well... &mdash 01/17/08 - 05:36:41 AM
with your distinctive voice and guitar, excellent but sad lyrics and alf on the case i have high (no change there) hopes for this piece! but... it's so grey and wet here in blighty that i have to leave you now and find something pink - surely it must be out there somewhere ... i know ... i'll go to my itunes and listen to 'jiguma blues' - byess for now xoxoxoxo and thank you [ Reply to This ]
Caro ... &mdash 01/17/08 - 01:43:45 PM
... it seems a long time since we chatted ... hours at least ;) Thanks for the comment - I hadn't realised that this wasn't really an uplifting song before we spoke. I've had a pretty down few months, and this just reflects that I guess. We did at least get rid of our government, and most wonderfully our Prime Minister Howard, who not only lost power, but also lost his own seat!
Sorry, I digress ... now ..... something pink. I'll work on it.
:) Neil [ Reply to This ]
Great song &mdash 01/17/08 - 06:13:25 AM
that speaks to so much that's going on (everywhere I guess!). Great production and playing. Everything sounds terrific - from that first kick to that clean acoustic guitar sound to your outstanding vocal sound. Lead is nice, too - that's a nice effect you've got on there. The consistency of your sound and the quality of your songwriting is truly impressive. Pro stuff, dude. Very nicely done. Peace. [ Reply to This ]
Cheers David &mdash 01/17/08 - 04:29:49 PM
Glad you like the sound - it's purposely very "big" in the ears. Most tracks are first takes - I've redone each track a number of times, but always went back to these. Motto for this one: "When you're angry and you know it clap your hands!".
Peace,
Neil [ Reply to This ]
good stuff! &mdash 01/17/08 - 09:02:27 AM
this reads beautifully, neil, and flows so nicely in the listen. wonderful instrumentation! the little sweet spot of anguished & tangled guitars in the solo was perfect. neat chord changes - you do those so well.
the way you bring it all together with the "bad guys" having wounds themselves is just great. i could listen to you sing all day - nobody sounds like you. excellent tension in the piece - be proud!
anne [ Reply to This ]
Thanks for the kind words Anne &mdash 01/17/08 - 04:33:41 PM
It was one of those elections where you knew who you DIDN'T want to win, but the option wasn't quite as "right" as you'd like. The better guys won, but still some concerns. At least we signed Kyoto and our health system looks like getting some badly needed funds.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Neil [ Reply to This ]
The Song Art Looks Painful... &mdash 01/17/08 - 11:51:37 AM
The last set of verses "I've been hoping..." kind of sums up how I feel about our upcoming presidential election here in the U.S. At least one side is preaching hope and real change, but will it really happen? I'm hoping for change, but will it do any good...
Excellent as usual. The tone of the tune I think fits how a lot of people feel right now, at least where I am, about the state of affairs. You've really captured that mood.
I think it would be interesting to hear an alternative version with the strings and harmonies, but it works great as it is.
Enjoyed it, my friend. [ Reply to This ]
We've got low morale .. &mdash 01/19/08 - 01:24:42 AM
.. kind of sums things up i guess. Increased housing rates for the young folks, increasing military involvements where most people don't want it, reduced "safety nets" for those having trouble (health, financial, housing etc) were all beginning to get everyone here down.
Our new government is already making some changes - planning a formal apology to our aboriginal peoples for some awful things we did during early settlement (and much more recently also). Signing Kyoto was also a positive step. We'll see what happens, but so far so good - things seem on the improve - hope your elections have a similar result.
Musically, thanks for the comment - it's a relatively simple song with just enough happening musically to keep the ears open ;)
Cheers Joseph, always enjoy your comments.
Neil [ Reply to This ]
The first &mdash 01/17/08 - 12:29:36 PM
thing I noticed was the excellent production - everything sounds great. Lovely song Neil and extremely well arranged and played.
Cheers
Len
[ Reply to This ]
MIXED EMOTIONS &mdash 01/17/08 - 12:45:00 PM
Ahhh just another cool song from Neil ..you
realy do great chords structures my friend.
and as any song of yours ,you let the lyrics
speaks through the music "Can I see blood there on your hands?" ..Kudos my friend jsut another gem !!
[ Reply to This ]
Mixer &mdash 01/17/08 - 02:13:20 PM
When I saw the mixer, I knew I had to comment. Appliances make great graphics for music! They also make great metaphors for modern dilemmas like who to vote for when no one excited you. And as a bonus your song is excellent and very timely. I just checked and my state has joined the "super tuesday" pre-presidential election. Not sure who I will vote for, Not sure what their "plans" really amount to this year.
