This was originally done as a "Eagles type Country Rock" song using the melody that Kenny wrote. Kenny sang it and did the instrumentation and mixing, etc. It was called "Exception To The Rule".
When I considered doing a recording of it, I was a bit tired of doing that style of song... (I had done a bunch of them). I re-envisioned it as a moody Rock kind of thing. (A "reversal of roles" for the two of us....) I wrote a new melody and did a completely different style production (which Kenny was okay with). Since they are really different songs, I renamed it as well to keep them separate.
This has been sitting around for a couple of years. I decided to post it yesterday - to see if it might bring Kenny "out of the woodwork". He had sort of disappeared on us - and I, for one, missed hearing his cool brand of music. And, out of the blue... there he was with a new post!! I thought about putting this back on the shelf for a while, but figured...it must be a sign...
from a spark to a flame when you whispered my name but times, i've been burned by blue eyed cool smoky barroom vignettes nothing but regrets there's always an exception to the rule
been stood up, knocked down my heart's been dragged around girls like you playing me for a fool are you just in it for the fun or could you be the one could you be the exception to the rule
you've been slowly breaking my resistance with that sweet intoxicating southern drawl pretty soon there'll be no safe distance should i walk away before i have to crawl
so what's it gonna be settle in or set me free are you playing for keeps or playing dirty pool one last kiss; one last dance or should we take the bigger chance there's always an exception to the rule
you've been slowly breaking my resistance with that sweet intoxicating southern drawl pretty soon there'll be no safe distance should i walk away before i have to crawl
slowly breaking my resistance that sweet intoxicating southern drawl soon there'll be no safe distance should i walk away before i have to crawl
The BAND: Style is _POPBRIT.STY (PopBrit 2 Guitars (120 RS)) RealTracks in style: ~388:Bass, Electric, Metal Ev 120 RealTracks in style: 645:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopRockBritEdgy Ev 120 RealTracks in style: 648:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopRockBritHeavy Ev 120 RealTracks in song: 698:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ElecRockDirty Ev 120 (A:muted) RealTracks in song: 633:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAmericanMuted Ev 120 (A:sync) RealTracks in song: 1722:Guitar, Electric, Soloist TexasBluesRockStraightSol Ev 120 RealDrums in style: RockHardModernEv8^1-a:Snare, HiHat , b:4 beat Snare, HiHat Loop - BIAB Cowbell
Well, I know I've said it before, but I DO like your heavier side. And I know you're a Country Boy at heart, but you do full-on rock like this SO well. Hats off to Kenny as well though, for writing a nice dark chord sequence for you to mess around with.
Sounds good LOUD, sounds good on the speakers, sounds good in the 'phones, so must be good. I'm not even gonna ask for the solo to be louder - hey, just pleased to hear a solo like that in one of your productions.
Great write, well sung, excellent rocking mix. In my phones, everything is sitting in it's own space nicely - especially the "heavy" drums.
I particularly liked the "intoxicating Southern drawl" line. I was betting on you rhyming it with "...gonna fall". So much for my powers of prediction!
What a nice back story Floyd. Glad you resurrected this one. Welcome back Kenny.
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nice you gave it a new breath of air! A little dark rock with some attitude. I don't normally listen to much of this but this was pretty danged cool. Loved it1 I like Floyd's harder side . a new look at our our friend! Nice!
We've said it before, apart from being a good country singer, you really are a very good rocker! Please go on making this kind of songs. The mix is excellent. This is a great rock song, which is very catchy too! Really good job from both of you!
Rob and Anne-Marie
We are Rob Meulman and Anne-Marie Bovenkamp from The Netherlands.
Hi floyd, I enjoyed this! I really enjoyed the overall tone of this. Fantastic choice of instrumentation, and great work on the guitars they sound very crunchy! Great use of EFX. Thanks for sharing!
As mentioned a couple of years ago, you and Kenny have done a really great job in writing this song. "Burned by blue-eyed cool" is still a standout line!
The current version, though, takes the previous version in a whole new direction.
What stood out to me most was how you've taken what was an AABA format and while you've kept the AABA presentation, you've modified the format so that it finishes with repeated B-sections. That really intrigued me. Normally to end an AABA song using the B section does not work effectively. But that was not the case here. Moreover, these days, the only way that a song usually ends with a B-section is if that B-section is a chorus. In this song of yours and Kenny's, though, the B-section did not sound like a chorus at all to me.
