First song - advice requested

[bengal]

I would really like some feedback on a recording of a song my son wrote . He was 14 at the time he wrote and recorded it with his 3 piece band..
All tracks were recorded on his creative zen mp3 player and then mixed.Song is very basic and simple, I really like it and he will continue to work on it. He has many others he has written that I hope to help him record as soon as we get the equipment.
Any advice on the vocals would also be appreciated. I think its common but he really dislikes the sound of his own voice.

http://www.myspace.com/catalystsaskatoon

[Magnus55]

I'm confused, you say your son wrote the music when he was 14, but on the myspace it says the band has been together since 2006? So he's been making music since he was twelve or is he sixteen now? Why is somebody's father advertising for his band and asking for feedback? The kids are clearly smart enough to make and design their own myspace, why wouldn't they do their own advertising on sputnik? Isn't the child normally more computer savy than the adult? Something about this premise bothered me.

Anytime you preface music with somebody's age, I think it taints the overall review. I found myself thinking "hey this is pretty good for fourteen" instead of "hey this is pretty good music." I think it would have been the latter of the two, had I not known anyone's age.

As far as sound quality goes, it sounds pretty good. The vocals are nice, the guitar is in tune (all be it a little twangy in the beginning) and there is a good musical mix. When the tempo picks up, all the instruments and vocals do to. It's a good blend.

Good job on the home recording. I look foward to seeing more from this band.

[bengal]

I'm confused, you say your son wrote the music when he was 14, but on the myspace it says the band has been together since 2006? So he's been making music since he was twelve or is he sixteen now? Why is somebody's father advertising for his band and asking for feedback? The kids are clearly smart enough to make and design their own myspace, why wouldn't they do their own advertising on sputnik? Isn't the child normally more computer savy than the adult? Something about this premise bothered me.

Anytime you preface music with somebody's age, I think it taints the overall review. I found myself thinking "hey this is pretty good for fourteen" instead of "hey this is pretty good music." I think it would have been the latter of the two, had I not known anyone's age.

As far as sound quality goes, it sounds pretty good. The vocals are nice, the guitar is in tune (all be it a little twangy in the beginning) and there is a good musical mix. When the tempo picks up, all the instruments and vocals do to. It's a good blend.

Good job on the home recording. I look foward to seeing more from this band.

He turned 16 in Oct
Wrote the song when he was 14. Started playing at 13 and wrote some songs before he formed his band.

Not sure what premise bothers you. I am proud of my kid and not only just his music but everything . He and his band members are great kids. Honor students in grade 11. Stay completely out of trouble, dont drink or do drugs and are passionate about their music.
Because of that
I support them 110% and have driven them to gigs, helped out when they played at the school, I print color posters and tickets for them as well as bring the guys from work when they play.
Not much different than a hockey dad really,
I will definately try to promote them as best I can as time goes on.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to them and for you feedback. Your right about the age thing, makes sense.

Here is a couple live clips. One is the song on myspace and the other is a song he wrote last year. Thats all we got so far

http://www.new.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=38513812570

http://www.new.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=38974227570

cheers

[Magnus55]

Ah, sorry for my false pretenses. I was thinking it was along the lines of "This isn't my band, it's my 'friends' band or my 'kids' band" kind of advertising to protect the thread starter from any direct accountability. And then when the band gets critisized it's "yeah they suck, I don't like them much anyways". And they leave with their tail tucked between their legs. My apologies for my assumptions.

Music dads are rare and far in between. Kudos to you on that.

Tell your son not to worry about his voice. He has a good sense of pitch and a decent range which is more than most singers his age have.

[Mikedrummer]

Good for 14. Very good actually

[bengal]

Thanks for the feedback. I will certainly tell him.
I know it is quite common that a lot of singers have a hard time listening to their own voice. Even some actors can't stand the sound of their own voice.