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Songwriter Forum => Feedback on Finished songs => Topic started by: Binladeda on October 13, 2017, 10:44:47 PM

Title: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: Binladeda on October 13, 2017, 10:44:47 PM

 Hi,

 A tribute to Mr. Lou Reed.  Someone who was certainly in touch with his dark side.
 I saw him a couple of times.  One memorable occasion was a small festival near St. Louis.
 The type of festival where the Hell's Angels came around for contributions to their beer fund ;D
 It was early 70's and he was with the Velvet Underground.  It was terrible  ;D ;D  They
 were so wasted........could hardly stand up and speak, let alone sing.  Yet it was memorable,
 and I was young.  So it didn't matter.......

 Anyway, needless to say I'm a big fan, and thought it would be nice to do a tribute using a mash up
 of as many references as we can get from his songs, and still produce a 'meaningful' and
 respectful piece.  The chords are loosly based on the classic Sweet Jane riff, and there are a lot
 of References in the lyrics.  Got to say, I think Skub has done a tremendous job with the lyrics.
 and his vox is right on message......just perfect ;D ;D

 Ok,  here 'tis.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do....

 Skub.  Lyrics/vocal/guitar/mix, and things I don't know about ;D
  Oh...patience and generosity in abundance  ;D
 Me.  Demanding/Arrogant/Condescending/Rude, and things I don't know about
  Oh....some bass and some drums and some guitar

 https://soundcloud.com/binladeda/sweet-lou


 There is a beauty which arises
From decadence and decay
Taste the whip not given lightly
Everyone will have their say

Deep,dark Berlin
Pain and joy blend
Can you question all those terrible things
And still need faith in the end?

Wild side songs,Underground friends
A media frenzy feed
Both a hero and a villain
Sweet Lewis Alan Reed

A rock n' roll animal
You do because you can
No sanitised pop star
Still waiting for their man

Deep,dark Berlin
Pain and joy blend
Can you question all those terrible things
And still need faith in the end

 Thanks for listening guys..and good luck in the comp.  ;D
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: mickyplankton on October 13, 2017, 11:01:57 PM
Well it definitely sounds like Lou Reed. It's quite loose, and could easily pass for an early Velvets demo. I can hear Sweet Jane in there. So a decent tribute all in all. I'm so jealous you got to see them live, I think that's tainted my ability to review this! I was a teenager when I first heard a Velvets song. Heroin. up until that point I'd been listening almost exclusively to Queen! Heroin totally blew me away. Never realised music could be so dark raw and powerful. Thanks for rekindling those memories. I'm going to put the Nico album on now....
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: pompeyjazz on October 13, 2017, 11:13:11 PM
That's a real beauty guys and I also spent many smokey nights listening to Lou and the Velvet Underground in a state of herbal intoxication but those songs have been my favourites all my life. A great authentic tribute. I luuuuuurve it
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: shadowfax on October 14, 2017, 08:47:21 AM
Dunno much about Mr Reed but as a song this stands on it's own as a fine piece, definitely captures the Reed mood (going by what I saw after checking him out on YT)

A fine collab guys!! :) :)
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: diademgrove on October 14, 2017, 10:30:22 AM
Hi Bin and Skub,

took me back to hearing Transformer for the first time. You've definitely got that sweet vibe he achieved sometimes.

Not sure how dark it is though, but definitely a great tribute.

Keith
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: PaulAds on October 14, 2017, 02:05:46 PM
Very very nice it is, too  :)

Lou Reed fell into the "give your head a shake" category for me, I'm afraid..but this is lovely.

A fine collaboration...the guitar work is so great...it could have been either of you  :)

Tip Top!
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: exfairy on October 15, 2017, 01:57:36 PM
As someone not familiar with Lou Reed's music (millennial here yep), I still quite enjoyed this! I love the "du du di du du" bits :)
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: redrhodie on October 16, 2017, 01:41:12 PM
Wow, you guys totally nailed this. Nice references to his vibe, without going over the top. Funny, he just made a cameo in one of our songs as well. Really liked it.

Lynn
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: nooms on October 16, 2017, 05:03:11 PM


nice collab chaps
really nice gtr parts bin..turn it up..
the 'do do doos' ..great touch
excellent thoughtful lyric ..an you got the vocal and his slight tremble mixed with a touch of celtic twang.. you can't hide it and hooray to that..
not that it matters but wasn't a big fan of the man.. 'rock n roll animal' was the only lou album i bought with a live high octane sweet jane, he had some great rock orientated players with him at the time..
couldn't handle the velvets as such except satellite of love ..
fab work




Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: adamfarr on October 17, 2017, 02:34:39 PM
I have to admit to being another who never really got into Velvet Underground or Lou R. Probably they suffered from being the ones making a transition that others later were able to take different places...

Anyhow, using fresh ears it's a very smooth listen, really like the riff which does have a sort of classic Americana sound to it. The laid back vocal definitely conveys something, maybe a "no regrets" Jonny Cash sort of image. The precise references are lost on me but there's enough there to paint a picture of someone looking back on a rock and roll lifestyle, even for me.