The more I thought about it, the more I came to see that your approach to format reminded me of a jazz technique I've come across a few times recently. There are a number of songs from the 40s/50s that use ABAB where B is definitely neither a chorus nor a bridge but just another musical section. One that springs to mind is Loesser's "If I Were A Bell" from 'Guys and Dolls'.
The first appearance of the B-section starts with Jean Simmons singing "From the moment we kissed tonight..." and ends with "If I were a banner I'd wave." In the following repetition of the A- and B-sections, the B-section ends the the sequence at that point with a slight variation of the original B-section.
In all honesty, I found it very refreshing to hear "The Rule". You and Kenny have given me a great deal to ponder!
Impressive work!
All the best, Noel
P.S. Also, as always, I was left thinking... "How does floyd manage to produce such a spectacular sound!"
Minus the electric solo, I could totally here R.E.M. doing this. (Not that I mind the solo, mind you.)
There is some really sweet jangle rock going on here.
Floyd, I have decided you are really a rocker just pretending to be the sensitive guy.
Great collab guys.
Yeah, I decided to ditch the "sensitive guy" label... shopping for a leather vest and Harley... arrrrgh...
Originally Posted By: BlueAttitude
Yeah, I love this!
I like it when you let your inner rock star out, Floyd! You have a good voice for this type of material IMHO.
Lots of good things happening in the production, the holds in the chorus for example. Lead guitar sounds "right" to me, fits the song perfectly.
Nice collaboration you two!
Thanks, Dave!! BTW - those holds in the chorus are the Medium Rock Brent soloist 120 RT doing holds - that RT does great holds - big, explosive and smooth, hitting just the way they need to for that sound...
Really great rocker with catchy 'big drum' chorus - I like the minor chord approach. Nice lyrics. Vocals, arrangement and mix are excellent. The solo guitar fits like a glove.
Well, I know I've said it before, but I DO like your heavier side. And I know you're a Country Boy at heart, but you do full-on rock like this SO well. Hats off to Kenny as well though, for writing a nice dark chord sequence for you to mess around with.
Sounds good LOUD, sounds good on the speakers, sounds good in the 'phones, so must be good. I'm not even gonna ask for the solo to be louder - hey, just pleased to hear a solo like that in one of your productions.
Can we have so more of this stuff, please?
ROG.
Thanks, ROG - you are giving me more confidence about doing Rock numbers - I sometimes think "they aren't my thing"...
Two of my favorite writers (on or off the forum)!!! I knew it would be great, and IT IS!! I can hear both of you in the song. Clever, interesting lyric with some great lines, including
pretty soon there'll be no safe distance should i walk away before i have to crawl
Just right! The melody is perfect at blending the excitement mixed with apprehension of the relationship. The production/vocals are tops, and the guitar solo is perfect for the song. Certainly one of the forum A-teams! Great, great stuff guys!! Take care. Greg
Janice, will you stop waving your phone around in the air?
Beyond the always great write and vocals we gotta comment on the band. It sounds "real." Like some guys/gals who've been at it a long time...together.
The guitar leads sound like they were played specifically for the tune.
After that we'll defer to what the forum consummate rocker ROG said:
"Sounds good LOUD, sounds good on the speakers, sounds good in the 'phones, so must be good. I'm not even gonna ask for the solo to be louder - hey, just pleased to hear a solo like that in one of your productions.
Great write, well sung, excellent rocking mix. In my phones, everything is sitting in it's own space nicely - especially the "heavy" drums.
I particularly liked the "intoxicating Southern drawl" line. I was betting on you rhyming it with "...gonna fall". So much for my powers of prediction!
I enjoyed that song a lot!
Thanks, David. That "intoxicating Southern drawl" was all Kenny. He is so good at those kinds of uniquely perfect phrases...
Great Rock vocal! The melody is very catchy. As others say, your heavier side is good as much as your country side. The mix is excellent. Enjoyed my listen a lot.
Sol soloist never sounded better to me, I always seem to audition him and then go with Brent on everything when using a soloist.
My version was just a straight ahead Dwight Yoakam country-rock jukebox barroom romp in an E major or G major (can't remember which).
