Cosmo and the B-Team

Gosh, I haven't been here in such a long time. Just thought I'd let you guys know you can listen to and download a three track demo I recorded over the last week, free at http://cosmoandthebteam.bandcamp.com/

I'd love it if you had a listen to my tracks, and I'd love it even more if you downloaded the demo. Also, like the Facebook group here; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cosmo-and-the-B-Team/131322000212796?ref=ts

So, let me know what you think. Criticism is highly appreciated, I'll be attempting either a longer demo or EP soon, so check back when you can.

hey welcome back! i looked at your display pic and i was like "oh a new member!" then i looked at your name and i was like "whoaa its Doz!"

^_^

Ha, thanks. I just changed my profile a bit before posting again. Remember to give me criticism if you get chance!

i kinda like it, i cant say too much because my computer wont load anything but i heard about half of the first song... its kinda popish but not bad i like it. it seems like you have the slightest hint of a nasilyness to your singing you have a good voice just take out that nasalness and your good

i like that name kinda cool

I get you, with my voice. Perhaps it's something I could have fixed with proper EQing, but I'm only a beginner when it comes to recording and mixing. It doesn't help that I don't feel confident enough to sing really loud and belt it out I guess, having flat mates and all... but on my next recordings I'll definitely try to improve the vocals, along with many other things.

As for the stylr, yeah going for a folk pop sound. And the name, yeah... even though it's just me! Hopefully I'll assemble the B-Team sometime soon. Cheers anyway, if you get chance to listen properly then keep the criticism coming!

belt out then dude especially when your alone. you have a good voice just take the nasalyness outta it. you sing from your diaphragm i assume? breath correctly, good posture...

i kinda like it its like acoustic folk pop yeah... ill listen to them now and see what comes if my computer breaks down aagain haha

i kinda have a very hippie opinion not crazy about how fast the lyrics are but i love the build a castle with youvery catchy i almost feel like if you slow the verse down and keep the build a castle with you there itll be great but maybe not my style. still very simple tune but nice, good to listen to simple and good i like that

i like the 2nd one vocal phrasing a lot. the chorus maybe could be changed i find it kind of annoying, maybe subdivide the satisfy yourself, slow it down and say each sylable... you sa-tis-fy (break) yourself itd be


you sat is fy----- yourself
4 1 2 3 4

dig? its a more catchy singable chorus if your interested ill post a short clip woh now got to the end and you almost do what i was thinking exact... do that the whole time... it sounds better! my idea was hold longer on the "is" in sat is fy...

all are good simple pop folk songs good nothing jumps at me and screams amazing not not bad... just a bit of honesty. very good though i like it

i really like the chours to i dont know its cool




btw lower the drum volume a lot. raise your voice and your guitar

i really liked it. a little bit too happy for my taste, but you know, thats just me. the guitar parts were great and flowed really nice, it all seemed to fit together. your voice is really good, the harmonies were good. it was all good.

Wow, Doz, you're back. Missed having someone to argue with! Just kidding. I'm listening to the tracks right now. I really like the grooves in "Satisfy Yourself". "Atlantis..." was good too.
I think your vocals are just fine for the type of music you got here. I think you did a great job recording/mixing this. Did you play drums, or is that a drum machine?
It's all a bit too poppy and mainstream for me, kinda like walking through the park in the midst of a sunny day to sun-set, holding hands with your best friend, kind of vibe. On that note, I can't see myself listening to something like this everyday, but it would definitely get a play every once in awhile.

All in all, great job job man. I look forward to hearing more.

Rock on!

