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!
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
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 60 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until December 31, 2025. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49. Browse the full contents of each package and listen to demos here.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
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