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Bob Elliott
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3/16/2016 2:52:45 PM
Hop on Pop's One by One
Todd sent me a CD some time back. Took me a long while to comment here, but here goes:
Great stuff!
Break My Heart: this track jams blasting through in the Huskeresque way it has, very singable. Just has an earnest pull in the verse that works so well.
Second tune might be called "The Key?"
Well, here is the beginning of the country push. Several tunes here are clearly country, and Hop seems very comfortable in country. It's a catchy and singable tune, most all his stuff is. The effect on the voice puts a bit of distance between me and the singer which I would rather not have, but the performance is good. I don't really like effect on his voice distancing me from the singer on any of the tracks. I like the grit left gritty.
You Wrote the Song:
Could be a hit, and everyone plays well, but I prefer the version I heard with Hop on the lead vocals.Great idea for a tune. If I were producing, I'd just find the best key for him to do it in his voice. I know he feels otherwise, but I like how he sings his stuff.
Spinnin':
I like the weird keyboard work on this one, the weird drum machine sounds. I'm a sucker for weird keyboard. Much of the lyrical content on the album seems centered around midlife disillusionment. It's an honest look in the soul.
Made It to the Middle:
Very good recording, very up front where I like the vocals. I like his low voice. More disillusionment (probably not a real word I'm using there.) Anyway, nice playing, honest singing. Catchy.
Is That Alright?:
Way country demo. This is probably a demo. Again I like his voice low and upfront like that. Honest sound.
Pretty sure there are more songs coming to this album. I think it's coming along well.
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Hop On Pop
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3/16/2016 3:00:28 PM
Hey Bob!
Thanks so much for the insightful and in-depth commentary on the new tunes. You know how much I respect you as a musician, and as a producer, and I really do appreciate your taking the time.
You are correct that "Is That Alright?" is a demo... of sorts. I recorded it as a demo, but I think that it isn't much of a song; just a throwaway kind of thing and, therefore, it works well in this sort of tossed-off way. My opinion.
And yeah, at 45 years old, I am doing a lot of looking back and self examination.
B-)
Again, thanks for taking the time!
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Two Silo Complex
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3/17/2016 11:35:25 AM
Hey Hop On pop I can relate to your comment "45 years old, I am doing a lot of looking back and self examination"
I do think its important to know where we came from and to be able to measure how far we have come but for me looking back can become a trap. I don't want you to fall in the same trap I sometimes do. My advice to you is don't spend too much time looking at the shadow of what was yesterday or last year those days and years are gone and never to return. Instead look ahead to where your going and what you will do. Its much easier walking forward when looking forward. When walking forward while looking behind you your easily tripped up. Your too good of a musician to let that happen to you.
So what can we expect to hear next from Hop on pop? That is what I want to know.
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Hop On Pop
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3/17/2016 12:23:29 PM
Thanks for the advice, and thanks for asking.
THIS is the album that Bob was talking about.
You can stream it at that link, or download it there, for free. Most of it is up here at IMP, but not all.
Also, it is still a work in progress. A press release that I wrote explains it this way:
"Hop On Pop’s Todd Leiter-Weintraub is taking a different approach to recording their new album, One By One. It’s an open-ended compilation of songs, recorded in various places at various times with various people, sometimes months and months apart. And, as each song is completed, it is being released immediately, via the Hop On Pop Bandcamp page.
The unmastered tracks are, and will remain available as free downloads until the album contains 10 songs or 35 minutes, whichever comes first. At that point, the record will be mastered, a price tag slapped on, and the official album release will be celebrated!
There are a couple of reasons the band is moving in this direction:
1. A more song-centric public is increasingly buying/downloading their music, song by song.
2. The periodic releases help keep the band’s name in front of fans.
3. Budget! It’s easier to afford studio time for a song at a time than it is to go in and lay out a ton of money for an entire album.
And, as the band has discovered, recording just a single song (or 2) lets the band really focus on the production and get things right before presenting it to the public.
“I think that the results are speaking for themselves,” said Leiter-Weintraub."
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Two Silo Complex
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3/17/2016 1:24:40 PM
Very cool Todd If you stop by my page you can see some information Silverwood shared with me. Online mastering very cheap. I have not tried it myself but Silverwood says they are good.
TSC,
Ken
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Hop On Pop
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3/17/2016 1:56:04 PM
That's funny. I'm IN Chicago, so I can get in touch with him pretty easily.
Although, I was very happy with the job that Brad Sarno (Auset's husband) did on Chicken On a Bicycle.
Still, I'll check him out. Thanks!
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Two Silo Complex
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3/17/2016 6:39:38 PM
I know your in Chicago that part of the reason I mentioned it but you can also submit files online. Did you look at the prices? 15 dollars a song for mastering is unheard of. Again I never tried them but they were recommended by silverwood.
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Hop On Pop
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3/17/2016 6:58:04 PM
Yeah, $15 is incredible. I may submit one song... for that free trial that they're offering, just to see what kind of a job they'll do.
Thanks again for the heads-up!
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