Hello Forum,

Last year, during the Christmas song challenge, I issued a challenge to myself and wrote about 30 original Christmas songs. I just got around to recording about half of them. I used to perform out in public, but in recent years, I have become shy about performing out. I wasn't going to post any of my music because to be honest, there are so many talented songwriters, singers, and musicians on this forum with a better technical feel of the recording, mixing and mastering process, I didn't feel I was up to the level of everyone on this showcase. I probably fall into the camp of not letting anyone hear what I come up with. My wife doesn't even get to listen to me no more! This forum seems like a helpful bunch so I thought I'd give this a try again. I posted about a year ago with 30 other songs but I quickly too them down after a week. I used to play better but I admit that I'm rusty. I put together these songs using my own parts mixed with BIAB musicians. These are rough drafts but I hope to improve them if I can. I work as a technician in my profession but I struggle with audio processing. I would have to say on these projects its a 50-50 partnership. These Christmas songs span many different genres so I would almost rather you skim through the 15 posted songs and sample a verse and a chorus than to listen to any 1 song. Of course, you are certainly welcome to listed to a complete song too, if you have the time to spare. I'm looking for advise across many subject areas. Everything from songwriting (music arrangements, lyrics), to mixing and mastering advise. I also posted the pictures of the real tracks musicians used in these recordings on my main page. You can find that at:


Main Artist Page


Anyway the details (songs and lyrics) are listed below:


Christmastime
Genre-Classic Rock
Rod Moore-Lead and Background vocals True Pianos NI B4 Organ
Dow Tomlin-Bass set 6 RT 388
Darin Favorite-Rhythm PopRockBritHeavy set 41 RT 648
Jason Roller-Acoustic Guitar Rhythm Guitar set 8 RT 405
Mike Durham-Electric Guitar Rhythm Guitar set 41 RT 645
Brent Mason-Lead Guitar set 105 RT 1169
Wayne Killius-Drums Real Drums set 22 RockHardModernEv8 [url=http://www.soundclick.com/bands

Christmas Town
Genre-Jazz Lounge
Rod Moore-Lead and Background vocals True Pianos
Neil Swainson-Acoustic Bass set 14 RT 443
Oliver Gannon-Rhythm Guitar set 14 RT 446
PJ Perry-Alto Sax soloist set 15 RT 456
Craig Scott-Drums Real Drums set 3 JazzBrushesSticks


I've Got The Christmas Blues
Genre-Blues
Rod Moore-Lead vocals NI B4 Organ
Dow Tomlin-Picked Electric Bass set 31 RT 572
Jack Pearson-Rhythm Acoustic Guitar set 31 RT 577
Jack Pearson-Distorted Rhythm Acoustic Guitar set 31 RT 573
Brian Fullen - Drums Real Drums set 06 NashvilleEven8

Christmas Burglar
Genre-Country
Rod Moore-Lead and Background vocals True Pianos
Byron House-Bass set 26 RT 541
Steve Hinson-Resonator Guitar Fills set 36 RT 608
Jason Roller-Acoustic Guitar Rhythm Guitar set 3 RT 374
Jack Pearson-Mandolin set 36 RT 611
Brian Fullen-Drums Real Drums set 7 NashvilleSwing8

Christmas Overture
Genre-Electronic, New Age
Rod Moore NI Pro-53, Konpakt Large string section, Trilogy Bass, Guitar
Todd Sorenson - Drums-DOD loops

Thanksgiving Day
Genre-Folk
Rod Moore-Lead and Background vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Real Guitar, Kompakt-Large String Ensemble

Another Christmas Eve
Another Christmas Eve
Genre-Y2K Pop
Rod Moore-Lead and Background vocals True Pianos, Kompakt-Large String Section, Trilogy Bass
Todd Sorenson - Drums-DOD loops

Joy
Genre-Choral
Rod Moore - SATB voices

Santa Needs A Bailout For Christmas
Genre-Country
Rod Moore-Lead and Background vocals True Pianos, Kontakt 4-Emulator II Sleigh Bells, Kazoo Band
Kenny Sears-Fiddle set 97 RT 1114
Byron House-Bass set 26 RT 539
Tony King-Acoustic Rhythm Guitar set 3 RT 372
Jason Roller-Electric Guitar Rhythm Guitar set 81 RT 974
Mike Durham-Electric Guitar Rhythm Guitar set 81 RT 977
Brian Fullen-Drums Real Drums set 7 NashvilleSwing8

