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I'd Rather Be Dead by michael2 [Email]

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 1820
Comments: 70
Votes: 8
Plays: 292
Last Played: Nov 29, 2008 - 01:38:32 PM
Downloads: 78
Fans: 31
Uploaded: Nov 06, 2007 - 04:58:34 PM
Last Updated: Nov 06, 2007 - 05:09:36 PM
Fan List
Keywords:
8 miles high with a paperback writer (1), the ghost of George Harrison is hating me about now (1)
Description:
wrote this for the Lost Songs Project, but wasn't exactly what I was going for. I was attempting to replicate something off of the Beatles Revolver, and instead I got Cheap Trick and Husker Du jamming with the Byrds. Not a bad song though. I was thinking of a friend of mine who keeps dating these HOT younger girls, and yet he's always miserable. They end up just making him feel old, and he is too lame to break up with them. Poor guy.

Should I remix the harmonies?

Lyrics:
I'd Rather Be Dead

i live in a private world
i try to keep it to myself
to myself

every day is a brand new feeling
all the color sin my head are mine
mine alone

what am i supposed to do?
what am i supposed to say?
it seems so cruel to turn my back on you

long nights
dim lights
don't mean anything
i think i'd rather be dead
than spend my time with you

there's not enough for everyone
there's only so much that i have
i have to give

there is no way to change me
no way to alter how i feel
or change my mind

what am i supposed to do?
what am i supposed to say?
it seems so cruel to turn my back on you

long nights
dim lights
don't mean anything
i think i'd rather be dead
than spend my time with you


i wonder why i have you here with me
under my wing
forever more

long nights
dim lights
don't mean anything
i think i'd rather be dead
than spend my time with you





Hardware:
intel mini mac, Ibanez archtop guitar, line6 pocket pod, cheap ibanez bass

Software:
GB3
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Cool &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:05:12 PM
Has a real richness. I like the beat. Fits well with the realization, "I'd rather be dead." Best part, it's downloaded!

Nice guitar, too!

Doug

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thanks &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:02:19 PM
glad you liked it. do you think the vocals sound too much like the grateful dead?

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Michael &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:23:00 PM
I'll check it again when I have a moment...

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I am playing it on my good speakers &mdash 11/07/07 - 10:12:20 AM
No GD here! Maybe Revolver meets REM. But ultimately it's more original than anything...

Kudos!

Doug

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I understand &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:10:22 PM
the comparison G.H.. But, I don't think he would have hated you for it, except that you mixed your voice just a db or 1 too low in the mix. Be proud! I love your voice. I'm a sucker for your music and voice since they are all melodic and so full of skills. Damn! The bass guitar sounds really cool, the lead guitar sounds delicious and luv the subtle chord progression. Besides all of that crap I'm spewing, I just like the tune. It has that nice vibe I so miss in my own tunes, and want/can only find in your tunes and some others here. But still, dug it. Including that fitting end;)
ciaao, Marc

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thanks &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:09:32 PM
marc, nice of you to stop by. a real bass ends up sounding better than my keyboard (but a lot fussier to try and nail down). thanks for the kind words.

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I'd Rather Be Dead &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:13:12 PM
the Guitar backingings indeed a revolver feel .
but the singing its more The Byrds ? so its kinda
mixed stuffed .and surely its Top Top my friend ..
most enjoyed here the bass with the guitar work
fabulous ..welldone !!

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thanks Feter &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:11:16 PM
i couldn't come up with any Beatles harmonies, everything was sounding like the Byrds, so I abandoned it as a LSP song. thanks for coming by and giving it a listen.

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you're one of &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:26:13 PM
the best songwriters on macjams, i'd say.

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wow, thanks &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:23:31 PM
that's really nice of you to say. thanks so much for listening.

