*sighs w/ relief*

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:12 pm

finally, i got some space to put some stuff up on something other than the now defunct IUMA. i did kinda steal this space from my high school's soccer website (thusly the URL), but i own over there, so its all good

i have all the songs that were on my IUMA page up on this one too, plus some new ones (DI reprise, Something Wrong?, That's Four, and Never Enough). these are all originals, so if you want the two covers we did, those are still on IUMA

listen to the new ones and the old ones if you haven't heard em yet *ahem*X*ahem*

keep in mind that most of these will require more editing and most likely rerecording of some tracks and sections

http://www.northridgesoccer.com/josh/

Xoosh · Unread post by **Xoosh** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:14 pm

are you threatening me?

i'll give it a listen tonight after my final paper is done.

/x

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:16 pm

Xoosh wrote:are you threatening me?

i'll give it a listen tonight after my final paper is done.

/x

no threats bro, but i'm pretty sure you haven't heard the stuff i've posted before whilst you were gone

dmbguitar718 · Unread post by **dmbguitar718** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:18 pm

FATJACK SONGS!!!!!

haha, i can't wait, h/o i'll listen now.

dustin · Unread post by **dustin** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:26 pm

well its about crapin time

mastermindmatthews3436 · Unread post by **mastermindmatthews3436** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:33 pm

i liek caffine free, first one i listened too, very bad ass fatjack

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:34 pm

mastermindmatthews3436 wrote:i liek caffine free, first one i listened too, very bad ass fatjack

thats not me, thats my partner

dmbguitar718 · Unread post by **dmbguitar718** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:34 pm

Ok so I listened to "That's Four" and I'm really digging the riff. It has a nice flow to it. The only thing I'm not sure of is the effects. I think it's a litlle too much wah-wah. Try mixing it up, having different effects other than just wah-wah. Don't get me wrong, it's great guitar work on your part.

Now for "Something's Wrong"...I'm liking this alot more. Sounds really good. I love the opening. It sounds really well produced. (not just the beginning) I really like how this one goes in more directions than "That's Four". I love how it slows down a bit after the 2:00 mark. Thats a pretty cool riff, with cool overlays. THE ENDING! DUDE! I love it. Sounds amazing. Kind of reminds me of "Too High" intensity-wise.

Overall, these are very well produced tracks. I really liked them. Congratulations.

I'll look forward to hearing more of you in the future.

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:41 pm

dmbguitar718 wrote:Ok so I listened to "That's Four" and I'm really digging the riff. It has a nice flow to it. The only thing I'm not sure of is the effects. I think it's a litlle too much wah-wah. Try mixing it up, having different effects other than just wah-wah. Don't get me wrong, it's great guitar work on your part.

Now for "Something's Wrong"...I'm liking this alot more. Sounds really good. I love the opening. It sounds really well produced. (not just the beginning) I really like how this one goes in more directions than "That's Four". I love how it slows down a bit after the 2:00 mark. Thats a pretty cool riff, with cool overlays. THE ENDING! DUDE! I love it. Sounds amazing. Kind of reminds me of "Too High" intensity-wise.

Overall, these are very well produced tracks. I really liked them. Congratulations. I'll look forward to hearing more of you in the future.

the effect on That's Four is actually a phaser, we had three guitars with a phase on it. we usually dont do this very much, we justed wanted that one to be the "effects song". we try to mix it up as much as possible

and you could listen to some more if you want :wink:

, check out DI Reprise, thats my favorite

DJR · Unread post by **DJR** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 8:00 pm

i liked "something wrong" i just kinda picked it randomly cause i don't have much time - can't wait to hear the rest

Xoosh · Unread post by **Xoosh** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:05 pm

Hey here's my lengthy critique, sorry about how long it is (i type this as i listen to it and then go back and revise after i've listened two or three times):

And the circus blows:
i really like when the bass comes in and supports the underlying backbone to the song... the harmonic switch up is nice, though a little overplayed -- its definitely got an orriginal air behind it... the 12 string in the background sounds very very plugged-in and very bad. be wary of this -- i think it may be that the trebble is so incredibly high on that instrument that it unbalances it. The song has a cool air until the drums come in at like 1:15 -- it then begins to have a rather unfortunate elevator style tune to it... very syncapated (i think this is an issue because of the harmonic hits). the drum at 1:40 - 1:56 is very carterish very nice @ that point. the bassist at 2:28 - 2:32 or so is a lil shakey. the thing you do at 2:53 is very cool (that elongated strum) -- @ 3:00 - 3:03 it soudns like the band sort of fell together and apart for a moment.

