On A Dime

We often mention how much we like open airy mixes based on a small number of tracks…well please allow us to completely contradict ourselves This mix is an attempt to be somewhat “in your face” but not smashed against the ceiling. And the track number counting all the bits totaled 14 which way exceeds my comfort zone. It’s somewhat a departure for us but it was fun and we hope you also find some fun in it. And, yeah, yet another 12 bar silly ditty from Bud for Janice and Peter to riff on!

Thanks to Peter for the guitars and joining in on the arrangement. And a shoutout to HearToLearn for steering me to the snare sample. Additional thanks to friends for preview comments and as always to PG Music. Oops, and Bud thanks Janice for the photo.

We appreciate your time to listen and comments are always welcome.

Janice: arrangement, lead and background vocals / Rode NT1 > Scarlett 212 > Logic Pro X / Nectar 2
Peter: solo guitar/rhythm guitar tracks, arrangement and mix
Bud: arrangement, mix and mastering

Bass: RT 1012: BluesRock / Waves CLA Bass Rider / Waves CLA Bass

Piano RT 1591: BluesRock / Neutron 2 / EMT 140 Plate Reverb sim
(comped from multiple regens)

Rhythm Guitar RT 1585: TexasBluesRockShuffle

Drum Kit: RD BluesRockShuffle / Waves CLA Drums

Snare: Ludwig 600 sample / Neutron 2 eq module / Waves CLA Drums

Additional drum bits (kick and cymbal) tracks: Waves CLA Drums

Mix: Logic Pro X
Mastering: Logic Channel EQ > Waves LinMB > Ozone 8 Imager/Limiter > Izotope Tonal Balance

© 2019 B. Merritt / J. Merritt / P. Fulham

Janice, Bud & Peter,

Great!!! Love the count off and intro... Another tremendous performance by Janice with some really cool layers of background vocals.

The mix is BIG and CRISP - really fills up the room!

Peter is smoking hot on guitar here...

Just an awesome production - Loved it!

Bob

Awesome!

like a tank driving thru a solid wall...unstoppable

Peter, I hear some SRV influence, sounds great

super mix, perfect vocals

a nice uplifting experience, love the answering vocals

it rocks!

Kenny

More comments will follow in the next few days. I'm normally not comfortable commenting on mixing (specifically EQ) as it's not a strong point of mine. Right now, I would be REALLY uncomfortable with that being my ears still have that "I just stepped off a plane" muffled, and popping feel to them from a cold.

That being said, there are some things I can definitely comment on...and one that might surprise you (he said baiting them to read on.

The problem I see is when I see those three names I always have both high and low expectations. The high expectations come as the result of your previous songs. This can be great; but I feel it's unrealistic to think someone can necessarily maintain that level of writing, performance, and production. SO...I lower my expectations to be fair. I guess I still don't need to do that though AGAIN, you hit the high bar. I don't get it. There are a few people on this forum that continuously do that; and you are 3 of them...on one song! You're not playing fair.

Writing-obviously perfect for the style. It's say so much by knowing what not to say. That's leaves only what needs to be said. That is the heart of this music.

Performance-perfection for the style. It's shows talent and restraint, with a very nice nod to "I could do a lot more; but the song doesn't call for it. So these are what I choose." And they are RIGHT ON! Great choice of RB's, the vocals are memorizing, and the guitar is to die for. All of it is sooooo good!

Arrangement-Well, it's like you know what your doing.! It's not 3 bar blues or anything. lol

Production-Again, not commenting on EQ; but the rest of it sounds really good from what I can tell. I'm not sure if I'm hearing distortion or not. It's bothersome for me not to know; but maybe someone else could fill us in. Using that number of tracks can be daunting but everything fits really well without bumping into each other. NOT easy! I really like how you made everything fit so well. VERY convincing.

"The snare"-special mention here of the snare. I think it really defined the 2 and 4 very well AND didn't seem like it was "just added." It sounds like it fits right in to me. Well done!

The Unexpected-I actually really like what you did for the photo for the song! What a cool picture! Coordinating the jeans and the text color with the black and white photo looks fantastic. If you wanted to make the text pop a bit more you could add a drop shadow or stroke...but I would keep it subtle if you do. Anyway, something about that color combination works really well; and seems to be a great a visual representation for the song and style. Are those blues jeans Janice is wearing? There may be a song in there somewhere.