Very nicely recorded too - lots of clarity in the guitars especially. Nice work indeed.
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: Skub on October 17, 2017, 04:01:35 PM
It's always a pleasure to collaborate with bin. I enjoyed my part in implementing his original idea. He's an easy man to work with.  :)
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: Cawproductions on October 17, 2017, 04:43:31 PM
Dudes,

Great tune, totally got the Lou Reed vibe,

I dont know many of his tunes only walk on the wild side....(better google that)

Lovely vibe on this though, guitar work and vocal is pro sounding, Nice harmonies and backing vocal too.

Loved it,
Great work to all involved.
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: PaulyX on October 19, 2017, 11:00:48 PM
Yeah, this could have been the man himself, or a slightly more tuneful version of him at least.
Really liked it.  That lazy pace... those hypnotic guitars... sublime solo in the middle... nice sleepy vocals... the lyrics really take you places too.  Superb tribute guys.  Don't change a thing.
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: pompeyjazz on October 19, 2017, 11:12:34 PM
I agree that Bin is such a lovely chap to work with. Now all you guys who haven't heard of Lou before, please check out some Velvet Underground. It might change the way you think about music
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: Paulski on October 20, 2017, 01:54:38 AM
Not familiar with Mr. Reed or the velvet anything but this was a smooth listen.
Lovely guitar work and vox and laid-back vibe.
Get some minor chords in there if you want dark - but I enjoyed the listen as it is ;D ;D

Paul
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: digger72 on October 21, 2017, 10:14:16 AM
Hi Guys,

Very enjoyable collaboration.
The vocal suits the music and vibe perfectly.
Quality playing and production.
A totally fitting tribute in style and content.

Digger
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: Viscount Cramer & His Orchestra on October 21, 2017, 05:58:32 PM
Great sound guys....wow there's some nice sounding stuff going on these days...aren't you getting good!

Clever stuff too...love the nod to WOTWS bvs...voice sounding really knockout these days Davy.

Guitars real nice...don't expect less from you two fellas.

Not too dark...well that's Lou for you...kind of gloomy but too much wry humour to really make me want to top myself.

Just read the other comments and can't believe how many don't know any of his stuff...Transformer is an album I know inside out. And 'Men Of Good Fortune' just happened to pop into my head earlier today.

Good work boys!
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: LostBoy on October 21, 2017, 11:19:26 PM
It all sounds great to me! No nits! Well done gents!  ;D
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: Darren1664 on October 22, 2017, 10:16:14 AM
Lovely track and very respectfully and tastefully done! Great work from you both, as I've come to expect :)

Nice Sunday morning listening!!  ;D
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: Neil C on October 22, 2017, 12:02:41 PM
Guys,
Great easy going groove to this guys.
and nice tune, vocals and guitars as I'd expect.
The only thought was that bass could be a bit louder in the mix.
 :)
neil
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: Binladeda on October 23, 2017, 10:30:19 AM

 Thanks guys,

 You're all very kind.

 Like VC, I was a bit shocked to see that Lou Reed wasn't as much
 a 'Legend' to a lot of you, as he was to me.  Must be an age thing ::)

 This has been one of my favourite collabs this year.  Usually when I
 send out backing tracks for collabs, they come back COMPLETELY
 different from what I had in mind.....that's why I love doing it of course.
 But this one was the exception.  Skub 'got it' straight away, and what you
 hear is basically what was sent to him.  Easy, when you work with a
 creative genius ;D ;D ;D

 Anyway, I'm really chuffed that you like it.  You all have remarkable taste ;D

 Love ya all xx


Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: Morefrog Jones on October 23, 2017, 01:14:22 PM
Sounds like a cool song with some great stuff going on - Not mad into Lou Reed but I know of his work and style and yes it does have the right feel - had trouble in finding it very dark or scary without re- reading the lyrics and trying to find hidden meanings etc - it came across as a nice listen so perhaps it did not quite hit the brief unless i was missing something.
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: Wolfini on November 01, 2017, 07:02:16 PM
Sounds very nice and spot on like Lou Reed. Or am I confusing him with Neil Diamond now?  ;D

Smooth production and sound. I guess I would listen to an album full of that, so perhaps I should really go and check that music out...

Bye Wolfi
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: crystalsuzy on November 04, 2017, 12:03:16 PM
This track gets more and more enjoyable with every listen :) It's just do darn catchy and laid back :)
I love the do do do's :) Great vocals and guitars. Everything about it makes this a perfect tribute Lou R. It doesn't really have a dark vibe, but I guess the lyrics kinda do :-\ 
An excellent song, that stands on its own  8)
Great job and good luck  :)
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: Yodasdad on November 04, 2017, 01:14:37 PM
Great work guys,

As someone who's not too familiar with Lou Reed I think a lot of the references passed me by but this would certainly stand up in its own right. I got the doop de doop's, wild side and perfect day but that's about it.

Musically it's mellow and flows nicely and both of your inputs have been blended seemlessly.

A great listen.

Yodasdad
Title: Re: Sweet Lou (Mr Skub collab)......Dark side comp. entry
Post by: Cazrolina on November 08, 2017, 10:24:55 PM
A fab nod to the man. Those relaxed guitars and vocals are blending together so effortlessly. Loved it, and the break in the middle was a beauty. It's an excellent collaboration, folks. Fantastic listening.