The rocking guitars and bass, layered vocals and cool organ playing all complement each other perfectly. I listened loudly in headphones and was suitably transported to a killer stage show... somewhere between Deep Purple, Yes, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Soundgarden. This is a great, powerful song, and I really enjoyed listening to it.

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I used a really grungy B3 setting with loads of distortion at several points in the song (like in the opening and doubling the guitar hits) and it caused problems in the mix, but I still love that grit in there. My favorite keyboard parts are the weird hits in the second stanza and then the arpeggios in the build section. Its always hard to decide what to make louder in the mix. But I love all the power. My ears have been ringing a lot this week!

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The best part of this song for me is the crescendo building up to the riff towards the end.I imagine it must be quite hard to balance all those different tracks during mixdown - but you do a good job of making all the frequencies heard without blending in too much.Not a critisicm but I imagine it could be quite interesting to have a verse where everything is stripped but for a single vocal,drums and bass and all placed in mono - would make an excellent contrast to the glittering wide stereo of the rest of the song.How the heck do you play all this live? you must have a good monitors.Excellent lyrics - powerful voice,not 100% sure about the double ocatave at the beginning - i sometimes layer vocals that way and wonder why I did afterwards - usually end up with two versions of the song one with and one without,mm.Love the keyboards in the intro.All in all - it ROCKS! - and is indeed different to alot your other recordings.Variety is the spice of life! When you say Suzanne has hung up her guitar strap do you mean stopped playing completely,or only stopped performing live? Thanks Tobin - RG

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My favorite part is also the build towards the end too. And, yes, it is a bear to mix so many tracks. I think I spent 30 hours total on it, 7 just this last bit mixing and mastering. Thanks for noticing the lyrics. That doubling at the beginning, by the way, is becuz my son said he liked it better that way - it is me singing low and him high, kind of sets up the two voices that interplay throughout. About Suzanne, her gear is tucked away in the basement, never to be resurrected, she says (altho she isn't selling it or giving it away). She can't put headphones on anymore, and, she says, is happier for it. Thanks for the great comments.

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In the artwork - is that the word 'knitting' with a ball of wool draw underneath? Do they hold heavy knitting festivals in U.S?

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That's my son playing bass in front of the drum set at The Knitting Factor, a New York City club.

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Takes Volume Real Well!

Big. Theatric. Production with Totally Skilled-Out Mx.



Big Job. Really Nicely Done.



Best Regards,

Cooper

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Bunches of wholesome goodness wrapped in shrapnel. Cuts a very righteous groove. Nice vocals. Power sometimes needs to be unplugged.

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...that's why I picked the photo I did, to illustrate that line. Anton is actually tuning his bass before the show. (He is a blur during the show, especially with the open shutter setting I use.) Love the shrapnel comment.

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Now this is more like it;)

The drum programming rocks! The kick drum has some hip features in there. There is pockets of air between the kick and the bass that gives the rest room to move.

You are the master of making powerful 'wall of sound' mixes. The mix is excellent. Everything has its place, even though the stage is packed to the limit.

The guitars has a traditional hard rocking 'in your face' approach. Very well performed.

I dig the B3 sounds. The other retro keys is not my cup of tea, but I see that they have a part to play here.

Magnificent build up around 2/3 of full length.

I really hope your son will be able to play bass guitar again.

Bravo to all involved! You can be proud of this one:)



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The initial concept for the piece was to make something in the prog metal funk category, so we tried to keep the rhythm guitar and drumming as funky as possible. Thats one of the things thats so cool about adding Darren's heavier guitars to Suzanne's funkier grooves, the mix ended up pretty cool.

Medical update on Anton's hand: They've been doing an experimental therapy on it and it is responding very well. He is playing acoustic guitar daily as therapy, about 15 minutes a day and increasing. 6 months ago he couldn't hold a spoon or type. Now the 2 most important fingers work really well and the others are all coming back. Bass is still a ways off, and playing pro bass with all its stamina rigors still further, cuz the angle of the wrist makes it something not to try for another few months, but we all hope he will be as good as new in another 6 months.

Thanks for the great comments and for collaborating with your own wonderful bass playing and guitar work on several of my songs last year.

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Some strong 80's Yes influence here. Total package: Loud, Solid Fun! 30 hours of mixing, worth every minute. Thanks Tobin and everyone else who helped put this together.

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Fantastamagorical!!!

Paul.

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...very, very powerful. I cranked 'er up and the song rips from start to finish. Kudos, Tobin. Great job.

