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Post by jrmugz on Jan 16, 2015 15:30:23 GMT
Hey everyone! Thanks for the great feedback  I haven't had a chance to listen to the album yet, but I will soon! I'm glad this turned out in the end. Thank YOU bhabs, like I say, your contributions were fantastic. Seems like kind of a spiritual message in "Spring Rose" of mistake and redemption? Jim |
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Post by Helmut83 on Jan 16, 2015 15:57:38 GMT
His line "I guess I'll play the didgeridoo" is epic.   |
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Post by Helmut83 on Jan 16, 2015 16:03:16 GMT
Great job! I'll do my best to play in the next release, I promise  Thanks! Yeah, I can't wait to hear your contribution/s for Vol 2 (or Vol 3, following the Wilburys) rocking that new keyboard.  |
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Post by Helmut83 on Jan 16, 2015 16:53:07 GMT
Now I know how Don McLean must feel with all the questions about the deep hidden meanings of the "American Pie" lyrics. Jim No, Jim, I wasn't joking. Have in mind: 1) I'm a Spanish speaker. I don't get English as easily as you do, and in any song in English there are several parts I have trouble understanding. 2) You voice has loads of reverb on the song, which makes it even more difficult. Anyway, thanks for the full lyrics. Now I understand so much better what's all about. Now comes the inevitable question: is it just a song about going for a ride with your family? Or does it have a hidden meaning about war (you know, the US army, overtaking cities in vehicles, firing explosive things...)?  Just kidding...  |
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Post by jrmugz on Jan 16, 2015 20:18:09 GMT
Now I know how Don McLean must feel with all the questions about the deep hidden meanings of the "American Pie" lyrics. Jim No, Jim, I wasn't joking. Have in mind: 1) I'm a Spanish speaker. I don't get English as easily as you do, and in any song in English there are several parts I have trouble understanding. 2) You voice has loads of reverb on the song, which makes it even more difficult. Anyway, thanks for the full lyrics. Now I understand so much better what's all about. Now comes the inevitable question: is it just a song about going for a ride with your family? Or does it have a hidden meaning about war (you know, the US army, overtaking cities in vehicles, firing explosive things...)? Just kidding... I think the inevitable question is where on earth do you get those smileys? The meaning of the strong is strictly about happy carefree time with our loved ones. Period. "Having the time of our lives just being together." Jim |
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Post by jrmugz on Jan 17, 2015 2:56:26 GMT
Front cover and back cover!!! Back cover soon to be modified with some additional credits.   Jim |
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Post by Helmut83 on Jan 17, 2015 4:43:58 GMT
Fantastic job by your daughter, Jim! Visually attractive and very colourful, as is the conjunction of the songs of the album IMO. And what a beautiful name your daughter has! Natalie Grace... I don't know how it would sound to English-speakers' ears, but to me it sounds beautiful. Well, right now everything seems so wonderful to me so I'll go review the Ideola album.  |
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Post by Helmut83 on Jan 17, 2015 6:33:45 GMT
Well, here goes my review to Jim’s CD, not pretending it to be objective at all. How could I be, when some of those songs are mine (and others from my virtual pals)? Yet, I wanted to give it the “CD of the Week” treatment. Well, I will be direct: I loved the album. And analyzing it as a whole, it was wonderful to me how the different styles of the different authors blended together. That was a very strong point in my opinion. It’s as if the next song is always a nice change from the previous one and you never get to repeat styles. I would summarize it in it being 30 minutes of pleasant low-budget home-made music. 1) Kennedy Drive: this one is fantastic. Has everything of a big hit. If you brought me this full album and told me to choose a single to release in order to get the band known, I would choose this one. Very sticky, very catchy. Basically, the sung melody consists of two simple parts, but they are very effective. The guitar riff is also very original. Best way possible of opening the album. 2) We are being attacked: my little baby. This one gave me a whole lot of work as it has lots of instruments, details and several different parts but I must say I’m very pleased with the result. And what’s best, Unobassette and BevSJ are rocking it along with me here. 3) My spring rose: wow, the jump to bHabs songs is always shocking. His singing is superb. His songwriting is quite complex and the whole feel of the song is very professional. ELO influences all along (for example, those backing vocals at 2:20). The ukelele, the bass and the aggressive electric guitar stand out here. Great way of closing the chorus. 4) Candid assertion blues: a very nice, lively instrumental blues which makes you tap your foot automatically. Very American. With interesting and varied turns in the melody, and a couple of difficult fast parts where the “guitar guy” showed off his skills. The “Wipeout” of blues. 5) Kittycat blues: I see it as an intellectual kind of song, where everything is brilliantly played and perfectly placed. The piano carries the weight of the song, but it’s the wailing guitar which makes it shine and gives it it’s expressiveness. Also, very much needed on the album because there were a lot of lively songs and this one came along very well to slow down the pace a bit and give some melancholy to the album. 6) Raining in the farm: already a classic on the forum, this one is very special because of how many of us participated on it. When we only had some chords, Horace and his animals kick started the whole idea of making it a song about a farm, and his thunders determined it had to be about rain, then Jim and I worked on the lyrics. BHabs vocals were fantastic and JLN set his guitar on fire with an incredible solo. I think it ended up being a bit of a childish funny song, but very likeable. 7) Loosenin’ up: by far the simplest song of the set, this one was recorded live. It doesn’t have many pretentions, just adding a minute of reggae to the album. 8) Across the sea: fantastic song, my favourite from bHabs. Very inspired, with a fluent and dynamic melody and good rythm. Again, quite savvy songwriting, far from the simplicity of the 3 chords, and great singing. 9) Por suerte: talking about the simplicity of the 3 chords, this is an extreme example of it. The singing tends to ruin it, and the recording wasn’t good either. However, I think the album was lacking a bit of rock n’ roll and so it may have come in handy. And, sorry Jim, the lyrics will remain a mystery for eternity.  10) Autumn delight: calm, peaceful, pleasant guitar instrumental, ideal to close the album with a feeling of tranquility. I don’t know wether it’s because I know the name of the song, but for some reason it sounds perfectly representative of autumn for me. During that cascading part I can see the leaves of a maple gently falling to the floor. |
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Post by bhabs on Jan 17, 2015 6:51:43 GMT
Hey everyone! Thanks for the great feedback I haven't had a chance to listen to the album yet, but I will soon! I'm glad this turned out in the end. Thank YOU bhabs, like I say, your contributions were fantastic. Seems like kind of a spiritual message in "Spring Rose" of mistake and redemption? Jim That is EXACTLY what Spring Rose is about. Wrote it as I was coming out of a difficult time. Fun fact about my songs: aside from ukulele and acoustic guitar (and my voice), all the instruments on my songs are digital. I simply use GarageBand on my iPad, and I have access to lots of great digital instruments and synths. Though a real electric guitar would be a nice investment at some point...I really like working with melodic, Journey-style guitar lines. That was my inspiration for the guitar in Spring Rose. |
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Post by Buttler on Jan 17, 2015 10:13:05 GMT
bhabs, your voice reminds me of Kelly Groucutt...
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Post by jrmugz on Jan 17, 2015 11:52:02 GMT
Thank YOU bhabs, like I say, your contributions were fantastic. Seems like kind of a spiritual message in "Spring Rose" of mistake and redemption? Jim That is EXACTLY what Spring Rose is about. Wrote it as I was coming out of a difficult time. Fun fact about my songs: aside from ukulele and acoustic guitar (and my voice), all the instruments on my songs are digital. I simply use GarageBand on my iPad, and I have access to lots of great digital instruments and synths. Though a real electric guitar would be a nice investment at some point...I really like working with melodic, Journey-style guitar lines. That was my inspiration for the guitar in Spring Rose. Amazing! Yeah, I could definitely hear the ukulele in that one, it sounds really nice! Very layered structured song with great bridge, etc. Definitely a real standout. Jim |
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Post by bhabs on Jan 19, 2015 17:15:30 GMT
Just gave the whole thing a listen. Great job, everyone! jrmugz, I love the guitar on Kennedy Drive, and Autumn Delight was a great way to end the album. Very cool chords on that one. Helmut83, We Are Being Attacked was definitely my favorite of yours. I love all the instrumentation on it, especially that harmonica. I also really liked Por Suerte, though - it was cool to hear a song in your native language! and no, your singing wasn't nearly as rough as you made it out to be! Don't be so hard on yourself jefflynnenut, Kittycat Blues is a very pretty song! I loved the chord changes, and the guitar too. It sounded more like a live recording. |
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Post by unomusette on Jan 19, 2015 21:30:50 GMT
Time to spin that disc and let loose with my thoughts  Kennedy Drive - Very ELO -esque intro, the whole song has that feeling. Like the echoey vocals, remind me of Jonathan Richman We are being Attacked - Genius. It's a proper earworm. Awesome percussion and harmonica. Love the bendy string guitar bits. So much going on, it's fab. And just who is that epic bass player? My Spring Rose - Wow, what a singer bHabs is! And there's harmonies too, blimey. Very professional -sounding, I'm madly impressed. Candid Assertion Blues - Great swaggering beat and nifty guitar work. Sounds like the theme to a "Cool Maverick Private Investigator" series. Nice one. Kittycat Blues - As a cat lover I'm already predisposed to like this one. Lovely electric guitar sound, very Isley Brothers. Raining in the Farm - Already a classic, of course, and absolutely nothing not to love. I mean, who can resist an opening like that? The lyrics are pure poetry. The animals definitely earned their extra rations. Wearing the biggest grin just sitting here listening to it. Definitely my favourite. Loosenin' Up - Gets me nodding along straight away. So short though, what a shame  Across the Sea - From the same stable as My Spring Rose, bHabs is quite a talent. Just as polished sounding and again the vocals are fab. Reminds me of the sort of stuff I heard in my 1960's childhood from bands like The Seekers. Nice outro. Por Suerte - More neat vocals, and in a mysterious foreign language too, not to mention some rather swish harmonica. Don't know why Helmut is so shy about his singing, he has a great deep voice and should show it off more often. Autumn Delight - Pretty instrumental, the pattern of chords is interesting and gives it a bright and breezy feel. Very happy to add this to my musical library, what a very talented bunch  |
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Post by BSJ on Jan 19, 2015 23:30:52 GMT
Beautiful CD artwork, Natalie! I like the choice of colors, background and of course, the ELO ship! You've a great eye. Thanks for doing this.  |
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Post by jrmugz on Jan 20, 2015 1:12:29 GMT
Beautiful CD artwork, Natalie! I like the choice of colors, background and of course, the ELO ship! You've a great eye. Thanks for doing this. Natalie said "thanks", BSJ! Jim |
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I haven't had a chance to listen to the album yet, but I will soon! I'm glad this turned out in the end.
, but we're OK. 
Apparently it's quite hard to see them with the naked eye, you need to be looking through a camera or other type of lens?