Spent the last two years writing, recording and producing my own album

Hi all, been a while since I posted on here, and sorry mods in advance if this constitutes any kind of rule breaking…

Basically while still at university I’ve spent the last two years writing, recording and producing my own album which naturally is very U2 inspired (what iteration I will leave up to you guys to decide). Ive come to realise that songwriting and music in general is by biggest passion, and if I could dedicate all my time to it, I certainly would! I feel like I've taken it as far as it can go so I've decided to put it out there finally, as to be honest, i'm very proud of it. So I thought where better a place to share my creation than with people who’s music tastes align with my own.

I understand most people don’t have time in their day to check out a random album some bloke posted on the internet so if you do get chance, id recommend probably track 5 as a good starting point (very boy-era U2). But yeah, if anyone does decide to check it out it is greatly appreciates, as will any feedback since I’m very open to criticism.

Cheers, Tom

Music links:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/7gi3hmChkaBMeb0bLz4nwM?si=A5yGqNcRRJSZ6z1oDyPjWQ
Apple Music / iTunes - https://music.apple.com/gb/album/crossroads/1493974094
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/synergy_1/sets/crossroads

Also just made a facebook page as well: https://www.facebook.com/synergymusic2

Hi all, been a while since I posted on here, and sorry mods in advance if this constitutes any kind of rule breaking…

Basically while still at university I’ve spent the last two years writing, recording and producing my own album which naturally is very U2 inspired (what iteration I will leave up to you guys to decide). Ive come to realise that songwriting and music in general is by biggest passion, and if I could dedicate all my time to it, I certainly would! I feel like I've taken it as far as it can go so I've decided to put it out there finally, as to be honest, i'm very proud of it. So I thought where better a place to share my creation than with people who’s music tastes align with my own.

I understand most people don’t have time in their day to check out a random album some bloke posted on the internet so if you do get chance, id recommend probably track 5 as a good starting point (very boy-era U2). But yeah, if anyone does decide to check it out it is greatly appreciates, as will any feedback since I’m very open to criticism.

Cheers, Tom

Music links:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/7gi3hmChkaBMeb0bLz4nwM?si=A5yGqNcRRJSZ6z1oDyPjWQ
Apple Music / iTunes - https://music.apple.com/gb/album/crossroads/1493974094
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/synergy_1/sets/crossroads

Also just made a facebook page as well: https://www.facebook.com/synergymusic2

No rules broken here, pal.

Thanks for posting - will check it out tomorrow!

Quote from: tom_b1807 on January 11, 2020, 04:38:43 PM

Hi all, been a while since I posted on here, and sorry mods in advance if this constitutes any kind of rule breaking…

Basically while still at university I’ve spent the last two years writing, recording and producing my own album which naturally is very U2 inspired (what iteration I will leave up to you guys to decide). Ive come to realise that songwriting and music in general is by biggest passion, and if I could dedicate all my time to it, I certainly would! I feel like I've taken it as far as it can go so I've decided to put it out there finally, as to be honest, i'm very proud of it. So I thought where better a place to share my creation than with people who’s music tastes align with my own.

I understand most people don’t have time in their day to check out a random album some bloke posted on the internet so if you do get chance, id recommend probably track 5 as a good starting point (very boy-era U2). But yeah, if anyone does decide to check it out it is greatly appreciates, as will any feedback since I’m very open to criticism.

Cheers, Tom

Music links:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/7gi3hmChkaBMeb0bLz4nwM?si=A5yGqNcRRJSZ6z1oDyPjWQ
Apple Music / iTunes - https://music.apple.com/gb/album/crossroads/1493974094
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/synergy_1/sets/crossroads

Also just made a facebook page as well: https://www.facebook.com/synergymusic2

No rules broken here, pal.

Thanks for posting - will check it out tomorrow!

Glad to hear it.
Let me know what you think

Quote from: an tha on January 11, 2020, 04:46:28 PM

Quote from: tom_b1807 on January 11, 2020, 04:38:43 PM

Hi all, been a while since I posted on here, and sorry mods in advance if this constitutes any kind of rule breaking…

Basically while still at university I’ve spent the last two years writing, recording and producing my own album which naturally is very U2 inspired (what iteration I will leave up to you guys to decide). Ive come to realise that songwriting and music in general is by biggest passion, and if I could dedicate all my time to it, I certainly would! I feel like I've taken it as far as it can go so I've decided to put it out there finally, as to be honest, i'm very proud of it. So I thought where better a place to share my creation than with people who’s music tastes align with my own.

