4 Songs - Alternative Band

[mikethecoug]

Okay before I start I'm not sure what style you'd call us, please say what style/genre you think we are!

And the recordings are quite poor, we are getting new ones very soon and you will hopefully be able to hear things alot clearer on them.

http://www.myspace.com/thechangeofstate

please tell us what you think of these 4 songs.

thanks

[Alienbob]

ehhhhhh. Not much to say but keep practicing.

[cadencethefire]

give me something that isn't myspace or youtube and i'll tell you what i think

[mikethecoug]

http://www.soundclick/thechangeofstate

will that do?

the songs are

mistakes
scream if u want more
youve got me this far
childhood memories

thanks

[cadencethefire]

Mistakes:
it takes to long to take direction, and the vocalist needs to really push his voice! Right now i can tell he's kind of a lazy songwriter.

Scream if you want more:
for a song title like that... you can't have such a slow tempo... tell your drummer he's gotta get some lesson or some drum books to expand on his styles and influences...

i didn't listen to the rest because i heard what i needed to. Your strongest member of the band is the guitarist, weakest vocals like i said before have him really push his voice because he's not really doing a whole lot of anything, and when vocals are that basic and that simple and that easy... it's hard to keep the music interesting. Keep at it and you'll eventually get better. Don't let the amount of work ahead discourage you... but you DO have quite a bit to do

[indietrash]

Mistakes:
awesome opening riff. the drums lack a bit of... punch, I feel. the vocals could be much better. he focuses a bit too much on "singing". he should rather be "speaking", like Ian Brown or summat. the voice is good, but I don't like the vocal technique at the start of the song, though it gets better along the way. the guitar also gets even better. the bass does a fine job of keeping everything in check. the drums do, as mentioned - lack punch. and they are really simplistic. simplistic drums aren't necessarily a bad thing, but I don't think it fits this song. but the guitar and bass are so good, that luckily - the drums drown a bit. but improve the drumming, and make the vocalist stop trying to "sing", if you get what I mean - and you'll have a great song.
3/5

Childhood Memories:
another cool opening riff, kept company by more simplistic drumming. the simplistic drumming works better here, but it's still not very pleasing. the bass drowns a bit in the mix, which isn't really good. the vocalist sounds better here than on "Mistakes", but there's still room for improvement. but the melody itself isn't really all that good. it doesn't grab my attention.
2.5/5

You've Got Me This Far:
the first thing that strikes me is: the drums are very annoying. they're too loud, and yet again - too simplistic. the guitar is as awesome as it's on the previous songs. the bass continues to drown. the vocalist isn't all that impressing, but shows potential.
2.5/5

Scream If You Want More:
I really like this song. the sleazy, laid back vocals work well. the loud drumming and awesome guitar, kept company by the almost equally awesome bass is fantastic. this is just kickass. especially the production, or lack of production. the dirty mix really makes this song, where it on the other songs just ruin them. the funky bass and guitar and the Ian Brown-ish vocals really fit the loud drumming, that for once ain't annoying. 4.5/5

conclusion:
altogether I'd give these four songs 3/5. and as for the genre thing - I'd call you sleaze rock, like Nine Black Alps and The Black Velvets. these songs kind of reminds me of The Stone Roses' classic track "Breaking Into Heaven".

pros
the guitarist
the bassist
the potentially new Ian Brown

cons
the simplistic drumming
a bit repetetive composing

[mikethecoug]

wow indie trash thanks a bunch for all of these compliments and ways to improve our style.

i'm the guitarist and i'm glad that you like my work!

just a note -

since these recordings we have changed the songs a bit, childhood memories now has a chorus, and scream if you want more is structured a bit better than it was before.

i'll try and get new recordings soon,

[mikethecoug]

bump

[Crowley5150]

Mistakes : I really liked the opening riff, but it loses momentum when the drummer comes in and the tempo slows to the speed of the initial riff. The vocals are very must the weak point in the song. I just don't get the vocals. Not to say that they need to be higher pitch, becuase low vocals can work well, but there is no melody hook in this... it sounds just very monotonous and boring vocally.

Childhood Memories : A much more solid opening - drum tempo is more with the overall feel of the song..... Where is the chorus? It sounds like a Verse, instrumental break, verse, instrumental break with the same patterns... sounds like it needs to build into a hooky chorus as there is plenty of musical hook in the verse.

