Hello Folks, this is a stranger one for me. It was written in BIAB but there're no BIAB elements left in the track. AUDIO: A PERFECT STRANGER (Killing...) VIDEO:
It was hard to do in BIAB as the chorus is based on a riff that I couldn't replicate or match chords to but I built the structure in the program. I used a Drums In Demand set for drums as I'd paid for the files & needed to use them.
Lots of Squire Bullet Mustang tracks through an ACTONE pedal and a spring reverb pedal...Cab IRs in the box. Vantage bass through a BDI21. Vocals through a Focusrite Condenser mic and through an SSL2 interface for everything.
Lyrics A Perfect Stranger (Killing) V1 I'll do the research I'll find someone I'll chose the target I'll buy the gun pc1 This isn't dogma Or prejudice It's simple logic Not hit or miss c1 A perfect crime No personal danger Just me Killing A Perfect Stranger V2 I did the research I found the one I chose the target I bought the gun pc2 This isn't madness Or consequence It's my expression Not hit or miss c2 A perfect time No Texas Ranger Just Killing A Perfect Stranger V3 I've found a target I've mapped their day I've filmed their movements I've planned my way c3 A perfect crime Tracked social media Passed in the street A Perfect Stranger c4 A perfect crime No personal danger Just Killing A Perfect Stranger c5 My target's in No personal danger They are No longer A Perfect Stranger
Last edited by rayc; 02/25/2205:39 PM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Still a great use of the software. Really cool riff and melody you've got here, Ray. Really like your vocal out front where it belongs. Man, I love that bass track. Scary thought though. Glad we're not strangers and I'm in no way perfect.
Enjoy whatever happens! marty
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer
Awright! I didn't have to suffer thru that awful Firehouse Subs Commercial that time... The Guitars & Drums sounded bad-a$$... The Bass performance could be cleaned up a bit (too busy, timing issues) I'd love to hear a simpler Bass part, dead-nuts with that Kick... Did I mention, I love the Lyrics..! Vocals work fine... Way Cool Tune.
A sparse arrangement that’s more melodically focused than one might expect from all the geetars. Rather than sounding like yet another a chord progression topped with a vocal, it sounds like melodies and countermelodies, and that is great.
Your workflow of starting within BIAB and finishing without it is interesting, and has produced good results here. Part of what I really like about this is that sparse, very clean layout, as well as knowing that each guitar is actually you and not a prisoner escaped from “The Box”. If temptation to overproduce was resisted, it was resisted wisely.
I have been playing my (real, physical) Les Paul Studio some lately, and your work makes me want to focus more.
OK, having said all that, I feel vaguely idiotic offering all this nicey-nicey stuff about a song with as grim a theme as this, but on such matters ATM I am mute, I know others will have more to say.
Still a great use of the software. Really cool riff and melody you've got here, Ray. Really like your vocal out front where it belongs. Man, I love that bass track. Scary thought though. Glad we're not strangers and I'm in no way perfect.
Thanks Marty, Using the ABA/form part of the program is really useful...auditioning a structure rather than having to track it and re work it...ace.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Awright! I didn't have to suffer thru that awful Firehouse Subs Commercial that time... The Guitars & Drums sounded bad-a$$... The Bass performance could be cleaned up a bit (too busy, timing issues) I'd love to hear a simpler Bass part, dead-nuts with that Kick... Did I mention, I love the Lyrics..! Vocals work fine... Way Cool Tune.
bloc-head, Thanks. I used a simple bass line for one section of the song to test out that possibility and for contrast. It remains as it was a decent contrast but, for me, didn't work across the song. Timing wise...I did a fair bit of slicing & dicing to get the bass n drums together...if they don't sound that way then I've goofed somewhere. I'll listen again for any timing errors. As to the bass being busy - it, for the most part, follows the guitar except for the occasional run between otes. In fact it the only time it is "busy" is during the chorus as the other sections are very simple chord movements - I think. I will relisten with your comment in mind though. Sometimes "awful Firehouse Subs Commercial" is all I can manage vocally.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
A sparse arrangement that’s more melodically focused than one might expect from all the geetars. Rather than sounding like yet another a chord progression topped with a vocal, it sounds like melodies and countermelodies, and that is great.
Your workflow of starting within BIAB and finishing without it is interesting, and has produced good results here. Part of what I really like about this is that sparse, very clean layout, as well as knowing that each guitar is actually you and not a prisoner escaped from “The Box”. If temptation to overproduce was resisted, it was resisted wisely.
I have been playing my (real, physical) Les Paul Studio some lately, and your work makes me want to focus more.
OK, having said all that, I feel vaguely idiotic offering all this nicey-nicey stuff about a song with as grim a theme as this, but on such matters ATM I am mute, I know others will have more to say.
Thanks Mark, I've only produced one song that was 100% instrumentally BIAB. I started simply using BIAB for the drums and now incorporate additional elements but, while I'm able, I prefer to play along. LPS - a very cool guitar that needs to be heard! The most prestigious instrument I own is a Fender 12 string acoustic - but not MIA - a gift from my wife a couple of decades ago - rough on the fingers too! Thematically speaking..it was a laugh as I had the ending before the beginning.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
ray, LOVE IT! An excellent write. Well executed (pun intended). Perfect development. It was like watching a Netflix movie (or series). Cool guitar. There was a good deal of James-Bond-Theme-Song-ness to it. Your vocal is perfect for it. Good mix. LOVE the drums!!! My favorite PBX song. fj
Thanks Floyd, I'd been playing the chorus riff for donkey's as a finger and thumb E string A string blues. I decided to do something with it and, fairly organically, the three parts came to me. DOD & BIAB set the form and bango. I have a chap in Nashville who wants to sing it but he's been busy with life and I've tinkered non stop with the backing...I figured I may as well have a version by me.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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.
Last edited by jptjptjpt; 02/27/2206:41 PM. Reason: Correct typos.
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