I understand most people don’t have time in their day to check out a random album some bloke posted on the internet so if you do get chance, id recommend probably track 5 as a good starting point (very boy-era U2). But yeah, if anyone does decide to check it out it is greatly appreciates, as will any feedback since I’m very open to criticism.

Cheers, Tom

Music links:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/7gi3hmChkaBMeb0bLz4nwM?si=A5yGqNcRRJSZ6z1oDyPjWQ
Apple Music / iTunes - https://music.apple.com/gb/album/crossroads/1493974094
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/synergy_1/sets/crossroads

Also just made a facebook page as well: https://www.facebook.com/synergymusic2

No rules broken here, pal.

Thanks for posting - will check it out tomorrow!

Glad to hear it.
Let me know what you think

Definitely.

Was going to listen today but got involved in in some stuff that took more time than i thought would.

I'll get into it over next day or so.

I listened to it last night - you’re quite talented dude!!!! Great debut effort!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I listened to it last night - you’re quite talented dude!!!! Great debut effort!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks!! That's means a lot 
Any particular favourites?

Only had chance to listen to it once yet.

I will post my early thoughts later this evening.

Only had chance to listen to it once yet.

I will post my early thoughts later this evening.

Oh god... Feels like waiting for my A level results all over again

Quote from: an tha on January 15, 2020, 03:25:05 PM

Only had chance to listen to it once yet.

I will post my early thoughts later this evening.

Oh god... Feels like waiting for my A level results all over again

An educated man - a rarity in these parts!

Quote from: tom_b1807 on January 15, 2020, 03:34:36 PM

Quote from: an tha on January 15, 2020, 03:25:05 PM

Only had chance to listen to it once yet.

I will post my early thoughts later this evening.

Oh god... Feels like waiting for my A level results all over again

An educated man - a rarity in these parts!

Ah yes, as an intellectual my favourite U2 song is Elevation!

Quote from: an tha on January 15, 2020, 04:15:29 PM

Quote from: tom_b1807 on January 15, 2020, 03:34:36 PM

Quote from: an tha on January 15, 2020, 03:25:05 PM

Only had chance to listen to it once yet.

I will post my early thoughts later this evening.

Oh god... Feels like waiting for my A level results all over again

An educated man - a rarity in these parts!

Ah yes, as an intellectual my favourite U2 song is Elevation!

YOU SAID ELEVATION TO AN THA...HE PROBABLY FELL OUT OF HIS CHAIR. You know it's his favorite song in the entire universe, right?

OK so....only listened to it once so these are very early impressions...i can see what you are trying to do here with the really layered sound, but it comes over as too much for me and the songs as a result feel to me too polished  - sometimes less is more, cutting back on all the layers of instrumentation the endless keyboard fills and go with the main riffs that you have a really strong knack for making quite memorable and catchy and just strip down to those plus the drums and bass and you have a better, rawer, edgier and more endearing album IMHO.

The album feels like it needs to breath more and would benefit from more light and shade - more contrast.

Pretty much all of it has quite memorable main riffs but they are competing with so many other layers of instrumentation that for me the songs sound overcooked and overthought and ultimately it all becomes a bit samey for me.

I liked the track "See You Again" - Favourite of the early songs for me....has an urgency that the others didn't for me and i really liked the riff...but again it has to fight against so much other stuff in the mix....i'd have completely left the keyboard fills out of this and made it feel rawer.

Breakdown - potentially the best song for me, you break from the formula a little here and the results are much more enjoyable and interesting for me. I liked this quite a lot - but then it just stopped a minute or so in.....is that a fuck up on soundcloud or is meant to be a minute or so piece that just stops suddenly and jarringly? I was quite excited about where this track might have been going.

I hope you don't find my comments overly negative, I can only be honest and tell it like i see it and i of course have only heard the record once.....i will listen again and of course my views could change/i may hear things in a different light.

