New music lovers

[71T Targa]

I friend of mine just finished her own CD. I’d call it pop, but would like to know what you think.
Take a listen and let me know. Be brutal and honest and I will pass along the feedback.

[nostatic]

who produced it? brutal and honest....here goes

There is a heavy late-70's production influence, but it sounds almost parody/forced as opposed to playful/soulful.

Get a human drummer.

I don't hear any hooks. But worse, I don't feel much passion.

It sounds very professional though...don't get me wrong. It is better than a lot of stuff out there. But I don't feel "it" when I listen, and just get annoyed by the sound and lack of attack or caressing of the notes. I'd like to hear her voice unprocessed to see what's actually there. As it stands, too much vibrato and mariah carey-style pitch-flying. I hate that stuff.

In short, she sounds like a good singer, but imho the album cries out for a strong co-writer, human drums and bass, and a producer that isn't as "slick/processed."

But that critique is worth exactly what she paid for it ;-)

[71T Targa]

Thanks Nostatic, I was hoping you would chime in. I think it was produced by Gregory Cauthen, but that doesn’t mean anything to me.

Mary didn’t ask me to put this out there, or even know I did. But I do appreciate your input, and will pass it along.

[nostatic]

Well, I don't want to be too harsh. It sounds good for the style and what it is. But that type of music really needs something to cut through the thick production style if it is going to stand out and not just be another "smooth pop" background song. And she might have "it", but it is having a tough time showing through.

[kach22i]

Two words; Over Processed.

ABBA-ish on some tracks (not good).

Stanley Clark did a few LP's in the early 1980's which were over processed - unfortunate for him.

I'm sure your friend has talent, probably sounds great live with a simple set-up.

I can't listen to this stuff, makes me depressed just thinking about it.

FYI:
While I'm at it, there is a certified car-nut starting up his own recording studio in Northern Michigan. I've heard some of the stuff he's worked on - very progressive without being over processed.

Link:
http://www.lachinemachine.com/

Ultra has posted samples here too:
http://www.carnuts.ws/viewforum.php?f=10

[svandamme]

it's so gay that the gays won't even listen to it.


to reprhase my non political opionion above ..

i ain't diggin it ... and i dig a lot of stuff that get's me ... " you listen to that gay stuff" comments , despite me not beeing gay... old school kate bush for example....or portishead...goldfrapp, radiohead,billy joel,prince,roxy music, the cure, ...

[ErVikingo]

Needs more cowbell...........

[71T Targa]

Thanks, I will ask her about the cowbell...

[HardDrive]

Originally posted by kach22i
Two words; Over Processed.

Agreed.

I have produced eletronic music for years, and I have my own label. The drum machine/cheapo synth combo was killing me.

Music=Boss drum machine+lame 80s synth patchs: Not good
Lyrics=Typical pop rubbish: Probably a good thing.
Her singing= Excellent

Hey, Its not terrible by any stretch. She can sing, and thats all that matters. And I think she can put this record out there as a stepping stone.

I think she would do better with a live band.

If she likes to stick with electronic production, she needs to invest in a decent workstation. Korg Triton, Yamaha Motif, maybe the Roland Phatom series. I switched over to software (Reason 2.5), but I don't think that its the best for her type of music.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by HardDrive
She can sing, and thats all that matters.

So that I get it right next time, what is the difference or definitions of "Over Processed" and "Over Produced"?

I think there might be a lot of both here - much to my disapointment.

svandamme, that's a good list of music to like, but you don't have to say "gay" to drive home your point do you? I mean before I saw Prince live, I had no respect for him. My buddy kicked in the extra money to the scalper and I'm glad he did - would of missed a true preformance. I don't think of Prince as gay, but I sure thought his music was (prior to the show - close to 20 years ago now).

Edit: You can never have enough Cowbell.

[svandamme]

poster asked brutal feedback
i delivered...

for the record , i have nothing against gay folks
the word itself means "happy" and whatever makes anyone happy , fine by me. the above post was basic sarcasm...

[kach22i]

Originally posted by svandamme
the above post was basic sarcasm...

Oh, never mind then.

[svandamme]

hot mamma !

[MichiganMat]

Where is the passion, the originality, the feeling? Is she happy, sad? What does she feel about the music she is singing?

I think a lot of it has to do with the volume. She has a big vibrato voice throughout the songs and needs to bring it down a few notches. Too much "forte", not nearly enough "piano" or the "mezzo's" inbetween. She could bring a lot of musicality and emotion to the music with just some simple volume changes in her voice.

Ofcourse the synth backing doesn't help much, but there is much work to be done on her musical interpretation that better backing will not be able to cover for.

Edit: I can't spell