90s rock + indie + southern... mix could use some suggestions

[ryanojohn]

So this is a band that I'm working with for a second time, and this time a full length album.

Drums are a Mapex kit, Ufip cymbals, Pork Pie snare
Kick-E602, Subkick
Snare-SM57,C451E
Rack Tom-MD421
Floor Tom-MD421,C451E
Overheads-R121
Room-KSM44 MS Pair

Bass is a Danelectro through an SVT2 into an Eden 4x10
Mics-MD421,RE20

Guitar is a PRS Custom22, through Tube Screamer into Crate Blue Voodoo
Mics-SM57x4

Vocals are all scratch from the drum tracking day,
Mics-TLM103

So far I've spent about 30 min on the mix, but I'm LOVING it, and I am kinda at a stopping point, at least till we track the rest of the record, and the real vocals. I'd love to get mix suggestions and comments though


http://ryanojohn.com/mp3/Paint%20This%20Town%20M1A1.mp3


UPDATE:
Just finished vocal tracking on a song, same band, same album, real vocals:
http://ryanojohn.com/mp3/POUND%20POUND%20M1A1%201.mp3

[ryanojohn]

Updated Mix :P

[ryanojohn]

aw come on guys

[VegetativeState]

I think you are getting a very good sound according to the title of your post. I have no suggestions, other than the vocal needs to be redone in certain spots which you already know.

[ryanojohn]

Thanks much! yea we've started going through the songs vocally, we're about 1/3rd of the way through the album... I'll repost once we've got these vocals done :P

[Wo0d643]

This sounds great. Id like to hear a little more tone on the bass but im a bassist so.........

i like the pans on the guitars too.
and just heard it. where did the guitar go in the build up?

Drums sounds great. toms are compressed?

[ryanojohn]

Yea, the guitars get small and mono there, we single tracked it... but there'll be strings over that bit... haven't gotten to those yet :)

toms are compressed hit lightly with smack, and the entire drum bus has parallel compression.

Tracked acoustics for the album yesterday...
here's a tiny sample
http://www.ryanojohn.com/mp3/SAMPLE2.mp3

[allencollins]

too much compression on the drums. Too much limiting on the mix
other than that pretty good

[ilovemusic]

Sounds middle of the road...

Bottom line: The arrangement/mix is boring and not dramatical enough, the arrangement is not fun and supportive
----------
It's starts OK, sounds alright and "alternative", though very dated due to its "bluesy" sound

the snare has too much of a "rehearsal room / youth centre" clunk sound to it --out of tune??

The wooden stick sticks out too much, could be melted a bit better with the rest

When the singer starts to sing, the vocals sound drunk and the overal feel of the mix is wobbly...

The music doesn't support the singer enough.. The band sounds as if they don't care that the singer is singing, they keep the same volume, , they should step back more, when the singer is singing ->> more dynamics please

The vocals are terribly OFF in some places... most extrem on "bottom" (0:28) ...

The intro is way to long, it takes 1:50 to reach the chorus, even if it's the most fun part in the song, the contrast between the amateur sounding and wobbly verse/bridge sections and the dense chorus is too big

the guitar thing gets boring, a "build up" element is needed when the "some say she tries hard to please" line starts

if you want to make this song KICK and not let the listener fall asleep:

Let the "Let's paint this town" chorus directly kick in after "Save her from herself"

The sections room 2:30 sound unfinished or not unfinished enough...., definitely

Cut those guitar solo parts shorter, It's VERY tiring and boring, it doesn't relate to the song, except when the singer starts to sing again..

........

make the whole arrangement/mix shorter and less boring and redundant, it's too late to do another breakdown in 4:50, the song should be over since 1 minute at this point...

by the way the delay effect is not on the guitar breakdown at 4:50 like in the intro
--------------

cut entire parts

GO AHEAD and cut a short and tight POP Mix and scratch the band's arrangement :-)

Hope that helped!!! .-))

[ryanojohn]

That was actually very helpful, we are actually working out a short version of the tune that's essentially a 'radio edit,' and that'll definitely help to cut it down. I've always felt that these guys always go waay overboard with the length of the songs.

Again though the vocals are all scratch vocals from the day we tracked drums...

There is no delay on the guitars, just double tracking... the buildup where it goes mono is a spot that'll have strings in it, just haven't tracked the violin, viola, cello or upright yet...

thanks much

[ilovemusic]

They obviously need a leader/producer ! Take this role BUT make them feel as if they are still deciding / in charge ...

Nobody apart from their friends is going to enjoy this overly long piece of music..

ACT NOW!!! :-)
:-)

Good Luck!!!

[ryanojohn]

Just finished vocal tracking on a song, same band, real vocals:
http://ryanojohn.com/mp3/POUND%20POUND%20M1A1%201.mp3