way, I had fun doing this one.

[mindstuff]

Mr Wagtunes. I really like the music in some of these tracks. One had a great paul mccartney vibe. ...the guitar solo and arrangement changes flow nicely. You already know how I feel about the vocals. However, I did notice how dry they sound. They feel mixed well, but maybe a tad in the background. I think your vocals could use more reverb. Listen to this track. Hear the reverb ? Chorus? L/R Panning? Frequency distribution of the reverb?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKuFyHwG188

[wagtunes]

Mr Wagtunes. I really like the music in some of these tracks. One had a great paul mccartney vibe. ...the guitar solo and arrangement changes flow nicely. You already know how I feel about the vocals. However, I did notice how dry they sound. They feel mixed well, but maybe a tad in the background. I think your vocals could use more reverb. Listen to this track. Hear the reverb ? Chorus? L/R Panning? Frequency distribution of the reverb?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKuFyHwG188

Okay, who are you and what have you done with Mindstuff? LOL

All kidding aside, thank you for the listen and thoughtful response.

About my singing. First off, I know I can't sing for shit, which is why I used Vocaloid for so long. But, given the negative reaction that received and everyone telling me that my voice, good or bad, would still be better than Vocaloid, I started singing again. That does not mean I am still not self conscious about my singing, which is the main reason I tend to bury my voice in the mix, though you have to admit that compared to my early efforts, it is more up front than it was.

But that's not the only reason i tend to bury my vocals. I tend to favor instrumental tracks in general. Some of my favorite songs of all time are songs where the singing isn't up front in the mix. Listen to Dan Fogelberg's "Netherlands." In fact, his mix engineer said to him that the vocals were mixed down too low. Dan didn't care. He said that's the way he wanted it because he wanted the music to be the focal point.

That's the era I grew up in and that's what I tend to gravitate towards.

As for "My Love", was never one of my favorite Paul McCartney songs, but I do hear what he did with the vocals. If that's what you consider properly processed vocals, I'm sure I can duplicate it. I'm not quite sure I'll like it, but, as an experiment, I can give it a shot to see how it turns out.

Anyway, thank you for your very insightful critique. I will keep it in mind for my next project, whenever I start it. Right now, I'm taking a short break. These last 4 months have been exhausting.

PS - Hopefully we can start getting along like civilized people. I'm willing to give it a shot if you are.

[Scanloni]

Hey Wagtunes, as you’re well aware, I’m new here. I’m interested in hearing your best stuff. This thread is quite lengthy, any chance you’d be interested in posting your top 5 personal favorites for me to check out?

Picking 5 out of hundreds of songs is kind of tough.

Maybe start with these?

Hold On To Your Guns

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -your-guns

Just Like Jimmy Neutron

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... my-neutron

Hold You Like There's No Tomorrow

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... o-tomorrow

Losing My Mind (All Over You)

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... l-over-you

Three Minutes To The End

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... lead-vocal

Glad I finally got a chance to listen to some of your stuff. I like it. For someone who’s self conscious about their vocals you certainly challenge yourself vocally and take risks others would be afraid to take. Myself included. I think you’re a better singer than you give yourself credit for. That said, I noticed a few of your songs didn’t have much in the way of backup vocals which can help fill out some of those challenging vocal parts, and sweeten the chorus. Your vocals sound very clean, maybe just a little more delay and/or reverb would be worthwhile tweak.

I like your throwback style and sound, and you’re a very good songwriter, which is a massively underrated trait among many posting in forums such as this. I appreciate that your songs are well constructed, using relatively traditional instrumentation, with interesting and unpredictable solos, changes, etc as opposed to simply staggering loops. Good stuff and not what I expected, in a good way.

[wagtunes]

Hey Wagtunes, as you’re well aware, I’m new here. I’m interested in hearing your best stuff. This thread is quite lengthy, any chance you’d be interested in posting your top 5 personal favorites for me to check out?

Picking 5 out of hundreds of songs is kind of tough.

Maybe start with these?

Hold On To Your Guns

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -your-guns

Just Like Jimmy Neutron

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... my-neutron

Hold You Like There's No Tomorrow

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... o-tomorrow

Losing My Mind (All Over You)

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... l-over-you

Three Minutes To The End

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... lead-vocal

Glad I finally got a chance to listen to some of your stuff. I like it. For someone who’s self conscious about their vocals you certainly challenge yourself vocally and take risks others would be afraid to take. Myself included. I think you’re a better singer than you give yourself credit for. That said, I noticed a few of your songs didn’t have much in the way of backup vocals which can help fill out some of those challenging vocal parts, and sweeten the chorus. Your vocals sound very clean, maybe just a little more delay and/or reverb would be worthwhile tweak.

I like your throwback style and sound, and you’re a very good songwriter, which is a massively underrated trait among many posting in forums such as this. I appreciate that your songs are well constructed, using relatively traditional instrumentation, with interesting and unpredictable solos, changes, etc as opposed to simply staggering loops. Good stuff and not what I expected, in a good way.

Thank you for the listen and the feedback. It is very much appreciated. Yes, my songwriting goes back to old school because I'm old, having grown up in the 60s. Ironically, I have a more difficult time doing the kinds of things that are normally posted around here.

[Spring Goose]

Hey Wagtunes, as you’re well aware, I’m new here. I’m interested in hearing your best stuff. This thread is quite lengthy, any chance you’d be interested in posting your top 5 personal favorites for me to check out?

Picking 5 out of hundreds of songs is kind of tough.

Maybe start with these?

