Slamming snare that is really supporting your song here. Well done, love it!
Damn I miss this stuff on the radio.

First thing I might keep working on is the harp solo. I feel there is something missing that could be built to support it more. Bass, maybe?

Before you change this though, I wish the lower mids were slightly thicker on the overall mix. But lets see what others say in support of my comments. This is my first listen, not my last! Great mix, Kevin, really fun song.

(y)

My monitors are telling me you need a little more "weight" - a bit more bass and low mids - to solidify and support the guitars, horns, vocals, etc.

Horns sound great - nice bite and edge. Nice effect on guitar as well; good, solid vocals. Love the snare, and drums all the way around. Very open and they breathe nicely.

Here and there I'm hearing what sounds like a limiter kicking in on something... did you strap Gain Reduction of any kind across the master bus, or on the drums, bass or rhythm section bus?
It's not happening all the time, just quick incidentals, but it is resulting in a little bit of "pumping".

I'd like to hear the harp more centered and up front, a bit dryer and in your face. Just a personal preference though.

And, one more personal preference, FWIW... This song is screaming for a Hammond B3. ;)

All in all, nice job.

d/

Cool, Donny hears the same as me.

B3 indeed! I actually don't care for the horns in this and maybe a B3 could replace the horns? I like your arrangement, but the horns sound disconnected, too modern and obvious. You need that Huey Lewis thing going on.

Again, I think we love it. You are heading into the detail zone now.

Cheers!

Thanks guys! I like the thought about adding a little more cream to the bottom end ... and you confirmed it. I personally like the horns ... but I may have put a little too much bright on them -- they're sounding slightly glassy and on the brittle side. I should tend to that too.

There is an organ on this ... NI's B3 (in fact) but I mixed it way in back ... kind of as added flavor, but not really featured ... more felt than heard.

Thanks again for the thoughts. This one is going on my new album. I'll post up some of the others at a later time for your thoughts on those too.

I'm sorry to say I really hate the high-end, particularly on the drums. They're killing me. And it's dirty sounding and not clean. I feel irritation when listening to this. I think you can do better?

I think if you had pushed up the organ part a bit more also, it would have been a better underliner. It's so not really there, it's lost. Either use it or dump it. It's either important or completely unnecessary? I would like to hear the organ. Whereas the lights are on but nobody's home.

Who is this supposed to appeal to?
Mx. Remy Ann David

well i wish i could give it a pass but no cigar. i hate the drum loops, sameo sameo and not played like a real drummer, i hate the horn samples, they just sound fake, ... the guitar playing is mediocre at best, the harmonica is dreadful, the actual song it's self is not that great ... sorry but that's how i hear it.

My favorite element of the two songs I've heard from you are your vocals, and they deserve a better performance from the rhythm section. I'm really busy right now with own stuff, and work in progress for clients, but you make me tempted to lay down tighter guitar tracks for you. Also, I think you said you get the guitar tracks from people on the web, are you getting just the processed tracks? Try asking for the DI's as well, so you're not stuck with overly wet/effected tracks, then you can run the DI's through an amp sim chain.
Also, have someone lay down a better harmonica solo. I jam with guys who could fart in there harp and come up with a better solo than this!
You had me tapin' my foot - good song, and one of those "almost there" mixes

CrazyLuke, post: 416853, member: 48048 wrote: I'm really busy right now with own stuff, and work in progress for clients, but you make me tempted to lay down tighter guitar tracks for you.

Please post a link to some recent tracks you've done? Any songs you've mixed? Love to listen :)

audiokid, post: 416870, member: 1 wrote: Please post a link to some recent tracks you've done? Any songs you've mixed? Love to listen :)

Oh, now I've opened my big mouth. Actually, I do have one example in this forum, and more to come. When I'm finished with my current client, a "Jimmy Buffett meets Beach Boys" guy, I will resume posting more of my material.
[MEDIA=soundcloud]devon-vonmonster/away-from-it-all-better-bass
I also gave the OP's song another listen, and I heard the low-volume B3 posters are talking about. Turn it up, because at it's current level, it sounds more like a noise-floor anomaly than a song element.

RemyRAD, post: 416825, member: 26269 wrote: I'm sorry to say I really hate the high-end, particularly on the drums. They're killing me. And it's dirty sounding and not clean. I feel irritation when listening to this. I think you can do better?

I think if you had pushed up the organ part a bit more also, it would have been a better underliner. It's so not really there, it's lost. Either use it or dump it. It's either important or completely unnecessary? I would like to hear the organ. Whereas the lights are on but nobody's home.

Who is this supposed to appeal to?
Mx. Remy Ann David

I think I overdid the highs when I self mastered, Remy. My regular M.E. won't make the same mistake.

Thanks for the thoughts!

CrazyLuke, post: 416853, member: 48048 wrote: My favorite element of the two songs I've heard from you are your vocals, and they deserve a better performance from the rhythm section. I'm really busy right now with own stuff, and work in progress for clients, but you make me tempted to lay down tighter guitar tracks for you. Also, I think you said you get the guitar tracks from people on the web, are you getting just the processed tracks? Try asking for the DI's as well, so you're not stuck with overly wet/effected tracks, then you can run the DI's through an amp sim chain.
Also, have someone lay down a better harmonica solo. I jam with guys who could fart in there harp and come up with a better solo than this!
You had me tapin' my foot - good song, and one of those "almost there" mixes

A friend did the harp off the cuff, Luke ... and yes, I ALWAYS accept outside contributions (with the codicil that editing/using decisions are up to me). PM me and I'll get you files and stats.

Kurt Foster, post: 416827, member: 7836 wrote: well i wish i could give it a pass but no cigar. i hate the drum loops, sameo sameo and not played like a real drummer, i hate the horn samples, they just sound fake, ... the guitar playing is mediocre at best, the harmonica is dreadful, the actual song it's self is not that great ... sorry but that's how i hear it.

We make do with what we've got. :)