Fytakyte - Bitter - Updated Mix3a

[Mixinthecloud]

I still say I hear some "Cars", at least in the chorus.

It sounds good to me. I think this mix might be closest to what the band envisioned. You really brought out the acoustics which I think was an aspect that the artist wanted to be more out front. It certainly has that jangle they were looking for.

If I had any critiques is that it might feel a little busy or crowded. It's something that jumped out at me in the first verse. I found it difficult to focus on the vocal. It's partly the mix and partly the arrangement (and maybe overanalyzing). There's just a lot going on which is fine but makes it challenging to get everything to fit and heard. I think especially in the verse guitar 1 could come down and make room for the vocal. It's tonally complex and the melody has already been well established it could step back more.

I'm personally, not a fan of the kick drum sound but I can't say there's anything wrong with it. Maybe the beater tone brings it up in the mix and into the neighborhood of the other midrange instruments. Though it does tie it to the snare. Also, I'd have liked to hear more of the BGVs. I think they add a lot of interesting harmonic excitement to the chorus. The lead vocal has a nice tone and I like the amount of compression on it. It's a little sibilant for my taste but I like the attack it has.

I like the overall tone of the mix. That said it feels bright enough without going overboard. Oh, and I like how the "knocking" in the 2nd verse stands out without overdoing it. The snare tone just fits.

Sorry to ramble. I'll go get some coffee.

Roy,

"Most people, only stop drinking, when there's nothing left in the cup"...
Profound, huh? For me, I just like to keep sucking from an empty cup in the impossible hope that it may magically fill again.

This song is all about texture, because eeking out definition with all of the layers presented is a fools errand, IMHO. So I didn't fight it. I did a bunch of mixes with this and I neither loved nor hated any of them. They all had some flaw in them. This is the one I decided to post, but I'm not sure why.

Have you had a chance to listen to any of the artist's other material? I followed his links and found out his other material is incredible. More Zappa-ish than anything else and brilliant stuff, excellently crafted and mixed. Would have loved to get my ears on some of those songs. I get the impression he posted this one with Mike because even he couldn't come up with something he liked!

Anyway, thanks for the critique. You always have great insights. Oh, and yes, definitely some "Cars" in this. Mention any '80s big hair band an you may find some allusion. Even Queen, but way thicker.