ValveDriver

Ed, how are you doing these days? I don't make it to the Looperman as much as I used to, so it's good to see a familiar "face" when I do, ya know?

I'd say this is an attempt that ended in success. It has a total retro-R&B sound. It goes without saying that I love your guitars. I always have. But I'm really digging the rhythm section on this one. It's got a great grove to it. The overall feel is very "summer-evening in the city". Like when you have no where to be, nothing to do, and time to just enjoy the moment, or moments if you're lucky enough to stay in that frame of mind.

Anyhow, good listen as always. I hope things are well with you.

Take care.
Aaron.

Oh...Oh my. That bass is filthy! I fuckin' love it. The beat, the tempo, the synths, it all sounds good. The vocals are mixed well, and relentlessly drive on. It's in your face and aggressive. Just how I like it. I could listen to an entire album of this, and it's not even my kind of music. Good work, man!

Take care.
V.

I kinda like this. It seems as if it's all fun and whimsical, but the pitchbending gives it an almost sinister quality. Overall, cool tune.

Dime, what's happnin'? Dis tracks on the ol' Loop! Now I've seen it all. Just keep it friendly, right?

I dig the flow on this. I wasn't too deeply involved in the lyrics. But, don't take that personally. I never am. When I listen to Pink Floyd, I can remember every guitar note, every drum beat, every key and every bassline. But after listening to them for 40+ years, I still don't know all the words.
Regardless, good track ya got here.
Take care.
V.

Damn, brother! This is so smooth it glides when it walks. I love the dub style bassline mixed with the jazzy sax. The keys have such a warm tone. So easy to listen to, my friend. Excellent work as always! I hope all is well with you and your family.
Take care.
Aaron

I don't get around here as much as I used to. Life, ya know? It sometimes gets in the way of livin'.

I know what you mean about the community helping out. Back when I first started in 2012, it was like a gold mind of useful advice. I'd say about 90% of what I know now, (which still isn't much), I learned here through reading every comment on every song I checked out, and from constructive criticism on my own tracks, or in the forums...back when they were far more active.
It's definitely a good community. There has always been the occasional ass-clown that comes in and pipes up, but for the most part, everyone self regulates, and takes out the trash when needed.

Dime, how ya doin' man?

I have to say, your effects on your vocals really have come a long ways. I remember at one time, they were always super-centered and muted. Now, they stand out more and much more dynamic. Good work, mister.

Take care, bud.
Aaron

This is almost a sonic collage. The bass synths sound like some Supersexy Swingin' bass lines. Which is good.

I like the overall feel. It starts out kind of unsure and dark, and then takes a real 1994 danceclub, backdoor, dream-state, transdimentional, what-the-fuck-is-going-on-but-I-like-it, acid trip direction.

Pretty cool, man. I like it.
Take care.
V.

I'm diggin' the stringed intro.

I love the vocal flow, man. I always like a good slow-n-low.
Combined with the hip hop beat accompanied by string pizzicato, it gives a truly sinister value. I dig it.

You know, there's a little hint of The Specials in there if you listen close enough.

I see a lot of people commenting on the track length. I take it they've never listened to doom metal. Those tracks are so long, you could show up 45 minutes late to a concert and they'd still only be half way through the first song. Ha! Personally, I love a long track. I hate it when you get into a great vibe of a song, then just as you really start to groove to it, it's F'n done! That's why most of my tracks are 5 minutes or more. But, we're not here to talk about my tunes.

Anyhow, good work, man.
As always, take care.
V.

The instrumentation and composition is very 1980s. The vocal styling, lyrical content and overall mix sound straight out of 1994. As a Gen-x'er, I dig the nostalgic sounds. I don't know if you meant to do that or not, but it's there and I liked it.
Good job.

Take care.
V.

I dig it. It has kind of a Dead Can Dance vibe to it. Not quite as ethereal. Which is good. This is more industrial with that delicious Scandinavian flavoring. Good work. Hopefully you'll bring more Scandi-trad to the table.

Take care.
V.

Hello, sir. It's always a pleasure to see "the old dude" has been around. Think of it as a bourbon, my friend. We just get better with age.

Speaking of bourbon, this track could easily be paired with a double shot of Mitcher's US 1. It's high class, smooth, spicy, smokey and sweet all at the same time. And, it was meant to be enjoyed. The tones on your guitars never cease to amaze me. You definitely have an ability to match textures from instrument to instrument to create contrasting and complimentative layers within the track.

This one isn't as Ed-centric by way of solos, but the subdued restraint certainly allows the vocals to shine, and graciously shares the stage with the sax. Brilliant composition.

