by mdemaz » Oct 28th, '13, 09:45
(Gonna edit this post a bit because I'm adding the rest of the feed)
Well, my internet cut out for 3 days, so, I had a bit of time to listen to this album.
1. Me
Alright, here we go...
I feel like the strings could of been slightly louder, listening to this on speakers makes your voice crazy loud compared to the beat, but, whatever. When I hear this on headphones/earphones this track sounds a bit better.
Awesome lyrics, flow is on-point, nicely crafted poetic elements and structures.
I feel rather entranced by the beat, though, as I listen to this a few more times.
It's a good song to start off.
I feel like it was a good idea to mix your songs this way, although, sometimes it feels a little bit unprofessional at times. Nothing is seriously wrong, but, I just don't feel perfection in this song, I don't know how to explain it. When you started crafting this album, you wanted a signature sound, you achieved this sound, but, it's not really a very accurate staple of what a high quality production would be like. It's sub-par, but, a lot of people would not really care, because hip-hop music can be enjoyable regardless of quality if the lyrical content, the beat, or the themes are interesting and keeps the listener entertained.
With all this said, the rest of this album does seem to have this lack of perfection, but, it only damages this albums overall greatness by a little bit.
2. To You (Going Forward)
Ok, the vocals still sound a bit too loud to me, but, the beat is epic.
Solid track.
Cool hook, each verse is crazy, and, the production is exceptional. I think that the low pitch in the hook was unnecessary. I like the second verse where you talk about your brother.
Sorta takes me back in time a little bit to a point that I didn't even know you. Somehow, I manage to imagine myself being in existence in your life at that time. Like, it was destiny that this shit was gonna happen. Again, it pains me to say, but, the vocals sound too loud, it's a real turn off. I'm trying to just accept it, but, I can't.
I feel like your mixing skills are better than before, but, there's still room for improvement.
3. The Dream
No matter how many times I hear this, I don't get sick of it. The first verse is flawless, and, the second verse is flawless. Easily one of the best songs on the album, although, I wasn't a big fan of you re-recording the third verse, and the reverse echo effect sounds too loud compared to the original, but, it's not a devastating problem.
The instruments I added on the third verse sound good, though.
The beat is mesmerizing, the piano makes me feel calm. When you were composing it when I was laying in bed, I felt at peace with the world. Another thing I like about this song is how your voice seems to just blends in with the rhythm. It's really interesting and awesome at the same time. This song is honestly really great; it's a step towards something very epic. This track, is the epitome, of everything we were working towards music-wise since last year and the year before. Again, I stress that the third verse sounds better in the original version. But, the instruments I added sound cool.
With all this said, this track, is probably my favorite track.
I know it might seem like I'm jumping to conclusions, but, no, this is how I feel.
This song is the best song on the album. If the original version was in place of this song, I would of felt more strongly about this opinion. When you look at it, it's not really stupid to call this the best song. I know people have different tastes, but, I feel like it should be a universal opinion to consider this track the best track on the album. It's just awesome in every way, although, it has flaws, nothing can stop it from being the best. Again, I still hate the third verse, but, it doesn't damage it to the extent of making it a bad song, as I consider this the best song on the album.
4. Chasm
Oh man, this is fucking awesome.
The mixing is great, awesome lyrics and delivery.
I love it.
One of my favorite songs on the album.
I think what you really managed to do right with this was the way you blended into a song You have a knack for doing that. When it comes to trying to become a instrument in a track, when you do it right, you end up with superb songs. This is one of those superb songs.
I think you really hit the nail on the head with this one.
5. Atlas
Another one of my favorites.
The mixing is perfect.
The rhyming is fucking insane, so is your flow.
Wow, holy shit.
I never noticed how good this actually was.
You didn't like it for some reason.
Typical, haha.
The only thing I don't like is the intro strings, I think I fucked them up. The fourth verse is insane.
The part at 3:40 gave me goosebumps because it's similar to my rap style. Crazy flow.
If I had to pick a second best track on this album, it would be this one.
Yeah, I said it.
I went there.
This is G.O.A.T. territory. This is one of those songs that stay with you. This is the type of song that you can look back at and have fond memories of a time when we were slaving away in the studio. I'm very proud of this beat, although, I think it could of been a tad better. That's the problem, once you have a song set in stone, it's silly to change anything. You have to accept what is there, and, that's what I'm trying to do with this song, hell, with each song.
The hook is one of the best ones on the album.
I love all the gym themes and such, at the time, you were using protein powder, so, it was cool to hear you talk about it.
6. How the Heart Shrinks
Another good track.
This is a very consistent album, each track sounds the same, with the same intensity.
It's like a constant orgasm.
One thing I really like about this track, is the abrupt melody change from the verse to the hook.
7. If Only She Knew
The mixing is a bit too loud.
The hook is, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh.
That beat, doe.
I can notice a lot of punch-ins...
I'm pretty proud of this beat.
That melody was just some shit I came up with on the spot.
It's probably been used before, but, I wouldn't know.
Either way, it's very angelic.
8. Mirage
The mix is good, that hook, doe.
Fucking nice.
I feel like those pianos or whatever during the verses are unnecessary.
I really enjoy hearing the hook, it's really moving.
Isn't that snare from the Biggie song Dead Wrong?
Gonna say that the hook is REALLY good.
I'd go as far as calling it one of the best.
9. Our Place
This is a very relaxing song.
I think I screwed some stuff up, because I just rendered that because you wanted it to be rendered right away. It was also before I discovered I had bad drum levels a few weeks after.
It was a very complex song and it was the first time I attempted something that extreme.
After hearing this for the third and fourth time, I actually really love how this sounds.
The arrangement of the instruments was VERY well done.
The spoken word part was very mesmerizing.
10. Footsteps on the Beach (And the Moon)
I actually made this beat in 2009. 4 years later, it still sounds epic. Again, you mange to entrap me into a trance-like state with the overall feel of the song. I really like like you did the beat justice.
11. Butterflies
I think the vocals are too loud. That's the only problem. Everything else is perfect.
Another one of the good beats.
A lot of your friends think this is the best track, and yeah, I think it's one of the best.
12. Get Through
One of the best beats I made for this album.
The mix is fine, lyrics, rhymes', flow, is good.
The hook is really good
13. I Want It
Straight fire.
Everything is dope as fuck.
14. Six Feet Under And Above
I really like where you went with this. I feel like this was necessary to expand your creative taste buds when it comes to trying out different styles and themes for tracks. I honestly felt like you were dead. The way you talked was very creepy. The atmosphere you managed to achieve was really enjoyable.
15. Crowded Hallways
I was filming you record a demo of this. (I haven';t uploaded the video yet...)
I think it's one of the best song on the album.
This album was originally gonna be called Crowded Hallways, but instead, you chose Going Forward.
Each bar had me glued to my seat.
5 O’Clock (Bonus Track)
Had to loo around to find this track, but, I'm glad I found it.
This is a nice track.
Overall, this is the best release you have done to date.
Each time you drop something, you get better, it won't be long before you get scary.