Motorcrashes - New studio recordings

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 5:57 pm

I'd like to thank those of you that have taken the time to listen to this.
I'm bumping this because I realize I probably wasn't specific enough about what kind of advice I was looking for.

Performance issues asside, I'd apreciate feedback regarding how the music sounds.
I'm talking issues surrounding mix and post-production.

How does the artwork gel (or not) with you? Is it stupid?

Eventough it's a short recording, does the order of the tracks make sense?

Your feedback: Apreciated.

serfx · Post by **serfx** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:17 pm

shit dude! i downloaded it but haven't even had a chance to put it on yet
will do today.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:39 pm

serfx wrote:shit dude! i downloaded it but haven't even had a chance to put it on yet

same here.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:15 pm

Only though love I believe in...

but holy Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Batman! Way to channel gun club in all the best ways.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:16 pm

Hey, no sweat, guys.

I await your scathing, ego demolishing reviews.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:19 pm

endsjustifymeans wrote:Only though love I believe in...

but holy Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Batman! Way to channel gun club in all the best ways.

Thanks, dude. That's super flattering!
How do you feel about the solo mix in Love I Believe In? The intention was for it to be bold and it's supposed to pop out to an extent but I think it might be too seperated from the rest.

Do you think it's cool in a jarring kind of way or should it go down a bit?

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:22 pm

sounds pretty ace through my computer speakers, definitely separated but not like floating on it's own. I like it.

When you boys coming to the states.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:30 pm

I'm not liking the cymbals on 6/8 jam. They seem to loud in the mix. That's literally my only complaint. Everything else is pretty rocking. I really like the material. Like alot.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:51 pm

Hmm. interesting. I didn't notice it before but yeah, I can see what you're saying.
I think they're kinda ok before the vocals and the dirt kick in but as soon as this happens, they definitely take too much space.

As for playing in the US... I doubt it'll happen anytime soon. People's schedules and whatnot. It's definitely something we're looking forward to doing, though. Maybe next winter...

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:55 pm

laterallateral wrote:Hmm. interesting. I didn't notice it before but yeah, I can see what you're saying.
I think they're kinda ok before the vocals and the dirt kick in but as soon as this happens, they definitely take too much space.

As for playing in the US... I doubt it'll happen anytime soon. People's schedules and whatnot. It's definitely something we're looking forward to doing, though. Maybe next winter...

How did you record the drums, as one single track? It'd be neat if you could push the cymbals down a bit and bring the rest of the kit up, snare specifically.

Then again, when it comes to drums I'm an albini-ite. always need more snare.

Did I mention I love the material? Especially the gun club-sonic youth love child aspect.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:56 pm

downloading it now...

the artwork looks really cool. I like the monochrome. I like how it plays with symbolism with the star and cross and ruined buildings, evoking a sort of soviet/eastern european feel I guess, but without being trite or overly obvious about it in any way. I think it has it's own unique identity. pretty cool, also I really like the MC logo. very well done overall in that dept. I would say.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:14 pm

sounds great so far, just listening to it on laptop speakers. like ends said, love the material.

the drums though... where are they?

I would say take down the top end and turn to the whole kit up. I can barely make out the snare and the kick is not really there at all. mainly needs a lot more lower mid-range punch. I'll listen to it again in a bunch more places and tell you what I think.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:15 pm

endsjustifymeans wrote:
laterallateral wrote:Hmm. interesting. I didn't notice it before but yeah, I can see what you're saying.
I think they're kinda ok before the vocals and the dirt kick in but as soon as this happens, they definitely take too much space.

As for playing in the US... I doubt it'll happen anytime soon. People's schedules and whatnot. It's definitely something we're looking forward to doing, though. Maybe next winter...
How did you record the drums, as one single track? It'd be neat if you could push the cymbals down a bit and bring the rest of the kit up, snare specifically.

Then again, when it comes to drums I'm an albini-ite. always need more snare.

Did I mention I love the material? Especially the gun club-sonic youth love child aspect.

I think the drums take up seven tracks.
The cymbals were captured trough two overheads, so what you're suggesting is doable.
That song is mostly ride cymbal which might have bled quite heavily in the rack tom mic, so that might have to go down as well. Again, this is totally doable considering that tom is extremely seldom used in this song.

I think the snare is a bit weak troughout the recording, myself. I'm writing your observations in my recording notes so that when I meet up with the engineer, we can try some of this stuff out and see what happens.

I'm really glad that you like the stuff, man. Because of your sense of asthetics and extensive experience with the kind of thing we're doing, yours is one of the perspectives that carries the most weight. Everybody's opinion matters but you know...

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:25 pm

Hmm... So two for two on the kit being too low, eh?

Thanks for the outlook on the artwork, Mages.
The inverted star with the long point is the 'morning star rising' representing Lucifer, representing in this case, science and technology.
The bombed out city stands to depict the product of the irresponsible exploitation of science and technology.
The cross monogram is just branding but I'm happy to hear you like it. I'm quite proud of it.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:25 pm

Lol, I'm just a noise rock geek. I don't know jack or shit about proper mixing. Or really music at all for that matter.

But yeah, throughout the whole album I'd like to hear a bit more skin from the drums (except for love I believe in, I can't see that track getting any better!). That one track though (6/8), it's very noticeable how quiet the rest of the kit is because of how high in the mix that ride sits.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:36 pm

LEHL. Yeah whatever you say, man.
You have good taste. Ima take the compliment and run.

serfx · Post by **serfx** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:07 pm

rock and roll the way it needs to be played more often

needs a bit more snare, little to much crash/ride in 6/8
pc speakers suck, gonna give it the drive around town test a little later today
will report back

also, i found the vocals to be a little barried in the mix, but that could be due to shitty dell speakers

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:13 pm

serfx wrote:needs a bit more snare, little to much crash/ride in 6/8

we are of one mind. you will be assimilated.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:39 pm

the snare is kinda there, it's a bit thin though, all top end. needs more mid-range punch. I actually don't mind the drums in most of the tracks but isn't there a kick somewhere? it sounds like maybe the whole kit has been mid-scooped and the low end is totally lost on my little speakers. you can create a mix that will work across a wider range of playback environments by leaving in some low-mids.

I'm just knit picking though really because mostly it sounds really great. oh, and the first track sounds great all around.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:45 pm

Mages wrote: oh, and the first track sounds great all around.

QFT!

I really can't get over how good that track is. I've literally listened to it about 15 times now.