Gale's Musical Endeavors

**Galefore** · 05-15-2011, 11:54 AM

I've decided to make this thread as a place to share the stuff I'm working on and will be working on. I'm pretty proud of my musical output thus far, and I'm hoping it will become even more prolific over the next few months. I've got another two or three albums in the works with different projects, but my main project has been sitting on this one for a while and I wanted to share it while it's still available.

Note: It's unmastered, and a little shaky in places (specifically A Word Away, which I get way too nitpicky about, but whatevs). It's also only available until Monday, so if you's a-gonna listen, do it nao plz. I strongly recommend Save Me and Absent Abuse, but I'm proud of all of them.

Oh, and for those of you who don't know, I'm the drummer in this band. The rest of the instruments were handled by my bandmates, save for the breathing effect we put in the bridge for Too Far.

Seeking 7 Seven - My Band | Facebook

Enjoy, and give us some feedback if you will.

1-up Salesman · 05-15-2011, 12:51 PM

I'll check it out. Just became a fan.

Dizzy · 05-15-2011, 09:50 PM

I'll probably look at this later.

1-up Salesman · 05-15-2011, 10:20 PM

Listening to your stuff.

Interesting. Sometimes it seems like the songs about to go somewhere and never gets off the ground, but that was only with one song so far. If I had to compare you to another band, I'd say you sound a lot like Tool.

It's an interesting style and I'd like to hear more. Well done, good sir.

**Galefore** · 05-15-2011, 10:49 PM

Thanks man. Yeah, I assume you're talking about Walk Away. I'm not TERRIBLY proud of that recording, simply because the demo recording was overall WAAAAAY better and about a thousand times more solid. That one's mixed a bit wonky, and I don't feel my drum performance quit lived up to the old one (EDIT: Upon relistening, I feel like the spottiness clears up around midway though). But I agree, it kind of never goes anywhere, that one... Definitely an album track and not a single. Please, by all means, feel free to listen on. I personally recommend the next two on the album (Give and Absent Abuse), since I feel the mixing is the most consistent on those two, but yeah.

1-up Salesman · 05-16-2011, 09:42 AM

Well, a few seemed to have this really, really addictive chorus. I would recommend not exactly changing your style, but having a few faster or more intense songs. One with a bit faster drum beat, if you know what I mean.

**Galefore** · 05-16-2011, 11:40 AM

^Oh yeah, man, definitely. The thing about this record is, most of these songs have been written for years before I even knew about them. They were songs that my bandmates were sitting on in their old projects that we basically rewrote. We pretty much recorded this album to put them to rest, in a way... So as much as we're proud of the final product (even if it isn't as good as it could be), we're more than ready to move on. I'm pushing to change musical direction a bit, so stay tuned... I think the next batch of new songs will be quite a bit more interesting.

***Cosmonautical*** · 05-16-2011, 12:06 PM

Middle of the night right now, don't want to blast it, but I'll be sure to check it out tomorrow, Gale.

1-up Salesman · 05-17-2011, 02:40 PM

I'd like to give a few examples of some stuff that I would suggest trying in your future songs.

Now, please don't take this the wrong way- I'm not at all saying "you need to become teenage emo stars" but I thought that these were some good examples of ways to create intensity by having an inconsistent pace.

YouTube - Silverstein: The Weak and the Wounded

YouTube - My Chemical Romance, Helena - lyrics in video! (MCR)

Please don't take offense if you can't stand the music- I'm not suggesting that you need to put in screaming either. Just thought that stuff that these songs used were good ways to make the music less calm and underwhelming.

Panfan · 05-17-2011, 03:24 PM

wish i was around to here it... i was in wisconsin when this started streaming and my roommate's laptop broke down, so I'm lacking in computer with sound...

**Galefore** · 05-17-2011, 04:47 PM

^^Ha, I appreciate the input, bro. Yeah, not really into MCR or Silverstein... Though I do dig post-hardcore quite a bit. If I had my way, the riffs would be more akin to something a little mathier. Maybe some Dillinger influence or something. I'd even settle for a Thrice-ish direction. However, my input counts for 25% of the band's direction. Bands make music based on what the collective brings to the table, and how said collective shapes those parts. When we all find something we can agree on, we go with it. We've already agreed on a heavier direction for the next record, but hey, if 75% of the band wants to move on to, say, dubstep or something, then that's probably how it's gonna be.