Doz! Where have you been hiding all this time?
I will agree with GS that your vocals are a perfect match for your style (speaking of which, it's quite a departure from your punk days).
These songs remind me very much of the early Simon & Garfunkle days.
And I'm a big fan of S & G so I like all three songs very much! I downloaded them in flac. I thought the recording for an amatuer is as good as just about anything i've heard on this forum. The bass may have been a bit heavy but I didn't turn down my sub woofer (which might help, i'll do that on the second play). Your playing was spot on!
So, Some questions...............
Are you playing all instruments on these tracks?
How did you harmonize your vocals (I like the effect a lot)
When did you decide to go "solo"?
How many takes to get what you wanted? (how many days/weeks)
What software did you use for this project?
What is the meaning of life? LOL
Only big critisism I have is regarding the drums (a little too "in your face in some spots but better than most home projects i've heard here)

Two thumbs up Doz!
I like pop
Steve

@Emb; I will approach the vocals more confidently next time. Not sure about slowing the verse down, and I did try it slower before I recorded it. As for Satisfy Yourself, you might be right... but the only reason I did it on just the last section was to add contrast with the slower tempo and that. And I agree, they aren't amazing songs, just something I threw together to practice home recording mainly.

@BBT; Ha, yeah... well after a dull winter and a dull spring it started to get really sunny here so I was feeling very positive. I don't usually write happy tunes actually, so it's something refreshing for me to do, even though it only requires simple songwriting.

@GuitarSlinger; Cheers for the compliments, but I do have a lot of room for improvement with both my vocals and mixing. They're not real drums, I used a virtual kit for them all and played all the parts on keyboard. Couldn't really fit a full drum kit anywhere around here! And wicked, the best I can hope for is that someone plays it every once in a while.

@Phip; University since last year, and before that... I couldn't really say. Was in a couple of bands doing a few small gigs. Thanks, and yes... a big departure, but I'd had my fill of playing punk when that band split up. Ha, I really like Simon & Garfunkel, so thanks a lot! I'm sure my speakers have an uneven response which I tried to account for when mixing... but obviously I left it a tad heavy with the drums and bass. Something to think about more, next time. Now for the questions...

1. The guitars and vocals take up most of the tracks (3 of each I think), and the rhythm section was played on keyboard using a pretty good sounding virtual kit.
2. I just went ahead and did separate takes. The songs all have two vocals in unison and a lower harmony to fill out the sound.
3. Well, I do want to be in a band and I'm not even picky about the genre... but I'm not in my home city at the moment, I've been away for university. So since I started university really, last September.
4. The tracks didn't take long to do, I wasn't really letting myself focus on how well they came out because I just wanted to practice recording and mixing. That's why the songs are so simple as well.
5. Garageband for Mac, some plugins with it. Really basic really. I was going to buy Logic Pro, but I can do all I want at the moment in GB, it just takes time. I'd prefer to spend time than money.
6. Not read up on that one yet, but I'll let you know.


All that said, my next recordings are likely to be less 'pop' and more alternative sounding. I was just sick of writing tunes that the everyday person couldn't relate to, and things that only meant something to me. Thanks for all the criticism, and sorry for the massive response!

Yo Doz! Nice to see you up and about again. It's been so long I thought that bolt of lightening had come back and finished the job off!

Well impressed with the new style. Apart from 'Atlantis' that said to me "Bread goes punk" your music has a pleasant 'whimsical' quality that suggests man in love'?? Guitarmanship also much improved since last time I listened to you.

Keep up the good work and don't stay away so long. We need all the limeys we can get on this site!

Paul

yeah turn down the drums in the eq process... i like to be honest about songs and stuff you know, and theyre pretty good.

being that the songs are simple... what about like a deeper meaning of lyrics? reminds me a bit of ccr, their songs are so simple but the lyrics have deeper meanins you know.. just find a simple catchy melody and make some sweet lyrics and you got it. i like the simple approach im tired of all this pop electronic ****

Oh, the lyrics do have meaning and relate to experiences too, I just wanted them to sound more shallow and simplistic so they were more accessible (which I think is understandable).

And well, I wouldn't EQ the drums down, I think the sound of them is fine... just probably turn down the volume (even though I do sort of like drums louder than other instruments because it makes it feel like they 'contain' the rest of the track, if you get me?). And I also like honesty! No point me coming here getting criticism and then denying or dismissing it all! That said, some things I will stand my ground on, but everything that's been said so far is fair I think.

