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BLUNDER TOWN 1 It's been a while but here's something that needs ears & suggestions. Based on ears here and elsewhere I've done a little tweaking: A little more of the Kazoo sounding organ, a little less of the breathing between phrases, a slight variation in the middle of the verse drums and that's about it. The drums are a little dull sounding as in the stems the OHs have the snare at about 10 o'clock while I have the snare centered so some reduction was needed in the OHs to make that work...a perennial problem when mixing multitrack drums in stereo. Blunder Town mix 2 I sketched this out last year and Steve "Louisiana Steve" Hutter reworked the lyrics as well as melody and played the lead parts PLUS mix and arrangement planning. BIAB provides the drums and organ. Steve does voices & lead guitar I hack away at the rest. Lyrics Blunder Town
Hutter/cochraneV1 This town, my town At sundown, turns so brown I smile & you frown But let's not tear it down Working & living We're talking, we're giving & walking, driving, Somehow surviving C1 Something calls, I can't hear It calls from far, it calls from near Not quite home Not quite here. But I can hear Something near Life in Blundertown. V2 This place, our place This case, is our space You think while I pace We're bot in a rat race Working & living & taking, believing Running & diving, Still just surviving C2 Something calls, I can't hear It calls from far, it calls from near Not yet home I start to fear. 'cos I can hear Somewhere near That life in Blundertown. V3 Living, dying Consuming, buying Faking & trying To look like we're making do Working & slaving Then seeing & craving Always behaving like We've all been trained to. C3 Something calls, I don't hear It calls out loud, it calls quite near Almost home, you can feel my fear. In a different gear Someone's near That's life in Blundertown. C4 Something calls, all along It calls out loud, it's sounding wrong Not quite home, feel me drown. It's a different thread Someone bled Life in Blundertown.
Last edited by rayc; 04/07/26 05:19 PM.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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This is quite a nice song, Ray. Like the way the lyrics develop the topic, and the musical arrangement is spot on. LOVE the bass and guitars throughout. Super vocals and vocal FX chain, too. The mix is very crisp and open. Superb stuff.
DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Ray,
This sounds excellent. Cool song with a great arrangement, lyrics, vocals and mix.
As usual, high quality work.
Bob
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I just finished reading a post-apocalyptic story and this song seems to mesh with it. At least in my head it did, ie, "at sundown turns brown" and "somehow surviving." Blundertown sounds like Bartertown to me. The lyrics have less of the kind of word play I normally hear from you, but there are similarities. There are too many quick rhymes in a row for my tastes, I'm not fond of that "Blinded by the Light" effect, but I emphasize that's a matter of taste. The vocalist is intriguing. I feel like I hear some kind of intentional distortion in the vocal chain. Steve sounds like he might be very comfortable as a crooner. Overall the song comes off quite well, it sounds pretty far along and I can't hear anything more that needs to be done to it. I have listened to a lot of commercial stuff lately where the basic volume levels are wrong and it's nice to hear that the levels in this song are quite good, very satisfying. Interesting tune, I'd say good job, wrap it up.
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Ray and Steve, as far as I am concerned this is a finest product, it doesn't need any tweaking as it is perfect as is. Fantastic arrangement and chord progression. Super vocal, lead guitar, backing band and mix.
Loved it
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
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Hi Ray.
The drums and bass sound about right to me. Lyrics are good.
Not keen on that kazoo sounding organ thing.
Vic
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Hi Ray!
I love the quirky feel of this song, with a style that we don’t hear a lot of these days - firstly swing, and those rhythm guitar ‘snaps’. It reminded me (in style and quirkiness only) of Mental As Anything’s ‘Let’s cook’, there is even a bit of Martin Plaza in Steve’s vocal. The lyrics and metre are full of short phrases or one word statements, and dare I say that is almost a signature of yours - at least from what I have heard so far.
My ears need something more to underpin the harmonics of the song - I think this is because there are some different chord changes outside of the diatonic, the prominent short guitar chords, and Steve’s vocal delivery has drop-offs in the last note of each phrase. I thought I could hear a guitar underneath that if the volume of it was brought up would give more harmonic support - at least this is what my ears are hearing, and my own preference. But how it is may be what you are looking for.
This took me back to an era of music that I loved and miss very much - Mentals, Split Enz, Madness … Loved it!
Andrew
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This is quite a nice song, Ray. Like the way the lyrics develop the topic, and the musical arrangement is spot on. LOVE the bass and guitars throughout. Super vocals and vocal FX chain, too. The mix is very crisp and open. Superb stuff. Thanks DC. I had the idea about a story of advancing urban decay & Steve built on it.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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I really like the vocals; they fit the mood well, and the guitar solo is good too. I'm less convinced by the drums, especially when the guitar hits every beat, but that's just my humble opinion. Great work and good mixing.
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This sounds "finished".
Bass and guitars are excellent. Drums sound good. Vocals are solid.
Nice lead.
Very good mix. I did think the organ could be louder.
A cool write. Short phrases that pack a punch.
Great drive.
fj
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Hi Ray,
It's a nice song and also nice lyrics and a surprising end!
Everyone here is excited about your song, but I'm not. I just like it, but I believe you can make it a lot better!
The reason is twofold:
I’m not really crazy about this voice, or rather, I should say, the way he sings the lyrics; a bit pedantic.
Additionally, I don't think the music sounds very clear, a bit like it’s coming from under a blanket.
This actually sounds quite negative, and that’s not me, or at least I don't want to come across that way. I just wanted to let you know that those two elements could be better. And you already said that the song "screamed" for criticism. That is why I am writing this down.
It could be sung much more clearly and also funnier. Then you would have a really nice song. But I also know what criticism can do sometimes. Just see if you can do something with it. Otherwise, just say I'm whining. That’s allowed too!
I will see,
Hans
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Hi Ray,
I'm not all that good when it comes to providing useful critique, so I'll steer clear of offering suggestions. I just wanted to let you both know that I really like this. The arrangement and the production have a very polished sound. I agree with floyd when he said "this sounds finished". I thought that too. I love these lyrics and the way they flow. Steve's vocals worked for me. You have both created an excellent song.
--Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Hi, Ray!
Pretty good song overall. I really like your bassline, very solid, also your rhythm guitar work. Steve has some unique licks to my ears, always a good thing, and a unique tone too. Good write, and the vocal works too.
Good to see you back!
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Oh, i missed the Pygmy Beat. Steve was the perfect choice for vocal and guitar and those lyrics are perfect. You, of course, did a great job hacking away on the rest. Seriously love that bass --very creative approach and excellent lines that add a special magic to the song --which btw is so well written.
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Love the bass and the lead guitars. I listened to mix 2, and I agree that this sounds finished.
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Thanks for the observations & comments folks. I've tried any/all suggestions, where practicable, & think I have a mix ready for mastering.
I'll be back with a video and master shortly.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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“Something calls, all along
It calls out loud, it's sounding wrong
Not quite home, feel me drown.
It's a different thread
Someone bled
Life in Blundertown.”
We always like a “connect your own dots” write. Excellent!
Your narratives often get us thinking about how situations evolve.
Since we’re so late to the party we listened to mix 2 and it sounds great to us.
Steve’s vocal and guitar are strong and your bass is fine in chops and that very tight tone.
Janice especially likes his phrasing on the choruses when he gives the emphasis to “near.”
The BiaB tracks worked very well.
We look forward to the master and vid!
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
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Ray this song has a cool groove tune. The vocal has a neat feel to it. Hard to put a finger on. Feel old mixed with new. Very unigue. Loved the bass runs. Well done
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