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I don't think you have to redo &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:32:23 PM
the harmonies - you could experiment with pushing them around a little more - bringing one voice up louder at times etc. Great song though - really impressed with the production. All you would have had to do to slip this on Revolver is redo he bass with a Keener ear to McCartney - the rest is all there. All that would take is adding a little Nirvana to your Cheap Husker Byrd blend.

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thanks &mdash 11/06/07 - 06:27:45 PM
Bud, i might try that with the harmonies. glad you liked the song. i had fun doing the guitars (more than the vocals for some reason). now to write another for LSP.

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Nice feel &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:41:36 PM
Kinda like it did I say like I meant love it.
You groove with every song u post.. Bravo

Peace
---
Kenta

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thanks Kenta &mdash 11/06/07 - 06:30:29 PM
glad to see you stopped by. even gladder that you liked it. i have some catching up to do on my listening, so off I go. thanks for coming by.

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First rate pop rocker &mdash 11/06/07 - 07:09:05 PM
Other than bringing up the vocals a tad this is another fine example of your 'God' given musical talents,in front as well as behind the board.Steady,solid performance both playing and production wise.Love the rooster and his feathered friends chiming in at the close.Harmonies are just fine.Fine tune much enjoyed as per usual!

Blessings,

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thanks &mdash 11/06/07 - 09:57:52 PM
the vocals are abit quiet, mostly because I wasn't crazy about how my voice was sounding in the lower register. may give it another shot. thansk for the vote of confidence.

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yeah yeah &mdash 11/06/07 - 07:20:57 PM
I was listening and it was like I was hearing a cool band that I spent 16 bucks on. Im so glad MJ's has such a gifted song writer as you. besides I couldnt buy music now if my life depended on it!

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16 bucks? &mdash 11/06/07 - 10:01:12 PM
you gotta buy used my friend. i can't kick the habit, still addicted to new music. i need to win the lottery so that I can have an excuse for doing nothing but playing and listening to music. thanks for stopping by.

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Wow &mdash 11/06/07 - 07:27:34 PM
I should just cut and paste my normal compliments to you...great song, great production! I agree with cjhoose...you're definitely one of the best here on MJ.

Mike

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thanks &mdash 11/06/07 - 10:03:17 PM
that's very kind of you. i just appreciate the fact that there are people like you willing to listen to my stream of consciousness. thanks.

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Wow Michael &mdash 11/06/07 - 08:00:17 PM
You always do a super job. Vocals are tight, lyrics great, instruments awesome. If I had to do without any music at all in my life and not have the pleasure of enjoying more of your creations...well I think I'd rather be dead. Great song! Thanks for sharing.


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thanks Gail &mdash 11/06/07 - 10:05:27 PM
really nice compliment (which i have never been good at accepting BTW). i'm so glad that you liked the song, it's better than getting paid when someone appreciated your efforts.

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turn me on dead man &mdash 11/06/07 - 08:37:42 PM
cool song on any level really. the guitar line here is there. maybe a little quicker tempo to get the revolver rock sound. But that said it does come close to modern "rain" song. kinda.

Anyway, what you should have done was submit it as a Badfinger lost track.

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vic &mdash 11/06/07 - 10:08:57 PM
don't think that i didn't ponder passing it off as a badfinger LSP, but the harmonies are just all wrong. you're absolutely right about the tempo, tried to make it faster after the fact, but if there's a way I couldn't figure it out (the live instruments were plodding along at their normal speed). it seemed like the right tempo when i strummed along with an acoustic, but with the electrics it's a little slow. oh well, live and learn, i had my fun.

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Cool &mdash 11/06/07 - 09:09:45 PM
I really like the instruments. Especially what started as the faux Revolver guitar. Personally I can barely hear the higher voice in the harmony, so I vote for more work on that. The lead guitar that comes in later in the song is right on.

Thanks
Bill

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peacepiano &mdash 11/06/07 - 10:12:32 PM
thanks for giving this one a spin. the guitars were the most fun to play with. had problems with the vox; the song is a little under my range in the verse, and i usually don't do that many harmonies and honestly it just started to get confusing. i may try the vox again though if i get bored. but i'll probably just do another song. maybe if the wife ever leaves town for a week, i'll remix everything i've done in the last year.