I hope things are going well for you these days. I hope the light has begun to shine for you again.

Sincerely, Ed, take care.
Aaron

At first I thought this was going to be another track claiming to be heavy metal, but isn't really anything more than some rock tune with poorly programmed machine-gun double kick randomly placed in a couple of spots while the guitar is faded way out in the background of the mix. I know you you've heard exactly what I'm talking about.
However, I was pleasantly surprised with your delivery. The opening is very reminiscent of 90's metal. Something from Suicidal Tendencies, almost. Once everything kicks in, it becomes clear...This guy is a Mastodon fan. Maybe even Pelican and Russian Circles, too.
I think my only critique, really, is the clipping in the opening guitars. Maybe bring them down just a touch in the mix. Other than that, excellent job, man. There's not enough quality metal around here. Thanks for helping it stay alive on the ol' Looperman.

Take care.
V.

This isn't at all my preferred genre, but you've done well with it. It has a real late 80s early 90s pop rock feel to it. The guitar almost sounds like it could have been influenced by Mick Mars. Good work.

Take care.
V.

This is a great piece as it is. I do love the rolling pads. The bass has a killer tone and it fits so well. Not to take away from your work, but it's too bad Tumbleweed doesn't come around anymore. I'd love to hear what kind of sweet guitar he could lay down with this. I don't know that might be TOO relaxing. It would probably send people into meditative comas. Which, honestly, I could for one of those for about a week. Do a little catch-up down time, ya know?

Anyhow, excellent work. It's in the faves file.
Take care.
V.

I haven't figured out yet if you have a great original creativity that needs to be unleashed, or if you have a great talent, but you're hiding behind insecurities. A lot of the material you post could easily be backing tracks to some really cool IDM, (Intelligent Dance Music). If I was any good at making that kind of music, I would use several of your pieces.
I hope all is well with you.

Take care.
V.

BaoBou, how are ya, man?

Listen, this thing is smooth. I'm diggin' it quite a bit. The ba-da bop bops are catchy as hell.

I think, as far as improvements go, you don't really need much. I'm picking up a lot of favoring of the right side. The Rhoads and the Guitar seem to both be panned to the right, leaving the left a little empty. Other than that, everything sounds great by way of mixing.

I may be wrong, but the vocals sound a little off time in a few spots. I'm not a vocalist, so I can't really say for sure.

Overall, this is a hit, man! I have a pretty broad taste in music, and if you had an album full of tracks like this, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Take care, mister.
V.

I'm guessing you're a fan of Meat Beat Manifesto. Or maybe even Ambre.

Man, this reminds me of some early-ass industrial, or Art Of Noise. Maybe even a little Revolting Cocks. Kind of different for Looperman. I dig it. Good job.

Take care.
V.

This would be good for a background to an IDM track. I like it.

Take care.
V.

This is very well done. The mix is fantastic. Everything is exactly where it needs to be. I think the only thing I would change is letting the reverb finish trailing off at the very end. I'm truly impressed with this.

Take care.
V.

I like it. It's got a nice chill vibe to it. I don't know if I would go as afar as calling it trip-hop, but really who cares? Good music is good music. Labels are for jars, not music...right?

I really dig this. I was going to suggest some stereo work, or some panning on individual synths, but it's already been done twice, so I won't add more than I already have. But, the lack of stereo width certainly is not a deal-breaker. It's still a great track. It is short but sweet.
The intro really sets the mood of an almost whimsical melancholy. Which, I know, is a contradiction in terms, but I'm not sure how else to describe it.
When the drums kick in you get a nice little Aphex Twin feel to it.
I like the transitions. That synth we heard in the beginning is kind of like a ribbon for all the other sounds to balance upon.
A glassy outro that nearly bookends the whole thing.

Good work, man. I like it.
Take care.
V.

I love the sax and the Rhodes in this! They definitely create a chilled atmosphere. Overall, it almost has a bit of an Angelo Badalamenti vibe.
I like it. I think, though, that the distorted bass synth in the background being played through the entire thing is a little distracting. It makes it difficult to hear the cymbals and tambourine. I would chop it up and place it in more strategic areas in the spaces between, ya know? Or, if not that, then bring it down in the mix and pan it back and forth. But, that's just my opinion. Take it for what it's worth. Either way, it's a piece to be proud of.

Take care.
V.

The vocals here sound a lot like Lynda Carter. (Yes, THAT Lynda Carter). It's not, but man...it sounds like her.

What an interesting composition.There are a lot of instruments happening at once. When combined they put off a sort of Vegas type vibe.

Cool track, man. Thanks for sharing.
Take Care
V.