Them - What do you think about these two versions?

Hey kitcheners!

As some of you already may know I have won a comp recently. 

Tonight our valued admin @Mar T. handed over the prize. A semi-pro remix and master of my song "Them". It's a very strange experience to listen to something that I know really well and that's all new at the same time. There are things I like better than in my mix and other things I'm not yet sure about.

I (and @Mar T. ) would like to ask you to listen to the two versions and weigh in. Will you? Thanks!

https://soundcloud.com/markluto/them

https://soundcloud.com/markluto/them-remixed-and-mastered

Well one good thing about being in the central time zone - while Europe sleeps except for @Mar T. (who seems to not sleep) - is I can weigh in first. Although I suspect more & more I may be one of them, I think the mastered mix is really CD quality (do they still make CD's??)

Vince

<off-topic>

...while Europe sleeps except for @Mar T. (who seems to not sleep)...

I do sleep @vincent_stewart , most of the times on the kitchen floor 
</off-topic>
Great to hear you feel this is a CD quality master! Let's collect some more opinions (I'll save my opinion, curious what everybody says, I'll respond after a few replies)..

I pick the remix only because the actual mix is more balanced. Great song either way.

Definitely prefer the remix.

The instruments appear less muddy - sharper, brighter.

The bass especially was competing with the vocals in the original mix - it's now not so up front but actually coming through clearer - is that because the frequencies no longer clash with the vocals?

Vocals are much stronger and clearer - much easier to hear the words sung with the remix

Great work @Mar T. and of course @Mark Luto for the original song

karma to you both

I also pick the masterd / remixed version, all is crispy clear in that mix

but....the original mix does have darker, even more cynical sound....but the lyrics are so deeply cynical that that is not necessary 

Another vote from me for the remix.   

Really nice crisp sound, I can hear the vocal better and those lovely squiggly sounds are so much more identifiable. 

But I agree with @Dutchbeat about the darkness of the original.

Vote for the Remix ! Like Jurgen said the main adjective that comes is 'sharp' and just because I can't help myself to think about other songs or bands, this catchy hit remix remind me the Blur of "Girls and Boys" and some Kaiser Chiefs tunes !
Cheers

such a cool song! +1 for the remix. but as allways.. i guess you cant get someting without loosing something else.
i agree with previous speakers but i also really like the industry feel of the original. i think its got a bit more flow in it

Ok great to see a lot of response. I agree with most of the replies. I like the remix/master better, it has a better seperation of all different sounds (eg like @Jim says, you start noticing how much detail @Mark Luto put into this song). Yes the original mix was already great, but I think this does the song even more justice. Furthermore, the mix/master will sound perfect on whatever stereo set you play it.
The studio has done a great job imo! Now you Mark, let's hear your opinion!! Curious!!
Cheers!

Oooooh!


Definitely the remix!! It's so much crisper and grabby!!! I loved the original, as you know but the remix / master really pulls it up a level or two!!!


WOW! 

Plenty of response indeed! Thank you so much!

You all agree, and since I consider you all to be people with musical taste I guess you must be right...

When I first listened to the remix it was a really weird experience. The song is so different from what it used to be.
I liked the overall clearness, I loved the sound of the drums.
I didn't like the sound of the organ in the choruses, and I found the alarm siren in the 4th verse much too loud.

But first and foremost - the VOCALS!!!
I have to tell you the whole story... Before I even recorded the vocals for "Them" I already knew how I wanted them to sound. At the time @Jim and I were working on our spring competition song and we have been experimenting with some megaphone effects. Since my normal singing voice is rather (I can't find the right English word, so pick one of the following) reluctant / square / frumpy / demure / boring, I immediately fell in love with the megaphone sound. It made my singing somewhat aggressive and much crisper. It was actually an inspiration for writing "Them". I even recorded the vocals with the effect on my headphones, so the first time I heard the dry vocal track (and that was quite painful) was when I prepared the stems for the remix to send over to @Mar T. . I found it so horrible that I only sent him the processed track at first. But he kindly asked me for the dry one as well, so I grudgingly sent that, too (he had to promise me not to laugh... ).
I have to admit they sound much better in the remix than in the take I sent over. The engineer must have had a hard time tuning them and clearing all my faults out. But they sound too conservative (or pick one of the above wotds again).

As much as this remix grew on me in the past couple of days (it really did, meanwhile I like it better than my mix, too), I'm still missing the aggressive distorted industrial sound of the vocals. To me that sound somehow is the essence of the whole song. Know what I mean?

Thank you all again for listening. You helped me to hear and appreciate all the great things that happened to "Them".

Cheers,
Mark

Hey @Mark Luto , ow yes I completely understand what you say about the vocals! But I think you underestimate the quality of your voice in this song. Maybe even because you sang them through a megaphone when you were recording. Even right through that megaphone effect I could feel the authentics of the source material. That's why I asked for the raw material as well.
Imo this remix/master is the exact opposite vocal-wise. Imo it still contains the megaphone, but the raw feelings in your voice are much clearer.
I don't know if you can handle compliments, but I'll give it a try. The cover 'Just words', sung with so much passion and so intimate, immediately convinced me we need more of the pure 'Mark' sound. The engineer felt the same way (I pointed him to 'Just words' as well). Yes I understand you considering the vocal, but please be aware every singer hates to hear his/her recording. And that will be worse when he/she sings original material!
Man you don't realize how authentic your vocal sounds. Glad to hear you at least trust us a bit on this.
As for original work: keep them coming! Yes, probably you have to get used to hearing yourself in originals more than when you cover other artists. But you've got something to say. And what you say and what I hear match perfectly.
Imo the message in 'Them' is so strong. Everybody wonders if he/she's one of 'them'. And you don't judge. That's genius imo.
It's great to have talent like you in our kitchen my friend!

@Mar T. my friend, meanwhile you know me (and my insecurities) better than I might like...
But believe it or not, I can handle compliments, and this one is very special and wonderful. Thanks a million!
You may have a point, it's probably even a bit more difficult to listen to one's own vocals in self written material than in covers. Of course I consider my singing capabilities far from perfect, but I also know that I'have some aptitudes when it comes to songs like "Just Words" or my new experiment "What Matters" (not jet happy with that one). I wish I could scream and shout some more though...

but please be aware every singer hates to hear his/her recording.

Do you hate to listen to your recordings? I just cannot believe that! 

@Mar T. my friend, meanwhile you know me (and my insecurities) better than I might like...
But believe it or not, I can handle compliments, and this one is very special and wonderful. Thanks a million!
You may have a point, it's probably even a bit more difficult to listen to one's own vocals in self written material than in covers. Of course I consider my singing capabilities far from perfect, but I also know that I'have some aptitudes when it comes to songs like "Just Words" or my new experiment "What Matters" (not jet happy with that one). I wish I could scream and shout some more though...

but please be aware every singer hates to hear his/her recording.

Do you hate to listen to your recordings? I just cannot believe that! 

Yep @Mark Luto , that's the kitchen 2.0 imo. It's safe here, no need to be shy, although 'not being shy' might feel like sharing just a bit too much of yourself. I believe this barrier to cross is 'that' leap forward in your songwriting carreer to being able to deliver your message. And in this case you certainly did imo.
And yes.. I hate listening to my recordings.. But just like you I'm grateful to be able to share my creativity and I'm thankful every time I read a reply to one of my songs.
Screaming and shouting vocals is not about 'being able to' imo. Just try and let us hear it! Remember 'Panama Paper'?
I learned a lot from your response!
We're here to help and learn aren't we? I'm proud this peaceful place exists!