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Dang Michael2!!! &mdash 11/06/07 - 11:05:51 PM
I know we as macjam listeners are supposed to tear a song posting apart with precise criticism....but if I had any criticism about this tune, I'd direct it all at me, because I want my guitar chordings and soloings to be and sound as "on purpose" as yours do in their placement in this song!! I love the sounds you achieved here. I really enjoy the chord changes and how they seem to resonate with your vocal harmonies. I like how the steady bass holds it all down like adhesive. And the guitar solos/riffs or whatever you call them are downright tasty. They fill the right parts fully and sound like they absolutely belong right where you placed them in the song. And then your vocal harmonies just seem to sail along right on top of it all.

I wish I could "see" your internal thought process in the crafting of a new song so I can apply it to whatever it is I am doing with my instruments and computer.

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thanks a bunch &mdash 11/07/07 - 12:18:59 AM
so glad you like. wish i had something to pass on, but really i'm just kind of winging it. there's lots of bum notes and mistakes in there if you listen hard enough. i really appreciate the fact that you listened and enjoyed, it means a lot to me when people can appreciate my stuff. i haven't heard your stuff yet, but I will be checking it out tomorrow (it's late here) and getting back to you. thanks again.

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Sound &mdash 11/07/07 - 01:10:17 AM
Great sound dude. Nice and heavy. The real bass adds alot, I often feel like the rhythm of a bass gets lost with a midi bass. The tone of the guitar licks was spot on. What preset were you using? Good set of words. I really sympathise with your friend, his life sounds like hell. :)

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hey &mdash 11/07/07 - 12:50:15 PM
thanks for the comment. a real bass definitely gets more of the rhythm that the MIDI loses. the gtr sounds were from the line6 pocket pod, there are sounds from different songs on it. most of the good sounds are from zeppelin, the who and the beatles. there are other amp models too that you can tweak. definitely worth the 100 bucks i spent on it. i should sell my amps at this point, since i never drag em out anymore.

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Whatever It Is... &mdash 11/07/07 - 01:52:30 AM
It sounds pretty good. ;)

Nice instrumental work in here, with a very good Beatles flavor.

It is a bit slow for a good Beatles mix, but to get more of a Beatles feel on the harmonies, I would suggest foregoing the unison lyric harmonies and instead go with some *Ahs* and maybe some *La-la-la's*. I'd try lumping them in the same general space in the mix, as well. And bring the vocals forward a bit.

Still, very well done. ;)

--- Joe

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thanks &mdash 11/07/07 - 12:53:50 PM
for listening and for the tips. i love getting tech tips. i should have done the ah's but couldn't resist attempting a 3 part harmony. the positioning in the mix is a great idea tho, would make it sound more like a chord. i always try to mix as if i'm standing in front of a band playiing live, but that's a great idea. thanks.

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I concur... &mdash 11/07/07 - 01:58:47 AM
great songwriting. You have a very good ear for that authentic sixties sound. The song has a great 'feel' to it and is extremely well played and sung. Excellent.
Cheers
Len



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thanks lengold &mdash 11/07/07 - 12:56:10 PM
i think the beatles are what dragged me into my love of psych-pop (of course no one could ever live up to their legacy). thanks for listening.

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Oooohh... &mdash 11/07/07 - 07:59:33 AM
...I definitely heard "Revolver" in there.

Very, very well done, sir...loved it...

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thank you &mdash 11/07/07 - 01:01:00 PM
the revolver is in the gtr (and i definitely tried for it), but somehow the Byrds came out (who i worship as well).

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Spot on Michael! &mdash 11/07/07 - 08:52:52 AM
I just came from the exercise bike and watching Austin Powers and then on reading my email I find this wonderful song that picks up where the movie's soundtrack left off! Great sound - another winner sir!