Sounds Of The Season
Rod Moore-Background vocals True Pianos, Komtakt 4-Percussion, Brass, Strings, Woodwinds, EII-Tympani
East West Symphonic Choir-SATB voices
Todd Sorenson - Drums-DOD loops

Meet Me By The Mistletoe
Genre-Jazz Balled
Rod Moore-Lead and Background vocals True Pianos Kompakt Large String Ensemble
Neil Swainson-Acoustic Bass set 18 RT 481
Oliver Gannon-Rhythm Guitar set 18 RT 484
Don Clark-Trumpet soloist set 19 RT 495
Craig Scott-Drums Real Drums set 3 JazzBrushesSticks

Christ Is Born In Bethlehem
Genre-Classical, Traditional
Rod Moore-Background vocals True Pianos, Komtakt 4-Percussion, Brass, Strings, Woodwinds, EII-Picalo Trumpet
East West Symphonic Choir-SATB voices

Politically Correct Happy Xmas Time
Genre-Jazz, Broadway
Rod Moore-Lead and Background vocals True Pianos, Komtakt 4-String Section, Bassoon, Trilogy Upright Bass
Todd Sorenson-Drums-DOD loops

Light Of The World
Genre-R&B, Gospel
Rod Moore-Lead and Background vocals True Pianos, Acoustic & Electric Guitar,Komtakt 4-String Section, Bassoon,
Trilogy Bass, Guitar, East West Symphonic Choir-SATB voices
Based on BIAB midi sytle
Todd Sorenson - Drums-DOD loops

New Year's Resolution
Genre-Heavy Modern Rock
Rod Moore-Lead and Background vocals NI Pro-53, NI Kontakt 4 Rock Guitar, Trilogy Bass
Darin Favorite-Metal set 6 RT
Todd Sorenson-Drums-DOD loops

Thanks again for listening and happy holidays!
Rod M

Hi Rod,

No reason to be bashful. You have a fine voice and good production. I listened to "Light Of The World". Really nice melody and I enjoyed it very much.

I would suggest that you pick what you think is your best song and post that. Get feedback from that one and then post another. It's a little overwhelming for the listener to have so many to choose from and digest at once - make it easy on us and let us focus on one at a time. I think you'll get more feedback that way - my two cents of posting advice.

Thanks Josie.

I've long admired the songs that Bob and you have posted. You guys sure have a "knack" for this. I will definitely follow that advise in the future. I tend to write a bunch a songs at one time and throw them out in a "big glob of songs". I actually don't feel very good about any of them so it was hard to know which ones to post first. I probably change the order a bunch of times because I ask myself, "what is my best style?". Unfortunately, I dabble in a bunch of styles and haven't found my home yet.
Thank you so much for listening and your kind comments!

RodM

Thank you Rod! I think it's great to dabble that's part of the fun. We all get the jitters posting - I know I do. Nobody I know is ever totally satisfied with how their song or production or vocal comes out I think there's always the I could've done this or that better nagging little voice.... Most of us probably have OCD or we wouldn't be doing this anyway. LOL!

LOL! That is so true! I was trying to put my finger on it but I think I have OCD in regards to my music. I always doubt myself so I change things around a lot. Most times I'm not improving things at all. Sometimes I think the more I tweak, the further I go in destroying a perfectly good initial idea for a song!
Anyway, I hope you and yours have a great holiday season.

Rod M

Hi Rod, Josie is right, pick one tune and repost so everyone is commenting on the same tune. You will get more help that way. Don't be bashful as we all have various degrees of experiance and talent.Good job and keep on posting.

Cheers

Nels

Hi Nels,

Both you and Josie are right. Also, I should have polished these songs a little better too before I posted. Perhaps, I'll re-post at some point in the future. I sure hope this post drops off the forum 1st page soon! LOL

Rod M

RodM,

I agree with Josie - nothing to be bashful or embarrassed about here! I think you sound good, and did a good job on the songs! I do agree that you should post one song at a time, and let everyone digest (sorry, this is the season for eating) and post on it.

Really good job on what I hear here!

Steve