This sounds minor-key dark and more complex, super catchy like something I wish I'd written.
Great vocal and super mix
you elevated this song!
Kenny - "wish you had written"? - you were a huge part of this!! A true co-write - a blending... Let's do it again sometime... ("My Old Man" was a good one, too!!). Sure hope you stick around a while - I really love hearing your music...
What a tune! It goes hard, and has so much energy behind it - the passion really shows here. This is the kind of tune I'd blast on a road trip. Amazing guitar work, really powerful vocals, and an amazing groove to boot.
So I googled "confident" and your song popped up! I'm trying MUCH harder to keep posts short. So...
The tensions created using your rhythm choices (changing), breaks, melodic and harmonic choices are all REALLY impressive to me. Even the tones you are singing with compliment the sound of this song so well. AND...then everything releases at the right points. So cool!
You two should do more together. It would seem wrong not to.
Last edited by HearToLearn; 08/13/1808:05 AM.
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
What a nice back story Floyd. Glad you resurrected this one. Welcome back Kenny.
Thanks, Joanne.
Originally Posted By: Scott C
What a cool collaboration Floyd and Kenny. Awesome rocker. Super lyric, vocals and harmonies. Guitar was just smokin….Well done
thanks from both of us, Scott...
Originally Posted By: Al-David
nice you gave it a new breath of air! A little dark rock with some attitude. I don't normally listen to much of this but this was pretty danged cool. Loved it1 I like Floyd's harder side . a new look at our our friend! Nice!
We've said it before, apart from being a good country singer, you really are a very good rocker! Please go on making this kind of songs. The mix is excellent. This is a great rock song, which is very catchy too! Really good job from both of you!
Rob and Anne-Marie
Thanks, guys... appreciate it...
Originally Posted By: Joe -PG Music
Hi floyd, I enjoyed this! I really enjoyed the overall tone of this. Fantastic choice of instrumentation, and great work on the guitars they sound very crunchy! Great use of EFX. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Joe. Nice to have you drop in for a listen...
Impressive little rocker you have here—and here I thought of you as a country guy. Hints of ‘80s glam rock in this one, for me at least. Some terrific lines in this lyrically as well, along with your usual great touch on production. Well done!
As mentioned a couple of years ago, you and Kenny have done a really great job in writing this song. "Burned by blue-eyed cool" is still a standout line!
The current version, though, takes the previous version in a whole new direction.
What stood out to me most was how you've taken what was an AABA format and while you've kept the AABA presentation, you've modified the format so that it finishes with repeated B-sections. That really intrigued me. Normally to end an AABA song using the B section does not work effectively. But that was not the case here. Moreover, these days, the only way that a song usually ends with a B-section is if that B-section is a chorus. In this song of yours and Kenny's, though, the B-section did not sound like a chorus at all to me.
The more I thought about it, the more I came to see that your approach to format reminded me of a jazz technique I've come across a few times recently. There are a number of songs from the 40s/50s that use ABAB where B is definitely neither a chorus nor a bridge but just another musical section. One that springs to mind is Loesser's "If I Were A Bell" from 'Guys and Dolls'.
The first appearance of the B-section starts with Jean Simmons singing "From the moment we kissed tonight..." and ends with "If I were a banner I'd wave." In the following repetition of the A- and B-sections, the B-section ends the the sequence at that point with a slight variation of the original B-section.
In all honesty, I found it very refreshing to hear "The Rule". You and Kenny have given me a great deal to ponder!
Impressive work!
All the best, Noel
P.S. Also, as always, I was left thinking... "How does floyd manage to produce such a spectacular sound!"
Noel - Thanks - we appreciate that you found this satisfying this time around as well... I enjoyed hearing "If I Were A Bell". They just don't write 'em like that anymore...
Originally Posted By: rayc
It rocks, really rocks. You do this sort of thing oh so well.
Glad you enjoyed it, Ray...
Originally Posted By: jannesan
Really great rocker with catchy 'big drum' chorus - I like the minor chord approach. Nice lyrics. Vocals, arrangement and mix are excellent. The solo guitar fits like a glove.
Janne
Janne - thanks for dropping by for a listen.... and for the nice comments...
