I like it.

My opinion:
Overall good performance, songwriting and mixing.
Vocals are a bit too loud
Guitar is a bit too quiet
Kick drum lacks a bit of low end, as do the toms - but be careful not to clash with the bass, which sounds very nice.
The snare lacks definition. Perhaps you overdid the reverb.
The drums gets an odd pumping vibe in the fast outro fill. Might be a compressor with the settings a bit off?
Keys are good, perhaps consider a very slight volume increase?
You should put more work into naming your stuff. Trip To Nowhere by Who We Are is about as bland as it can get.

Good points, all.

LOVE the bland comment. We're all getting on in years, so when it came time to name the band, we asked, "Who Are We?" ... to which we replied, We are "Who We Are". It's kind of esoteric ... like "Trip to Nowhere", which is actually about life being just that.

The pumping of the drums in the end isn't a compressor -- it's a rogue synth causing the pump. I hear it too, but I'm not exactly sure how to fix it. I will fool with things to see if I can clean it up -- plus attend to some of your other appreciated notations.

Thanks Oynaz!

Hey Kevin -- this one really grows on you as a listener as the song progresses. Very early 80's songcraft there which is awesome. I'd say production wise that the vocals are the right volume but giving them a little more je ne sais quois with some micro pitch shifting might give them a little more flavor -- and yes the guitar could come up a bit and have more middle and top end. I'd make room for it by dropping some of the middle or low end on the bass - I feel the bass is too dominant not just as an instrument but sonically on the track which obscures some of these great 80's tones that you've got in the mix --- let those out.

I happen to live with someone who has schooled me in what je ne sais quois means ... so I get what you're saying. The "micro pitch" comment is absolutely right up my alley of production sweeting.

The git sounded shrill to me ... and the player, wonderfully stylized, sort of tends to vomit his creative parts. I could carve more space, but the drums and the bass really are the stars of the piece. Before I better feature the guitarist's part ... he needs to dial it in more tightly. It is still a work in progress ... but I post here to get early indications of direction. The more ears, the better. Always.

The bass (v. drums - kick in particular) are a constant attend. I keep listening at low volumes to try to get that balance. I also understand your suggesting the carve of sonic space. Great stuff to consider in creating the blend.

Thanks!

My pleasure Kevin -- I really heard this sort of early 80's Joe Jackson meets G. Parker meets Cars meets Tommy Tutone thing going on there so that's what my ear was kind of thirsting for a bit with respect to bringing up the guitar a bit. Really liked the song.

DogsoverLava, post: 455037, member: 48175 wrote: My pleasure Kevin -- I really heard this sort of early 80's Joe Jackson meets G. Parker meets Cars meets Tommy Tutone thing going on there so that's what my ear was kind of thirsting for a bit with respect to bringing up the guitar a bit. Really liked the song.

My writing is of that era, and reflects the time. It is not current ... and I don't care. I'm not writing music to make money ... merely convey the right thought in the right art. I've spent my life heading in this direction to be able to do this in the way that I go: "I can craft it close to how I want it."

... and I don't need to pay someone money I'm not making to do it.

So yes ... warts and all ... I present. :D

... and still I strive to make it the best it can be -- and that requires educated ears outside of my two.

Thanks for the help, D.

Hey Kevin ! Great songs, you know I always loved what you guys do.
As for the sound of the mix. Being the picky guy I've always been, I think it sounds squashed and low-fi. As always, the soundcloud compression maybe the cause...
But I suspect the drums has been a bit over processed and over compressed. So long for the clean attempt right ! ;)

Don't beat yourself up with my comments tho. Producing our-self is the hardest thing to do. To do a good mix we need a certain detachement from the song and it's often impossible to get unless we let the recording sit for a while..
Was great hearing your stuff again.. Love it !

Good stuff Kevin ,cool song .
I think the bass is sounding great . If you could bring the other elements up to that same fidelity ( except for the synth ,fit that in last ).
thats my 2 cents . Good work!

pcrecord, post: 455042, member: 46460 wrote: Hey Kevin ! Great songs, you know I always loved what you guys do.
As for the sound of the mix. Being the picky guy I've always been, I think it sounds squashed and low-fi. As always, the soundcloud compression maybe the cause...
But I suspect the drums has been a bit over processed and over compressed. So long for the clean attempt right ! ;)

Don't beat yourself up with my comments tho. Producing our-self is the hardest thing to do. To do a good mix we need a certain detachement from the song and it's often impossible to get unless we let the recording sit for a while..
Was great hearing your stuff again.. Love it !

Hey M!

Well ... not only do I post here for the great company, I also love hearing what folks have to say. I've only got two ears, and most of the rest of my band doesn't know quite how to do what we do ... so the extra ears are immeasurably helpful.

Accordingly, I've made adjustments ... mostly lightening up on the compression (both drums and two buss) and some of the other eq/level adjustments -- a little more guitar, a little less vocal etc ... but all help is good help -- and if I agree with the comments, I will take action. As I said ... I've only got two ears, and I'll admit I'm not always right. Just don't tell my wife. :D

Thanks for the comments ... new mix is on the link above.

Smashh, post: 455045, member: 45856 wrote: Good stuff Kevin ,cool song .
I think the bass is sounding great . If you could bring the other elements up to that same fidelity ( except for the synth ,fit that in last ).
thats my 2 cents . Good work!

Thanks S!

I rolled up the sleeves and dove back into it this morn. I think things "breath" a little better now.

I don't know what I'm talking about :) But I like this. Is it perfect? Nah, but you got it out there. Good work.

freightgod, post: 455075, member: 48902 wrote: I don't know what I'm talking about :) But I like this. Is it perfect? Nah, but you got it out there. Good work.

Perfect. Exactly how I think. I do, therefore I vomit.

FYI ... we played around w/ a video camera and made a lyric video. So far, it has NOT gone viral. :D