Kids eh? Who'd 'ave 'em?

[English Bloke]

Just read a great thread by BroosterB1 about silencing recalcitrant, teenage sons. here

Thought I'd drop in the web address of my son's band into a reply post but don't really want to detract from the original thread so I thought I'd post it here.

My Son David's band is called 'v0x population' and their myspace website is here if anyone fancies a listen. The track 'New Talent Show' is a belter in my humble opinion. No bias here you understand but comments from music afficionados are welcome.

[English Bloke]

Come on blokes and blokess's of the Kilt. 42 views and no comments?

What do you think?

Good, bad, indifferent? Don't mind which but let us know...

[Jock Scot]

Well to my tired old ears the band does not sound too bad.If I might suggest that the chap on the drums could curb his enthusiasm a tad, things may improve. The modern pronunciation of our English language grates more than a little too. Mind you, I wish I had the talent to play an instrument and the courage to stand "up there" and sing.

[Bugbear]

Oh! It's just aughful! Just... Aughful, Bloke.
It's aughful that no one is responding to the thread I mean.

The music seems kind of punkish, and not too bad at all.

[Howard Clark]

I kind of like it. Much of the music in me CD player is from the UK, actually. More bass, less drum, maybe. But what do I know ? Besides, as a bass player I am biased. (hard of hearing in the upper frequencies as well, so I can at least hear the bass)

[English Bloke]

Cheers folks

[Firetacoma]

I rather like it.

But, needs more cowbell!

[BroosterB1]

John,

Mind you these comments are made in the spirit of the question you asked, so they are not personal by any means;

The lead guitarist is proficient, although he could use a touch more polish in switching from lyrical note playing to driving cord based riffs.

Basest needs to be a bit more aggressive in underlining and supporting the note line.

Rhythm guitarist need to assert himself, some of the cuts it was hard to tell if he was doing much.

Drummer is pretty good, needs a larger top or like firetacoma says a clank or cowbell, to get that kinks/ stones flavor across.

Biggest problem is the lead singer. He needs to elucidate, and decide if he's singing in his head or his nose. Punk is often very nasal, but the lyrics they are using really don't lend themselves to the Johnny Rotten or Joey Ramon style.

On Changing Faces he could be very good, but he needs to sing from his head and not his throat. On Cliches Jeans and Cigarettes he has some great potential lead ins, but he loses his power because he runs out of breath. "Don't you know you you are talking to" is a killer line but loses it's punch. A few vocal technique lessons could really do a lot for his phrasing and delivery. New Talent Show could be real fun, but the key is not quite right for the singers range, again some vocal technique coaching could pay big dividends.

I don't know if the three cuts are typical of their stuff, but the rest of the band needs to back up the singer. He's working his tail off, but needs some help. Unless that's the style they are going for, in which case, he is carrying a real heavy load, and any mistakes he makes really stick out; and we go back to voice coaching.

The lads have talent, they have desire, and they can play together (which is not always a given). The things they need are a producer who they can trust to give them a common direction to work to, and polish provided by good coaching.

A lot of singers find a whole new world opens up to them when they get a little coaching. Billie Joe Armstrong took Green Day to a completly different level after he took vocal lessons ( he's only been singing for 14 years before he did). Freddy Mercury once said the best money he ever spent was for continuing voice lessons, and that from a guy who had an natural six octive range.