New cover song - Lion's Mane

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I am not a crook's head
Member Since: Mar 14, 2003

The fellas at PassingAfternoon.com are organizing another round of Iron & Wine cover tunes, and here's my entry, "Lion's Mane" from the album The Creek Drank The Cradle:

www.passingafternoon.com/...-%20mix%201.mp3

:edit: new mix 3/12/07
www.passingafternoon.com/...%20-%20mix2.mp3

My computer wont play mp3s over the internet for some reason so I can't check to make sure that link is correct. Let me know if its dead.

Anyways, the deadline for our submissions is tomorrow night and I thought I'd put it up and see if anybody had any last-minute suggestions.

I really like to depart from the original when I do a cover tune, and this follows the same philosophy. This was kind of a rush job so I haven't been able to spend as much time EQing and maximizing, so I did it the easy way: SQUISH! What it lacks in performance quality it makes up for in over-compression hahaha :)

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Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Mar 11, 2007 01:09 am

I've never heard the original Tad, but I like what you've done alot. It's a cool song, and you've done a great job on it. The mix sounds pretty good to me really. Maybe could use a bit more hi-midrange for a little better definition but that could just be my hearing as well. :)

Good luck in the competition, you got my vote!

Dan

Czar of Cheese
Member
Since: Jun 09, 2004


Mar 11, 2007 08:22 am

Tad,

Like OldDog, I've never heard the original either, but you've really done a great job with your cover. Your bass playing stands out...it's spot on.

I'm not so good at handing out EQ tips or at spotting over-compression. Everything sounds great to these ears. Absolutely iPod-worthy!

Jim

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Mar 11, 2007 01:11 pm

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the feedback! I can always count on you two to give good constructive criticism.

Very sorry that I can't return the favor for right now, but I will as soon as I can!

:edit:
If you're interested, here's a snippet of the original by Iron & Wine from Amazon, although they didn't pick a very good representative section of the song:

www.amazon.com/gp/music/w...0516789-3804944

Jim I'd think that album would be right up your alley if my impressions of what you like are in the right ballpark.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Mar 12, 2007 06:31 pm

I updated the original post with a link to the version that I submitted for the contest. Just a few tweaks, nothing huge.

- turned down the 2nd vocal part to minimize the dissonance when the two vocal parts fail to hit the exact same note
- cut both vocal parts 2nd chorus and pasted them over the 1st chorus
- rode the faders a bit on the lead guitar part
- boosted the highs on the cymbals and hi-hats

I should have spent more time trying to get the bass and kick to both be prominent, but the kick is still pretty lost in the bass line.

Czar of Cheese
Member
Since: Jun 09, 2004


Mar 12, 2007 07:02 pm

Sounds great...I can appreciate the changes. I'll update the iPod!

I listened to a few clips of Iron & Wine on iTunes. You're right, I like it very much. If you had to pick one of this CDs to buy, which would it be?

I KNOW NOTHING
Member
Since: Jun 08, 2006


Mar 12, 2007 07:07 pm

From listening on my computer speakers, the bass and kick sound just fine.
Everything sounds pretty close to incredible, really. (I need an "I'm not worthy" smiley, or something....!)

The more I listen to member music around here, the more I realize what great company I'm really in.

Outstanding, dude.


I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Mar 12, 2007 08:20 pm

Jim:
If you like the more home-recorded sound try "The Creek Drank The Cradle", which he recorded on a 4-track in his Florida home. Its pretty amazing what he could do with such a simple recording setup as a 1-man band. Or if you want a more polished singer/songwriter kind of thing (that also garnered tons of great reviews) try "Our Endless Numbered Days", which has some extremely strong songwriting on it. Or if you want a little more variety of instruments and accompanyment try the 2 EPs "The Woman King" and "In The Reigns", which are his most recent efforts. Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to his next LP, due out very soon. And I think that its so cool that you include me on your iPod. Thank you very much!

Omalycat:
Thank you for the kind words! Glad that the kick and bass sound good on your end...its something that I always struggle with on recordings.

