Stephens May 2008 OSAM

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Sun May 04, 2008 10:59 am

This is a collaboration with my long time friend, and former bandmate.
His name is Chris, and we've played in 3 bands together, and always had success, and a pretty good time.
I played him this song, and he asked if he could sing some lyrics he had wrote, to see if they could work with my music.
I'm very happy with the results.
I guess y'all can be the judges.
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6471275
Regards,

chordial · Post by **chordial** » Sun May 04, 2008 10:19 pm

What the heck!
I love your solo work, but this is so different.
Happy indeed, you should be rightfully very proud of this work.
Nice to hear the keyboard parts, but MAN the guitar work is sublime, it rocks in every way.
Those (far too short) solos, are out of this world!
You guys have rocked South Wales tonight!

jazlover · Post by **jazlover** » Sun May 04, 2008 10:34 pm

It is a infectous piece high energy. Super music...Rocking is right!..No way to know if it is both of your musicianship or your familarity with each other. But you two are on the same page with this song. You guys have crafted something good.

Now, I'm going back to listen again.

Thanks !

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Tue May 06, 2008 11:49 am

chordial,
Thanks so much for those kind words.
I think the many years of playing cover songs in dance bands, finally gave me something to draw on here.

Hi Jaz,
I guess you could say that there is some musical chemistry between Chris and I, we've played in 3 different bands together, each time due to one of us contacting the other by request from the other band members, to join a group, never to form one.
We've also done many studio projects together.
That said, I think we just had some luck here.

Thank you for listening.
Regards,

DrWho · Post by **DrWho** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:12 am

Rock On Dude

So not your typical smooth sounding guitar - nice change

Crisp and raw man - a real head banger (at least for us older dudes

Nice to hear the harmonies.

I did think the drums were a bit to much in front though - especially the cymbals. Also, the bass was totally drowned out from 2:35 thru 2:47 - then reappeared - which I found rather strange.

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:24 am

Nice vocal textures, and backing synth parts help round out a straight forward pop-rock song here! This could be an opening song of any great John Hughes film!

I'll assume you did the guitar work and it was very tight here. Nice little licks and solo to boot!

Great presentation for this month. It has a slight "live" feel to it, maybe because of choice of echo on the vocals. The effect around the minute mark is pretty cool as well.

Jon

georgeinar · Post by **georgeinar** » Wed May 07, 2008 10:53 am

Woa, Stephen, glad you told us who was on here with you, otherwise I would have thought Jonsolo was visiting and collaborating, cause I could totally hear him on this one (in my imagination of course). Straight up classic rock thing here. I can't really suggest anything as it sounds great to me. I think its amazing that his lyrics fit this song and became this catchy fun rocker. What happened to that 'smooth' Stephen. I guess we're all branching out this osam, and rightly so. Really enjoyed this one, as usual.

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:10 pm

the bass was totally drowned out from 2:35 thru 2:47 - then reappeared - which I found rather strange.

You're right of course. I need to find something that will work there, I'm no bass player, and I found myself at a loss, so I just tried the break without.
I'm open to suggestions, there are a couple of things that need addressed anyway so I'm planning on another mix.
Thanks Art.

Nice vocal textures, and backing synth parts help round out a straight forward pop-rock song here! This could be an opening song of any great John Hughes film!

I'll assume you did the guitar work and it was very tight here. Nice little licks and solo to boot!

Great presentation for this month. It has a slight "live" feel to it, maybe because of choice of echo on the vocals. The effect around the minute mark is pretty cool as well.

Jon

Chris did all the vocal work, and I played all the music parts.
I've been working hard on my guitar playing, after taking a nearly five year break from playing guitar in a band I found myself slipping, so thanks for the nice comments on those parts especially.
The effect at the minute mark was all Chris' idea, I had a bugger of a time understanding just what he was after there, I'm glad you liked that, and will pass it along.
Thanks Jon

Woa, Stephen, glad you told us who was on here with you, otherwise I would have thought Jonsolo was visiting and collaborating, cause I could totally hear him on this one (in my imagination of course). Straight up classic rock thing here. I can't really suggest anything as it sounds great to me. I think its amazing that his lyrics fit this song and became this catchy fun rocker. What happened to that 'smooth' Stephen. I guess we're all branching out this osam, and rightly so. Really enjoyed this one, as usual.

