MacJams.com - Song: 1969 by Tom Atwood

said 1702 days ago (March 12th, 2005)

Repetitive
But hey, you were only 13.

There's a number of muffed notes that could easily be
massaged in the editing window.

I think the amount of echo you used may be counter-
productive in spots. Double the keyboard track onto a
new track, same instrument with less echo on it and use it
in the denser parts, cutting out the less desirable track in
sections.

You choice of percussion is pretty unusual. Be nice if it
played a larger part.

The strings sound very synthetic. May as well jump into
the deep end and use a full blown synth pad and go for a
more obvious synth sound.

Tom Atwood

Tom Atwood said 1702 days ago (March 12th, 2005)

Repetitive
Thanks for listening and for the suggestions. The piece is repetitive by
design, a teen stab at early minimalism. But I agree with you about the strings
sounding synthetic. I probably need to explore the different synth sounds and
replace the strings with something else.

This is much different from what I am used to: a mic and a guitar.

Thanks again.

Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

thetiler	thetiler said 1702 days ago (March 12th, 2005)
	I'll bet it is nice ro reminise Nice, you must have a good memory. Sounds like your music kind of matures at the end. Seems like your gonna have fun with GB :) Thanks for sharing Check out my latest song called The Bluebird Cafe (with two other guest)

	said 1702 days ago (March 12th, 2005)
	In 1969 The strings would have been done on a Mellotron. :) I think that it sounds fine as it is. I enjoyed this, the rhythm, melody and production.

Iseae

Iseae said 1702 days ago (March 12th, 2005)

Loved that lead
I agree with Troy, it would have been great to have taht
percussion play a lager part in the song. It's so
interesting. The song was a little repetative, but still held
my attention for the whole song. I really liked your lead
synth, but would have like the background strings to
come in a little louder, they were hard for me to discern.
Not bad for a 13 year old.

Check out my latest song called Vickys Song

Tom Atwood	Tom Atwood said 1702 days ago (March 12th, 2005)
	Loved that lead Thanks Leila. In recording this I was trying to be true to the minimalist approach I took to this doodle when I composed it 36 years ago (ouch!). That's why the percussion is so spare. But I suppose to be really true I should just record a piano only version. Glad you like the lead. Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

Peter Greenstone

Peter Greenstone said 1702 days ago (March 12th, 2005)

nice idea
It's really cool that you still had that idea in your head
from back then. I like this melody a lot. It's simple yet
complex in its emotions.

This is an iteresting change from your other music.
You've got quite a range of styles. That's very cool.

I'm not sure exactly what to suggest for this. Well,
something does come to mind: It does seem like there is
space for more in there. I know you were going all digital
on this one, but you know what I hear fitting in here really
well? ...a live solo cello or perhaps violin. As far as I
know, you don't play (or own) either of those instruments,
but that's what I hear fitting in there with what you have.
Midi probably just wouldn't sound righ on a solo
instrument like that. Maybe someone could play a part
that you write.

Check out my latest song called From Nothing

Tom Atwood

Tom Atwood said 1702 days ago (March 12th, 2005)

nice idea
Thanks Peter. There aren't many piano pieces rattling around in my head, but
this is one that has always been with me. Whenever I sit down and try out a
piano or keyboard, this is what I play. In fact, that's probably why it's the first
tune I recorded with the new keyboard. When I brought it home and hooked it
up, this is what I played. And then played around with the GB toys...

Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

said 1702 days ago (March 12th, 2005)

Thirteen!!

This is real good for a thirteen year old. Kudos. I found
this keyboard song to be a delight. As far as GBand input,
I'll leave that to other's with more knowledge and
experience. Just knwoing you composed this at 13 and
now hearing you play it at age, hmmm let me think now...
49 (close enough), kind of gives a little window into
knowing that kid who now sings and plays guitar so well.
Have fun with GB.

Jack

Tom Atwood	Tom Atwood said 1702 days ago (March 13th, 2005)
	Thirteen!! 48! (at least for a couple more months) Thanks for the kind words, Jack. It's fun for me to think about the 13-year-old, with all his dreams, who wrote this. Imagine if GarageBand had existed in 1969? Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

	said 1701 days ago (March 13th, 2005)
	Thirteen!! If GarageBand had existed in 1969... then no one would have shown up at Woodstock!! That would have altered the time/space continuem and, and......................... too scary! ; ) Jack --- Making melody with your heart...

_nderscore

_nderscore said 1702 days ago (March 13th, 2005)

light & airy
very upbeat & nimble batch of sounds. i enjoyed how the
elements build. the use of stringed synth washes in the
latter half was a masterful way to take the song in a
different direction without altering what was already there.
my critique would be that the notes in the first 30 secs or
so seemed a little scattered compared to the remainder of
the song (see troy's comment re: echo FX). really nice job
on the keys & perc

Check out my latest song called glyd

Tom Atwood

Tom Atwood said 1702 days ago (March 13th, 2005)

light & airy
Thanks _nderscore. For someone who has only rarely played on digital instruments, it is very tempting for me to overuse the effects. When I firstplayed that echo piano, I liked how some notes doubled, almost like two pianos at once. But I think for some listeners it is distracting.

