|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419
Journeyman
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419 |
Thank you Rayc,
That’s a good thought with regard to ramping up the guitar at the prechorus. It would make sense to give it that extra edge leading into the chorus. Thank you for the comments on the Vox and the lead guitar. I’m always self conscious of any lead work as it’s generally just an improv, if you were to ask me to play it again, I’d never be able to find out what I’d played!! But I’m glad it sits and fits appropriately.
Cheers, kind regards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,647
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,647 |
Lee,
Another goodie from you! The simplicity of the tracks and chords is a great setting for the vocals and story. Very nicely done. Good stuff!
Alan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,067
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,067 |
Good song! Mix needs work, mostly with the vocal, but you already know that  Vocal itself is good, and a good write too. Some nice playing happening during the outro. Nice to meet you on here, and welcome to the forum!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 805
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 805 |
Timely. This works so well in the chosen style. I like the vocal treatment on certain words...adds a cool dimension.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,158
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,158 |
We enjoyed the Beatles vibe through out. Well done. You wrote a timely and intriguing narrative. Your axes and vocals are well performed. And you picked a cool group of BiaB session guys to join in. Enjoyed it! J&B PS We always say "mixing is never finished ... just abandoned." 
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,675
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,675 |
Catchy chorus. Your guitar work sounds good. I noticed that the vocal in the chorus jumps in volume from the chorus a little too much, but that's an easy fix. Yes, not a ballad, just a good folk song.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 575
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 575 |
G'Day Lee.
Nice to 'cyber' meet you.
You set out to convey a "simplistic point of view about gun control," highlighting that guns "ruin lives, and more often than not it's the innocent who pay the ultimate price." And you know what, Lee? You absolutely do convey that.
The lyrics are direct, unflinching, and paint a stark picture:
"Cradling my firearm, keeping safe from harm. Holds at bay the darkness of the approaching storm." – This immediately establishes the dangerous illusion of security.
"A moment of tension, just one bad word. It's my voice of reason, waiting to be heard." – The terrifying pivot point, the thin line between restraint and irreversible action.
"It's funny how in an hour from now. Not a single word will be spoken. Wrong or right, I'm up for the fight. Don't care what rules or lives broken." – This second verse is particularly chilling in its depiction of post-act silence and pre-act recklessness.
The repeated chorus of "Think it through, whatever's hurting you... The fog will clear by the morning... Don't look back... infamy is calling" serves as a powerful, sobering mantra. "Infamy is calling" is a particularly potent phrase, starkly contrasting the fleeting anger with lasting consequence.
The message is clear, unambiguous, and delivered with genuine conviction. You treated the subject with "kid gloves" in terms of avoiding overt political rhetoric, which I think actually strengthens its universal appeal. It's not about policy, it's about the deeply human, tragic choice. So, yes, the message comes across loud and clear.
Musicality: The Electric Ballad That Wasn't
You noted that it "got away" from you, becoming "far too much electrification" for the intended ballad, and you're not wrong. There's a tangible conflict between the acoustic heart you envisioned and the electric attire it ended up wearing.
Where it excels:
Your Vocals (mostly!): Despite your self-critique, your voice carries the earnestness required. The doubling and quad-tracking in the pre-chorus and chorus does add significant weight and emotional impact, creating a wall of sound that reinforces the gravity of the message. And yes, "reaching orgasm in the chorus" – a wonderfully honest and relatable descriptor for hitting that sweet spot of vocal layering!
Your Lead Guitar: The intro and outro solos, while "not Joe Satriani" (whose is?), serve their purpose. They're melodic enough to draw the listener in and out, and the improv feels natural. It’s a nice personal touch that breaks free from the BIAB sheen.
The Vibe (despite itself): It settles into a kind of melancholic classic rock groove that isn't unpleasant. There's a certain raw, unpolished charm that aligns with the song's gritty subject matter.
Areas for Improvement (Musically) To be taken witha large grain of salt :
Commit to a Vision: If you wanted a ballad, strip it back. Showcase that Seagull Coastline acoustic more prominently. Let the spaces breathe. If you want electric, then lean into the power of hard rock, with more dynamic shifts, powerful riffs, and perhaps more varied guitar textures. The current arrangement sits in a somewhat neutral zone – it's electric, but not particularly driving or balladic.
Areas for Improvement (Lyrically) Again, to be taken witha large grain of salt :
You mentioned visualizing the "darker side of the human psyche" for the video. Could the lyrics hint more at why someone would choose this path? Not to condone, but to explore the internal struggle.
Perhaps a line that hints at the fear that drives the "cradling my firearm," or the despair that leads to not caring about "rules or lives broken." "A cold dread whispers in my ear," or "The world narrowed now to this desperate fear
Conclusion:
Think It Through" is a genuinely thoughtful and important song. The core message is undeniably potent and, sadly, ever-relevant. Your lyrics are direct and effective, striking at the heart of impulsive violence and its tragic consequences.
There's a wonderful raw earnestness that shines through, particularly in your vocal performance and original guitar work. If you ever do a remix (IMO) you should lean into the acoustic heart you originally envisioned. Imagine this song stripped down, with the Seagull front and centre, perhaps a cello or a subtle piano providing a brooding bed, and your powerful layered vocals taking centre stage. That intimacy would amplify the starkness of your message exponentially. If you want it electric, find a way to make those electric elements feel as organic and dynamic as your own voice.
Oh I almost forgot - It's a great song- congrats 👋
(And no, "Happiness is a Warm Gun" is absolutely NOT a ballad. Good instincts there.)
ʎzzI
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936 |
A strong write
I like your Band
Good arrangement
Mixed well
Sounds like a radio song from 1970.
Real
.fj
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419 |
Thank you for listening and your review Marty. Yes, the Beatles have influenced my style and playing a lot. Whilst that’s a good thing, it would be good to break out of that style every now and then.
All good, kind regards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419 |
Thank you for listening and the review Waoband. I will pay particular attention to the vocal in future releases to make sure it sits better.
Kind regards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419 |
Thank you for your review and kind comments Mario.
Kind regards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419 |
Thank you for listening and your kind words.
Regards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419 |
Thank you BlueAttitude, nice to meet you too. Thanks for your comments on writing and playing, it’s always good to get reassurance from other players.
Kind regards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419 |
Thank you for your kind review and for listening BYOBand
Kind regards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419 |
Thank you Janice & Bud
Glad you enjoyed the song. The forum has given me lots of aspects and things to think about on future releases, but that’s all good feedback.
Kind regards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419 |
Thank you Ezekiel’s Storm
Yes I felt when I got to the chorus it needed to have a lift somehow, whether it be volume or vocal dynamics and that’s why I added the ooohs, otherwise it would have been flat all the way through the song (a durge).
Thank you for listening, kind regards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419 |
Nice to meet you too Izzy.
Wow! That is a comprehensive review Izzy. You have taken a lot of time and given a lot of thought to this review, thank you so much. I’m not sure the song itself merits that much attention but you have given me a lot to think about and to work on. I’ve got to read your review several times to let it all sink in.
You’ve been very generous, kind regards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 419 |
Thank you Floyd Jane
Yeah, being brought in the 70s, the post Beatle era are where I draw a lot of influences from, probably a little too often.
Thank you for listening, kind regards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 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 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
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 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available 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 Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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.
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 as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac 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 100 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 Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. 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 Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,301
Posts802,970
Members40,086
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean