Prime Mover and Shaker

On 12/5/2024 at 11:10 AM, condemned2bfree said:

There's some great songs on here, and some fantastic varied guitar styles played. The Darkest at Daybreak guitar is stellar.

 

Stand out tracks - Spill The Atlantic - build up and drop is great, First Memories, Here Comes Everything, and Decibel.

 

The mixing for me, is a little unclear, including drums. Separation in freq could push the songs out more, IMO. Great material though, playing and ideas enjoyed listening. Nice one guys, cheers.

Thanks!  I'm continuing to work on my mixing skills; definitely a work in progress!

On 11/26/2024 at 8:10 AM, JARG said:

 

 

Heat of the Day: a Paul song? The basswork is very cool (is a pick being used on it?), but would prefer the bass tone from Darkest at Daybreak be on all the tracks I've heard so far. Mike's vox are a great fit. Nice guitarwork throughout.

 

 

 

 

 

Not a pick - I have a bass I keep in Michigan that has roundwound strings on it.

Darkest at Daybreak is Paul's genius!

On 12/2/2024 at 8:29 AM, JARG said:

Continuing to listen.

 

Sins of Omission: Another Jeremy song? Kurt has a nice voice. What's his connection to the project? Really good tone choices on the guitar, Paul.

 

Matchstick: Wow, wall of guitar during the intro! Another Jeremy song?

 

Sunny Wolf: Another Jeremy song? Mike's voice really works on this one, particularly with the high harmony. Chorused bass sounds good during the break.

 

Here Comes Everything: Jeremy song again? Really cool guitar parts during the staccato verses. Nice solo work!

 

Far Cry From: my favorite so far. Mike's voice really suits the song. Not sure whose song this is.

 

Cold to Come: it's weird because his voice sounds nothing like it, but Mike's vox makes me think of Eddie Vedder. Great solo work, Paul.

 

Wow, 10 albums (and counting, I presume). Congrats!

Kurt and I are from the same hometown; both being bass players we were never in a band together, but I've been in bands with several of the folks who are in bands he's been in.

Yep, those first 4 in this list started with me... FCF is Paul's, as is CTC.

Thanks!

On 11/26/2024 at 8:10 AM, JARG said:

OK, resuming listening.

 

Decibel: sounds like a Jeremy song. Vocally Mike is in his wheelhouse, he sang many a song back in our band days in that breathy style. It works well on this song. The mix is good considering how dense it is. The vocals ride above, which I like.

 

Heat of the Day: a Paul song? The basswork is very cool (is a pick being used on it?), but would prefer the bass tone from Darkest at Daybreak be on all the tracks I've heard so far. Mike's vox are a great fit. Nice guitarwork throughout.

 

First Memories: a Mike song? Bass needs to be higher in the mix. "I sail my ship inside a bottle of beer" is a lovely line.

 

Law of Holes: love the way the intro is handled. Another Jeremy song?

 

Will resume listening later. So far great job, guys!

 

 

 

4 for 4 - well done!!!

On 12/17/2018 at 12:33 PM, workingcinderellaman said:

As someone who loves to grill, rotisserie and smoke meat, this is something I've wanted for a while. Traeger started it all,

 

 

 

But now there are other options:

 

 

 

Anyone have a wood pellet smoker/grill?

I feel like I've come.... well, not exactly full circle, but...

When I first started grilling, I tried a few devices on a standard grill to get some smoke flavor, but was never really satisfied.

I eventually got a Traeger, and it opened up many possibilities, and I learned a lot.  I think the pellets do a fine job, but I still wasn't immediately satisfied with how I could control the amount of smoke I was getting.

It began to dawn on me over the learning process the importance of thinking about smoking and cooking as two separate steps.   I find I can get more of what I am after by approaching things this way.

