Mike LeRoy Presents: Take a Break

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

"The third full studio effort from Michael LeRoy is a very different album from his past releases. Focusing his efforts more on songwriting, and less on concept, every song on the album is unique and feels treated with special care. Crafted with a wide range of influences from artists like The Beach Boys all the way to The Doors, the music is more complex then ever, and the lyrics just as creative and emotional. The three part suite "From Six To Three" looks back to the concept writing you're used to from LeRoy, but you've honestly never heard him like this. Please sit back, enjoy the sounds, and "Take A Break" with Mike LeRoy."

http://mikeleroy.bandcamp.com/album/take-a-break

Please, at the least, let me know what you think! Feel free to ask questions about the tracks, I love answering them!

[hypehat]

Look forward to it, mate! Nice Van Dyke Parks impression on the cover, too 

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Haha a lot of albums of that style had covers like this. Song Cycle, Sail Away, mostly songwriters, which you'll see I'm slowly moving towards...

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

This will be released VERY soon, Amazon is almost ready
The album is 100% finished, I'm sure you'll all LOVE it!

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

First Post Updated.

Coming to Amazon at the end of the month.

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Submitted to amazon!

[zachrwolfe]

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[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Thanks! I'd love a detailed break down haha

[Mendota Heights]

Really like the intro song Take a Break (From Mike Love). 

Beautiful background vocals and great melody, you should try doing the lead vocal in a higher pitch (to make it sound more like The Beach Boys) Think the song would benefit from it.

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Thanks Man! I'd love to know what you think of the rest too!

I tried a higher vocal, but I only left the "for their first true love" line

Edit: You may like Take A Break (Part 2)! It's much more like what you described

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Sale on this tomorrow! $5!

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

I'm releasing a single that wasnt ready for the album soon, and Id really love some feedback on this to make sure that single turns out amazing!

[rab2591]

I've played a few tracks here and there from this album since you released it....but haven't had the time to give it a full listen. Now I have, here are my thoughts:

My likes:

I think your ideas are solid - you've got great structure in every one of your songs. Instrumentally the sections meld together flawlessly. I LOVE your guitar work on 'The Blind Man' - and the vocals in the end of that song are great.

'Don't Waste Yourself' is awesome...my favorite from the album. The lyrics, those chord changes, and that piano riff - top notch stuff! 'It'll be Okay' - the backing track sounds amazing. You have a serious knack for mixing instrumentals. 'Take A Break From Love (2)' has great piano playing! The Weight of Life is a great closer - great piano riff in the beginning and the lyrics fit perfectly.

My dislikes:

- I wasn't a huge fan of the lyrics in some of the songs (but in other songs - mentioned above - I really liked the lyrics). I can't explain much further than that. I just can't relate to some of them I guess. More of a sidenote: When I first started writing lyrics, a great musician friend of mine said to me that "a man will write 100 songs before he writes one worth anything." It's actually kinda true, I didn't believe it at the time (and it stung because I thought I had wrote some great songs)...but looking back at my lyric journals from 4-5 years ago I cringe at what I thought was good. It takes time to find your own voice and to make your songs sound believable. Keep writing and writing. Even write journals, read poetry, copy passages you like from books, try stream-of-conscious writing...all this combined really helps when you go to write a song.

- The vocals are rather mixed down in mostly every song, it's kinda hard to hear the lyrics sometimes.

- I'm not a huge fan of your vocals in some of the songs. Your vocals in 'It Was Love' are fantastic, I think your voice is better suited for that range than the lower ranges in your other songs.

Suggestions:

If I were you I'd get a Mac with Logic Pro 9...probably the greatest thing I ever did was get that bundle. This program can churn out stunning productions and it's pretty easy to use. I can see this being a great investment for ya.

I'd narrow down your tracklist for your next album. I barely have the patience/time to listen to a full length album anymore (doesn't matter if it's by Dylan or Brian Wilson). Some of my favorite 'albums' are short 4-5 song EPs that really pack a punch. But this is probably more of a personal preference, so pay this no mind.

You should try working with other musicians/artists in your area. I've worked with a slew in my hometown; some female vocalists, some folk singers. Get other people to sing on your songs, make a blend of voices. Collab on lyrics, etc. Collaborating may go nowhere for ya, but you always learn something by being around other people....you develop new tastes and ideas. And it's really beneficial to get to know other musicians in your area (some may need you to open a gig, or play keyboard on their new album, etc...it's just good to know these people).

And if you don't have it already: buy the 'West Side Story' soundtrack immediately. Bernstein is a genius when it comes to compositions - it's an album I really think you'd dig and it's a great inspiration. Also the movie is amazing as well.

Final thoughts:

I'm damn jealous of your talent. I was doing nothing when I was 15...you're writing full length albums. You've got a gift a lot of people would love to have. You've definitely got a knack for writing tracks, production, flow, how an album should piece together. But just keep writing and writing lyrics. Everything you write is a stepping stone to something better, something more thought out.

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Thanks for the great feedback man!!
One thing I've noticed, every time someone new hears the album they all seem to have a different favorite song!
It's strange, but I take it as a complement in which the album is well balanced with good songs haha...

As it the vocals, I'm still coming into my own with my voice, so it's good to hear I may be onto something with "It Was Love" (the last song recorded for the album).
I guess some are pretty quiet, I spent days adjusting the volume on vocals, I'm not very good at it, so I can see that haha

Overall, ill take those suggestions! I've always wanted to collaborate so that's a no brainer! As for WSS I just ordered that soundtrack!

I think you can see a lot of improvements from my last album all steamed from the feedback of this board, so this really helps! Thanks man!