------------------------------------------ My music: https://soundcloud.com/ermar-gamar My stuff: Stratocaster '89, PRS SE Santana, Digitech RP90 Multi Effect, Vocalist Live 3, Digital Piano Korg SP, Studio One 3.5, Presonus Audiobox, BB 2018
Two of my favorite writers (on or off the forum)!!! I knew it would be great, and IT IS!! I can hear both of you in the song. Clever, interesting lyric with some great lines, including
pretty soon there'll be no safe distance should i walk away before i have to crawl
Just right! The melody is perfect at blending the excitement mixed with apprehension of the relationship. The production/vocals are tops, and the guitar solo is perfect for the song. Certainly one of the forum A-teams! Great, great stuff guys!! Take care. Greg
Greg - Thanks, we appreciate that! Most of the really cool phrases were Kenny's doing - he is SO good at that...
This is top shelf work. Glad you decided not to put it back up on the shelf. It needs to be heard. Good job and I enjoyed this one a lot.
Really appreciate that, Charlie...
Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
Janice, will you stop waving your phone around in the air?
Beyond the always great write and vocals we gotta comment on the band. It sounds "real." Like some guys/gals who've been at it a long time...together.
The guitar leads sound like they were played specifically for the tune.
After that we'll defer to what the forum consummate rocker ROG said:
"Sounds good LOUD, sounds good on the speakers, sounds good in the 'phones, so must be good. I'm not even gonna ask for the solo to be louder - hey, just pleased to hear a solo like that in one of your productions.
Can we have so more of this stuff, please?"
Rock on mr jane!
J&B
What better than the Janice Wave!!
Originally Posted By: MarioD
I'm late but I agree with everything that has been said.
Great rocker for sure.
I'm convinced that you could do any genre and make it sound great.
Great Rock vocal! The melody is very catchy. As others say, your heavier side is good as much as your country side. The mix is excellent. Enjoyed my listen a lot.
Best regards.
Shigeki Adachi
Shigeki Adachi - Thank you!!
Originally Posted By: Deryk - PG Music
What a tune! It goes hard, and has so much energy behind it - the passion really shows here. This is the kind of tune I'd blast on a road trip. Amazing guitar work, really powerful vocals, and an amazing groove to boot.
Great job here, and thanks for sharing
Deryk - Thanks for the nice review....
Originally Posted By: HearToLearn
So I googled "confident" and your song popped up! I'm trying MUCH harder to keep posts short. So...
The tensions created using your rhythm choices (changing), breaks, melodic and harmonic choices are all REALLY impressive to me. Even the tones you are singing with compliment the sound of this song so well. AND...then everything releases at the right points. So cool!
You two should do more together. It would seem wrong not to.
C - It is nice to have the music side of a song noted - not the lyrics or the instrumentation, but the movement of the song itself. Thanks!! I would love to do more with Kenny - he is an excellent writer//singer/producer...
Originally Posted By: GocartMoz
Man, great to hear you rock out Floyd. Not surprisingly it was done extremely well. Loved it all around. This will get many plays from me. Great job.
Impressive little rocker you have here—and here I thought of you as a country guy. Hints of ‘80s glam rock in this one, for me at least. Some terrific lines in this lyrically as well, along with your usual great touch on production. Well done!
Best regards,
Deej
Deej - Thanks for the listen. That is, without question, the first time I've been likened to 80's Glam Rock - a feather in my glittery hat! Kenny deserves much of the credit for the fine lyrics...
Originally Posted By: EMG
Oh what a nice sound. I love it.
Thanks, Ermar....
Originally Posted By: dani48
Hi, Floyd and Kenny !
What a rocker !!!!!Phfweeew !! Put some irresistible foottapping a foot !!!:)))
And, Kenny, Thanks for letting me be part of this!!!
Originally Posted By: gruverider
A great song to go with a cool story about it's creation.
A superb mix!
I love the lyrics and especially the chorus.
Wonderful vocals and harmonies.
And the lead guitar is off the charts!
Lawrence - thanks for stopping in - good to see you! Stick around!... as I've said earlier - Kenny deserves a lot of the credit for a fine lyric... And, of course, BIAB deserves all the credit for the guitar..
Originally Posted By: Torrey Bliss
Floyd, a very nice rocker! You work in this genre very nicely! This song is great from beginning to end! Thanks, Torrey
Thanks, Torrey... was wondering when we would hear from you.... glad you are back...
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