Jamie Kent - All American Mutt - Take 3

[Mixinthecloud]

For me, the clarified version of your mix has the opposite problem of Kapu's mix, it's nice and open during the verses but the choruses don't seem to push. It's too "pretty" for a track about "an all american mutt", it needs some dirt to kick up during the choruses for some punch and contrast. I also noticed that the toms seem to be rather hollow sounding, it seems like a panning thing (I just left my toms up the middle). It's strange, the mix is technically sound and correct but it doesn't seem "right" and seems like it's missing some grit, my best analogy is a country boy who was forced to wear a business suit and work in a office. It's a minor thing but overall it can make a good mix great.

Cheers and hope this helps,
Doug

I think kapu had a pretty good approach to the choruses with splitting the track for those parts, each with separate EQ. I had pondered that approach but just through automation. I think kapu's approach may be better because not only does eq and level change but compression characters may as well. Hopefully that will grind some country into the businessman's boots! As for the toms, they are more sound effects, especially in the intro as a lead-in to the bass figure. Probably a hundred different ways to approach that. It was an organically obtained sound.
Another thing about the choruses. I tried to put the emphasis on the thickness there towards to vocals simply because I want to get listeners to sing there. I do believe a fatter bottom would fill the lower spectrum of that space and add push, as you say. Good ear and great advice. If my girlfriend won't kill me, I'll try the kapu approach!