But that eventually led me to the notion that one can easily get the smoke out of pellets without making much of an investment at all.  I invested $15 in a smoking tube:  Amazon.com : LIZZQ Premium Pellet Smoker Tube 12" (Set of 2) - 5 Hours of Billowing Smoke, Hot or Cold Smoking, for Any Grill or Smoker, An Easy and Safe Way to Provide Smoking, Free eBook Grilling Ideas & Recipes : Patio, Lawn & Garden

So now I can add the smoke I want in a cold state, and then cook later.  Which also allows some marinading in between, and for a rub/oil to sit overnight if desired.  Then the day of the meal just involves cooking time.  

I still have the Traeger, because it hasn't broken... but I don't really use it as much of a smoker.  Just a glorified grill. 

We recently purchased a second house (in MI, to get out of the AZ heat in the summer).  At this new house, I bought a gas grill with a sear burner.  Between this grill and a smoking tube, I can really get a lot done.

(although there is a bit of a learning curve with a sear grill;  some accidental well done happened once or twice ;) ).    

3 hours ago, 1-0-0-1-0-0-1 said:

Going to take this one song at a time as I get breaks throughout the next few days.

 

Keep in mind I have my computer going into my home theater system.

 

Darkest at Daybreak - A solid song all the way through. The guitar parts are killer. All of them. However, I feel like they're getting lost in the mix, especially during the vocal parts. The guitar tone is nicely saturated but it's bite is being subdued.

 

I also felt there was too much delay on the opening vocal -- I couldn't understand what he was singing until the third time hearing it, even though it was the title of the song.

 

Overall I'm hearing the vocals, ride cymbal and the bass drum and not enough of everything else. This is a very good song with some of Fridge's best guitar work, and my only complaint is with the mix.

I still really struggle to get mixes to sound great in multiple listening environments.  I think these mixes are optimized for headphones.

This is probably influenced by the fact that a vast majority of my recording & mixing time is before 6AM.  :P 

3 hours ago, JARG said:

Was that a work in progress from the MOTH stuff?

That was originally "Horizon' - you did guitars for an older version of that.  Different lyrics. 

Spill the Atlantic might sound familiar to JARG.

I've enjoyed all our albums, but I'm especially happy with this one.  Some strong content IMO.

We're probably the first band you've ever heard of to use the term "Far Cry" in a song title!  :P

I was lurking around here a couple weeks ago and saw your stuff -went to Youtube and listened to more Twisted Mile music.  It's really good stuff!

I didn't think to look for it on iTunes - will I find it?  

On 3/25/2024 at 1:47 PM, JARG said:

Just finished listening, here are the notes I jotted down.

 

Edge Of Life - vocals and bass lost in the mix. Cool guitar parts, crashes are too loud, solo has elements of lifeson and thayil
Invisible Hand - love how it starts, but ok we're 1:28 minutes in and still noodling...vocals mixed well
Ready Player One - it's been forever since I've heard it, still a cool song...clearly I'm summoning the ghost of p/g-era Alex here
Shoulder - another cool intro, and super cool guitar parts throughout
Hearts - "oh hell yeah" at lone intro guitar, delightfully bizarre organ solo, killer guitar solo
Spades - "oh hell yeah" at lone intro guitar again!
Clubs - cool middle section, didn't see that coming - slight hint of Hocus Pocus
Diamonds - cool groove, really like how raw the guitar is here, sounds like single guitar tracks for most part
Sometimes It Does - sounds like a Carter composition, nice song, well-executed guitar solo
Variable, This is Knife  - like the bass level in the intro
Words that Hurt to Hear - very interesting, so Jeremy
Sarajevo Rose - interesting choice for a closer, nice guitar work

WTTH is actually a Jack composition (Entre_Perpetuo here at TRF)!  He just ran out of time to sing it, so I finished it.

The "Lady Luck" series (Hearts, Spades, Clubs, Diamonds) all stemmed from a burst of creativity by Paul.

SID was indeed a Carter comp.

Thanks for taking the time!

On 3/24/2024 at 9:48 AM, 1-0-0-1-0-0-1 said:

I'm writing this as I listen.

