Sometimes Love is Not Pretty WMA

Sometimes Love is Not Pretty MP3

MOST FINISHED SONG:

I LIKE

• The subject matter. Listen to see if you can
• Beat. Drum line is actually preliminary. It will probably a little more funky in the chorus section where it's slow. They were the least of my worries. These are still VDrums actually. Need better control on the bass drum sound and tweaking of the snare sound.
• I love the guitar sound and layering. The articifical harmonics are in there for the most part. What it lacks is some fast "licks" in it. I'm not much into guitar solos, but I want bursts of speed licks in there.
• I think it's catchy enough. Even when I get sick of it (while mixing) I keep singing it so I'm curious if others do too.
• Bass line is the type of the sound I want, but I'd like something with a little more funk movement going into the breaks and throughout the song.
• Harmony vocals are a lot like what I want to hear. 2, 3 and 4 part at the end. Thanks to vocal lessons and Melodyne.
• Lyrics are complete and make sense for what I'm saying in the philosophy section
• Mix is pretty good I think.
  

I'm wanting to improve

• Needs a hot guitar run in the small break before the last four
• Needs a final vocal in the quiet part at the very end.
• What I called out above Guitar- Guitar licks that are faster. I can probably "technology" my way through it (play them slowly and speed em up somehow) and probably will at some point.
• Still could be made even better by a singer who really likes this style.

Rough:

I LIKE

• The subject matter.
• Beat
• Guitar line
• Catchy
• Lyrics for the most part. Not everything written is here right now. Vocals are scratch vocals sometime out of tune with no harmonies. They end after a bit.
  

I'm wanting to improve

• This is an ADAT 4 track version. It's got too many layers in it. I need to work on that.
• I have funk bass tracks that I need to replace the synth bass tracks with
• Need to add a train sound
• Thin out the version and complete the bridge part which was added last

I LIKE

• The subject matter. About addiction but in a light way that you don't need to get to like the song
• Catchy (well I think so).
• Guitar work.
• Lyrics.
• The Drum part for the most part.
• Chorus is "quirky" on purpose. Need to work on the smurf voices.
  

I'm wanting to improve

• Drums still Vdrums, though played live.
• My voice and phrasing
• Needs some more harmonies
• There is actually no bass in the song right now.

Rough: Actually already changed lyrics a bit and this was pre-vocal lessons

I spent a lot time writing this song already. It's probably about 60 to 75% finished arrangement wise.

I LIKE

• The subject matter. Searching for a way to be happy doing what you love in life and battling to take that chance to do it.
• The lyrics in the verse. There are several interesting analogies in it I'm attached to.
• The melody in the chorus. I can be convinced to change it in areas.
• The rhythm.
• The chord structure. Interesting and yet still "poppy" in places.
• The keyboard part.
• Many pieces of the arrangement.
• The Drum part for the most part.
  

I'm wanting to improve

• WARNING! These are one take vocals that are off tune. Again, I'm not a singer. I'm looking for one. remember? :) After a few more takes I'll get something up there that's a little better.
• Lyrics have changed a bit since this version song. Things have moved around, although I've got the same basic theme.
• Needs harmony vocal arrangements.
• Missing a part or two here. Most of guitar part is missing right now.
• A few timing problems on the breaks for the song. I miss lyrics because of this.
• This is an early version from March 2005. I need to put up a later version once I add some new parts and mix it down.
• This version is lacking in the harder guitar parts. I'll be adding in something in the next week or two.
• The melody in the verse. It's okay, but I'm thinking it could be better.
• Lyrics in the chorus. They are okay for the most part, but I sometimes feel that the words, though interesting do not cut to the core emotionally like I seek to. I want people to feel that struggle and positive view in the chorus section.
• The sailing concept is slightly cliche, but I'm seeing if it works for a general audience.
• The bass is okay, but again I need someone better to play around with it and see what can be improved.

My Love, Do you want Me?

(email me for this one. It's not done enough to put up here)

Only 30% finished.

I LIKE

• The subject matter. About barriers that we put up between each other in relationships.
• Chord progression, though open to changes.
• Guitar usage for the most part.
• Popping of base during verse.
• Some pieces of the arrangement.

I'm wanting to improve

• I put the second verse in for the first because it was done. I need to put something else in.
• Need to be finished obviously.
• Again, needs a better singer than me.
• WAY out of time in a few places, but you get the idea.

75% finished. There is a lot of blank space at the end. Need to add a bridge. Vocals..well, the usual.

I LIKE

• The subject matter. Deals with Jealousy and Expectations and how that kills love. This is actually only the frist part of a 3 part song.
• Harmonies in general. The parts could change and move, but I like the 3 and 4 part harmonies.
• The chords.
• The rhythm and arrangement.
• The guitar line. This is exactly the type of mixture of chords, rhythm, artificial harmonics I'm looking for.
• Some pieces of the arrangement.

I'm wanting to improve

• The lyrics need work. I actually have better versions but have to mix it down.
• This is a rough demo. Mix is very general.
• Remember, I'm not a real singer. I know that. :)
• I'm still using Vdrums.
• I actually have some pipe organ in places that I left out. Would like to add it in but may need to take out some vocals to make room. During "Why don't you need me" part of verse.