You've got me this far : I don't get tempo changes in this.... I don't know whether its the drummer needing more practice in staying in time, or whether its planned, but it just chops all over the place. Vocals fall into the same category as the first one... no variety in the melody - just a long monotone vocal.

Scream if you want more : Surely a song with the word "scream" in it should have some powerful vocals.... The song itself builds quite nicely, and is quite well put together.


Overall... I think your biggest issue is the lack of a powerful vocalist. He needs to grit up, learn to sing from his diaphram, and give the vocals some balls. Once the music is tightened up, it will be screaming (pardon the pun) for some vocals with some testicles.

[skaman27]

I just listened to Childhood memories. It's pretty good. The guitar is good, drums are ok, I could barley hear the bass, and the vocals could use a bit more work, but overall I would say you guys are pretty good.

[mikethecoug]

bump

[Ethan.]

Mistake:
-opening riff is pretty cool, but a little sloppy
-drums need a lot of work; too simple and tempo problems
-vocals are pretty plain and mediocre
-you really need a decent rhythm guitar track to go along with it (is there any bass?)
-the lead guitar track is pretty good
Overall it needs better drums, vocals, and needs to be mixed a lot better.

Childhood Memories:
-to be honest I think the rhythm guitar has a pretty bland progression
-once again the drums are bringing the quality of the song down. the only fill I have heard int he two songs that has stuck out to me is some arrogantly loud snare rolls
-the bass part fits in there nicely, but it needs to be louder and more bass

You've got me this far
-I like the intro a lot
-you need more bass in the bass track (sounds like you are going through a guitar amp?)
-vocals kind of seem a bit emotionless
-like the little instrumental break at around 1:45
-your drummer needs to learn what groove is

Scream if you want more:
-drums are very repetitive with the constant solo bass drum in all the intros
-turn up the lead at the beginning -- I like it
-try and put some more umph into the vocals and more emotion they seem kind of flat (not in an out of key sense, but a lifeless sense)
-drums aren't as bad is in the other songs
-once again bass needs more bass and louder
-pretty good guitar work in this song

Overall I really think you guys have some talent. Keep practicing and you will mesh together and tighten up... but get new vocalist or get him to learn how to sing better. And let the drummer know he needs a lot of practice. As far as the mixing goes, turn the bass up (and EQ it for more bass) and turn the drums down. Do some research on mxing and it should help you figure out what needs to be done.

Good Luck!

[mikethecoug]

Mistake:
-opening riff is pretty cool, but a little sloppy
-drums need a lot of work; too simple and tempo problems
-vocals are pretty plain and mediocre
-you really need a decent rhythm guitar track to go along with it (is there any bass?)
-the lead guitar track is pretty good
Overall it needs better drums, vocals, and needs to be mixed a lot better.

Childhood Memories:
-to be honest I think the rhythm guitar has a pretty bland progression
-once again the drums are bringing the quality of the song down. the only fill I have heard int he two songs that has stuck out to me is some arrogantly loud snare rolls
-the bass part fits in there nicely, but it needs to be louder and more bass

You've got me this far
-I like the intro a lot
-you need more bass in the bass track (sounds like you are going through a guitar amp?)
-vocals kind of seem a bit emotionless
-like the little instrumental break at around 1:45
-your drummer needs to learn what groove is

Scream if you want more:
-drums are very repetitive with the constant solo bass drum in all the intros
-turn up the lead at the beginning -- I like it
-try and put some more umph into the vocals and more emotion they seem kind of flat (not in an out of key sense, but a lifeless sense)
-drums aren't as bad is in the other songs
-once again bass needs more bass and louder
-pretty good guitar work in this song

Overall I really think you guys have some talent. Keep practicing and you will mesh together and tighten up... but get new vocalist or get him to learn how to sing better. And let the drummer know he needs a lot of practice. As far as the mixing goes, turn the bass up (and EQ it for more bass) and turn the drums down. Do some research on mxing and it should help you figure out what needs to be done.

Good Luck!
Thanks for the comments Ethan. It was just live recordings we did, but we are improving and we will take your comments into account.

[Ethan.]

Oh no wonder it didn't sound that great (as far as sound quality goes)

You're welcome