 

1. Edge of Life

Solid opener! My only gripe is in the solo section. That section is awesome, love how it goes into the double time feel, but all of those crash cymbals get in the way of a very good guitar solo. There are two bars where it's just ride cymbal and in that one spot the guitar is allowed to shine.

 

2. Invisible Hand

The very top of the intro reminded me of Aerosmith's Sweet Emotion, but not for long. That moody intro took its time, in fact the whole song took its time, and it worked. I didn't realize this song was over 8 minutes long until after it was over, which is always a good thing. Some nice surprise chord changes.

 

3. Ready Player One

Rush's post-synth era had it's share of bad songs, and also some good ones. This reminds me of the good ones. Nice arrangement, and the guitar sound under the vocals is perfect. Very nice solo at the end.

 

4. Shoulder

That intro is kinda creepy, love it. There's a sinister undertone going on throughout, very effective. My favorite track up till this point. If I had to gripe about something, the drum patterns didn't quite sell some of the time changes. Also, I thought the ending faded too soon -- that bass drum and guitar pattern sounded cool and could have been allowed to establish itself a little more with a few more bars and a slower fadeout. Just my opinion, it certainly isn't a mistake.

 

5. Hearts

Great guitar riff! The organ in the background is the perfect choice for this one. That first solo -- what am I hearing there? It's well played and melodic but it sounds a little out of tune, at least to my ears. The guitar solo makes up for it, though. It's an absolute banger.

 

6. Spades

Another good guitar riff, and tone for days too. Nice contrast to a cleaner tone for the verses. The bridge into the solo section was a very nice change of feel. The best drum programming so far. Second favorite track as of now.

 

7. Clubs.

I could be wrong, but I sense a theme in these last three song titles. I also sense that these three tunes have great guitar riffs. Coincidence? Probably not. That middle section is goddamn awesome.

 

8. Diamonds

Yep, I was right, another card title, another  cool riff. Sounds like you hired Les Claypool for the verse vocals, and it works! Nice breakdown after the middle section. And there's a cool bass bit towards the end -- Les would approve!

 

9. Sometimes it Does

Nice song, very melodic. Has a nice flow. The feel change for the middle section was very effective, but for me the edgy note choices in the beginning of the guitar solo don't quite fit the mood of the song. Just my opinion -- it just felt funny for that one bar. Once you're past that, however, that solo is on point and it rips. Perfect tone and playing. One minor point about the fadeout, and it's the same point made earlier -- the ending here was good and I thought it faded too early. Maybe let it go for at least four bars before starting the fade?

 

10. Variable, This is Knife

An 8-1/2-minute song with a title that references Clear And Present Danger? Cool! "Do we have a gig, over?" However, while there are some nice ideas here, and the bass work is excellent, it feels like a long buildup without a payoff. I know I sounded like music critic there, sorry about that. Just like that scene in the movie, I was waiting for the "impact with high-order detonation" and it never came.

 

11. Words that Hurt to Hear

The '80s! Nothing but smiles during this one. Good example of edgy note choices that work well and serve the song. The ending was maybe a little abrupt but this is a fun and well-executed track.

 

12. Sarajevo Rose

That transition at 1:55 is one that perks your ears up. This is right up there with Spades as my second/third favorite. Nice songwriting and arrangement, and a solid album closer.

 

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to dive in!  I really didn't think anyone would get the Clear and Present Danger reference!   Come to think of it, I first read about a Sarajevo Rose in a Clancy novel as well!

3 hours ago, stoopid said:

Well, not me.  I'm f***ing outta here.  

You’re going to hang around until you figure out how to duplicate my bass tone.  I know you’re jealous of all that phase & flange!  😝

On 11/28/2023 at 4:01 PM, stoopid said:

Since we're having this discussion of doom and gloom, I figure I'd throw some more prozac on the fire.

