Yep.... when you say " this is a strange one for me" I gotta know because your music is always out there on the edge. This is no exception. Dark and a little more than slightly psychotic. But who hasn't had those thoughts. The scary thing is the fact that there are people sitting around in their basements and bedrooms thinking this very thing. Takes courage to write something like this. I caught the James Bond movie song feel that someone else mentioned too. In that light, it is redeemed.
Psychotic - yeah, but it started out with the ending in mind so I'm probably not quite evil Yes, basements, bedrooms and barstools with variations from thrill to serial killers...what a world. A bit of twang & trem always bring a Shadow of Bond. Thank you sir.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Hi Ray, Yes, James Bond vibe. But that has been said before. Good song, but ominous with a war going on, a 20 hour road trip from our place! Rob and Anne-Marie
Rob n Anne Marie, Thank you. I expect Europe is an unsettled place at present and that vibes will be hard to shake - stay safe.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
That is some project (music and video). The song is very good. I am impressed that you created all the music by playing the instruments your self. The music is very good. Well written lyrics. The video is superb too. Good one.
Thanks jptx3, I didn't play the drums though...that's a set of skills too far.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Wow Ray! IMHO that is your best sounding track ever! Everything sounds up front and crystal clear! Love the rhythm bed and the vocals are excellent! Thanks, Torrey
Sounds like the outro to the finale of a grim but well done series.
Hey, loved that vocal up more in the mix!
Much rather be a friend of the protagonist as difficult as that might be than a stranger indeed.
As to quote Janice: "Excellent but scary video!"
Great production but now we gotta go outside and walk around some lovely scenery.
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
Wow Ray! IMHO that is your best sounding track ever! Everything sounds up front and crystal clear! Love the rhythm bed and the vocals are excellent! Thanks, Torrey
Thanks Torrey, Short n sweet I hope. You can tell I've very little facility with lead guitar - bass lines played on a guitar more or less. When the singer gets his part done I expect this will get quite a lift.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Sounds like the outro to the finale of a grim but well done series. Hey, loved that vocal up more in the mix! Much rather be a friend of the protagonist as difficult as that might be than a stranger indeed. As to quote Janice: "Excellent but scary video!" Great production but now we gotta go outside and walk around some lovely scenery. J&B
I could probably point the finger at the Casefile podcasts. I listen to a podcast about past crimes while labouring at the treadmill...I think some of it seeped in. Beware...I've just finished a series about The Zodiac Killer. Thanks Bud, Thanks Janice.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
This is quite different from the one before. But a very intriquing one too! At first I thought; 'the vocals need to be louder', then; 'the song seems to be getting a bit monotonous', then; 'where is the song leading to?' But then: 'what intriguing lyrics!' And 'hey, singing in this way reinforces the tension that already speaks from the lyrics'. I then listened again and the song grabbed me like, like... i don't know like what, but it grabbed me. And then I noticed I hadn't watch the video. So i played it again. Conclusion: very well done, Ray!
but, your voice could have used some more volume...
This is great! It reminds me of the stuff they played in NYC in the 80s and 90s.
Very clubby!
I am trying to think who this reminds me of so much. Maybe the Replacements. But it is really, really good. Well played.
With this sound, you might like check to out these guys. They were from my town back in the day and were the Kings of Jangle Rock. He recorded R.E.M.'s first album in his garage.
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
Musically, just continually repetitive with little variation throughout.
Thanks AudioTrack, I can rely upon you for this sort of analysis. Repetition is a good right? "Repetition makes it true" after all.
It's a simple verse, prechorus, chorus construction with a basic melody build on chord tones. It's certainly not constructed from jazzy extended/augmented chords or an exotic form. I write to my limited abilities to play...I try not to use BIAB to guild my Bulbine Glauca.
I can live with writing simple things and being stodgy in the eyes of some, even many. It is fun to write, play and post my songs and to then read the responses, suggestions and recommendations of other writers and players.
You might note, for future use, that "just" is redundant within your comment as are the last three words of that same sentence. You'd have had more impact, and save the reader's time, since the case isn't advanced, by writing "Musically: continually repetitive." Even then "continually" isn't required unless the writer feels the need to amplify their thoughts. Perhaps something like "fruitless monotony" would serve.
Few things is life are constant, fewer still are reliable, so it does my heart good to know that you're ready, willing & able to insert a little passive aggression into any thread. Your contribution, as always, is welcome.
Stay safe Stay well.
Last edited by rayc; 03/08/2212:05 AM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
This is quite different from the one before. But a very intriquing one too! At first I thought; 'the vocals need to be louder', then; 'the song seems to be getting a bit monotonous', then; 'where is the song leading to?' But then: 'what intriguing lyrics!' And 'hey, singing in this way reinforces the tension that already speaks from the lyrics'. I then listened again and the song grabbed me like, like... i don't know like what, but it grabbed me. And then I noticed I hadn't watch the video. So i played it again. Conclusion: very well done, Ray!
but, your voice could have used some more volume...
Hans
Thanks Hans,
I tried to place the narrator as detached and unemotional, (dissociative?)...you heard and understood well. Thank you.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
This is great! It reminds me of the stuff they played in NYC in the 80s and 90s. Very clubby! I am trying to think who this reminds me of so much. Maybe the Replacements. But it is really, really good. Well played. With this sound, you might like check to out these guys. They were from my town back in the day and were the Kings of Jangle Rock. He recorded R.E.M.'s first album in his garage.
Thanks David, I'm a bit of a Mitch Easter fan and have a couple of Let's Active albums, a few Replacements (& a couple of Westerberg solo albums too). Easter did a couple of Australia band's albums in his garage as well. The SOUND of young REM is the reason I bought their early albums. From his Oz production list I have The Hummingbirds, DM3, Coronet Blue as well as other US bands like the superb Velvet Crush, Chris Stamey and well, you know he fellow so you probably know the bands well.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
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!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
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
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 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 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 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 20 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.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean