Power (Time to Turn)

November 1, 2010 11:20 AM

Obviously, I couldn't decide on a title, so I used parentheses. Pretty straight-up rock, with synth adding some color to the guitar melodies, and a somewhat anthemic turn toward the end.

I re-recorded all the vocals on this and ended up with a much more in-tune and precise version... which after some time away and comparative relistening, I don't like as much as this somewhat boozy-sloppy version, so this is what you get.

posted by Wolfdog (10 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite

I've been gone for seven years
As good as dead if you believe the dirty rumors that you hear
The evidence says otherwise
I'm out and moving with a vengence and I'm very much alive
Hold on

I want power - I want more
I want long-forgotten knowledge and arcane lore
I'll be your teacher, I'll be your guide
I'll put a pistol to your head as we embark upon our ride

It's war beyond the gates
The world is slipping into chaos as our faith disintegrates
I feel the fear in all the minds
Of all the creatures that are cowering and stumbling and blind

You turn away and let me fall
I know you'd rather see me bleeding with my back against the wall
You've got to choose to take my hand
Or serve the absolute corruption as it overruns the land
Hold on

There's a time to turn, there's a time to stand
There's a time to take it into our own hands
When the siren calls, when it's time to ride
We can face the bastards if we swallow our pride

In the heat of the night, in the hero's heart
There's a moment of terror as we tear it apart
Take the fight to the streets, show them how we feel
Leave 'em burning and bloody underneath our wheels

There's a time to turn, there's a time to stand
There's a time to turn, there's a time to stand

Hold on, Hold on
We're legend if we do it
And we'll do it
Hold on

posted by Wolfdog at 12:49 PM on November 1, 2010


This sounds to have been recorded track by track, but I seem to remember you record only with a friend, or by yourself. How did you put this together?
posted by micayetoca at 7:35 AM on November 2, 2010


This is all me (I've also been posting my own stuff here for what it's worth), recorded in Digital Performer. The usual routine I'm settling down to is to rough out the song with guitar and vocals, go back and fill in a rough drum track all the way through, put down bass, scrap the guitars and sing against only drums and bass, then put down proper (haha) guitars and any synth stuff and flesh out the drums and add any extra flourishes and whatnots. The synths on this one are virtual synths, but on Spacetime and MandyDance you'll hear a lot of my DSI Evolver, which I use to key in lines for the virtual synths (and drums).

I have one weird, slightly microphonic pickup on my guitar (it's an explorer copy just like this one) which can sound quite a lot like a synth, for notes in the mid- to high range of the guitar.
posted by Wolfdog at 9:01 AM on November 2, 2010


Makes more sense, still, you manage to get a pretty good feel of a song that was played by a band, instead of just one person. One last thing, those drums are actual drums, aren't they?
posted by micayetoca at 9:22 AM on November 2, 2010


Thanks, that's quite a compliment! Drums - well, they're real enough. But I wasn't present when the guy was hitting them. It's Superior Drummer.
posted by Wolfdog at 9:28 AM on November 2, 2010


I was worried you would say that. There's parts where it does sound like "programmed" (or sampled, or however that is called) drums - and I was worried that I might offend your drummer self if I said that and you had actually played them. Then there's parts, specially with the cymbals and the hi-hat, that sound very real. It's getting increasingly difficult to tell drums and software apart. No?
posted by micayetoca at 9:41 AM on November 2, 2010


True! It's been all around a blessing for me since I wouldn't be making and finishing songs at all if I couldn't do it myself (and acquiring, learning, and recording live drums is out of the question), so I'm getting things done and can be pretty happy with the sound I end up with - there are even times I'm thinking wow! I love this drum part here - but then also piecing drum parts together and listening closely for what works and what doesn't and how hard and subtle it is to make things flow in a natural way has increased my appreciation as I listen to good drummers play and try to understand what they're doing a little better than I have before...
posted by Wolfdog at 10:14 AM on November 2, 2010


I hear ya. I know I could read this on their page, but I'd prefer to ask you as a user. Is Superior Drummer very intensive on the machine? Does it require too much resources and use up a lot of space?
posted by micayetoca at 10:21 AM on November 2, 2010


Hm, you know, it takes 20GB if you install every last bell and whistle which probably represents about $12 of storage space these days, something like that? Strange times. Anyway, it's pretty flexible with options for much smaller installations if need be. As far as resources, it ran fine on my Dual 2.0 G5, and it's very stable. Now I have a quad core Mac Pro and I hardly even see anything but the barest sliver of the CPU Usage meter even if I'm using Superior and multiple synths and effect plugins.
posted by Wolfdog at 11:10 AM on November 2, 2010


Sounds great. But one definitely needs a machine that solely devoted to music for something like that, I guess. I will start considering something like it, because it does sound like you can do just anything with it. Thanks for the answers, Wolfdog and again, great job on this one.
posted by micayetoca at 11:26 AM on November 2, 2010


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