Your son played the Knitting Factory? Nice gig. What's his band?

Sounds like the guitar's using a reverse echo/gate in sections of beginning and end? Nice touch.

I'd love to see this live. Extend the tune with off the charts keyboard and guitar solos. Sounds like both of you are up to the task, if you decided to go that way.

Don't know Suzanne...but the rhythm work's great, I do know that.

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Yes, my son has played at The Knitting Factory and several other hip clubs while in M-Lab (before he electrocuted his hand). He is currently lead sing for Audiocracy and is trying out for another Brooklyn band as we speak. The reverse gate effect was created by me taking Darren's solo and, in Peak/DP, reversing the actual clip while folding it over onto itself. So its not a guitar effect, but a software mixing trick. When we play it live, if the audience is into it, yes, it would extend into a self-indulgent orgy of guitar and keyboard solos, with a drum solo in there as well. I didn't play self-indulgent jazz all those years without learning something. Lastly, Suzanne is my wife, one of the best guitarists I know (in a former life). Thanks for all your questions and comments.

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"I didn't play self-indulgent jazz all those years without learning something."

Sorry to hear about your son's accident. I almost lost a finger once...long time rehab.

Your attention to detail is impressive. Thanks for explaining the reverse efffect. I've used a couple of units for that, in the past. Nice to know another means of achieving the effect.



---
I live between the notes

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Tobin, you sure know how to wring every bit of power aout of a song! The production here is just so clean, considering all the bits and pieces in there. What can I say? Vocals perfect in the Jon Anderson mould, excellent drums, bass, guitars, and your keys sound pretty good too :)
For me, like Thor mentioned, I'd probably prefer to have had some more lightness in the keys - especially in the end runs, but that's only because I can't really think of any other crit. This really takes me back!
Neil

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and it's not just because it's metallic. All of you are pumping it hard and there's a great vibe that comes out of it.

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glad you liked this one. if it works for you, it must work. and thanks to darren for completing what was started over 2 years ago, darren's hits and settings are perfect, and i goosebump over the way his lead sits in an unexpected and just right manner in the mix. i'm grateful this one is finally in the can. mostly i like hearing tobin and twon losing their voices trying to outscream each other. passion they have plenty of!

---
morning girl

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ditto

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Wow... the combination of elements here makes for a very stimulating textural experience. I thought it was especially unique the way you used keyboards and all the layered vocals.... like a gospel choir! I can feel it!!!

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..and taking names! WOW!!!!

Look out! Goliath's in the room!

Way to cut loose, all!

Tons of talent in this most impressive collab!

Bravo to all invloved!

A definite keeper.







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This has cool guitar elements, like Hendrix meets, Sound Garden, meets Dream Theater, meets Zappa! The whole sound is huge. I love the key and guitar hits, at first it sounded like trumpet hits! Nice effect!

I like the build up with the arpeggios on the keys. It reminds me of Dream Theater. The volume is just right. Again. One fine piece of work!
You never cease to amaze me with these collab's. Great job all around to everyone involved.


Chris


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Yes, we were going for a Dream Theater meets Red Hot Chili Peppers vibe, even tho the players in DT are mindblowing and can't be equaled, as the hipness of CP cannot. I never thought of the Soundgarden thing, thats the first band my son found before I did, I recall when he was 15 and listened to them all the time. Its cool that you hear their influence as well, since that would definitely be the Twon factor in the song. Thanks for your careful listens.

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This is one of the few songs I have listened to recently that I was compelled to listen to a second time right away.
It took a bit for me get into the rhythm of the piece, there is a 'pull & tug' effect going on between the various instruments. The voices are aware of the meter but don't appear to be emphasizing what's going on with the instrumentation. This isn't bad - just unexpected - it made it more difficult for me to focus my attention.
The playing thoughout is monster and the production is excellent. I love the use of more than one vocal - I find the singing here enthralling. Made me wonder what Flo & Eddie/The Turtles would sound like singing metal.
There is a strong energy everywhere in here - and complements the Tony Williams/Allan Holdswoth cd I have been listening to at work recently.

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The 'pull & tug' effect going on between the various instruments was intentional, part of the syncopated thing I was striving for, and the sense of independence among the various instruments/vocals; thanks for noticing. I can understand your sense of not knowing where to focus, Darren had the same comment on his first listen. It gets easier with more listens, and since I listen 100s of times in the writing/mixing process, thats what I usually end up thinking everyone will do!

