Someone killed "Half-Awake". It's been enjoying a rating of 4.75 from 6 votes, then suddenly, BOOM!, 3.67 after one vote. Whoever it was wasn't nice enough to leave a review either. Oh well, screw it.

Going around the General Rock section, I found the best sounding tracks NOT in the top 20, but in the 100s, mostly nailed between 3.5 and 4.1. And what's more is that these were studio-quality recordings. What sucks more is the thought that studio recordings got beat by... well I dunno... Fruity Loops recordings and non-vocal tracks?

Don't get me wrong, though. I have respect for loop programmers. My recordings are "synthetic" except the vocals. There are also excellent instrumentals. I guess I'm hung up with the thought of professional-quality tracks getting "downplayed". Like, come on, almost in all cases, a studio recording sounds better than a home recording. Concept is a different thing. There are tracks that sound jittery and all, but the concept is amusing or just plain genius.

I just hope that it's the freedom of expression crap of "oh sorry, I don't like that thing you made, so I'll chuck it down with a one or something". Go ahead, fire out the ones or zeroes even, but let me know, nay, let US know how us artists can make our works better in your opinion.

Hmm... I'd bet this ain't the first post with this topic, hah!

After seven years in a shelf, I have finally recorded this track. Phew!

Used a combination of Cakewalk and Reason. Yup, no live instruments. Still have to polish the mixing and vocals. Did everything on this track, from every letter to every note, in my home.

Update 09/30/2007 - Sleep is a good thing. Re-listened to the track, and with a helpful review from user msg2007 (again, many thanks!), I discovered that the vocals and lead guitar were over the top. Remixed to drop the vocals by 6dB and the lead guitar by 3dB. Sounds a hundred times better now.

Update 10/02/2007 - After some #$%^&* dumped a 1- or 2-vote rating without any review, I decided to tweak the thin-sounding guitars. They still sound thin, but they sound 50% better than before. A few note changes as well, to make some areas a bit tastier. Hope to see the ratings go up to the 4 level.

Update 10/08/2007 - Tweaked the guitars again, plus a visit to the EQ too. Added some reverb to the instruments as well. It helps mixing when you have the following: a kick-@$$ Sennheiser headphone, a cheap-@$$ earphone from a tour bus in Barcelona, and a thin-sounding PC speaker.

Update 10/09/2007 - Added compression, plus boosted the entire track by 9dB. Still have to resolve a crackle issue... but it sounds waaaaay better now.

Update 10/22/2007 - #1 at NGAP Rock Charts with a vote rating of 4.58 from 32 votes.

Link to the .mp3: http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen /98622

Lyrics:

Half-Awake
[J. Reynoso]
[03 May 2007]

It's 3am already
still wide awake and thinkin'
about a girl I met
not so long ago.

She's playing in my mem'ry.
Can't help it; she's a beauty.
And I am stuck in my bed,
thinking of you.

It's 4am already,
still wide awake and thinkin'.
Oh how will I get a fix on you?
How will I get a fix on you?

Maybe there is some way
we'll be together someday.
Right now, I'm stuck in my bed,
busy thinking of you!

I'm still half-awake!
I'm still half-awake!
I'm still half-awake!
I'm still half-awake!

5am already...
I'm still thinking of you!

I'm still half-awake!
I'm still half-awake!
I'm still half-awake!
I'm still half-awake!

It's 6am already,
time to face another day...
without you...

Finally! My song is up after a day of waiting. After close to a week in recording, it's now up in Newgrounds! Hope to get critiqued.

Update 10/24/2007: #5 at the NGAP Pop Charts with 4.52 from 18 votes.

Update 11/20/2007: #1 at the NGAP Pop Charts with 4.48 from 39 votes. (How did this even get there?)

Link to Bring The Sun Back: http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen /98383

Here are the lyrics (in case anyone is interested, LOL!):

Bring The Sun Back
[J. Reynoso]
[01 February 2007]

Too much work,
just like yesterday?
Tired of your life?
Maybe you need a break?

So come with me
maybe I can
fix something,
and show you life's
more than just a box
of crazy things.
Come on, I'll take you out,

and bring the sun back in your eyes,
bring the sun back in your smile.
Throw away yesterday,
I'll take you back to the sunny days.

Gonna bring the sun back in your eyes,
bring the life back in your eyes.
Forget all those rainy days,
and let the sun shine -- in your eyes.

Broken ride
in the middle of a traffic jam,
and late for that gig,
you've been dying to watch,
but, hey, don't you worry just

Take my hand
and maybe I can
turn the world
upside down,
and show you that
there's still a world of fun out there.

I wanna bring the sun back in your eyes,
bring the sun back in your smile.
Throw away yesterday,
I'll take you back to the sunny days.

I wanna bring the sun back in your smile,
bring the life back in your eyes.
Forget all those rainy days,
and let the sun shine
in your eyes.

Why are you frowning again?
Don't waste your time crying in your bed.
Think of life as a happy song,
all you do is sing along.
Think of life as a happy song,
all you do is sing along.

I'll bring the sun back in you.
Back in you.