Thanks
Bill [ Reply to This ]
Another great Tune &mdash 01/17/08 - 03:32:37 PM
Neil
A fine song. Great lyrics and playing. Production a little hot thru my speakers. I would give it more air ( if that makes sense). BTW how do you come up with so many great lyrics as you know I am lyrically challenged right now.
Cheers
Ed [ Reply to This ]
Hi Ed &mdash 01/17/08 - 04:42:33 PM
Thanks for listening. The volume is loud, but not clipped as far as I could tell on my Sennheisers - maybe just a quirk of nature ;)
Lyrics ...... something worth writing about has to happen before I can write something. That might be seeing an article in a paper, something coming into mind from mt past or actually experiencing something directly (doesn't necessarily have to be significant though). These were written before Christmas, and I managed one other set of reasonable words on a song I'm still working on ... BUT ... there are 4 new ones (plus yours) where I just can't figure out what they're going to be about. It's a strange process .. there have been times where full sets of words were appearing every day. Now, nothing much at all. Hopefully this will change.
Cheers from Oz!
Neil [ Reply to This ]
ONE WAY TICKET &mdash 01/17/08 - 03:37:40 PM
Hey, at least he did Kyoto.
That's better than WE got (and we've got Noble Laureate Al Gore!).
Good Tele sound.
Great Production Values.
BUT, Oh, Brother
Politicians are Hopeless! (even Down there).
Very Best Regards,
Coop [ Reply to This ]
Good Neil, good intentions &mdash 01/17/08 - 04:03:44 PM
Nice full sound. Reminds me of a Petty song. Also, like the nice whispery voice. Guitars are also very nice.
Good Neil, simply good.
Dave [ Reply to This ]
Gave me chills &mdash 01/17/08 - 05:01:18 PM
I hear ya on this one, heavy message heavy beat slammin bass and a beautiful guitar. This one is for the ipod thanks for another great song!!!! [ Reply to This ]
When I first listened I was thinking, &mdash 01/17/08 - 07:35:58 PM
how does a guy from NSW, Australia know so much about politicians in the US. And the I realized you were not singing about us, you were singing about Australian politicians. It appears that the politicians are the same all over the globe. They listen to advisors, lobbyists, opinion poles, and crackpots, but they never listen to the people that sent them there in the first place. Except at election time, then they are out among the people listening and talking, and promising to act on all that they hear from the electorate. That is until right after they win the election. Then it's back to business as usual which is trying to figure out how to get more and more power under their control by taking more and more away from, you guessed it, us.
Great song with great production Joseph. Thanks for sharing it and you with all of us. Be well my Australian friend.
Ed [ Reply to This ]
Refinements and tweaks... &mdash 01/17/08 - 07:51:11 PM
...to the ever-evolving jiguma sound...
On this one I am really enjoying the immediacy of the vocal. Present and dry without being overly in my face... Clear enough that one can pick up subtler twinges of emotion...
I like the guitar solo, too...
There's a sort of characteristic acoustic guitar picking pattern with accompanying bass pattern that sounds distinctly you...
Next time out, though, I expect a pop dance number...
Ed [ Reply to This ]
Ed! &mdash 01/17/08 - 08:05:23 PM
How does blues/big band with screaming B3 sound? We can only dream ;)
Thanks for the comment - I'm aware of the way the acoustic/bass interplay is developing and am trying to add some more variation. Now if I could only start getting some lyrics done :)
Cheers from Down Under,
Neil [ Reply to This ]
yea &mdash 01/17/08 - 08:38:58 PM
what has become of the world today? sure seems wide spread aas a growing disease of greed and power.
All the signature Jiguma sounds are here. All good!
The guitar solo was so good it should of been in there twice.
On a side note you have peaked my curiousity on Sennheiser 280 head phones. I have a pair of AKG 310's but they are getting old and have been discontinued. That must be a sign.
[ Reply to This ]
Hi Vic! &mdash 01/17/08 - 08:56:29 PM
Yes, things are getting pretty much like our worst nightmares might have predicted years ago. I've just been reading Ben Elton's latest "novel" - quite light weight in parts but a fairly scathing attack on where we're heading - and we thought OUR worst nightmares were bad!
The Sennheiser HD280 Pro Headphones are good. I've replaced my not so old, but dying anyway Koss R80s with the 280s. Ed (ejh) recommended them to me, and they get great write-ups on Headroom ( http://www.headphone.com/guide/by-headphone-type/sealed-noise-canceling-type/sennheiser-hd-201.php ) where they are in their top 10.
I needed something able to cater for a larger headsize, but still comfortable - they sound really good, a lot better balanced than my Koss phones (and hopefully they'll last a lot longer too). I have seen them on the net for $99US - I bought mine on Australian eBay for 60% off recommended retail price.
They are a lot closer to the sound of my near field monitors in sound than you'd expect from phones.