Caffine Free:
Fantastic intro... again the recording quality of the guitar is pretty bad but the strength of the guitar (specificly at :22 - :27) is fuckin great. I like the minor twist that the bass throws into it... the bass levels could definitely be higher -- like WAY higher, to match up with the D rides that the guitar runs (or whatever the 6th string is). 1:00 there's a study...

the effects that start up at like :58 are so extremely loud that they take away from everything else that is going on. The orchestration of this is rather interesting especially at like 1:15 - 1:22 and again at 1:26 -- i think that this could be done better by making that interlude a little shorter and cutting back to liek 1:36 a little earlier -- 1:52 stereo of the guitars is really neat -- again level issue at around 2:00... 2:13 the orchestration if recorded properly would sound GORGEOUS... though because of the technical aspects it gets so muddy =( fix that! there is so much potential. 2:33 the effect oriented instrument gets off beat for a few seconds.. the belabered end that starts at like 2:48 or so is definitely needed but it's too harsh given what we hear before this.

-----

Be careful when it comes to bass/ guitar / drums / with no vocals - it's SO easy to cross into this really odd elevator music stance that is hard to get out of... the best way to avoid this is to listen to really good jazz artists... liek Medeski Martin and Wood -- who have their elevator moments, but they really do break out and do cool shit. Your bassist could definitely have a better time playing what he's playing.. let him have a solo... ESPECIALLY on caffine free.

-----

Deceptively Irish:
Watch your rhythm on this for the first 19 seconds -- once the gutiar starts to chorus it gets a little better but the rhtyhm is DEFINITELY rockey... which is too bad cuz i REALLY like the guitar riff here. again, give your bassist some time to shine... i think it'd really be cool for the song... though i really like what i hear on the simplistic side of the bass work at like :48 etc... @ 1:39 the guitarwork is really neat here. overall i really like the feel of this song... it's really nice and fun and deceptively irish

if i heard this live i'd probably really be diggin' it... reminds me of nickel creek... i really like the breakdown at 2:10 - 2:23 or so 2:36 -- tryin to be dave matthews?

it's ok you salvage it at 2:44 and i think it sounds great. good song =) but kinda rough with the 2 guitars... where did the 4:20 or so ending come about from? just sorta appeared... need some kind of transition into it.

Di Reprise:
Nice intro and drum start up -- i really like the feel to this song... makes me think of dancing on the beach or something... i like the guitar 2 to this song. i LOVE the electric guitar that you have that goes throughout especially up to 2:11... that was a very beautiful crying guitar solo...

very cool Rusted Root sort of bring about @ 2:45 ... i really like this song.. god damn. fuckin great. =) the electric guitar here is some hot shit... especially at like 3:00 hah... great song all around great.

La La La:
The guitarwork on this is very nice... specificly at like :44 -- im jealous

your finger picking skills or whatever the fuck that is is very very very nice. I think this is on par with Neon from John Mayer -- every bit as exciting... you should check out Don Ross i think you'd really get a kick out of his music (listen to how nice his recordings sound... you could learn a thing or two! hehe check out godzilla -- that's my favorite track)... i liek the build up at that climaxes at 1:43 and again at 1:52 - really nice sliding... the guitarwork is a little messy with the slides but im not sure if that's pickup issues or stylistic stuff. This song's dance quality @ 2:00 or whatever is very very nice... then when it picks up at 2:30 again it is hot shit. love this song as well. i like the mix of slapping and picking and minor fret fills here. very nice very nice

2:55 - 3:00 hot!!

Never Enough:
I like the bass here, but the keyboard has to go = is this a cover of a christmas song? If not then get that cheesy thing outta there

... the transition at :50 - 1:00 is nicely orchestrated but very cliche -- the chord changes and notes that follow each other are rather expected... it's a nicely orchestrated song, but the concept behind the song as a whole could use some energy or something to give it some fire... i dont think speeding it up would help.. but one of your typical badass breakdowns may be fun somewhere around 1:40... @ 2:01 when that guitar comes in -- that definitely is hard on the ears, i think it's because the levels, thoguh the 12+ fret soloing can hurt the ears. the main refrain to this song is kinda hard to stomach... dont feed it to your listener so much!!!!!!!!!!! especially on an instrumental song... typically you do a reeally nice job of mixing up the refrains or making them interesting enogh to repeat over and over again... btu this one... thumbs down hoss. if you're gonna keep this song -- make it like 1:45 not 3:33