For the record, I already am aware of how to be intense... I could probably point you to some stuff that's pretty intense that I think you'd dig, 1-up. This, for example. Aside from that, there are myriads of ways to build intensity. Post-rock does this with dynamics, bands like The National do it with layers, and a lot of indie/math rock bands do it with in-your-face energy. Metal bands do it with riffs, and the many other forms of metal approach this in different ways. One of these days I want to really find a new way to define "heavy", but until then, I'm sure we'll find our own brand of "intensity" in time. I just don't think that's the direction Rob, Jeremy, and possibly Dakota want to go just yet. And if they never do, whatevs. I can always do my own thing.

SEEKING SEVEN, FIRST SET AT JD'S LOUNGE FOR THE TORNADO RELIEF FROM THE MUSCLE SHOALS ShoalsBEATMagazine on USTREAM. Other Music

Since the album will no longer be available for streaming after tonight, here's a live video of our stuff. Some songs in the set (notably the first) are covers, just to be sure. Also, note that on the second song (Rose in the Garden), the former drummer for one of Rob's old projects, Darrell Shelton, comes on stage to fill-in.

1-up Salesman · 05-17-2011, 04:59 PM

^ Holy ****. That's amazing.

***Cosmonautical*** · 05-19-2011, 08:00 AM

Listening to "Save Me", just had a quick demo of "Walk Away" too see if it was much different from my memories of it. I like the music quite a bit, but I will try to give you a few tips about the master: The treble needs more air, and the environment stuff (reverb, etc) could probably be toned down on the rhythm instruments.

I think the snare's tone's a bit stale, as well.

There are some issues with progression where rhythm feels a bit like it starts and just sits at the same pace and timing more or less for the whole track. Less environmental fx, some more air in the EQ (boost up those ultra-high bits so there's a bit more buzz, more edge), and you're probably most of the way there. I would also suggest perhaps varying the guitar's width in the mix a bit, slightly narrower during the lower points. It's a trick I use to make a track feel heavier when it approaches a climax.

Listening to "Word Away" now. This one's got a slower groove that suits the emphasis on the bass a bit more, and the snare's tone isn't as obtrusive.

The melody to this one's easier to follow, but I think you need to introduce more rhythmic variation, again, to catch the listener's attention. I'm kind of blanking out over it a bit. Also, I really think your vocalist should be making use of the room in mid-tones he's given here. If he were enunciating stronger, I might be able to sink my teeth into a hook somewhere.

It's an accomplishment to get the sounds to blend as well as they do into a unified presence, but you guys need more punch, nothing is pricking me, here.

"Even If I could" starting out with a metallica-esque lead, but then it goes into what seems like the refrain rhythm that reminds me of the Cranberries. Your singer's doing his best to lead the song, but you've got that kind of droning rhythm going again. He can share that space, rhythmically. If his voice is filling bar after bar in that corridor, and nothing's playing off his lead, rhythmically, you're going to bore the listern a bit.

Here, it's getting really apparent that the bassline just has too much bass. It might benefit from some fuzz, but the EQ's the part that's killing it for me. The rhythm guitar is also skewing bassward a bit, I think. I can't really make out the kick.

Okay, after listening to these three songs, I want to tell you Gale that I think you could benefit from trying to step out of the songs more often, or tone down what you're doing. You can move the rhythm with the drums and hold back on the cymbals a bit, and just give the instruments more room to breathe in the treble levels. Cymbals, especially the ride and the crash are mostly mortar for your bricks when you want your song to be a wall bearing on the listener. If you want my approval, you'll probably consider paying more attention to closed hihat to offset your heavier drums, at least when you're not breaking into a big sound.

Hope the criticism's not too heavy, I think you guys have a lot of potential. Some of the EQ issues might be attributable to the room and the streaming quality. If your drums were all individually miked, and not just one or two to cover the kit, push to get a better definition in the mix. You're gonna get a raw deal, otherwise, and it'll hurt your band, I want to be able to pickout and breakdown the sounds in your kit on the fly!

**Galefore** · 05-19-2011, 01:36 PM

Can't argue with any of that, rightly. One major problem with the whole deal was our equipment, but for what we have, we still could have done better.