I appreciate the solo comment. I was going to do another one at the fade, but thought "no, stuff it, let 'em play it all again" ;)
Cheers,
Neil [ Reply to This ]
Ooops &mdash 01/17/08 - 09:07:08 PM
Try this link instead!
http://www.headphone.com/guide/by-headphone-type/sealed-noise-canceling-type/sennheiser-hd-280-pro.php [ Reply to This ]
Hey Vice about the 280s &mdash 01/18/08 - 01:05:42 PM
(sorry Neil! had to jump in this here a bit :) )
I was using lightweight koss pro35A and spent about a month and a half researching headphones for monitor use. The Senns came out for and away on top. I bought mine used and can hear just a bit of use in them but it actually sounds pretty nice adding a bit of a warm effect from the 99% undetectable hum. So even on the degrade these things are sweet! Got mine for 40 bucks American on ebay.
As a side note, they pair pretty dang well with my Klipsch thx 2.1 computer speakers. Just enough difference to validate listening to the same mix downs on them both... but close enough to be fairly accurate across the board no matter the listening device.
Gah! Sorry to go on and on but I spent so much time researching this set up that I feel the need to share my "hard won" knowledge, LOL! Seriously though... great phones for the price you can get them at even if full retail. [ Reply to This ]
You said it all Neil, &mdash 01/17/08 - 08:57:05 PM
There are some beautifully crafted chord changes here. I hope the wounds heal and you get your country back. Unlikely here with the politics of fear; but I hope.
All the best,
Joe [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Joe &mdash 01/17/08 - 09:05:16 PM
At least we got rid of the loony right government we had before :)
Cheers,
Neil [ Reply to This ]
You sure have developed a &mdash 01/17/08 - 10:42:19 PM
nice style. I can almost tell it's you with out even knowing who the artists is. That isn't always easy to do. Especially in the arpeggios of the chorus chord feel, and the trademark Jig singin.
Enjoy and it's good to have you here jig. A great addition to Mj for sure.
Hope with the addition to MJ 2 your obtain even more recognition of your find pop country, folk, alternative rock talents and more.
Thanks for sharing, [ Reply to This ]
Did anyone say Dylanesque yet? &mdash 01/18/08 - 01:14:11 PM
Or some such hybrid word?? Lol... I loved the social justice aspect, love all the instrumentation. My only two nit picks are the volume attacks on the guitar intros need just a bit of softening, feels a bit too punchy in the come on. The other isnt even a nit pick just a though... but Id love to hear you copy up your lead vocal track and run some different fx through it. At the moment Im thinking something grainy and dirty feeling.
I cant believe the depth of your talent sometimes, the way you channel your music is what I think many of us aspire to Neil. Sorry dont wanna gush and stuff... but my friend, Id pay a buck for that song on itunes with no second thoughts. [ Reply to This ]
It a Hit &mdash 01/18/08 - 01:56:59 PM
wow.. If I heard this on the radio, i'd buy it straight away.
This really draws you in. Wonderful bass, and you're voice is rich and direct. A dreamy evocative lyric, which really speaks to the listener. this is a killer song Neil, really mature.
steve [ Reply to This ]
brave heart &mdash 01/18/08 - 05:49:19 PM
what a larger than life sound. the chorus progression/melody is outstanding. in my sweet sonic spot. [ Reply to This ]
Neil... &mdash 01/18/08 - 08:36:27 PM
Not much to add, except...
you are one friggin' one man band. Guitars are luscious. The bass ain't bad ;) and your honest voice is coming through as convincingly plaintive, yet not overdone. The electric guitar solo was superb... I found myself wishing you continued it later as a background riff behind the vocal. Just a thought.
best to you "down there." [ Reply to This ]
i haven't heard a lot of your work... &mdash 01/18/08 - 08:42:07 PM
...but this is excellent.
Especially the mix, and choice of sounds and how you put them together.
Your vocals are sustained in the low register, which suits the subject matter perfectly. It sort of comes off sounding tired and resigned, when in fact you are very passionate about the message. Great combination! [ Reply to This ]
great song &mdash 01/20/08 - 10:48:54 AM
great song, great lyrics, great performance. Still too loud for my taste. Too much compression. Looks sort of flat when I open it up in Peak and look at the sound wave, and I guess this is pretty much the way most modern music is mastered these days, but I wish there was more dynamics in it. The simmering anger might be better displayed with more dynamics. [ Reply to This ]
Thanks for the listen Jim &mdash 01/20/08 - 04:22:25 PM
I knew this was pretty full-on - it seemed like it suited the song, but maybe I'll have a listen to a quieter version and see how it sounds. Your comments are always appreciated (and mental notes made of changes to try).
Thanks again!
