Comments on: Private Island

Private Island

hillelc — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:08:17 -0800

Wrote this a few years ago. An introspective song about a place to be introspective.

Since I recently restarted writing and recording music I've written several new songs. However, there are a handful of older ones that I think deserve to be re-recorded, updated, and posted. (There are also many that need to be forgotten.) This song was written in the fall of 2001. I always imagine that everyone has a place, somewhere in their mind, where they can go to be alone. Sort of a private island where they can meditate. That's what this song is about. Special thanks to Chris who recorded the bass for this track way back in 2001 - and his bass line still rocks! Private Island by Sugar Fix

By: danb

danb — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:48:48 -0800

Very nice. You have strong songwriting chops, I'm glad to hear that you have the same earnest sound in the less jocular songs.

Random: the piano and bass part at the beginning/between verses sounds very much like "Train in the Distance" by Paul Simon.

By: arcanecrowbar

arcanecrowbar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:00:08 -0800

Impressive production and arrangement! The various keybaords and backing vocals give this quite a bit of sonic depth.

By: BrnP84

BrnP84 — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:36:55 -0800

This was cool, really happy sound and I love those keys. I gotta say tho that the drummer was throwing me off, sounded a little too much at times and it was taking a little away from the song. That's always uncomfortable to tell a talented drummer to tone it down but than you don't want to turn him into a drum machine cause that's no fun either.

By: COBRA!

COBRA! — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:58:48 -0800

Lush!
(the production, not you. Maybe you, I don't know you IRL)

By: hillelc

hillelc — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:26:52 -0800

Thanks everyone for the kind comments. Much appreciated.

@BrnP84: I wish I could blame it on a talented drummer, but unfortunately no such option exists. The drums on this track are loops and I picked every one of them. I'll admit a fascination with Stewart Copeland and using cymbals (and the hi-hat in particular) as a sort of textural element. I admit I could have been more restrained. ;)

@danb: Good call on the Paul Simon track. The chord progression for that snippet sounds identical. I haven't listened to that album in almost 20 years. Maybe something stayed in the recesses of my brain. ;)