You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

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Armistice
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You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by Armistice »

Hokay... at last, 'tis done - the song I've been talking about forever.

You Monster

Thanks to Bubba and Vomit Hat Steve for the additional "kill me" vocals - such a sweet choir. :biggrin: Much appreciated. :coolstorybro:

My favourite bit is the second half of the middle section, with the trem guitar "figure. :smiles:

As usual, ears shot, heard it too many times etc. Need some perspective. Blah, blah, blah. Have at it, peeps.


YOU MONSTER

You use the methods of the Artful Dodger, without his excuses
I say “What the Dickens was that all about?” You say, “People have their uses”
You pick from that pocket, you steal from that line
In the Court of Love, it’d be convict time
She’s pretty unhappy, she’s a bit of a wreck
You just left her broken and you left her with the cheque
You monster

Kill me, if I’m ever like you
Kill me, it’s the kindest thing
Kill me, if I’m ever like you
Kill me, it’s the kindest thing

I don’t remember how it got like this, you’re a sorry excuse for a friend
My neck gets so sore from shaking my head, and I’m tired of having to defend you
Just between us chickens – can you give it a rest?
Can you scratch that itch, can you get it off your chest?
She’s crying, she’s angry, she’s drinking too much wine
You just turn your back and say, “Nah, she’ll be fine”
You monster

Kill me, if I’m ever like you
Kill me, it’s the kindest thing
Kill me, if I’m ever like you
Kill me, it’s the kindest thing

Everyone hates you, friends all berate you, nobody rates you at all
Still you persist, you turn and you twist, give it time mister you’ll fall
Everyone hates you – nobody rates you
Still you persist – turn and you twist

Some people should come with a warning sign, or a tattoo on their hand
A Lost in Space robot: “Danger Will Robinson!”. Look out! For the quicksand
You think that you’re charming, you think that you’re cut
You’re the master of escape, you slam the door shut
Her confidence is shot, no faith left in love
She’s not just in pain, she is the essence thereof
You monster

Kill me, if I’m ever like you
Kill me, it’s the kindest thing
Kill me, if I’m ever like you
Kill me, it’s the kindest thing
Kill me, if I’m ever like you
Nobody likes you
Nobody likes you
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JD01
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by JD01 »

Don't know why but the vocals seem to go quieter in verse 2 - maybe everything else is louder.

The first section of the bit after the 2nd chorus with the odd timings - the vocals get a bit quiet here too.
Then when the verby guitar comes in I think its a bit too while you're singing, but then its cool when you're not singing - cool guitar solo.

Vocals seem a little quiet in verse 3 too.

This is such a typical Armistice song! Really interesting arrangement, mate.
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Greg_L
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by Greg_L »

What a weird song. Lol. The verses leave me feeling uneasy. The weirdness just starts with no warning. Then the chorus comes in all normal and shit. Weird.

Anyway, I think you've got a lot of stack up in the mids. A lot. The whole mix is very congested in the mids. I put it through a graphic EQ to check what I'm hearing and sure enough, I took out some 500k and it tightened up and cleaned up beautifully, so try that. Vocals got clearer, guitars got less crammed, everything got better.
Rebel Yell
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rayc
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by rayc »

The vocal issue that sticks out for me it the lost 1st syllable of verse one.
Things happen quickly and that syllable gets buried in the shock & awe.
That'd be a volume envelop fix.
WAY COOL solo.
Terrific song - love it already.
I'm not sure that the vocals get quieter or if they have trouble cutting through the mix in the sections James described.
Cheers
rayc
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JD01
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by JD01 »

rayc wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2017 9:58 am I'm not sure that the vocals get quieter or if they have trouble cutting through the mix in the sections James described.
I'm not sure either - but they definitely become a bit more indistinct in those areas.
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rayc
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by rayc »

JD01 wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2017 9:59 am I'm not sure either - but they definitely become a bit more indistinct in those areas.
I'm about to try Greg's fix to see which it is.
A 500 cut does help quite a bit I also found chopping a little at around 125 helped too - there's a LOT happening in the 100-200 zone - in fact it has the biggest peak.
The 500 cut seems to remove some proximity effect type sound from around the voice which makes it cut through a little clearer.
Good spotting Greg.
Cheers
rayc
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Armistice
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by Armistice »

Thanks guys. :coolstorybro:
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Greg_L
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by Greg_L »

By the way, I misspoke.

Don't cut 500k. Lol. Dogs can't even hear that. I meant 500. Just 500. 500 hz.
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ido1957
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by ido1957 »

Downloaded the first mix - haven't seen #2 so will eq it using WMP

Yep - the 500 hz dropped all the way to the bottom cleans everything up very well.
I also find the bass too loud so a drop in the ultra lows was my next move. Smoother.
125 down about halfway worked but not as significantly.

Lead Vocals are covered by the music, I can hear them but the phrases are being lost in the mix.
Not sure what I would try - maybe less reverb, more pre-delay, hard to say.