Hold On To Your Guns

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -your-guns

Just Like Jimmy Neutron

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... my-neutron

Hold You Like There's No Tomorrow

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... o-tomorrow

Losing My Mind (All Over You)

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... l-over-you

Three Minutes To The End

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... lead-vocal

I enjoyed the first song. It reminded me of Morrissey solo, but with an 80s/70s accompaniment. Do you agree that this song is a bit surreal?

[wagtunes]

Hey Wagtunes, as you’re well aware, I’m new here. I’m interested in hearing your best stuff. This thread is quite lengthy, any chance you’d be interested in posting your top 5 personal favorites for me to check out?

Picking 5 out of hundreds of songs is kind of tough.

Maybe start with these?

Hold On To Your Guns

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -your-guns

Just Like Jimmy Neutron

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... my-neutron

Hold You Like There's No Tomorrow

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... o-tomorrow

Losing My Mind (All Over You)

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... l-over-you

Three Minutes To The End

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... lead-vocal

I enjoyed the first song. It reminded me of Morrissey solo, but with an 80s/70s accompaniment. Do you agree that this song is a bit surreal?

You're not the first person who has compared me to Morrissey, though I really don't hear it.

The song itself was for a contest where you had to come up with a sci fi and time travel theme while referring to a movie. So yeah, I guess the tune is a bit surreal, or something. lol

[Spring Goose]

[Spring Goose]

Hey Wagtunes, as you’re well aware, I’m new here. I’m interested in hearing your best stuff. This thread is quite lengthy, any chance you’d be interested in posting your top 5 personal favorites for me to check out?

Picking 5 out of hundreds of songs is kind of tough.

Maybe start with these?

Hold On To Your Guns

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -your-guns

Just Like Jimmy Neutron

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... my-neutron

Hold You Like There's No Tomorrow

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... o-tomorrow

Losing My Mind (All Over You)

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... l-over-you

Three Minutes To The End

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... lead-vocal

I enjoyed the first song. It reminded me of Morrissey solo, but with an 80s/70s accompaniment. Do you agree that this song is a bit surreal?

You're not the first person who has compared me to Morrissey, though I really don't hear it.

The song itself was for a contest where you had to come up with a sci fi and time travel theme while referring to a movie. So yeah, I guess the tune is a bit surreal, or something. lol

Well his (Morrissey) voice has different qualities, and your voice has different qualities. I think it must be a similar type of song.

[wagtunes]

Hey Wagtunes, as you’re well aware, I’m new here. I’m interested in hearing your best stuff. This thread is quite lengthy, any chance you’d be interested in posting your top 5 personal favorites for me to check out?

Picking 5 out of hundreds of songs is kind of tough.

Maybe start with these?

Hold On To Your Guns

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -your-guns

Just Like Jimmy Neutron

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... my-neutron

Hold You Like There's No Tomorrow

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... o-tomorrow

Losing My Mind (All Over You)

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... l-over-you

Three Minutes To The End

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... lead-vocal

I enjoyed the first song. It reminded me of Morrissey solo, but with an 80s/70s accompaniment. Do you agree that this song is a bit surreal?

You're not the first person who has compared me to Morrissey, though I really don't hear it.

The song itself was for a contest where you had to come up with a sci fi and time travel theme while referring to a movie. So yeah, I guess the tune is a bit surreal, or something. lol

Well his (Morrissey) voice has different qualities, and your voice has different qualities. I think it must be a similar type of song.

Ah, okay. Thanks.

[Spring Goose]

I was interested about Gilbert & Sullivan, then one day i found a record by Gilbert O' Sullivan. This is something which came to mind after listening to your song.

[wagtunes]

I was interested about Gilbert & Sullivan, then one day i found a record by Gilbert O' Sullivan. This is something which came to mind after listening to your song.

I'm listening to "Everyday Is Like Sunday" by Morrissey now and I really don't hear it. Hell, I wish I could sing as well as he does.

Gilbert O'Sullivan has that accent thing going that makes him unmistakable. Another guy I wish I could sing as well as.

[Spring Goose]

I was interested about Gilbert & Sullivan, then one day i found a record by Gilbert O' Sullivan. This is something which came to mind after listening to your song.

I'm listening to "Everyday Is Like Sunday" by Morrissey now and I really don't hear it. Hell, I wish I could sing as well as he does.

Gilbert O'Sullivan has that accent thing going that makes him unmistakable. Another guy I wish I could sing as well as.

I don't have my Morrissey cds to hand, but when i do i'll look which songs.

[Spring Goose]

Hey Wagtunes, as you’re well aware, I’m new here. I’m interested in hearing your best stuff. This thread is quite lengthy, any chance you’d be interested in posting your top 5 personal favorites for me to check out?

Picking 5 out of hundreds of songs is kind of tough.

Maybe start with these?

Hold On To Your Guns

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -your-guns

Just Like Jimmy Neutron

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... my-neutron

Hold You Like There's No Tomorrow

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... o-tomorrow

Losing My Mind (All Over You)

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... l-over-you

Three Minutes To The End

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... lead-vocal

Ok so i tried the second song. I liked the eighties entrance, straight to the point. I thought its an interesting song, the eighties accompaniment but do you agree that the vocal is a bit seventies? I'm no expert about seventies, maybe i'm wrong. I take it you play your own guitar as well as singing? Some impressive synth/keyboard at about 1.00. Nice chord changes. Nice finish.

I like eighties. I listen to eighties. Your song isn't what i'd usually choose to listen to. It is very film soundtrack. I like film soundtracks but not this one! Not my cup of tea, but impressive song nonetheless.