@Deefa, cheers and ha, fortunately I'm still in one piece. The most love like song there (I Don't Know), is something I was doing for university (sometimes we have to try and write a straight pop song), so that might have played a part in why it sounds that way... but I am in love with the good weather like I touched on in Atlantis!

I like it dude. A little too pop sounding for me, but yeah it's good nonetheless.

Brightened my day (:

for the first time on here i dont have any advice or criticism to offer as i honestly think you already have the skills of a man twice your age.
color me seriously impressed! Kudos! ...and hell. i like those vaugish Elliot Smith infected vocal style ...some arrangements reminded me a bit of Him and a few other fav folks of mine such as Tom Verlaine, Jules Shear, and oddly, enough , Nick Lowe

......bit of Him and a few other fav folks of mine such as Tom Verlaine, Jules Shear, and oddly, enough , Nick Lowe

wtf?

carl wins for mentioning Elliott Smith

Cheers for the comments, and carlsnow; criticism might better me musically, by compliments do wonders for motivation so thanks a lot. Hopefully you'll be more impressed with my next recordings, so I'll keep you guys in the loop.

And GuitarGeorge; that's the most I could ask for!

"carl wins for mentioning Elliott Smith" BBT

LOL!
and loses by being unable to post his freakin' post en-entirety
(but yeah, Christian Brothers and Speed Trials kept haunting these fer me)


@Doz
i really dont have any criticism (if only the post had posted) that will help you, other than recording and such. I've been playing in bands for damn near 31 years now and i know a talent when i hear it and i hear it in you.
BUT ...since ya asked lol...
okay ... some lyrics get chezze whizzy
the drums are sad *(but it wasn't a drummer)
and, of course the guitar bass-guitar playing 'needs improvement' but whose doesn't?

what i mean by the absence of of any 'constructive criticisms' earlier
is that , imo, you are tapping a vein now, and need to concentrate on the tunes rather than the hows and how-nots, cause i REALLY like the writing and feel you could mess yourself up over-analyzing the muse.

RAWK!
Cs

Global Disclaimer :
Carl Snow is an old, jaded & slightly bitter old man who cannot be held accountable for anything, much less his opinionatedly opinionated opinions or those of his imaginary friends. We sincerely apologize if this Carl Snow and/or its behavior have infected you or others with its ugly brain and its juices.

the drums kinda overpower you and your guitar though...

yeah i can see what your getting at there i see

Ha, I was fine with the compliments Carl! But thanks, yeah... I especially think I Don't Know is cheesy, and is the odd one out on the demo. I'd love to record with a proper drummer but finding tight drummers who aren't already too busy with bands is hard and I don't really have the right space for recording a full kit.

Thanks, I will keep trying to focus my songwriting. And Emb, you think they're so loud to overpower them? I wouldn't say that myself, but I'll think about it next time I'm mixing drums into a track. Thanks.

Sorry Doz, I didn't realise you posted a topic. I'm loving your tracks and glad to see you back on the forum!

Your vocals are really nice and most definitely a favourite for A LOT of listeners out there - honestly.

If you start performing this you'll gain a large fanbase very quickly!

I also hope you know I'll be spamming these tracks to my mates :)

Haha, thanks! I'm going to try and put together a band as quickly as possible for the summer so we can get some gigs. And brilliant, I could do with the help with getting listeners.

Darn, I totally missed this... welcome back again.

Songs was brilliant m8, especially quality of the record. Very clean, nice and mellow and fits perfectly on songs mood. Songs have happy feel and like atlantis that "grows" nicely to the end gives them kinda professional touch. Keep up good work. Vocal sound cant be clearer than that, it was pleasure to listen. Cant wait to more to come :)

Cheers
Empirism

Cheers Emp, and thanks. Glad you liked the vocals, I used a SM57 for them and was a bit unsure and at the time would have liked a condenser mic. If I pulled it off though, that's fine.

Also sorry for bumping this again guys... but if you get chance then 'like' this facebook page!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Cosmo-and-the-B-Team/131322000212796?ref=ts