Neil [ Reply to This ]
: ) &mdash 01/20/08 - 03:52:54 PM
Liked it alot . Good production and mixing sounds great . Stupid politics : ) [ Reply to This ]
Harmony Vocal &mdash 01/20/08 - 04:34:20 PM
I would suggest a harmony vocal in the chorus.
Overall production and performance is good. Lyrics are very good also as well as melody.
Good song. [ Reply to This ]
Harmony Vocal &mdash 01/20/08 - 04:36:05 PM
I would suggest a harmony vocal in the chorus.
Overall production and performance is good. Lyrics are very good as well as melody.
Good song. [ Reply to This ]
Nice touch &mdash 01/20/08 - 04:57:42 PM
with the dark bass line. Really initiates the feeling to the composition. Quite appropriate to post at this time with similar occurrences here on my continent. I hope I choose the lesser of the evils. Think they really care or is it all about special interests. Thanks for sharing. [ Reply to This ]
The bass line of &mdash 01/21/08 - 06:57:48 AM
Yeah... &mdash 01/21/08 - 11:21:00 AM
...really enjoyed this.
As others have said, musically it's a pretty simple idea that just keeps circling around, brooding and tense. But the production is crystal clear and it keeps everything in check. I kept thinking that at any moment it was going to burst with a big explosion of drums but it's better for keeping the lid on it ultimately. You can tell you are almost singing the words through gritted teeth. Very tense all the way through. Politics can do that to a man. Glad you got your anger down on paper and in chords. Excellent.
Phil [ Reply to This ]
When I first... &mdash 01/22/08 - 10:16:56 PM
...saw the artwork, I had to laugh. Thought it was going to be a satire...
...right...this hits like a sledgehammer...
I'm right with you, brother...great tune... [ Reply to This ]
Great lyrics &mdash 01/23/08 - 03:13:02 PM
great guitar playing,excellent vocal.You always come up with interesting chord progressions which draws me in right away.You really have a unique sound and songwriting style-not an easy thing to come by! [ Reply to This ]
Great prduction Neil &mdash 01/24/08 - 07:23:04 AM
Emotional rescue &mdash 01/25/08 - 01:42:12 AM
Nice big sound on this....like the chord progression, it definitely has that Jiguma style imprinted on it. Good to hear you playing more lead guitar too
Nice one
Steve [ Reply to This ]
great recording &mdash 01/26/08 - 09:53:15 PM
Strong intro.
I stopped reading the papers
stopped watching the news and i am now living in my
idealistic peace, but your words remind me of trouble
we must hold hands around the world
after all we are all from the same herd.
strong tune
well writen and performed
excellent recording
nice job Neil
love your stuff
[ Reply to This ]
Great to hear your jams! &mdash 02/05/08 - 12:21:39 AM
I've been away too long and it's great to hear your music again. I'm also green envious of where you're living! Anyway, super-clean production; everything is beautifully distinct. Thank you! [ Reply to This ]
Mix master &mdash 02/05/08 - 07:29:06 PM
Hove cool is this you are the best... I have not forget but it have been so many things around us here and we get our BROADBAND today I come to BYE your CD so fast I can I'll mean it's much to catch up with the music things.... Stay cool that's the rule.
Take care
---
Kenta [ Reply to This ]
Superb &mdash 02/18/08 - 01:43:14 AM
Wonderful! &mdash 03/14/08 - 11:34:13 AM
I'm listening to some of your previous works, after re-hearing your most recent, and most recent collab, and being blown away by you all over again. I love your voice, wonderful guitar - it's great! [ Reply to This ]
Excellent. &mdash 03/19/08 - 07:35:51 PM
Absolutely loved the way you sang your song. Your voice is really awsome- it sounds really clear and quite powerful.
Your guitar playing sounds really good too. There was nothing that I did not like about this.
it did sound sad- but then again some great songs are created out of a sad feeling and this is also one of them. Your also a very good song writer as well. Hope your feeling better now though. And thanks for sharing.
Peace Dee.
[ Reply to This ]
Absolutely terrific! &mdash 05/14/08 - 03:54:29 PM
What else can i say? Another great song from you!
You always have such a rich sound. :) [ Reply to This ]
Now it's coming to me &mdash 05/22/08 - 01:18:22 PM
I missed all of these tunes when I was dealing w/ the loss of my dad. Something about this tune made me remember... (even though I hadn't heard it)
Your music just always goes straight to where it's supposed to be w/ me, Neil. Very close to my heart and nearest my soul. Maybr it's because you can tell by listening that, it's from these places within you that is the place from whence this stuff has come...
Love that short g'tar solo in this. That could have gone on forever! Great great writing. It's starting feel a bit ridiculous to keep saying that - but at the same time, it can't be said enough.
Thanks again, Neil! [ Reply to This ]
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