I loved your comment about The Turtles singing metal, big smiles from that one. Anton's favorite moment (or so he tells me) is at 1:30 ("We won't ever needs those crowns again") where I sing way low (I actually lowered my vocals one octave digitally on that line) and filter Anton's line thru a guitar amp, creating a funny little Zappa moment. Ahh, we are Happy Together, to be sure.

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Excellent piece, it was a bit easier for me to absorb all the nuances on the second listen. Kind of sounds like a heavier sounding Yes - Drama meets Talk but with more drive and aggression. Excellent playing and singing all around.

Sorry to hear about your wife and son. I don`t know if the electrocution will preclude him from playing in the future... hope it doesn`t.
As for Suzanne I have made my admiration of her playing skills known on Queen Crimson.

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thank you

---
morning girl

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This is reminding me of Atomic Rooster for some reason, maybe it's the distorted B3 that conjures up Vincent Crane for me. Heavy! Just the number of things going on is going to make it heavy, it's a thick mix, but it's also the playing that is just heavy! Great singing. I have to admit that I do sort of yearn for a simpler mix, but then again, I'm a simple guy. I think this could be stripped down and still be just as powerful (though that wouldn't be easy since all the parts are so excellent that it wouldn't be clear what to cut out). ~Jim

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to hearing this all day. work comes first. argh! made fo r a long day but was worth it. big power in this on everything. agreed wth a few of the other comments you want to listen twice in a row. and its free! how great is that?

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Hey Tobin, I wish I could have been a fly on the wall watching you mix this... I can appreciate the task you had at hand... we all have little tricks to pull something like this off... there is so much going on... I'm always tempted to carve out frequencies for each element, but here each individual element sounds full on it's own... the mix sounds absolutly great! You must have been fatiqued when this was done.

I know I said it before, but I'm amazed at how authenticly you present so many diverse genres... whatever genre you post, someone listening for the first time would think "AH yeh, that's his niche"... you are a bit of a marvel and a mavin...

You have a real fine cast to work with here... the peice is drenched in passion... it has taken 3 listens to give this a proper hearing... there is so much going on... great subtle vocal arrangments, exellent guitar work, and the drums sound superb... the organ adds such punch, It's all in knowing when not to play...

Final thoughts... You know that Jesus has had such an effect on my life (this is the last thing I would have expected) but He has... One of the temptations that he faced in the desert was "POWER" and He turned his back... He knew that He couldn't serve from a position of power... at one point half way through his ministry, the crowd plans to put him on the thrown by force, and he slips away... He tells his disciples to "get in the boat, we're out of here"... This is the biggest problem that I have with the "religious right"... walking away from power seems to be the example that has been set... yet if we look at church history... the church was a real force for good until it was sanctioned by the state... then all hell broke loose...

anyway the subject matter here is one that is close to my heart... so amen from my corner



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I love the chapter in Brothers Karamazov (The Grand Inquisitor) in which Dostoevsky depicts Christ's desert scene with new twists. The first temptation asks for miracles to obviate personal responsibility in fulfilling the needs of sustenance. (When Christ refuses to change stones into bread, the poor die, as if he is condemning them to starvation.) The second temptation asks for proof to obviate mystery and faith becuz we cannot bear to live without certainty. (Satan suggests to Christ he throw himself over from the pinnacle to force God to show Himself and prove belief, lifting a huge burden from our backs, as if not doing so is an unfair form of psychological sadism.) The third asks for political authority to obviate freedom and conscience since we are unable to moderate ourselves. (Become king and establish true justice among people, refusing to do so condemns the people to perennial injustices and disunity, placing blood directly on Christ's hands becuz of his abdication, according to the Satan in the story.) Most humans, according to the Inquisitor, are by nature incapable of handling freedom, of taking care of their basic needs, of accepting the moral responsibility of conscience, of living with differences. According to the Inquisitor, the Church/State has since removed all temptations from The People by being the conscience, source of bread and single arbiter of justice for everyone, becuz we do not want (or cannot) do any of these things ourselves. I read this book (that has tons more good stuff in it) when I was 17, during the Vietnam War, when the draft still loomed, when Watergate was welling, when all hell was breaking loose on campuses and inner cities around the country.

One of George Washington's greatest acts was walking away from the presidency; and I loved that every president (until FDR) did the same out of sheer respect for both GW and his belief in people.

I was watching a courageous Muslim woman speak yesterday, Irshad Manji, and she used the phrase "We must speak truth to power" referring to the moderates in her own religion. I felt a thrill of relevance, then realized I stole the phrase from someone else as well and am just a small time semi-retired artist singing in his home studio to an audience of a few dozen. (Singing to please myself alone, which is its own kind of walking away.) It all adds up, I tell myself.

