Took your mixing notes into account, worked on getting the vox to sit better in the mix. Also, changed the lead guitar and fiddle interplay; opted for a different guitar. Thanks for all the nice comments! Love this board. You folks are of great help in recording, and I appreciate the critiques.

This is my first shot at country with vocals. I dont know if it counts because I'm from NJ. Yeah, the lyrics are silly.

Listen to Dread by JJW on #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.com/rtk-iv/dread

RTs used - Bass 537, Drums Boom chicka, guitar 375 and 3220, fiddle 1694, reso 619 and mando 611.

The rest is me (guitar fills, leads and vox). Having a hard time developing a good acoustic guitar sound for my own additions. Using ambience for reverb and stock compression and EQ as aux effects. Any help there would be appreciated.

And here are the terrible lyrics:

Dread c. 2020 JJW

Get out of my head, you fill my life with dread
I dont know how it happened, but our love just came and went

Where I come from, a lady always was the tender one
Clever, strong and fun,
Not to be outdone
But you just aint that one.

I’d be better dead, than lay down in your bed
Life used to be a rainbow, but now all I see is red
Get out of my head, you fill my life with dread
I dont know how it happened, but our love just came and went

That day I thought I'd take you in
Decision made from rotgut gin
Put me in a tailspin
And we're out of time, we're both out of time

And now it's gone, quickly dead just as it had begun
Look what you've gone and done.

I’d be better dead, than lay down in your bed
Life used to be a rainbow, but now all I see is red
Get out of my head, you fill my life with dread
I dont know how it happened, but our love just came and went

I love country death songs...this almost gets there - dread, fear. loathing but no one died in the end.
You did really well.
Have you considered giving it a slight vintage treatment and going mono?

This sounds good.

A good balance of instruments, a good "authentic" vocal, a good mix.

Well done.

Regarding acoustic guitars: It can be difficult to get a good recorded acoustic guitar sound. BUT... BIAB has SO many different acoustic guitars that it is usually easy to find one (or two or three) that fit. I have several acoustic guitars, a good microphone and I'm a decent acoustic guitarist - and I SELDOM record my own. It is just so easy to let Brent or Quinn carry that load

Enjoyed this.

fj

Very cool tune. Super vocal and backtrack

This is just plain fun! That's an element of all good songs - either they are infused with joy, pain, whatever - it instantly hits you. You've done some really interesting things in here with the instruments too - I especially like the violin/fiddle parts near the end. Also, while I am sure some of this could be tweaked, I'm hesitant to suggest too many changes because it just fits together so well. If it were played too precisely and was produced too carefully, it might lose it's edge. Love it!

I like the way your guitar parts come in and out so effectively. Singing is good, lyrics were fine (certainly not terrible), and the whole thing came together nicely. Well done.

A cool song...
Been there & felt similar feelings...
I enjoyed listening to your new song.

Hey there. Just spent some time going through your catalogue. REALLY good songs. I especially liked Too Dangerous and I Want You to Know Me.

Didn't hear the original, but this is cool!! Really like the attitude!! Sometimes you just gotta let someone have it with the truth!! Well put together! The strummed mando? may be a little loud. Very cool stuff!! Take care. Greg

Ray, just for you. https://soundcloud.com/rtk-iv/dread-mono-mix
Mono was a GREAT idea!

Wow -what a tune! As others said, the vocals are truly tremendous hear. They sound so sincere and purposeful, and compliment the backing tracks perfectly. The fiddle at the end was a perfect way to close it too.

You should be proud of this one - thanks so much for sharing

Thank you! A necessary disclaimer; nobody has ever made me feel the way the song depicts. When I first was playing with the chord changes, I thought they evoked a sense of dread, and I went with something campy. This was a first, in that respect. Sorry you've been there!

Thanks Derek, that means a lot. My voice is my Achilles heel, and why I usually write instrumentals. I only hear the bad in my voice. If it's any consolation to myself, Clapton has said the same thing about his own voice.

Most importantly, I'm so appreciative of this great software. The ability to get ideas recorded quickly is so important, and this software is nothing short of magical.

Hi JJW,

You won me over!

This sounded authentic to my ears. You've done a great job. The mix was very clear and your vocals sat comfortably in amongst the instruments.

I enjoyed the listen.

All the best,
Noel

Really enjoyed this.

The vocal and guitar performances are nice as
is the entire mix.

Cool to hear a mando chop. We played bluegrass for
years and nowadays enjoy hearing it along with a
drum kit. It can really help nail a groove.

Your vocal is fine and, hey, we are from Georgia!

J&B

This sounds good to me!

Good vocal, instrumentation, and mix.

If you do country just say that your from sound NJ

This may help you get better acoustic sounding guitars, although what you did here is very good:

https://www.harmonycentral.com/articles/guitars/better-sound-from-acoustic-guitar-piezo-pickups-r542/

You can also do a lot with this piece of software:

https://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_ReGuitar/

Thanks.