Circles - Jon Solo September 2008

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:32 pm

Hi Jon

Well well what can I say... all the right stuff is happening here!

It's good to hear you back on vocals

- you do a great job here. I didn't hear the first version unfortunately, but this one sounds really really good. All aspects are top notch as always. I will listen many times and also have a good think about all the lyric-writing issues that George raised. Lots of food for thought there.......thanks George!

Regards from
Dee

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:38 am

Thank you for listening Dee. I must say that I am torn on the lyrics. The first set I wrote was actually more cohesive to the meaning, but I wanted something abstract that would give a more open space for interpretation. Sometimes I can write very formed and direct lyrics. Other times I like the feel of grasping at straws.

One thing is for sure, before this project I never thought of myself as a lyricist. I usually leave that up to collaborator (as is usually the case with many of my other projects) or I settle for an instrumental. Yet I feel really good about most of what I have come up with for this CD and through the comments here and others that have contacted me, I also am a little more confident that I can pen a thought!

Sometimes that is hard to do, or comes off cliched.

We'll see what pops out next though!

Jon

DrWho · Post by **DrWho** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:10 pm

The vocals are much more full now. It was interesting to hear both versions - really shows there is so much to arrangements and mixing! Both versions are excellent, but the 2nd is much better.

I like you've got the bass line so audible without clashing with the bass drum and other low freq. components. Did you compress the bass by itself?

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:36 pm

Yes the bass is separately compressed...I run a light compression, mostly to keep the higher notes closer to the lower drones.

The EQs to my bass lines and kick need to be distinctly in two different areas of the spectrum. I find a warm center for the bass and then adjust a narrowed Q on either side of it for the kick. If I drew a picture it would look like an large egg sitting in the valley between two mountains. You can also roll off any "bassiness" on keyboard and guitar tracks, usually cutting below the 375-500 hz range. It would be great to be a better engineer. Many times I have to finagle to get the sound where I want it. Yet there are likely always more conventional ways than what I used.

georgeinar · Post by **georgeinar** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 10:46 am

Thank you for explaining this eq magic, Jonsolo. I'm not delving more into the m3 and how I can eq each of the 16 tracks right on the eq page without having to dump each track to the pc and tweaking there.

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:09 am

I think you nailed this one!
Really well done Jon, no nits from me, oh, and super job on the harmonies, and those tricky high notes.
Ready for air play!

DrWho · Post by **DrWho** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 3:17 am

If I drew a picture it would look like an large egg sitting in the valley between two mountains.

Interesting - and very useful - thank you for that - this problem has been driving my crazy for months!

ellll · Post by **ellll** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 12:23 pm

Hi Jon,

I am the one who is late....sorry,

The Circles is very nice, and as usual, your singing voice is what makes it so nice...You just have a way with vocalizing a popular feel into your stuff!!!

Indeed...it seems to me to fit the category very well...feels a bit like general Brit pop for me...I like the lyrics as well...Great...as usual!!!

Rehards, John (ellll)