Thanks George.
I do think there was some real luck involved here.
Originally, Chris was just getting started with Sonar 7, so I went to his house with some drum loops I'd gathered over the years, and we toyed around while I showed him some things in Sonar.
The drum loop you hear on this tune was from that batch that I gave him, and I built the song around it. I may not have stumbled on that loop if not for that, so I guess there was some destiny, or something happening, and it was such a joy, working with my old friend, and coming up with a song that we both enjoy.
Much appreciated guys, I'll pass your kindness along to Chris.
Regards,

ellll · Post by **ellll** » Fri May 09, 2008 2:09 am

WoWoW!!,

What a GREAT rock song...just unbelievable....this just needs a little more fullness and ambience...and its a chart topper....This NEEDS to be heard...for SURE...

(Which once more proves who really decided this worlds music successes....) I just believe it....

The whole production is great...one help would be a bit of heavy synth in the breaks....but the instruments as they are are really killer!!!!!

Not much to say...just a lot of listen ..and I will do that....

Great!!!!!!!!!!!...Johnny...(ellll)

Diego · Post by **Diego** » Fri May 09, 2008 8:13 am

Hi!!

Excuse me, I'm a bit late on this one...
I'm at work and I can't read the whole thread with all other posts, sorry.

What can I say: THAT'S ROCK!!!
Stephen, I LOVE this one!
Great sounds, it reminds me Toto, but with a stronger rock feeling, I love hammonds, EP, guitars, amazing vocal harmonies, it sounds perfectly produced to me!

When it started I was wondering about the drums, if they are real or sampled...great sounds!
I like the bass-drum sound (thought it has some problems: it seems there are 2 hits sometimes) coupled with that snare, the raid is great, too.

I think that's one of your best tunes, so glad you shared it with all of us!

Regards

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Fri May 09, 2008 12:25 pm

WoWoW!!,

What a GREAT rock song...just unbelievable....this just needs a little more fullness and ambience...and its a chart topper....This NEEDS to be heard...for SURE...

(Which once more proves who really decided this worlds music successes....) I just believe it....

The whole production is great...one help would be a bit of heavy synth in the breaks....but the instruments as they are are really killer!!!!!

Not much to say...just a lot of listen ..and I will do that....

Great!!!!!!!!!!!...Johnny...(ellll)

Thanks John.
This mix actually has less ambience, because several people told me the first one I posted, had too much. I must've gone a bit overboard huh!

Hi!!

Excuse me, I'm a bit late on this one...
I'm at work and I can't read the whole thread with all other posts, sorry.

What can I say: THAT'S ROCK!!!
Stephen, I LOVE this one!
Great sounds, it reminds me Toto, but with a stronger rock feeling, I love hammonds, EP, guitars, amazing vocal harmonies, it sounds perfectly produced to me!

When it started I was wondering about the drums, if they are real or sampled...great sounds!
I like the bass-drum sound (thought it has some problems: it seems there are 2 hits sometimes) coupled with that snare, the raid is great, too.

I think that's one of your best tunes, so glad you shared it with all of us!

Thanks Diego, that's kind of you, I'm glad you like this, I hope to do more of this style as time permits.
The drums are a loop, I found among my vast collection, as opposed to one I created, but it does have some punch.

Daz · Post by **Daz** » Sun May 11, 2008 7:53 pm

Absolutely brilliant ... it struck home on the first listen, just loved it straight off the bat. The way the whole thing just takes off in the first handful of bars made me wonder how the hell you were going to manage to maintain and build on the energy. I was about to think that you'd given the goods away too soon, then it lifted again and again. Great job ! I need to go listen again because there was a whole bunch of really great playing on an assortment of instruments that I want to check out.

Another inspiring example for me today of how to put a really compelling song together, after listening to 2good and Mr Solo

Daz.

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:16 am

Thanks very much Daz.
When I first constructed this one, I thought it might have too much going on, and almost cut the last guitar riff / organ section, but I'm glad I didn't.
Maybe I already said this, but the inspiration for this, came from the drum pattern, it was playing while I was tweaking the tone on my guitar.
I truly hope I have more of this in me, but I have to say, it would not be what it is without Chris' lyrics, and singing.
I appreciate the kind words.
Regards,

Pecca · Post by **Pecca** » Tue May 13, 2008 12:05 am

Very very good Stephen

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Tue May 13, 2008 12:33 am

Just a quick question after listening closely for the sixth or seventh time...

Is there a secondary voice in here or does Chris make his voice scruffier at around the :45 and 2:10 mark?

If he is changing his voice, why does he do that? It kinda falls outta place with the smoother voice he uses throughout the rest of the song. If it is another vocalist, that is fine, but I would prefer hearing just one voice throughout the song.

Jon