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This idea has been lounging around in my head for a couple of months. I already changed the BIAB style 4 times, lyrics a number of times and changed all the instruments a few times. Also deleted the drums because I felt the rhythm guitar handled that ok. One thing I'm not sure of is whether the mandolin solo is right. Maybe a moody electric guitar solo would be better. Thank you all for your ears. Vic https://soundcloud.com/vic-arnold/bounce-the-ball?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharingBounce the Ball © 2022 Vic Arnold V1 Somewhere in a far off town I saw a mountain tumble down Dark and heavy thunder sound Oh, how the mighty fall Try to stop it rolling on You will find it can't be done But someday it'll all be gone Down a big black hole V2 Let your mind fly to the stars Wave goodbye to Earth and Mars Find out where the aliens are Say you've come to call Waited all my life it seems But I've seen you in my dreams I'm the King and you're the Queen In our hallowed hall Ch. Bounce the ball and follow through Do the things you want to do Do for those that do for you To yourself be true Inst. V3 There are things I've never seen and places that I've never been. Sometimes I feel I'm in between a long climb and a fall Up and down's the way life goes Up the fast lane, down the slow Where it ends nobody knows Like a bouncing ball Ch. Bounce the ball and follow through Do the things you want to do Do for those that do for you To yourself be true Ch.2 Bounce the ball into the air Try to catch it if you dare Jump out of that easy chair Into the big wide blue Bass 2474, Mandolin 2033 Guitars 2547,2534,3113,2666
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The change at 1.57 is a bit abrupt.
It may be that the two new instruments enter on the same side and the same beat.
I'd be inclined to lead in with the steel (?) just a beat or two earlier to introduce the dynamic change.
The mandolin does a fine job...I would've expected the steel to take that role...but busting expectations is a good thing.
Good song. A calm observation of existential dread.
Terrific package.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Vic,
Love the feel of this one. And a great write with some memorable lines . . . particularly for me those last lines of the second verse. From a production standpoint, that single strum guitar panned right was at first a bit jarring, less so once I got used to it, but perhaps dial it down a db or two? For me, the mandolin works just fine (just a bit buried by that single strum guitar). I get your decision on deleting the drums and generally agree with it. Did you try having them kick in just on the last verse and/or last chorus? Not sure it would work, but might give some added depth to the close. All in all, a terrific tune.
My very best to you, as always—
Deej
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Thanks Ray.
I missed that and hope I have now smoothed it out.
This is why we post our efforts and it helps a lot.
Vic
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Hi Vic, Sometimes less is more, i personally try to spend time listening to song styles and realize for me if a guitar and vocal is more powerful i need to stay out of the way of it. nice job
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Vic,
It's a lovely sounding folk song! That sparse arrangement sounds great, and I agree that the drums are not needed! They would detract not enhance. I think the mandolin was an excellent choice for the solo! Great lyrics!
Thanks, Torrey
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Thank you for the call on guitar strum, Deej.
I toned down the strum a bit now.
I had previously had the drums kick in before the chorus but it was too intrusive.
I didn't want choruses crashing in like a rock or pop tune so I left it out completely.
Vic
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I appreciate your explanation, Vic, and I can definitely empathize with it. It's cool how we have the ability to try our creations in so many different ways. I really like what you decided on here for this song. It probably wouldn't be as intimate with any kind of drum. I also hear what Ray mentioned about the held guitar and pedal coming in on the right. Is what I just heard the "changed-thanks-to-Ray" version? The mando works well in the solo. Did it require multiple takes to stitch together? I probably would've lowered the held guitar, especially through the solo, but that's an opinion. Ain't no opinion gonna change how well this song is written.
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Vic...this is a terrific tune...great write...I love the less is more approach...the single strum is great but as I listen it seemed too loud and became distracting especially panned too far IMO...I would pan it to the middle so it comes from behind the vocal and mandolin...I really like the steel guitar but I think ghosting it a bit with some reverb would give it a more haunting sound....the mandolin solo is right on in my book...well that's my $.o2 worth...really like the song and your vocal is very cool!
www.soundclick.com/firesongBiaB 2024, Steinberg Cubase Pro 13, Wavelab 11.2, SpetraLayers Pro 10, Audacity, Steinberg UR44 Interface, Yamaha Genos, Roland FP60 and FP10, Windows 10 You are who you are because you do what you do because of what you believe.
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I really like this one Vic. Great composition and very expressive vocal!
Your voice and singing style fondly remind me of Johnny Cash.
The pedal steel on the chorus is very effective.
The mandolin soloist works very well. I know that sometimes it can be somewhat of a journey to find a soloist that genuinely fits the song's emotion. Anyway, I think this was a good choice.
Rob
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Thanks Billy.
You're right there.
Vic
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Cheers Torrey.
I have come to believe over the last few years that less is usually more in most BIAB songs.
Vic
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Thanks Marty.
I put into place some of your suggs.
Vic
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Vic,
This is an absolutely great song. Your performance is great as well. Very John Stewart-like.
My favorite of yours to date...
Bob
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Haunting song. Although the story has some optimistic lines, the overall mood is quite sad and grinding. I like that and how your low and emotional vocal delivery supports it. The simple backing band works very well and nothing wrong with the mandolin solo, although it feels bit busy, but that is a problem with many BIAB soloists.
Janne
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Hi Vic
Beautiful song with a great melody
Sung with a lot of feeling
Good job Vic
Many greetings
Andi ;-)
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Fair comment re panning, firesong. I overpanned because it was a stereo track but I’ll have another look at it.
Thank you for the Suggs.
Vic
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Rob.
I saw Johnny Cash on tv back in 1959 singing “Cry cry cry” and “I got stripes”. I was hooked on it’s simplicity.
Simple is always best imho.
Over the years my voice has cracked up to the way Johnny’s did at the end so I have to make the best of it as he did but I don’t try to emulate that.
It’s just the way it comes out.
Thank you for your appreciation.
Vic
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Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for not pitch correcting your vocals! They sound honest and real and perfectly complement the morose existential feeling of the song. Pitch correction would have ruined them.The arrangement is perfect as is the mandolin.
Funny thing you would mention Johnny Cash because one of the first things I thought of when I heard you sing was the way that Johnny Cash sang Hurt.
Last edited by Byron Dickens; 07/28/22 12:58 PM.
Byron Dickens BIAB. CbB. Mixbus 32C 8 HP Envy. Intel core i7. 16GB RAM W10. Focusrite Scarlett 18i 20. Various instruments played with varying degrees of proficiency. https://soundcloud.com/athanorsoundlabs
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Vic, this is absolutely an outstanding song.
Loved your vocal and your lyrics.
The band was spot on, less is more and I think you should do more like this!
Great mix
Loved it.
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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