As for my drums, I usually don't step out of the song because our (former) bass player was pretty terrible with keeping up with anything that wasn't completely straight, and he would typically chew me out if I tried to be a little more creative or follow some musical points. My fellow musicians in this band aren't as used to improvisational music as I am due to my background in church music where I had to make up parts on the fly and follow my keyboard player, who was a jazz musician by trade. To save us all the trouble of arguing our bass player down, I typically kept what I was doing overly simple. I do disagree about cymbals, but that's from a drummer's standpoint, not an engineer's. Most of my favorite drummers go absolutely jack-**** on the cymbals, and it just sort of rubbed off on me from years of imitating/practicing to the songs they were doing. I typically use tons of cymbal wash on choruses (probably to overcompensate for not being able up to this point to be a litle more free with fills and grooves and whatnot), but I agree with the fact that it doesn't necessarily fit these songs. I do plan to improve on that for the next one. Also, as to why they're so ridiculously high in the mix, that's actually because I asked if the engineer could bring the cymbals up a bit (they were waaaaay too low initially) and he sort of took me a little bit more seriously than I expected. I personally liked the results, but I see now what the problem is. On Save Me, the crash-riding in the chorus is waaaaay over the top. I usually do it live because it fits live, plus I have since acquired a ride with more even wash (the one I was using was a super-cheap piece of garbage I found in the studio that had decent wash and I needed for Absent Abuse, which is basically there JUST for me to crash ride throughout).

As for Even If I Could, bear in mind my personal dislike of that one to begin with. It's actually a fan favorite, believe it or not, but if has that god-forsaken 4-chord progression everyone's heard countless times. I fought to not have to do that one, but in the end, I was outvoted. Bleh.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I shall forward it to the bros so they can have something to go on when they send it off to the mastering lab.

05-15-2011, 11:54 AM	#1
Galefore EXPLOSION GOD OF MUSIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Some studio somewhere Gender: Posts: 8,275 Thanks: 1,361 Thanked 826 Times in 535 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Gale's Musical Endeavors I've decided to make this thread as a place to share the stuff I'm working on and will be working on. I'm pretty proud of my musical output thus far, and I'm hoping it will become even more prolific over the next few months. I've got another two or three albums in the works with different projects, but my main project has been sitting on this one for a while and I wanted to share it while it's still available. Note: It's unmastered, and a little shaky in places (specifically A Word Away, which I get way too nitpicky about, but whatevs). It's also only available until Monday, so if you's a-gonna listen, do it nao plz. I strongly recommend Save Me and Absent Abuse, but I'm proud of all of them. Oh, and for those of you who don't know, I'm the drummer in this band. The rest of the instruments were handled by my bandmates, save for the breathing effect we put in the bridge for Too Far. Seeking 7 Seven - My Band \| Facebook Enjoy, and give us some feedback if you will.

05-15-2011, 10:49 PM	#5
Galefore EXPLOSION GOD OF MUSIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Some studio somewhere Gender: Posts: 8,275 Thanks: 1,361 Thanked 826 Times in 535 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Thanks man. Yeah, I assume you're talking about Walk Away. I'm not TERRIBLY proud of that recording, simply because the demo recording was overall WAAAAAY better and about a thousand times more solid. That one's mixed a bit wonky, and I don't feel my drum performance quit lived up to the old one (EDIT: Upon relistening, I feel like the spottiness clears up around midway though). But I agree, it kind of never goes anywhere, that one... Definitely an album track and not a single. Please, by all means, feel free to listen on. I personally recommend the next two on the album (Give and Absent Abuse), since I feel the mixing is the most consistent on those two, but yeah. Last edited by Galefore; 05-15-2011 at 11:00 PM.

05-17-2011, 04:47 PM	#11
Galefore EXPLOSION GOD OF MUSIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Some studio somewhere Gender: Posts: 8,275 Thanks: 1,361 Thanked 826 Times in 535 Posts Blog Entries: 5	^^Ha, I appreciate the input, bro. Yeah, not really into MCR or Silverstein... Though I do dig post-hardcore quite a bit. If I had my way, the riffs would be more akin to something a little mathier. Maybe some Dillinger influence or something. I'd even settle for a Thrice-ish direction. However, my input counts for 25% of the band's direction. Bands make music based on what the collective brings to the table, and how said collective shapes those parts. When we all find something we can agree on, we go with it. We've already agreed on a heavier direction for the next record, but hey, if 75% of the band wants to move on to, say, dubstep or something, then that's probably how it's gonna be. For the record, I already am aware of how to be intense... I could probably point you to some stuff that's pretty intense that I think you'd dig, 1-up. This, for example. Aside from that, there are myriads of ways to build intensity. Post-rock does this with dynamics, bands like The National do it with layers, and a lot of indie/math rock bands do it with in-your-face energy. Metal bands do it with riffs, and the many other forms of metal approach this in different ways. One of these days I want to really find a new way to define "heavy", but until then, I'm sure we'll find our own brand of "intensity" in time. I just don't think that's the direction Rob, Jeremy, and possibly Dakota want to go just yet. And if they never do, whatevs. I can always do my own thing. SEEKING SEVEN, FIRST SET AT JD'S LOUNGE FOR THE TORNADO RELIEF FROM THE MUSCLE SHOALS ShoalsBEATMagazine on USTREAM. Other Music Since the album will no longer be available for streaming after tonight, here's a live video of our stuff. Some songs in the set (notably the first) are covers, just to be sure. Also, note that on the second song (Rose in the Garden), the former drummer for one of Rob's old projects, Darrell Shelton, comes on stage to fill-in. Last edited by Galefore; 05-17-2011 at 04:49 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

