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Hi All, Here's something new called Hard City. The city’s looking hard tonight Sometimes I think the magic is gone The voice of Lou Reed in my bones It’s so funny but it keeps me warm Yeah the city’s feeling hard tonight The city’s looking dim tonight Sometimes I see you walking away The silent gait and leather boots Move below with nothing to say Yeah the city’s got it bad tonight Yeah the city’s got it bad tonight The city’s a big mess tonight But the A Train just keeps on running Rats and bats and dirty things Bad guys coming out and gunning Yeah the city’s tilted red tonight The city’s looking hard tonight Sometimes I think the soul is gone Reed and Cohen in a gaslight dream You in Chelsea in the gray of dawn Yeah the city’s looking hard tonight Oh the city’s looking hard tonight Yeah the city’s looking hard tonight BIAB Tracks: 1009: Bass, Electric, HardRockThrash Ev 085 1838: Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopModern 075 1823: Synth, Rhythm, EuroDance Stacked Ev16 1935: Synth, Rhythm, EuroDance Energy Ev16 4376: MIDI SuperTracks Synth, Pad Delicate Drums: CloudRap, snare, echo, perc As always - thanks for listening! Bob
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A real nice one Bob.
Your voice is right where it needs to be in the mix, the percussion keeps things moving and I love the piano.
"Yeah the city’s tilted red tonight" , a great lyric.
Great job man!
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2025 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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I've met my share of good and great musicians, songwriters, etc., in my life (many of them on this forum, albeit "virtually", I may add) ... you are absolutely up there, at the very top - especially as a songwriter, but also as a lyricist and (not least at all) as a singer, in my view. I couldn't do a thing, during my time listening to this song, other than just listen. I don't know how you do it, I've said this before ... but your somewhat minimalistic (if we want to give it a label) approach, coupled with this sheer talent for lyrics and a worn-out voice make for a lasting combination. You really ought to be on the radio, every day. I, for one, would certainly listen, and so would so many others, I'm sure. You tell stories with your songs, alike the old masters - stories that I, for one, can't help but to stop and listen, once the song has started. Bravo.
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Hi Robert.
As always, great lyrics.
A thought was running through my mind as it played and that thought was that the instruments seemed a little separated from the vocal with reverb.
I wondered if it would sound better with less reverb on them or maybe more of the same on the vocal.
Good song.
Vic
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Bass Thumper,
Thanks. Much appreciated.
Bob
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Bob, really cool song! Captures the sometimes overwhelmingly bleak cityscape perfectly. A walk on the wild side indeed. Your vocals and backing track sound great to my ears, and the mix makes for easy listening. Always look forward to your new tunes.
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Bob, I think you have captured the essence of our crumbling cities.
Great vocal and lyrics.
Super groove and mix.
One of if not your best to date.
The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Hey man, cool song!
As others have said, it captures the bleakness of the subject matter really well.
I have a musical suggestion for this and other songs that you may write in the future, since in many ways a lot of your songs, I think, are poems that are set to music.
I lived in Manhattan for a really long time and sometimes walking in these concrete canyons, especially at night and if you're all alone, there is something conjured up in the wind in those canyon walls that is very somber, and minor sounding, when you think about everything that's going down. In fact, in that city there is a constant ongoing clash between the major and the minor and you'll hear it on every Springsteen album from the early era.
I noticed this song is in D, G, A.
Compositionally you may think of adding some strings or something with other tones that may be more in a minor mode and you don't even need to change the main chords at all in order to do this.
By providing just a keyboard pad or maybe even some strings that would have a minor riff against those chords you may increase the depth of the composition in a Springsteen kind of a way.
It's just a suggestion, and what I was hearing and feeling as I listened to it.
But take that for whatever it's worth, if it's useful or not, I don't know. I like the song man. I like all of your stuff.
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James,
You always are so kind and supportive. I really appreciate that. Thanks so much.
Bob
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What a wonderful write, Bob. But, considering the writer, it's definitelhy no surprise. You have a knack for grabbing your listener and bringing them into your songs. You've got the perfect voice for it, and your lyrics always tell a story worth hearing. AND you present it in such an engaging way. Always a treat.
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Original.
Artist.
So Good.
fj
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Vic,
Thanks for the listen. Appreciate the suggestion.
Bob
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Bob,
You are a great songwriter as proved once again here! Very nice work again! As I listened, the thought crossed my mind that you could have been a great co-writer for Springsteen! Your material would have been a great fit!
Take care, TB
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Bob...another brilliant write...you are a such gifted lyricist and melody composer...my only thought as I listened (as a keyboard guy) is that the piano sounds out of tune (much like an old piano would sound)...if that's what you're going for...well you're there...but IMO pianos and reverb don't play well together...to me the piano sounds like it's in another room...I'm not sure if you "effected" the track or not...but here again IMO...I would back off of any effects on the piano track and bring it slightly forward in the mix since it's the primary instrument...I'd like to imagine as I listen to you sitting at the keys playing and singing...for what it's worth?
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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Ron,
Much appreciated - thank you.
Bob
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The city may be losing the magic but you sure aren’t. The mood, your voice and poetry take the listener right into the streets of lower Manhattan. Very well done, Tom
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Hi Bob
Very nice song
Musically and technically top !
Vocally very convincing
A very good use of BiaB
And the artwork is also very well done
Many greetings
Andi ;-)
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David,
Thanks. I actually had a minor chord in there, but removed it. I don't know why, but this particular song just sounded better to me without it.
Appreciate the feedback - good stuff!
Bob
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Another great song from you, Bob!
Man, I can't get enough of your vocal, so unique.
Enjoyed!
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