That middle guitar part is definitely crushing the vocals, maybe pan them a way and raise the volume.

Conclusion - looks like some minor tweaks, nothing major.

Good tune, I listened on repeat while I typed so I could get a good listen. Well done everywhere/everything performance-wise.
Love that middle solo man. And the reverb is working for me. Gives it a real ambience....
People want something for nothing, they want it right now. Either they can't tell quality or don't care but feel it is important that everyone agrees with them.
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Armistice
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by Armistice »

Tx. No 2nd vers yet. Give me 8 hrs. :D
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Tadpui
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by Tadpui »

Listening in headphones...

The tone of the lead vocal is really off to me. Vocal performance is fine, but it comes right in at the beginning sounding very mid-focused and odd. I'd be curious to hear what your vocal chain is. Maybe I'm hearing the mic, maybe the compressor. It just seems narrow in the frequency spectrum (not narrow in the stereo field).

Backing vocals sound terrific. Drums sound very good to me. Guitar tone is very good, although the clean guitars sound really dry. Guitar solo sounds great.

Sorry I suck at critique, that's why I don't do it very often :)
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Armistice
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by Armistice »

New mix up at original link, and fuck typing one handed for a game of soldiers.

Lots of EQing, back at the source rather than the mastering EQ, bit less reverb, bit more reverb pre-cum er.. delay. :biggrin: and discovered I'd not HPFed the reverb anywhere near high enough - don't know how i missed that! - and with the constant snare roll that was probably adding to the 500 Hz (I didn't try to cut the 500 khz stuff Greg - I thought it was pretty balanced up there... :wink: ) muck.

Did what i could with the vocal but it's a very dynamic delivery and some words just aren't really there... :crazy:

Anyone wants to give it another spin, that'd be good. tx... :k:

Oh, and i think i've discovered why kcearl's typing is so shit - he's obviously only got one hand. :nyuk:

I'll stick it up at HR now and see how it fares... :mad3:
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Bubba
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by Bubba »

Hi, Armi. The guitars are a bit too loud for me - they have become the focus of the song rather than the accompaniment or structural components. Everything is so busy rhythmically that I can't get my bearings, especially in the verse. I think if the vocal became the focus and the rest was mixed more to become a supporting texture then it would be more to my taste. As it is, I can't get through the ultra-busy arrangement. The chorus works much, much better than the verse.
Haggard Musician :mad:
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Bubba
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by Bubba »

Oh, and the solo's a bit wanky. :mad2:


JK, I like it - tonally and melodically it reminds me a bit of Mike Oldfield guitar stuff. :biggrin:
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ido1957
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by ido1957 »

Much better - I can really hear the lead vocal now and that (for me) is the part that delivers the "story" of this song.

Ok - small request - automated the leads, as they are really great but, are drawing my attention away from the vocals.
Just a couple db's might work. Reverb is as I said before really cool.

The lead break, it masks the first few words of the lead vocal when you come back in singing. I try to get leads even with the lead vocal, so each has it's spotlight time, but neither draws from the other.

If you reduce the lead the gang vocals (that middle part) may be more present (they're way better but could use more presence). Maybe try pulling them more centre (sometimes that increases volume and, since there's no lead vocal, they can be emphasized there).

The vocals dynamics - true but gives it some flavor. If you wanted to try a clean limiter on the track, it might even things out if that is your goal.

Again, good tune, just a few more tweak (IMHO).....
People want something for nothing, they want it right now. Either they can't tell quality or don't care but feel it is important that everyone agrees with them.
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JD01
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by JD01 »

2nd mix is clearer, Armi. Can hear what's going on everywhere with this one.
Vocals are still a bit low in the "Everyone hates you" section.

You really are wanking yourself dry on this one, no wonder you have problems with your wrist! Its a good solo though.
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Armistice
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by Armistice »

Tx again. Few more tweaks along lines mentioned. new mix up.

I've had right wrist issues for years. Elbows are the thing I'm more concerned about... :wank:

HR really is a ghost town now... :eep:
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ido1957
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by ido1957 »

Even better - different parts, whether vocally or instrumental are starting to gel. And that spotlight thing I mentioned before is really working. Few spots where the vocals are either slightly loud (1st verse) or slightly low (after the solo). Very very minor.
People want something for nothing, they want it right now. Either they can't tell quality or don't care but feel it is important that everyone agrees with them.
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rayc
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by rayc »

Sounds way better David.
The intro syllable is clear now.
No 500hz cut but cleared the majority of the issue anyway - cool.
Cheers
rayc
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einstein magoo
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Re: You Monster (feat. The Shouty Boys)

Post by einstein magoo »

First chance I've had to listen and at work with ear buds on my laptop so no mixing comments. Cool song though and I like the way you slip into and out of that 5/4 section. I love 5/4 for a change-up and you executed this well.
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