05-15-2011, 12:51 PM	#2
1-up Salesman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Letting you guys know that I'm planning on continuing Attack of the Spammers soon. Gender: Posts: 4,095 Thanks: 2,162 Thanked 250 Times in 194 Posts Blog Entries: 9	I'll check it out. Just became a fan.

05-15-2011, 09:50 PM	#3
Dizzy Podiaphobe Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Posts: 19,359 Thanks: 1,764 Thanked 1,161 Times in 804 Posts Blog Entries: 116	I'll probably look at this later.

05-15-2011, 10:20 PM	#4
1-up Salesman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Letting you guys know that I'm planning on continuing Attack of the Spammers soon. Gender: Posts: 4,095 Thanks: 2,162 Thanked 250 Times in 194 Posts Blog Entries: 9	Listening to your stuff. Interesting. Sometimes it seems like the songs about to go somewhere and never gets off the ground, but that was only with one song so far. If I had to compare you to another band, I'd say you sound a lot like Tool. It's an interesting style and I'd like to hear more. Well done, good sir.

05-16-2011, 09:42 AM	#6
1-up Salesman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Letting you guys know that I'm planning on continuing Attack of the Spammers soon. Gender: Posts: 4,095 Thanks: 2,162 Thanked 250 Times in 194 Posts Blog Entries: 9	Well, a few seemed to have this really, really addictive chorus. I would recommend not exactly changing your style, but having a few faster or more intense songs. One with a bit faster drum beat, if you know what I mean.

05-16-2011, 11:40 AM	#7
Galefore EXPLOSION GOD OF MUSIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Some studio somewhere Gender: Posts: 8,275 Thanks: 1,361 Thanked 826 Times in 535 Posts Blog Entries: 5	^Oh yeah, man, definitely. The thing about this record is, most of these songs have been written for years before I even knew about them. They were songs that my bandmates were sitting on in their old projects that we basically rewrote. We pretty much recorded this album to put them to rest, in a way... So as much as we're proud of the final product (even if it isn't as good as it could be), we're more than ready to move on. I'm pushing to change musical direction a bit, so stay tuned... I think the next batch of new songs will be quite a bit more interesting.

05-16-2011, 12:06 PM	#8
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Middle of the night right now, don't want to blast it, but I'll be sure to check it out tomorrow, Gale.

05-17-2011, 02:40 PM	#9
1-up Salesman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Letting you guys know that I'm planning on continuing Attack of the Spammers soon. Gender: Posts: 4,095 Thanks: 2,162 Thanked 250 Times in 194 Posts Blog Entries: 9	I'd like to give a few examples of some stuff that I would suggest trying in your future songs. Now, please don't take this the wrong way- I'm not at all saying "you need to become teenage emo stars" but I thought that these were some good examples of ways to create intensity by having an inconsistent pace. YouTube - Silverstein: The Weak and the Wounded YouTube - My Chemical Romance, Helena - lyrics in video! (MCR) Please don't take offense if you can't stand the music- I'm not suggesting that you need to put in screaming either. Just thought that stuff that these songs used were good ways to make the music less calm and underwhelming.

05-17-2011, 03:24 PM	#10
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,806 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,247 Times in 1,337 Posts Blog Entries: 15	wish i was around to here it... i was in wisconsin when this started streaming and my roommate's laptop broke down, so I'm lacking in computer with sound...

05-17-2011, 04:59 PM	#12
1-up Salesman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Letting you guys know that I'm planning on continuing Attack of the Spammers soon. Gender: Posts: 4,095 Thanks: 2,162 Thanked 250 Times in 194 Posts Blog Entries: 9	^ Holy ****. That's amazing.