What I may do is rework this piece with multiple pianos, no echo, and see where that goes. Thanks for the comments.

Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 1702 days ago (March 13th, 2005)
	I was born in 1969 ... ... so I thought I'd come and have a listen. Very tuneful and thoughtful. I particularly like the passage which leads up to the ending. Very nice. Congrats on your first GB production ... may there be many more to come. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

said 1701 days ago (March 13th, 2005)

First Time Firing up the Casio.........sweet.
Nice work man. I really liked this piece of music and it
was different and unique enough so that I even listened a
second and then a third time. Each time I liked it more
and more. I like that there is some complexity in your
chord progessions and thing aren't going just where we
expect them to in this one. Nice job with being different
in your style. I don't know that this song needs to be
changed at all...........or if you do change it up then be
sure and save this mix as well. I like the simplicity of
instrumentations here, and the sample that you used is
really mellow and nice. I think that if you add too much of
anything to that it may just cloud things up........who
knows though.

Great Job with this one!! Here's to many more to come!!!!

said 1701 days ago (March 13th, 2005)

First Time Firing up the Casio.........sweet.
Nice work man. I really liked this piece of music and it
was different and unique enough so that I even listened a
second and then a third time. Each time I liked it more
and more. I like that there is some complexity in your
chord progessions and thing aren't going just where we
expect them to in this one. Nice job with being different
in your style. I don't know that this song needs to be
changed at all...........or if you do change it up then be
sure and save this mix as well. I like the simplicity of
instrumentations here, and the sample that you used is
really mellow and nice. I think that if you add too much of
anything to that it may just cloud things up........who
knows though.

Great Job with this one!! Here's to many more to come!!!!

Mystified	Mystified said 1699 days ago (March 16th, 2005)
	Wow... That you could take something from that long ago and recreate it...and so beautifully. I simply and honestly enjoyed every moment of it. Can't think of anything to say, except... Kudos to you, and thanks for bringing it back and sharing it here! Check out my latest song called Forever Voyaging (space race 2009)

K.I.S.KISMET	K.I.S.KISMET said 1698 days ago (March 16th, 2005)
	Unaging zeal Terrific and original melody . Love the choice of percussion. All the right elements are here, they just need some accentuation. The build up at the ending was a nice touch, I would have liked to have heard more of that. Check out my latest song called haud lux lucis

Tom Atwood	Tom Atwood said 1698 days ago (March 16th, 2005)
	Thanks Rebsie, MMM, Mystified and KIS, for the kind words. I remember in 1969, most of the people (friends & family) who heard this tune just thought it was odd. The reception 36 years later is much warmer... Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

packosmokes	packosmokes said 1697 days ago (March 18th, 2005)
	Strange Y'know, I can totally hear this in some kind of documentary on PBS.... might not sound like a compliment, but it is. It's that strange sort of thought provoking sound of the early 80s... okay, I'll shut up now. :P Doesn't sound at all like 1969, though... you were ahead of your time! Check out my latest song called With You

Tom Atwood	Tom Atwood said 1697 days ago (March 18th, 2005)
	Strange Hmmm...now that you mention it. Maybe I should use this as a soundtrack for one of my own documentaries??? Thanks Mr. Smokes. Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

TobinMueller

TobinMueller said 1697 days ago (March 18th, 2005)

Joy in playing
I hear the joy in the playing. Love the choice of dreamy
circus sounds. I like the mellow falling bass line. As for
suggestions... after the B-section, when you end it and
start your recapitulation, it sounds like a cut and fade in,
which made for an off-putting transition for me. I like the
variations to the chordal structure in the recap section,
and the addition of strings and lower frequencies. Nice
use of the stereo field. It perculates in a compelling way
throughout, altho perhaps takes too long to deepen and
widen, and then stops before the promise of something is
fulfilled. (Consider a coda?)

Check out my latest song called Forge A New Life (MJRF)

TennesseeVic	TennesseeVic said 1693 days ago (March 21st, 2005)
	I like this! The piano sounds as if there is a sync'ed echo on it. This is a very cool texture. Interesting chords too. Check out my latest song called Tecmo Superbowl 2009 w/ Dead End (MJRF 2004)

	said 1693 days ago (March 21st, 2005)
	"New Teenage" - a new genre? Sounds good to me. I like the floating, traveling sensation this piece evokes. I had no problem staying quiet in my seat for the entire ride.

White Hawks	White Hawks said 1692 days ago (March 22nd, 2005)
	Great!! Coool! This song sounds a bit mysterious and I like it. I can't believe that this song is composed by 13 years old. I really enjoyed listening to it! - Hawks. Check out my latest song called Shepherds Out in the Field

	said 987 days ago (February 26th, 2007)
	Fantastic Vive la repetition!!!! I really like this song bmc

bitfeld	10
desakota	18
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