The Smiley Smile Message Board

Hey guys!

Here's a short cover/demo of Heroes and Villains I recorded about a year ago. Randomly decided to upload it - it's nothing special, just a bare-bones vision of a folky-upbeat Heroes and Villains cover.

https://soundcloud.com/robert-borszich/h-v-cover-demo (https://soundcloud.com/robert-borszich/h-v-cover-demo)

Fantastic, as always, rab.  I thoroughly enjoy that you've re-worked the song a bit rather than a note for note cover, which both gives us a fresh perspective of the song and shows us some of your own ideas...andit sounds great.  Also, there's something I really like about how you enunciated each syllable when you sing (here and elsewhere).  I tend to sing as I speak, taking short cuts/cutting out sounds and syllables.  You seem to add them all back in.  I am wondering where this comes from?  Education, possibly, or maybe acting classes?  Or is just something you prefer?  Regardless, it gives your vocals a unique flavor.  Thank you for sharing

Note: edit function won't let me change "andit" to "and it", "there's" to "there is" and "enunciated" to "enunciate" and it is driving me mad.

Thanks for the kind words! I really don't know where my enunciations came from - or at what point I started using them in my singing. I think one day I did it by accident and found that I really liked the sound.

Also, here's another song you may find interest in. I recorded it some months back, I have a few variations of it, but this version is my favorite. Still trying to find the time/inspiration to rewrite the verse lyrics and get it fully recorded.

https://soundcloud.com/robert-borszich/whiskey-mountain-blues-demo (https://soundcloud.com/robert-borszich/whiskey-mountain-blues-demo)

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Thanks Zach!

Ditto. Great work!

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I reiterate what I said on the comments on Soundcloud -finish this.
Tell us the chords and I'll have a go, if you like?  ;D I've been jonesing to write some country but didn't know where to start as, well, I live in  London, probably the least 'country' city ever.

I really like this track, too, and I'd totally be down to help with some lyrical or musical ideas.

Oh, you didn't want the second verse reqrite to start out with "my wife done left me" and end with "cryin' in my beer at the saloon"? Too bad, those are permanent.

It couldn't possibly start with 'crying in my beer at the saloon', he's on Whiskey Mountain! This is collaboration in action, folks....  ;D

It struck me as country, maybe it was that Everly-esque harmony. Or the eternal sense of longing and regret that one gets after ten drinks.

Hahah you guys can definitely fool around with the song if you want - though I've kinda got the gist of the lyrics already down - I just need to figure out how to fit them into the above-linked song. Here's another demo version I recorded months ago of the same song I did with full lyrics - more like a Dropkick Murphy's song (pardon the language in it, and for those skittish of gunshot noises - there are some in here) :

https://soundcloud.com/robert-borszich/whisky-mt-blues-rock (https://soundcloud.com/robert-borszich/whisky-mt-blues-rock)

It's kinda a long song, but it's more of a story instead of song. I enjoy both versions, but I like the chillax vibe of the one I posted earlier moreso.

Always looking for a fuller sound...though I have to admit, I have no idea what fourth/fifth/third harmonies are (never studied music) - but I'll look for other harmonies that sound well with what's already there.

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Good on you for taking the initiative to learn on your own! Really shows in your music that you've learned a lot. Guess it couldn't hurt me to look up some videos on the subject

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Please post the links, all of them, or PM them to me, if you don't mind.  My voice sucks, but still...

Thanks! And definitely post the links if it's no trouble!

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Sorry I'm late to the party. Awesome cover!! Really like how you injected your own originality into it. The coolest part to me was when you jumped octaves midway through the verse. Keep it up!!

@Zach Thanks for the links! I cannot read music, but I'll be sure to check out the ones you posted when I have time.

@seltaeb Thanks! The octave change was solely because my voice couldn't stay in one range without sounding friggin terrible, so I had to improvise haha.