Here is my thought for your next song. To level the playing field; I vote for you next song Janice plays all of the instruments (a minimum of 5...so you don't pull a "she's on spoons"), can't use BIAB, and you two boys have to sing it! Thoughts?

Bob, we couldn't ask for a better review. You mentioned all of our objectives and we much appreciate it!

J&B

Hi there J&B + Peter.

Loved the whole thing from the count-in to the fabulous over-the-top ending.

That band is really flying and the mix is superb up LOUD on my monitors.

Well, Janice just excels at this stuff, so no surprise that she produces another
faultless, emotive and spirited vocal.

Peter's guitar work is fabulous - imaginative and exciting whilst still being in control.

Bud - your mixing is now as professional as Janice's singing! What better complement could I offer?

Great stuff, team.

ROG.

Fabulous... simply fabulous...
I really look forward to hearing your collaborations...
Wow!

That description alone is worth the time that went into this! As a rock guy we even more appreciate your comments. Thank you...a lot.

Really hot stuff, great rocking rhythm and powerful vocals. And what a solo, I can smell the guitar strings burning across the ocean

Janne

Nice work JB, I admired the overall vibe on this. This is beautiful and rhythm is easy to follow. The guitar is crunchy! Keep it up!

You all are hard to keep up with! You present something here about once a month on average I guess, and one thing I know for sure is that it is always going to be top level stuff!! From the guitar work to the mixing and especially the vocals! I know you could be throwing something out there every couple days if you wanted to, but I appreciate the fact that you take the time to get it right every time!!! I admire and respect you people more than you know! You along with Floyd and Tom along with a couple more set the standard for this forum and you have many fans out here!!! Thanks, Torrey

Janice & Bud & Peter....

I can only echo what others have said.
Good stuff....and the kind of music/tempo that I tend to write and lean toward.

Not a genre I expected from you two and it was a pleasant surprise.
Well done in all aspects.

Carry on....

"In your face" is a great way to describe this song, and I mean that in the best way possible! It's really well balanced so that even though it's a very powerful song that it's not so overpowering that it's overwhelming. Really great job! Thanks for sharing.

Nice groove you guys. Enjoyed this a lot. Some great guitar work. Thanks for posting. Rob

The song sizzles so much, the frying pan doesn't need any fire. I enjoyed this much. Keep cranking out these great ones!

Janice&Bud + Peter. Great collaboration!
More of that "discomfort" zone and contradictions please!
Bud, will rephrase your previous Moto: Do not stay plain, it's a trap!

Really cool stuff, feels like being in a live joint. Everything sounds wholesome, like delicious loaf of bread from the oven.

Probably a matter of taste, but I would prefer solo guitar parts to stand out more. To me, feels a bit "even" in mix. (Please do not hate me for this comment )

Congrats to all of you!

Misha.

We are overwhelmed that you would take that much time and thought to respond to our song. It was a labor of love, fun and learning...and reading your comments make it exponentially even more worthwhile.

As mentioned in the post thank you so much for the snare advice and for directing me to that on-line source. You saying, from a drummer's perspective, that the snare did not sound "just added" has given me a LOT of encouragement to continue my quest to learn more about drums. And as a LONG time bluegrass picker that is a position I never thought I'd be in!

Regarding your nice comments on the mix, after receiving some excellent advice and counsel on it, I afterwards struggled with the mastering -- trying to get it as Kenny described in his post but without going over the top. I finally tweaked Waves multi-band compressor to a point that I felt reasonably comfortable with it.

And, hey, yet another thanks for mentioning the photo of Janice. That was taken at our fav B&B last year. I'll try your font suggestions!

We hugely appreciate your support.

J&B

Yeah, this is BIG. Sounds like a song to close out a big concert show with everybody on stage. Loved the listen.

Thanks Bob - needed to play some hot guitar to keep up with the smoking hot vocal.

Peter

Thanks Kenny a tip of the hat to Stevie, and the 7#9 chord before the turnaround certainly gives the progression the SRV feel.
Appreciate the comments and feedback.

Peter