Cheers,
Doug

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thanks doug &mdash 11/07/07 - 01:03:33 PM
i'm too young to remember all of that music firsthand, but my folks record collection for sure warped my brain as a kid. thanks for listening.

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Man... &mdash 11/07/07 - 08:54:10 AM
Right on! Micheal - Excellent writing/playing and performing! Totally diggn' this from start to finish. Excellent job on the traps to! Hiring a good drummer doesn't happen that often around here. I read long ago that if you don't have a good drummer, you don't have a good band. I guess I believed that. Liked the freak show at the end, too.

Wow! A mighty fine piece of music all the way around! Definitely having one for the road! Thanks! Dion

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thanks &mdash 11/07/07 - 01:06:26 PM
i'm trying to get better drums in my songs lately. it's hard with the loops though, especially on fills. tried to add some percussion to make the parts a little different. i know there has to be a way to make your own fills, but i haven't figured it out yet. thanks for noticing though, the drums took twice as long as anything else in this one.

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nice job! &mdash 11/07/07 - 11:45:20 AM
This sounds like Teenage Fanclub playing "Rain". Guitars sound great, nice harmonies, cool vibe, etc. Well done! Downloaded.

(Everything should sound like Revolver!)

B

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thanks for listening &mdash 11/07/07 - 01:08:56 PM
i love teenage fan club, alcoholiday is one of my favorite songs still. maybe i'll do a mash up of "rain" and "all tomorrows parties" one of these days. thanks for the listen.

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There is no 'lost'... &mdash 11/07/07 - 02:54:55 PM
it's an illusion. Very deft production - the difference between what you tried to attain muscalyand what you arrived at is in my neuron scrambled opinion inconsequential, kinda like an onion orbiting a hot dog. I hope this has 'helped' you - as if you need it. Be lucky.

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wow michael &mdash 11/07/07 - 03:38:27 PM
..damn near speechless...but not quiet enough to not tell u how much i loved this....and no think george is smiling.....hats off man

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Cool &mdash 11/07/07 - 10:18:59 PM
The guitar sounds very "Revolver". There's a cool 60's vibe to this that I'm grooving on.

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Brilliant &mdash 11/08/07 - 09:52:16 AM
job you've done here. The sound is as good as any I've heard I think and the heavy bass melds in nicely with everything else, but the singing, lyrics, playing and production are tops, regards M

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thanks a bunch moviz &mdash 11/09/07 - 01:07:44 AM
glad you like, this one was fun for me.

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When i saw the title &mdash 11/08/07 - 01:33:18 PM
i just had to listen. This is super!

I do hear a bit of Doctor Robert in the guitar.

Glad i caught this. Thanks.

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I love the &mdash 11/08/07 - 10:40:58 PM
guitar sound on this.There's a note that George Harrison hits toward the end of Abbey Road (open A right before the drum solo.)that I always thought was the best sounding guitar note ever recorded on a rock album.You've come close to that sound.Is that a miked amp? It sounds great.
I actually kind of like the tempo.Excellent all around.

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no amps &mdash 11/09/07 - 01:00:38 AM
it's just about impossible with a baby in the house. i used the line6 pocket pod, which believe it or not has some good sounds on it. i used to make fun of amp modeling when i could use my amps, but now i'm wondering whether i should sell them to beef up my computer equipment (not planning on playing out anymore so i don't really need them).

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I'd rather be dead &mdash 11/09/07 - 01:30:27 AM
I'd rather be dead than to miss out on this song! Awesome!!!

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Great ! &mdash 11/09/07 - 02:28:08 PM
Mikey deliver one of his best vocal tracks or maybe one of his best songs so far .. This is just perfect Mikey. The guitars work just great and the vocal .. I'm Impressed with it .. just great my friend !