Yeah it never ceases to amaze me what people around here conjur up from their own basements, living rooms and bedrooms. Lots of really creative and capable do-it-yourselfers around here for sure!

Thanks fellas!

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Mar 13, 2007 03:05 am

I think the new mix sounds great as well. The kick and bass are coming thru fine here, your vocals stand out better now to me. You've really done a great job on this Tad, I like it better than the original, your version is more the type of music I listen too. :) I'll be updating media player as well with this version.

Dan

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Mar 13, 2007 02:55 pm

Wow, I really like this alot! I think the vocals get overshadowed a bit at times, other times it sounds great. I love the little screeching guitar thing you left in there at times, beautiful!

Overall really nice! Good luck in the contest.

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Mar 13, 2007 04:53 pm

Killer !

The whole song... sounds like... 'victory' !




Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 15, 2007 10:43 pm

Tad that is a sweet mix. It sounds just fine here and is an excellent rendition of that song. The kick and bass really sound just fine here. Maybe a little soft but they are very present and not drowned at all. I do like the guitar tone and little nuances you have in the recording as well. All very well done as usual. My extreme compliments on this one.

Kaos is only a form of insanity
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2005


Mar 21, 2007 05:12 am

When is it I get time to listen and to comment everyone has beaten me to it and said all that needs to be said.

I end up sounding like a PARROTT!!

Sweet work my boy!!

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Mar 21, 2007 10:37 am

Thank you all very much for your input.

Unfortunately its a pretty energetic song posted in a contest amongst fans of a band that is decidedly acoustic folk so its not faring as well as I'd hoped.

But the fun part was making the song anyways! Thanks again guys.

The fat one always watches us.
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2002


Jun 28, 2007 10:45 am

Man, you always blow me away. on these desktop speakers it sounded like the bass was a little heavy on the second mix- but other than that wow.
great stuff

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jun 28, 2007 05:36 pm

Well thanks Tony! Yeah I've gotten a couple of comments about the bass being off in that mix...goes to show how much I need proper monitors!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jun 28, 2007 05:41 pm

On the whole I think the bass sits nicely except when it goes to the higher part of the verse, it's like a whole different kind of string or something up there...old strings maybe?

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jun 28, 2007 05:55 pm

Definitely old strings! Still the same strings that the factory put on there about 1.5 years ago :)

I think what I did was roll off the lower end to take out some of the rumble and mud of the bass, which makes the upper registers come through much more prominently. Since I did most of the mixing in headphones, I didn't get a good listen to the resonant frequencies out in space on a pair of speakers in a room.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jun 28, 2007 09:04 pm

don't roll it off, compress it, you may need a multiband compressor to even out the bass ranges, the higher ranges of bass often stick out more, and older string on bass always present a problem of a few odd notes being goofy sounding, depending on the setup of the bass specific notes will resonate more than others...try cleaning the strings, or getting new strings...or, multiband compression of the bass.

Even notching out a few higher frequencies, roll off the highs, it'll interfere with the other instruments less and it will also bring those high bass notes in more control.

Member
Since: May 23, 2007


Jun 29, 2007 03:45 pm

i really like how you made it your own. the original is great, but i'm glad you didn't try to duplicate it. very cool.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Jun 30, 2007 10:33 am

I'm really enjoying it. Bass can be a tricky little devil. I don't find anything objectionable, but I do agree with dB, multiband usualy works better for me on bass than eq as long as I don't get crazy with the attack and kill the punch. One little trick that may or may not be applicable is if the kick is too well tuned it will loose it's signature in the bass notes. Sometimes a slightly detuned kick will stand out better yet not sound dissonant in the tune. Having said all that, I don't know why cause I like the mix. I guess maybe just in case you want to do something different.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Jun 30, 2007 10:34 am

Ohh poop! I forgot. How did you make the little play icons! I wishes I could do that. That is so convenient!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jun 30, 2007 10:36 am

Any URL that ends in ".mp3" will automatically create the play button.

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