MP3.Com take 3

Thanks for your response to my apology. I'll try again.

To explain how I work, the lyric always comes first, more recently from a friend, not myself.

I then can pretty much instantly tell if there's something I can do with it, but the strange thing is it sits on a table, sometimes for weeks until one day when I just know I've got to sit down and write it. Always happens like that, weird.

I then have the finished song but have to go through the same process before I can record it, IE, wait until I know it's 'time'.

On my web page www.mp3.com/allyvalentine I do make it clear that the songs are in demo form. There is no bass guitar on most tracks. They are recorded to PC using Magix Audio Studio 5. I record and mix as best I can but I'm no engineer/producer.

I also like to record quickly so sometimes there's amp noise, etc.

Anyway, I wonder if you crit one of my songs. I like 'Girl with the brown eyes'. In fact I like most of them, I don't think any of us should be ashamed of what we create.

All the best, Ally

Hi Ally,

I tried to get through to mp3 a couple of times last night and a couple of times this morning, but my puter and mp3 are not on speaking terms apparently. So tried, I really did try.

A couple of more tips for when you or anybody else posts.

1. Make the URL stand out for those of us that are hard of reading.

2. Post the lyrics with your post - this will ensure you get more listens and comments.

Good luck, Richard

Songwriting, recording and creative & links http://www.angelfire.com/music2/richhoncho/index.htm

A selection of RMMS at

Hi Ally, I listened to a couple of your tracks last night including girl with the brown eyes and was unsure about whether or not to comment. Now you have asked I will. The lyrics are poor, in spite of a good opening there is nothing done to develop the song. It goes backwards instead of forwards, dies away into blandness instead of building the excitement in anticipation of the chorus. This is common to the three tunes I listened to. Even regarding the introduction/chorus 'Dark Hair' is lame. There is room there melodically for more/bigger adjectives and thusly a more evocative description of said hair. Lyrically, 'before I die' was by a *long* way the best of the three. It had some depth to it.

On the basis of what I have heard I would say that you need to employ a little tension and release and go and beat your lyricists up for letting you down. Don't be afraid to make changes to a lyric where it would suit the melody to do so. You can always consult the lyricist to see if they approve.

Keep 'em coming.

Mike