One Toke Over the Line

There are a lot of instruments that I enjoy playing. Unfortunately, having all of them play at the exact same time doesn't usually work out. So my question is: when do these arrangements get too busy or, as Hunter Thompson put it, when do these arrangements take one toke over the line. As usual, pointing out sloppy playing is appreciated.

"Booger D Medley" at soundclick or myspace.

I love this stuff man.... What a nice set of grooves!!!

The compression on the second 'movement' is brilliant. It's huge!

Nice. I didn't hear anything that was 'too much' there.... Keeper material.

I thoroughly enjoyed that! I thought the timing was pretty good overall. The only spot I'd nitpick on is the transition at 1:00 where the first pass at the new bass line could be slightly tighter. But that's only me looking at with an extremely finetooth comb. You did a great job.

Now those drums! How'd you do 'em? Is it all loops or are you mixing up between your different software? They were super cool.

What would be great is if you somehow merged the Booker T grooves and the Meters grooves you did before to create a hybrid.

I enjoyed this alot (especially the transition at 1:00). As far as your question, I think the synth pad towards the end was not needed. I mostly say that because I really liked the groove you had going and the pad was distracting. Maybe just lower it...

Neall

Oops, I forgot to say that I didn't find it too busy.

Thanks

The drums are Jamstix 2 (Charlie Watts playing Classic R&B with complex fills) mapped on to Addictive Drums.

rsad,

it feels good to me....but i have issue with the concept of "too busy" in instrumental music. the message isn't verbalized and you have more space to work with. you can fill it more. it's most effective when you put a 'busy' part alongside a sparse part like 'live-evil' by miles.....i would have dug something like that thrown in there. for your question, though: even to the most sensitive people in this regard, this wasn't too busy at all. it was hip and fun

i dig the sounds you used....maybe the transition didn't feel perfectly done to me at 1:00, but it was cool; especially if you were going for shock effect. after a second listen, i liked it more. the moog-ey sounds you had talking up the atmosphere at around 1:38 made it worth it for me, anyway. just awesome. what'd you use to get it? (i've been wanting to use something like that for a while now....a-la soul coughing)

oh...and you mention sloppy playing. i thought it all had a uniform vibe. i can't nit pick any of the performance after my first three listens. it's well-delivered.

nice work, man

1) Plenty of room for a vocal--maybe the front-forward guitar that comes in is a bit much, though--maybe just EQ it away from the vocal?

2) I really like this one towards the end, I think where bluesway's Moogy sound comes in.

They are both cluttered, but in the Remain in Light way, not the middle-school marching band rehearsal way.

{censored} man. This gets me right in the gut. Nice work!