Thanks for sharing your reactions, beliefs, thoughts. Again, I am filled with anticipation as we begin our own (slow) collaborations in this very fun prog realm...

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I was shot at this sound.


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I get to sound off here... been so busy...

Thanks to Tobin for allowing me to play on this crazy, busy, inventive, and very cool tune. It did indeed take me a few listens to get into the groove and where things should be. Ultimately I just embellished Suzanne's brilliant parts. I couldn't have done better with what she did... just a bit different. The texture between the two guitar tones works well.

And what a surprise it was to hear what Tobin did with the brief lead break I supplied for the begining. The reverse effect was amazing (i'll have to find out how he did it).

I'm actually gonne beg Tobin to let me create a remix of this song to create a modern prog version of this piece. We work well together on different projects but come from different eras of influence. I would love to take this production to a Dream Theater type place.... maybe!

Thanks again... To Tobin, Twon and Suzanne for creating this eclectic tune and for letting me participate on this Audiocracy project.

d.



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You don't have to beg. I look forward to it! ...And thanks again for great guitar work and being such a great guy to work with. I hope we do it again and again.

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Not usually a big fan of prog stuff...but this has a great energy and bite to it. Sounds like you are all playing live together, lovely instrumental interplay...powerful vocal and guitar performances
Nice
Steve

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The vocals really stand out on this. I love the layers and the harmonies. Mixing is quite exceptional. There is so much going on sonically and you've really pulled this together so well. It has a live feel to it but all the instruments seem to have their own space and although complex it's never muddy. Do you give lessons ;-)

A very fine piece of work.

Cheers

Dick





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Wow, great music.

Habitually I get suspicious when I hear screaming voices. But these ones don't deter for some reason. Maybe because the singers don't scream from hate but from something else.

The piece is musically interesting and well performed.

The message of walking away from power is basically appealing, though philosophically there would be much to say about where the borders of freedom from power goes (not to make the discussion long, but there may be powers in life that we better accept and take into consideration .. power of natures forces .. power of love .. power of our omni-loving God for us who believe in Him). But I can hear that it's not that you are thinking about here, and I am in perfect agreement with what I think I hear you takling about. I can only say YEEES, that is what we NEEED!

A remarkable production!

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Thanks! That is the response we were looking for, nothing intellectual/specific. Opening of a door, walking thru, is the first step. Thanks for letting yourself get carried away...!

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Tobin, first off i am awestruck by this track. I grew up in and around Boston in the 70's there was a local band I worshipped called Berlin Airlift. Hard to describe them, but it was big-dacious and bold, and most definitely kick ass. LIKE THIS! Your singing is so damn intense. Dramatic and Cutting doesn't begin to credit you.

The guitar work was stellar, as was the bass (had no idea as to the family connection, second wow).You've captured that live in the small club kinectic current, I think I'm having a heart attack (in a good way),
GOD its great to be alive feeling.

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Loved your "heart attack" line. Made me laugh aloud, joyfully. Big smiles. Thanks for the comments and wonderful enthusiasm!

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This sound great! I love that B3 sound a and it has echoes of Uriah Heep in their so that makes it a fave even more for me! I like the vocals and the overall energy that this song projects. Lyrics are good too!
Thanks for posting Tobin
Steve

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nice mix :-) Like a previous poster said - lots of stuff going on, yet it's not lost or muddy. I'm not a big prog. rock fan, but the song is very well done! Love the guitar tracks, including that sweet solo at the beginning :-)

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Wow, very different sound from you, Tobin. Gritty and powerful stuff here. I think my ears are bleeding. Really enjoyed this. Thanks so much.

Sorry to hear about Suzanne and Anton. I hope both are doing better.
Peace.

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Thanks for the comments. Anton (twon) has just joined a new band as lead singer (along with singing with me) and hopes to be able to play bass at old levels in another 6 months (altho the new band doesn't need one). I'm sure he'll be posting stuff here soon...

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Sorry to hear about your son and Suzanne. That is terrible. I trust that she and Anton will improve and be able to resume playing.


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I keep forgetn to check out your page and everytime I do I am remindded why I love your music again. THis is headed for my ipod for mabye a month or to of listening pleasure. This is why I love mj's thanks Tobin

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powerful vocals, solid guitar parts, energetic drumming, great production (as always), all in all a great song man.

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i was headbangin all the way through, it was like tesla meets clutch.

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