The Smiley Smile Message Board

A year and a half later, it's time to present:

Friends Are Benefits

(https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a3431350172_2.jpg)


Meticulously pieced together in the most coherent way,  yet short enough to be listened to at once; per request and advice.

I'm beggin you guys, please check this out, I've gone all in on this one. Physical/signed copies available soon.

Reviews/Impressions are VITAL and are the reason I keep this up.

...and please, enjoy. :)

https://mikeleroy.bandcamp.com/album/friends-are-benefits

I have some friends.

Will listen soon.

ITS TIME TO GET BOTTOM WITH FOTTOM ON HIS NEW MIX TAPE YA'LL

I'm halfway through it and am digging a lot of it so far.

First impressions: your production is far out! Like, really good. Also, it's amazing to see how far you've come with playing instruments - the acoustic guitar on the first song is really impressive.

Davi is an incredible song, great chill chords and melody. Loved the ending of 'Tears', and your use of the 8 bit sounds in 'Living in 8 bits' is impressive. I'll comment more later.

I really like the 8-Bit sound. I think you should follow that strand, it seems to really suit you.

Alright, just listened to the rest of it.

I think 'Davi' is the best song on here. Really love it.

Ironically, it was really hard to understand what you were singing in 'I Don't Understand' - it's a beautiful song, but I think you should either bring the vocals up in the mix or double track them.

'It's You' is a great album ender - reminds me a lot of 'Soul Searchin'.

I think it's your best album yet, Mike. One you should be proud of.

Thanks so much! Might actually bump those vocals up and push an update, yes, I'm doing that this time haha :D

A quick update: I just submitted this album, specifically "She Loved Me" to Sire Records.

I don't expect anything... but maybe they'll see potential?   :-\ :'( :lol

Nice stuff Mike. Great work

Mike, I have very limited time these days but I wanted to comment briefly before this thread is buried...

I have listened to all but 2-3 songs and let me say, there is some really good stuff on your new album.  I am impressed.  I will do my best to elaborate and let you know what I really like but it will most likely be several days before I am able to do so.  The melodies are great, the instrumentation is perfect.  But I will say this, if you want this stuff to go anywhere you are going to have to get a vocalist.  With the right vocals some of these songs would would be incredible, they would sound like classics.

More later, hopefully.

EoL

Thank you so much man... Really looking forward to more analysis!

About the vocals... I just can't push myself to do it!! I know one day... if I go into writing... I'll take the back seat like Bacharach and even Brian but... it's like.... letting someone get their hands all over your daughter to me :P It's hard!!

Don't I get a copy? After all, I won the contest. :)

Yep! Once the physical copies are released in mid January!

Don't beg people to listen to music you made. It's off-putting.


Let me know when you release some music you don't have to beg people to play.

Thanks

Really though, I listened to some of it, thought there was some cool songs on the album, but agree you gotta get somebody else to sing 'em if you really want any sort of commercial success with your writing. Nice background vocals, but your leads just aren't commercial or whatever enough.

Pretend they're your redheaded step-child instead of your daughter.

Can't disagree! My work is currently being reviewed by a panel of industry marketers and labels... I can't say much, but I'm surprised by how high it's scoring and that the lowest section is indeed "Hit Probability".

Thanks for the harsh truth, no sarcasm here: it's valuable sometimes.

It's been some time since I've checked in here, so hadn't seen this before.

You're really pregressing with each release, Mike! I like the Loose party-atmosphere on On my Own. And as Rab commented, the guitar-sound on that one is really good.

I agree that Davi is the stand-out here. Really, REALLY catchy and one that suits your voice better than some of the other songs.

The groove on Living in 8 Bits is cool! And fun theme for a song - I was transported back to my teenage days playing Nintendo! :-) But I have to agree with some of the other posters on here saying that most of these songs would benefit from a stronger, more distinctive vocalist. It's not meant as a putdown at all. You are absolutely really, really talented but I Down think you'll realise the full potential with your songs if you insist on singing them all yourself. Some of them fit your voice quite well, like I Don't Understand (great song aswell by the way), but the rockier numbers put too much of a strain on your voice and it shows. Just my two cents and only meant as friendly advice as I'd love to see you get succes with your talent.

So happy you like it!

Past few days have been crazy with label stuffs... I think once "we" find a vocalist... I'm all set :)

.

Good luck to ye. It's hard these days to make a living creating music unless you're involved in a particular type of generic garbage rock type stuff (Foo Fighters) or cretinous rap garbage (Lil Wayne and Drake) or absolute shite po(o)p loved by young teen girls (One Direction). It would be satisfying to me to know that somebody with a similar love of this crazy 1960s pop-rock "god" had what it takes to carve a niche in the almost mostly talentless modern music scene.

I'm still amazed to see it for real... it's on iTunes!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/friends-are-benefits/id956367959

:D A dream come true? Close enough :P

Edit: Anddddd everything else (Google Play, Amazon, Loudr...)

mikeleroymusic.com lists all the links right away! Thanks guys!