 

I'm not impressionable, I'm stating this because the content of this video aligns with my beliefs on the topic and was watched during my recent decision making process.  It did not have much (any?) bearing on that decision.  Regardless, it's excellent insight into what we do, why we do it, and whether we even should.  It doesn't draw the conclusion that maybe you suspect it would.  100% worthy of the 15 minutes.

 

 

Thanks for sharing that - I found it pretty damn insightful.

On 11/27/2023 at 9:01 AM, JARG said:

I'm one of the guilty ones.

 

My attention span is miserably low these days, so my consumption of new music is limited to the equivalent of "dropping the needle in different places" in each song. I tried composing some new material a few weeks ago and found even my own stuff isn't holding my attention.

 

My theory is that I'm suffering from pre separation anxiety. This is the last year we have Emma at home with us and it's really hitting me hard. I'm very sorry if that has spilled into my relationships with you guys.

It's not easy, and I don't blame you for wanting to spend as much time as you can with her!

If I may, and maybe you're doing this already, but make sure you're spending quality time with your wife as well.  This change will affect your marriage, there's no way around that, but you can help control if that's a negative or positive change.

We'll be here when you are ready!

On 11/17/2023 at 10:20 AM, stoopid said:

Tough balance making music that's accessible and yet engaging enough for the musicians making it.  On top of that, we wanted the lyrical content and music to be cohesive and support one another.  In the past song ideas were rarely a precise vision from beginning to end, but with Scott handling probably 2/3 of the "this song's direction is going to be this" aspects, it allowed each track to form its own (complete) identity.

 

As interested in prog as I am, it doesn't tend to serve the lyrical content / meaning behind the non instrumental music very well.  Keeping things rooted in 4/4 and fairly simple song structures is inherent in whether someone can follow along AND "get it".  Music intended for the masses needs to function on a base level, we usually only get one listen and sometimes not even a complete song to grab a potential fan.

 

On that note -- from an objective growing the brand standpoint, this album was a failure.  We had more Youtube views but only a handful of complete song listens (based on the youtube analytics).  I ran an ad campaign to funnel potential listeners to Spotify, and same there.  It's tough to compete with establish artists and 60+ years of rock music at our finger tips.  Not to be overly dramatic, but this was the last hurrah.  We set out to make an album (really, the last two albums) that represented our vision for the music and brought what we could offer to the music community at the highest level we could reasonably offer.  It's largely fallen on deaf ears.  There's just too much out there, oversaturated streaming services competing for the same percentage of vaguely interested (and let's face it, aging) ears.  We did it for ourselves, and in my heart knew this might have been it, so we did it at a high level as a farewell.

I hope doing it for yourself (and your goofy friends who appreciate it) can be enough.  That was the key for me - I never do anything with an expectation that anyone I don't know will listen, and owning that realization made all the difference for me.  I love writing and recording, even though I know sometimes I will be the only audience, or a member of a very small audience, who will hear it.  It still brings me a shit ton of joy.  And that's a lot!  :P

Nice job there - I agree that the acoustic tone is great, too!

Well done!  Really hits the heart.

This is really good stuff, as I said before, unexpected in its restraint and maturity.  Something to be proud of, indeed!

I'm not 'round these parts as often as I should be anymore, but glad to see you're getting out there - really interesting stuff!

We're back like a bad rash!

Here is the new album on Bandcamp:   https://sloppyfootcowboys.bandcamp.com/album/our-naked-problem

"Fishtail" is the most serious song ever, as far as songs inspired by Bass Pro Shops go, so be sure to check it out!  :P

It frustrates me that our work filters keep me from checking out this stuff.  Later....   :P

On 12/6/2022 at 12:01 AM, Entre_Perpetuo said:

Here's a song I recorded full production with a friend of mine here in DC. I think it's really good, do check it out!

 

https://jackdell.bandcamp.com/track/1499-massachusetts-avenue

 

 

Excellent!  Somehow I missed this until now.  Great production and performances.