CAn't believe nobody else has commented yet, so I'll chime in. Overall I like the compositions, so I'd mainly suggest tweaking the EQ. Songs 1-3 in particular are really bass heavy - I like to feel and hear the bass but not be pushed over by it. The guitar tracks in most of the songs could use more emphasis on the highs and maybe some of the mid-range or upper mids. The cymbals need to be taken down a notch - they are very prominent and kind of biting, so maybe tame the high frequencies on those. Song 2 around 1:10 or 1:20 gets too cymbal heavy, such that it sounds very clashy - maybe use different cymbals there (maybe hi-hat?).

But overall has a nice heavy Dick Dale Tribal Thunder sound to it.

The guitar is going through my fender tank, into pedalboard, into Cabzone LE irs into a focus rite Scarlett into my mbpro running audacity.

My friend, two states away, records the drums on his electronic kit and emails me the wav file.

I'll see if I can get the individual drums broken out in the future.

I can understand on the bass heaviness. I'm going for a little more of a rock feel than straight up traditional surf, but I'll try toning the bass down.

My budget is $0 and I'm looking to cut that in half!

JonnyAngle.Bandcamp.com
DroppingAcidPedalEtching.com

Oof that’s some harsh barley @sandbug

I cannot live without responding. Thanks for your contribution.

I am aware that I am not a god lol. But you seriously don’t hear any elements of thrash metal in my riffs? I thought that was quite apparent vs other surf music.

You are spot on for the drums on hard packed and gnar czars. Those are the songs that I’m playing drums. However, on future recordings I am going to use a click track to line it up better. I’m using a Roland td11 kit. I’ll see if there’s another kit in there that sounds more realistic.

Nitrus is also a cover of a dick dale tune.

How do you know the Penetrators played that song in drop d? I only play the top string on the G and F chords?

Re: copywrite I am not able
To give writing credits in bandcamp or other streaming sites. I also have netted $0 through my use of their songs.

Thanks for the criticism. This is the first set of songs I’m proud to release. “It sounds perfect” is nice to hear but also doesn’t really help me get better. Recording is really tough.

JonnyAngle.Bandcamp.com
DroppingAcidPedalEtching.com

I think we need to take a moment to roast Sandbug for not knowing Nitrus. Given the intensity of his post, I think it's warranted...

Moving on, though, the primary gripe I'll field is thankfully a fairly painless one--and that is timing. Gotta tighten it way up. Find the pocket and climb up in that bitch.

Secondarily, I would agree that the melodic content is fairly thin gruel. Some of that fact one might attribute to the target genre, which isn't strict surf, but still--no one ever complains about a good melody.

I forget who it was who said it (maybe Paul Johnson himself??) but someone mentioned trying to have at least three solid ideas in every song. I do know for sure that Paul pieced together Mr. Moto from multiple separate ideas he had kicking around and if that song isn't proof that it works, I don't know what is.

Arpeggios are the key to good melody, in my opinion. Following the skeletons of the chords rather than fumbling around with random passing notes. Which I'm not saying you do--just that I think it's a common thing for aspiring surf guitarists when they don't know much theory. I did it. But you can totally get away with writing a song that is nothing more than chord arpeggios played in various sequences and even though it kind of feels like cheating, it works!

For your songs, I'd recommend going back and trying to fit different sections into them. Manipulate the buildup and release of tension. It might move you away from the thrash genre (I admit I'm not really up on what this is) but it might also deliver you more satisfying songs and prove itself a worthwhile exercise.

Finally, to everyone who's complaining about it: The surf god thing was clearly done in humor. His posting of this thread, opening himself to being ripped apart by Earth's general population should be proof enough of his humility, shouldn't it?

Last edited: May 27, 2020 19:24:11

JonnyAngle wrote:

Oof that’s some harsh barley @sandbug

Sorry if it seemed rough. You asked for a roast, so i didn't pussyfoot around. I amplified my criticisms to make it a roast. My opinion doesn't really matter anyway.

I cannot live without responding. Thanks for your contribution.

You're welcome, of course take everything i said with a grain of sea salt. Really, I'm just a nobody.

I am aware that I am not a god lol. But you seriously don’t hear any elements of thrash metal in my riffs? I thought that was quite apparent vs other surf music.

Yeah, i got that you were joking around. And correct, i don't hear any Thrash, we very well could have a different understanding of the genre. Some bands that i think are thrash are Slayer, Anthrax, Sodom, Possessed, Aura Noir, ect... I'm just not hearing it, that's OK.

Nitrus is also a cover of a dick dale tune.

Well, here's where your appropriate crediting has fallen short again, maybe you should give credit to the original authors in the song title listing, out of respect for the original artist. Otherwise clueless people like me might not get it. I can't help that I'm just a surf guitar poser that obviously deserves to be roasted myself since i don't know every song Dick Dale ever played.

How do you know the Penetrators played that song in drop d? I only play the top string on the G and F chords?

I used my ears. In their version i can hear the low D being played along with a D minor chord. I could be wrong, but i'm fairly certain it's in drop D. And of course it's fine to do it your way though, that's what makes it your own version. No rules.

Thanks for the criticism. This is the first set of songs I’m proud to release. “It sounds perfect” is nice to hear but also doesn’t really help me get better. Recording is really tough.

It's good that you use this forum to get information, but honestly it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I'm sure you'll improve with or without the collective wizdumb of the internet. The key is to just keep doing whatever you do and move forward. I imagine you know yourself better than anyone else. If you can hear the beauty in something then an audience surely will too.

And to Redfeather... you caught me, I actually know nothing about surf guitar, it's obvious. Thanks to your deep insight I now realize that I shouldn't be giving any sort of opinion about surf music, especially if i haven't memorized every composition by Dick Dale. And do keep in mind that roasts are traditionally voluntary, it wasn't me that asked to be roasted, i was merely trying to cater to his roast request by sharing my opinion because the guy literally asked for it. Let me be clear, I would never ask the opinion of random strangers because whatever someone thinks about me really doesn't matter.

I have not read the previous replies, besides a glance. Did it get inflammatory? Maybe, but I will chime in anyhow.

There is something really ungroovy going on with the drums. It is flamming and almost sounds like you were fighting latency or something when tracking.

Also, and not related to time, you might want to watch the low-end buildup (esp. the low-mids) on these tracks. Overall it has a scooped sound and I love midrange the most, so I am slightly bummed about that. IMHO, surf is all about midrange. YMMV.

The composition and arrangements seem fine to me. Hey, it sounds like surf!

All in all, not bad for an asynchronous, distance recording venture. But, yes, tighten up those drums! Were these my tracks I would translate and/or humanely quantize the entire drum submix to better match the other elements. And shelve that low end a tad?

SSIV

Cool I’m excited for my next project. I’m a 35 yo man that’s basically still at high school demo stages for recording.

I think the next one should be much better. Thanks y’all!

JonnyAngle.Bandcamp.com
DroppingAcidPedalEtching.com