Take Care
==============
Yeman Auf Al-Rawi

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glad you like &mdash 11/09/07 - 03:01:14 PM
this was a fun way for me to pass the afternoon. thanks for listening.

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very good! &mdash 11/10/07 - 10:15:50 AM
wow very nice. Catchy with great lyrics and story. A

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i'm &mdash 11/10/07 - 04:19:35 PM
glad you like. thanks for listening.

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Wow &mdash 11/10/07 - 02:56:49 PM
Wow this is really superb music.
Tasty alll way through.
I love it as much as I would have done if it came out 1967 and I was 15.

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thanks Cori &mdash 11/10/07 - 04:22:12 PM
so glad you liked. there are some things I'd change if I had the patience to redo this song (tempo could be a little faster), but overall I am pretty pleased with it. i'm so glad that my mom had Beatles records when I was growing up (dad was into jazz). thanks for stpping by.

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Beatles and Byrds &mdash 11/10/07 - 04:49:12 PM
Very well written. played/sung and recorded. I think Revolver is the closest until the bridge, where McGuinn sits in.
Lovely stuff Michael.

Neil

ps how did you get McCartney to do the bass track?
;)

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thanks &mdash 11/10/07 - 06:27:27 PM
McCartney showed up because McQuinn was there, but his marital problems were eating up too much time, so i got the guy from the Replacements to finish up the song.

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Great tune! &mdash 11/10/07 - 08:11:41 PM
The chorus sounds very REM, not Grateful Dead at all.
Guitar work is tasty.
The only room for improvement might be in the harmonies; I can almost hear a higher part., and perhaps some drum fills or crashes to separate the early verses.

But overall it doesnt really need much tweaking.

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thanks a bunch &mdash 11/10/07 - 09:16:52 PM
glad you liked. you're right about the tweaking: there is a higher harmony in there, but when i exported the song from GB it got buried, as far as drums go, I am just starting to figure out how to get better drums and make parts. training myself to create them with the software and think like a drummer at the same time. thanks for stopping by.

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I am ... &mdash 11/10/07 - 11:10:31 PM
... luvvin the harmonies in this best of all. The ending very beatles-esq ... but you always do a good job M2. Easy to see why this has a lot of fans.

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thanks &mdash 11/11/07 - 12:52:24 AM
Alannah, i'm glad you approve. thanks for giving it a listen.

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Wow!.. &mdash 11/11/07 - 09:56:14 AM
I mean this as a compliment. You have a "Tom Petty" style of vox that hits it right on the money. If someone would of told me that it was Petty, I would of believed them.

The music and performance is tight and the style of vox is the icing on the cake.

I enjoyed this a lot. Thanks for the download.

Great job.

Chris

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tom petty &mdash 11/13/07 - 11:51:02 AM
is cool. always liked him. he also likes the rip off the classics (in feel more than straight up thievery). thanks so much for listening.

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Cool rockin &mdash 11/12/07 - 07:37:28 AM
Reminds me of a Beatles feel. Which sets the tune off nicely.
Your voice here is nice to hear.

Way to go. Got the works, cool rockin and nice talkin :) I mean singin.

Way to go!

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- &mdash 11/13/07 - 05:49:46 AM
nice easy listening - could be an r.e.m or happy mondays song.Well done,M!

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mmm &mdash 11/13/07 - 09:39:11 AM
i never thought to try it in a manchester type of setting, but that's right. happy mondays or stone roses. thanks for listening.

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Hey! &mdash 11/15/07 - 08:42:57 PM
Nice job with this. Wish I had something insightful to say, but.... I just like it! :)

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Rock History Stew &mdash 11/19/07 - 02:16:03 PM
You have brewed up a tasty concoction. Your influences are so numerous and unique, that your songs appeal to anyone that ever liked a song! Know what I mean?

This is really a yummy tune. You're definitely one of the Head Chefs here. Sell your amps and buy some more bowls.

Great song Michael. Thanks for the download.

Bob

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