Wasn't there a thread about originality?

How's this?

http://www.reverbnation.com/markstothard

The song is written by a friend from the UK about his relationship with his brother. The vocals on it, well I felt I could do a better job? And there's a 3rd guy who's an out of this world fiddle player who added a bit of acoustic violin toward the end.

The current mix cuts off abruptly at the end. He's going to fix that and re-post the fixed version.

It's at the top called Brother. I think it's pretty incredible...

Hup!

Actually, I think the vocals are very good. There's a plosive in one spot that could be fixed pretty easy, I'll bet. I especially like the harmony. The violin is nice and the overall arrangement is pretty solid. There are some little timing glitch things in the MIDI guitar and a spot or two elsewhere, but that stuff should be easy to fix. I'll bet if he knows a fiddle player, he can find a guitarist to come in and do the guitar part and get rid of the sampled guitar, which undercuts the backtracks. It's a taste thing, but I think I'd drop the synth strings down, some, too, at least at the end (near the end, since the end seems missing). But I think they sound good, overall, as synth strings go. They seem appropriate to the tone of the song.

Should sound great when it's done! And, again, really fine work on the singing.

Wow! I really like this song. It's absolutely beautiful and I can really feel this guy's music all the way to the core. I listened to the other songs, too. "Born to Survive" is really powerful and "Forbidden Garden" completely haunting.

Tell him if he ever takes a trip to Nashville, the coffee's on me and my Mr. Man.

Blue, I agree with everything you said. You are a sage'ed and experienced reviewer... And I appreciate your input more than you know.

Writer :-) He is quite a composer... I really enjoy his music. It's normally not with words/vox, this is a rare exception. But I really do like Mark's stuff. Thank you very much for commenting. You are a rare individual... It's difficult to get folks to comment "on music". And isn't that ultimately why we're all here? Thank you.

I'll ditto everything b2b said and add the the drums don't have the same professional sound the rest of the mix has (in sounds, not use).

I particularly like the single fiddle sound. The bundled strings were obviously a midi, but that solo fiddle sounded very good.

The matched guitar/piano is wonderful, captivating. I'm definitely going to use that.

Your vocals are fabulous, especially the harmonies. Very passionate, you clearly felt the song. Did you do any of the structure there or was it all arranged by Mark?

He did the arrangement, I just sang it. Well, let me augment that... "There was an arrangement?" I modified it/made it better... (much?)

And that single fiddle sound is this guy :-)

http://www.scottytunes.com/

He's good :-) He's doing the lindley strings on my Jackson Browne cover I'm about to post.

Nice work. Sure would be great to replace a couple of the midi instruments with the real thing...and the timing of the strummed section could be tightened up to make this shine even more. The violin that comes in toward the end is truly beautiful. Great singing, my man. You nailed the feeling of this tune.

Yeah Mark is learning to play the guitar, but this is obviously midi. He fixed the ending so it no longer cuts off the way it did. Hey thanks for listening and for commenting.

I got the latest copy from Mark and put it up on my page :-)

I was reluctant? But Lee Knight, Stackabones, and Eclepto Funk all (to a man) INSISTED! That I do so? (they sent me e-mails)

So it's on there, #2, where all my new stuff gets posted.

Those are some pretty sweet vocals.

Like others said, wouldn't mind hearing some more real instruments on this one... the fiddles are great though.

:-) Thanks man, I fancy myself a singer :-) The other guy, Mark? He wrote it and did all of the instruments, except that sweet fiddle at the end, that guy has the skills to pay the damn bills!

As I've said, singing it 90% up here (points at noggin)

6% down here, (points at gut)

And about 4% up here (points at neck)

Of course 45 years experience doesn't hurt either? But my point is, "we are all singers" All of us... And it is largely about one's ability to believe in one's self as a singer... The whole mental part is largely overlooked, and I believe it is the largest component.

Thanks again for listening, and for commenting.

dude, sing one of my songs

hell, sing all of them

Was that you singing, Robby?

Damn, son.......I'm not lettin' you sing on any of my tunes. No way!

Seriously, though, great tune and really good vox. YOU (points at Robby) keep away from my stuff, though!

Ha! Thanks guys :-) I just put up a new one (#2 on the list, For a dancer) but I can't really talk about it here cause it's a cover, but it's a song that will be played at my funeral? So it has some significance to me... I did everything on it, and I think it came out pretty good.

I'm not going to ask people to listen to For a dancer (#2 on my site), as I know it's a violation. And I've never violated anything... Well... There was that girl in Charlotte? But she looked every bit of 22? And said she was 19 :-(