first, christian: thank you for adding criticisms. i really do appreciate that.
: )
i would normally, and sort of do now, agree with you that i need add more variations. On any other song, i would have. this song in particular was an experiment in not varying, and is in fact, what the song is about.
it is inspired by a comment made by glen phillips on an xm radio show.
"writing a song with only one chord never works. you always add more."
i wanted to see first if i could do it without boring myself to tears, and actually finish a one chord song that wasn't only a minute or two long.
this is where the lyrics fit in. as for the layered vocs, i played with that
a bit.
first, just one vocal. came across too bland, then i tried the echoing.
i didn't like it much.
then i tried the overlaying and liked it more. for me, it drew more attention to the lyrics and away from the monotony of the one chord, plus gives it a more spooky feel.
this is also the reason for switching up the strumming for the quicker part.
i see what you mean from your example as well. i like the way they gradually change the song.
my idea was more in keeping it the same and hoping the lyrics would take the interest more than the guitar.
my example will be this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkBMpngSy3Y
this song, while having more than one chord, is very monotonous on the guitar to some, but for me the lyrics are interesting enough that i am in love with it. for two and a half minutes, no changes. to some, this would be hell. for me though, it was not.
malcolm: fender acoustic/electric (unplugged) into apex 435 condensor mic, into tapco mix100, into compy with reaper as my preferred recording program.
vocals into same mic, but set to different levels.
i panned left and right a bit on the vocs, but no effects were used in this one. pretty raw. i'm planning to redo it, hopefully a bit smoother.
this was the night i wrote it, so i'm sure i can do it better later.
thanks for listening and commenting! : )