05-19-2011, 08:00 AM	#13
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Listening to "Save Me", just had a quick demo of "Walk Away" too see if it was much different from my memories of it. I like the music quite a bit, but I will try to give you a few tips about the master: The treble needs more air, and the environment stuff (reverb, etc) could probably be toned down on the rhythm instruments. I think the snare's tone's a bit stale, as well. There are some issues with progression where rhythm feels a bit like it starts and just sits at the same pace and timing more or less for the whole track. Less environmental fx, some more air in the EQ (boost up those ultra-high bits so there's a bit more buzz, more edge), and you're probably most of the way there. I would also suggest perhaps varying the guitar's width in the mix a bit, slightly narrower during the lower points. It's a trick I use to make a track feel heavier when it approaches a climax. Listening to "Word Away" now. This one's got a slower groove that suits the emphasis on the bass a bit more, and the snare's tone isn't as obtrusive. The melody to this one's easier to follow, but I think you need to introduce more rhythmic variation, again, to catch the listener's attention. I'm kind of blanking out over it a bit. Also, I really think your vocalist should be making use of the room in mid-tones he's given here. If he were enunciating stronger, I might be able to sink my teeth into a hook somewhere. It's an accomplishment to get the sounds to blend as well as they do into a unified presence, but you guys need more punch, nothing is pricking me, here. "Even If I could" starting out with a metallica-esque lead, but then it goes into what seems like the refrain rhythm that reminds me of the Cranberries. Your singer's doing his best to lead the song, but you've got that kind of droning rhythm going again. He can share that space, rhythmically. If his voice is filling bar after bar in that corridor, and nothing's playing off his lead, rhythmically, you're going to bore the listern a bit. Here, it's getting really apparent that the bassline just has too much bass. It might benefit from some fuzz, but the EQ's the part that's killing it for me. The rhythm guitar is also skewing bassward a bit, I think. I can't really make out the kick. Okay, after listening to these three songs, I want to tell you Gale that I think you could benefit from trying to step out of the songs more often, or tone down what you're doing. You can move the rhythm with the drums and hold back on the cymbals a bit, and just give the instruments more room to breathe in the treble levels. Cymbals, especially the ride and the crash are mostly mortar for your bricks when you want your song to be a wall bearing on the listener. If you want my approval, you'll probably consider paying more attention to closed hihat to offset your heavier drums, at least when you're not breaking into a big sound. Hope the criticism's not too heavy, I think you guys have a lot of potential. Some of the EQ issues might be attributable to the room and the streaming quality. If your drums were all individually miked, and not just one or two to cover the kit, push to get a better definition in the mix. You're gonna get a raw deal, otherwise, and it'll hurt your band, I want to be able to pickout and breakdown the sounds in your kit on the fly!

05-19-2011, 01:36 PM	#14
Galefore EXPLOSION GOD OF MUSIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Some studio somewhere Gender: Posts: 8,275 Thanks: 1,361 Thanked 826 Times in 535 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Can't argue with any of that, rightly. One major problem with the whole deal was our equipment, but for what we have, we still could have done better. As for my drums, I usually don't step out of the song because our (former) bass player was pretty terrible with keeping up with anything that wasn't completely straight, and he would typically chew me out if I tried to be a little more creative or follow some musical points. My fellow musicians in this band aren't as used to improvisational music as I am due to my background in church music where I had to make up parts on the fly and follow my keyboard player, who was a jazz musician by trade. To save us all the trouble of arguing our bass player down, I typically kept what I was doing overly simple. I do disagree about cymbals, but that's from a drummer's standpoint, not an engineer's. Most of my favorite drummers go absolutely jack-**** on the cymbals, and it just sort of rubbed off on me from years of imitating/practicing to the songs they were doing. I typically use tons of cymbal wash on choruses (probably to overcompensate for not being able up to this point to be a litle more free with fills and grooves and whatnot), but I agree with the fact that it doesn't necessarily fit these songs. I do plan to improve on that for the next one. Also, as to why they're so ridiculously high in the mix, that's actually because I asked if the engineer could bring the cymbals up a bit (they were waaaaay too low initially) and he sort of took me a little bit more seriously than I expected. I personally liked the results, but I see now what the problem is. On Save Me, the crash-riding in the chorus is waaaaay over the top. I usually do it live because it fits live, plus I have since acquired a ride with more even wash (the one I was using was a super-cheap piece of garbage I found in the studio that had decent wash and I needed for Absent Abuse, which is basically there JUST for me to crash ride throughout). As for Even If I Could, bear in mind my personal dislike of that one to begin with. It's actually a fan favorite, believe it or not, but if has that god-forsaken 4-chord progression everyone's heard countless times. I fought to not have to do that one, but in the end, I was outvoted. Bleh. Anyway, thanks for the advice. I shall forward it to the bros so they can have something to go on when they send it off to the mastering lab.