You are clearly a talented lad and i can feel the effort that has gone in too - but for me it isn't on first listen anyway the kind of stuff i would buy.

Wow... thank you for a really in depth analysis, I really appreciate it!

A lot to unpack:

- I think I can be very guilty of overcooking it, I think you are completely correct there. However, I will say that for me, a lot of the fun of listening to an album comes from unpacking and discovering the different layers and instrumentation in a song. If it affecting the mix that is a completely different matter though. The only thing I can maybe point towards is that I have noticed a marked decline in quality when it comes to listening to the songs on soundcloud compared to spotify, or my original files for example. Im not sure if this is just a fault with the platform or not but it may result in a slightly 'muddier' mix which makes it harder to distinguish the instruments properly. If i remember correctly, there was a 'pro' package I could buy which would allow me to upload better quality or something, but that was fairly expensive.

- Breakdown was sort of intended as a prelude of sorts into the following track, 'Circles' and I think that it leads fairly well into it. I don't know if you were listening to the album each track flowing into each subsequent track or not though. Interesting to know you think it could develop into something more though, I may have to try writing similar stuff which builds into something more in the future.

Overall, really thanks for your feedback, and don't worry it wasn't too negative and I would rather hear honest feedback. Your opinion is definitely one that I respect greatly and I have taken on board your comments - I will be interested to know if your opinions do change at all upon further listens

Wow... thank you for a really in depth analysis, I really appreciate it!

A lot to unpack:

- I think I can be very guilty of overcooking it, I think you are completely correct there. However, I will say that for me, a lot of the fun of listening to an album comes from unpacking and discovering the different layers and instrumentation in a song. If it affecting the mix that is a completely different matter though. The only thing I can maybe point towards is that I have noticed a marked decline in quality when it comes to listening to the songs on soundcloud compared to spotify, or my original files for example. Im not sure if this is just a fault with the platform or not but it may result in a slightly 'muddier' mix which makes it harder to distinguish the instruments properly. If i remember correctly, there was a 'pro' package I could buy which would allow me to upload better quality or something, but that was fairly expensive.

- Breakdown was sort of intended as a prelude of sorts into the following track, 'Circles' and I think that it leads fairly well into it. I don't know if you were listening to the album each track flowing into each subsequent track or not though. Interesting to know you think it could develop into something more though, I may have to try writing similar stuff which builds into something more in the future.

Overall, really thanks for your feedback, and don't worry it wasn't too negative and I would rather hear honest feedback. Your opinion is definitely one that I respect greatly and I have taken on board your comments - I will be interested to know if your opinions do change at all upon further listens

I'll listen on the other platform and see if makes a difference.

Breakdown really did intrigue me....

Thanks for sharing and for great attitude tow feedback.

Will definitely listen again.

And hey fellow talku2'ers give this fellas record a listen!!

My honest first impression is that you have a real gift for catchy music.  I’m not going to comment on the lyrics because I haven’t listened enough times to pick up on them.

Having made my own efforts to create finished rock/pop songs I know how difficult it is.  It would have taken me YEARS to accomplish what you have here and that is IF I had your songwriting talent.  So take my criticisms as sincere feedback that I wished anyone would ever give me, instead of just saying “that’s really cool”.

So,my opinion...

You have what it takes to make great music but its not on this album.  And the problem is not the music.  Its mostly the mixing, mastering, and production and a little bit the performance.

1.  It has no bass and the overall EQ is very thin and tinny.

2.  The mix is WAY too busy.  It’s distracting from the good song.  You can layer multiple parts but they should be simple parts and not all in the same frequency range.

3.  Performance is not polished compared to what we’re all used to hearing these days on the radio.  I think I hear some timing issues in the guitar parts and I think you haven’t found the vocal style that suits you yet.  You can play and sing though so this doesn’t need to be a deal killer long-term.  Reduce the number of guitar and keyboard parts and you’ll have the time and energy to do your best performance on the ones that count.

That you did this by yourself is amazing.  The average person has no idea how huge is your accomplishment.  You have definite talent.  Consider getting some bandmates to help pitch in and someone who can kind of produce.

All of this said, your work is light years better than anything I’ve ever done.