Hi everyone,

Just wanted to make you aware of an excellent song from a Dublin based band.

The song is called 'Almost there' and can be found here:
www.myspace.com/y23band

The band may have some label interest and are currently in talks with a number of people but are focusing on finding good management.

If anyone is interested they can be contacted at the above page..

All the best

Your clicky no work - like what this one do

Almost There; very well done and very well played. Very good recording too. It does provoke me tho write "Not Quite" but that would be crass..

The one thing I have against Almost there is that it isn't distinctive. Very well done but nothing grabbed me.

Only Love; I thought was the strongest track here.

Escape could be rather good with sympathetic production. This sounds like Almost There as a cheaper recording. I feel you've improved the wrong thing. it's not the polish that's lacking it's style.

Thanks for posting I enjoyed listening to them.

zoo

Thanks Zoo; I've corrected his clicky too

Hi zooloo,

Firstly thank you for your insight. I would like to point out that I am a friend of the band and as such perhaps I have a personal bias towards this band.

Could i ask if you are a (subjective) music critic / fan or (objective) businessperson who is involved in the process of signing bands?

What would you do differently with almost there?

I would put it to you that if it's a style issue that is all that is lacking then this song should be snapped up as there has been no shortage of catchy but naff songs which lack credibility yet have sold by the truckload?

Would love to hear further opinions on this considering the songs has been played and playlisted on regional and soon national radio..

Yours,
Steven

My personal and honest opinion.

I think with new pop acts, you need to grab your new audience faster.
Re-radio plays, the song will fit into a schedule fine as the presenter has ample time to finish what he is saying before the vocal comes in.
But ask your guys , is that what they want?
When you analize pop hits over the years, there is allways a motif or phrase, be it musical or not, that makes the listener go, oh yeah!love it! and turn the radio or tv up.
It`s close, but I don`t think finished.

Hello Steven

First question of who/what am I the short practical answer is nobody/nothing.

Am I being objective or subjective? My subjective opinion is I don't like this at all and wouldn't want to ever hear it again. That's a polite version of my personal opinion.

So I feel what I gave was objective and tried to give positive and constructive consideration to the song.

What would I do differently... I don't have the time or incentive to go into this too far so I'll just chuck out the first thoughts as it were. These things I may or may not do.

The guitar - double track a 4th or 5th above and/or double track with suspended or augmented chords - I'd do this to give the sound more movement and dynamic.

Vocal - double track with, perhaps, phase quite low in the mix. A little more counterpoint on the chorus. To add a bit more change in sound and open it out a bit. I'd like a little more change in the feel/sound as the song continues. The secondary vocal is mostly too near the main vocal for me in sound and style.

Add a little sparse keyboard to pick about the melody a bit. Not the complete melody but the passing notes.

(Now I've written that I'm less convinced it is what I'd do but that's the area I'd play about with, try to open the sound up and make it less homogeneous.)

On the question of style, the song is very polished but for me lacks distinction. It's not a recognisable sound. True many catch naff songs have scored but I don't think this is particularly catchy.

It's well played and very polished but it's the grit that makes the pearl.

Sorry I don't have the time to elaborate but I hope this little bit will clarify my opinion some.

Regards

zoo

Thanks Martin and Zooloo for your constructive criticism.

The song was recorded as a demo in a half day.

While the production is good it's obviously not near its potential in terms of arrangement / production quality..

There is potential interest from a few labels now out of this demo.. will keep you posted..

Yours,
Steven