Peace Treaty:
That bouncy rhythm will be the death of you. im serious. That's the kind of thing that will make people walk in and walk right out... it's the DEFINITION of elevator music. I hate to be slamming you like this, i really think your songwriting and orchestration is fuckin brilliant, but it seems like you're really drawn to this boppy bullshit that i know you can think of better stuff based on what i've seen (look at la la la and Di reprise) you should focus on telling a story... 1:57 it gets more interesting... but dont let that get too repetative. i wouldnt let it go on much more then 2:45 -- though the switch at 3:20 is pretty nice... i like the runs from 3:40 - 4:10 -- at 4:11 or so it switches into what seems like a COMPLETELY different song ... overall the end pulls it together... but this song is WAY too fuckin long. Kill it at like 2:30 or so. There's a reason why most of ym songs are 2-3 minutes at MOST. (i have one 7 minute song, but that is going to be cut down anyways) lol... be wary of your listeners they only have so much patience. I think over all the song is "ok" but watch that damn repetitive bouncy polka rhythm =)

Something Wrong
i like where it's going through 1:10 and then it keeps getting better. great beginning =) very interesting stuff -- no major critiques here, i really like this song. watch out at 2:02 or around that area there's a weird switch up... 2:10 has a silly transition that im not a big fan of... i think the orchestration there is very goofy and does not fit the song at all. you get back into it at like 3:00 which is really nice =) keep that theme going but you definitely need variation. the bass at like 3:30 - 3:50 is fuckin cool... great run ... reminds me of warehouse or 'stay' by dmb... really neat... hah the organ that comes in that translate into the electric guitar at 4:15 or something is FUCKING BRILLIANT. holy shit, i dont ever want this song to end!!!!!!!!!! oh damn it did

... great song... really great... just watch those silly transitions that feel thrown in for no reason.

That's Four
Drop that digital delay, phaser, analog thing. it SCREAMS teenage angst.
after the first 30 seconds man, i couldnt stand to listen to it. im sorry.

Valhalla
Really interesting intro. if youre gonna do harmonics try playing htem with your fingers instead of a pick, i think that'd make a difference in sound quality .. also head those fingers closer to the back of the sound hole to get a clearer ring on the harmonics. i like the transition at 1:00 -- the levels are a lil odd, but that's of nevermind, the song up to 1:15 is really nice -- the strummingn guitar is extremely muddy... try doign some arpegios behind that or something. 1:42 - yuck. be careful there, the double picking you do here on top of the strumming is very off key together and sounds so jarring that it's hard for my ears to even appreciate it. ok after 2;00 minutes i was tempted to hit stop... be careful when you add layer apon layer apon layer apon layer... pull back some... that 12 string needs to go man.. please.. get rid of it!! =( the soloing at 2:40 - 2:57 is rather nice, but the weird trills that follow could use some work. 3:40 gets kinda ugly, forewarned young sire... if i hear more stuff like 3:50 you will be beheaded.. such genius shuold not go to waste

the song is rather repetative for a lil while... you could probably fix this by changing up the rhythm guitar. 4:24 it gets interesting again -- though based on this songs context i dont thnk there's a reason for it to be 7 minutes long. =)

good stuff man, i cant wait to haer how it goes when you finalize stuff... you need to spend yourself some ... $300 and buy some real guitar mics and get rid of that pickup shit =)

/x

horsmar15 · Unread post by **horsmar15** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 11:53 pm

Here's my honest opinion of your stuff. First of all, in general your playing is very technicaly proficient. some of the songs were interesting and creative and really got my attention. Other songs were just too boring to use for an instrumental track. I listened to four songs here goes:

Songs I didn't like

Di Reprise

In my opinon it is just two boring of a progression to be an enjoyable instrumental track. I liked the intro but it lost my attention after that.

Never Enough

Once again I just think it is too boring for an instrumental track. The keyboard also sounds kinda cheesy.

Songs I liked

Something's Wrong

Kept me interested through the whole thing. It had enough variation for an instrumental track and had a very cool progression.

caffiene free

Has a Don Ross sound to it which is good

. It was also my favorite track of the bunch. I am actually gonna save it on my computer cause it was that cool.

In conclusion, I think what I am trying to say is that for people to enjoy an instrumental track you need alot of variation. Some tracks were interesting some were not. I think if you ever ended up making an album just using the best tracks it would actually be quite a good listen. Welp, thats my longest review to date, enjoy![/u]

Xoosh · Unread post by **Xoosh** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 11:55 pm

DON ROSSS!!!!!!!!!! HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!

horsmar15 · Unread post by **horsmar15** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 12:03 am

Yup I am a Don Ross fan. I have passion session and huron street. They are probaly some of the greatest instrumental guitar albums i have ever heard. For a video of Don playing "This dragon never sleeps" go here http://www.npr.org/programs/wesun/featu ... nross.html
It left me speachless and doubting my guitar skill

DMBTabs.com

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