there are so many good new songs in the forum right now, I almost hate to bump an older song back to page one and force a newer entry to page 2... but I am anyway. As people keep commenting on the newer songs, it should naturally result in the newer songs floating back to page one.

Anyway, I want to weigh in IN FAVOR of the mandolin, exactly as used. Music is different things to different people. To some, it is a business. To some it is a hobby. To some it is an experiment. To some it may even be a lark.

But at one point or another, all of us approach music at a very grass-roots level where we begin with simple... sometimes primitive... sounds, and combine them into something pleasant. I must admit, you had me the moment I heard the mandolin intro. It struck me as the quintessential simple man's song. An idea spoken in conjunction with a chordal backing. I would have been OK with the song if it had been nothing more than the mandolin and your voice.

I liked the melody and the chord structure. As far as how you put it all together... those are "creative control" choices, and I am content to let the artist make his statement, then decide whether or not it pleases my ears. This DID please my ears.

And regarding the observations about vocal intonation: to me, the naturalness of your presentation enhanced the credibility of a song that I was already hearing as something that made no claim to be a studio production. It raises the question of whether or not more polish makes music better... or does it just make it more marketable?

Some music just needs to be honest, and to me this song was exactly that.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ey71h8ep047758h/AAC12jNM0Hz9Q8zsh5iDeqNHa?dl=0