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Quiet Desperation - video
Quiet Desperation - audio

Hard to believe it's been two months since our last J&B post but for better or worse here we go.

Recently David Snyder reviewed a floyd jane song and wrote in part: "Another great version of the subtly gut-wrenching, quietly understated reminder that so many human beings as Thoreau said 'lead lives of quiet desperation.'"  I read Thoreau's Walden decades ago but had not thought of that quote in years. Reflecting on the people all around us living on the margin led to this attempt at a lyric to express my feelings. Production wise we were hoping for a John Mellencamp groove.

Thanks to:

- Kenny for the vocals and letting his lead guitar “dance with the fiddle;”
- David for his inspiring quote;
- floyd jane for putting the golden ears on the mix and counsel;
- Noel for early on bridge structure advice; and,
- as always to PG Music for enabling fun and fellowship.

For the technically inclined:

Janice: lead and harmony vocals / Rodes NT1 > Scarlett 212 > Logic Pro X / Nectar 2
The verse and chorus lead vocal track was duplicated with heavy compression added to the double which was mixed under the original. A second track was sung to double the bridge.

Kenny: lead guitar and harmony vocals / processing via whatever he does

Drums 1 RD N’ville Even8ths / Neutron / 140 EMT reverb sim / Ozone Imager
Drums 2 - additional snare/cymbal tracks from RD file / Neutron / 140 EMT reverb sim / Ozone Imager

Bass RT 684 Electric PopHalfNotesSync Ev 120 / Neutron

Fiddle RT 1753 Background Pop8ths Ev 110 (comped from multiple generations) / Logic Pro X overdrive sim / Neutron / 140 EMT reverb sim (held chords created from same RT for chorus)

Guitar RT 998 ElectricHardRockLACrispSync Ev 120 Direct Input / Logic Pro X amp-speaker-mic sim / Neutron
(held chords created from same RT for chorus)

Guitar RT693 Acoustic AcRockBright Ev 120 / Neutron / 140 EMT reverb sim

Mixed in Logic Pro X / Mastered via Ozone 7 Advanced

Quiet Desperation
© 2017
Janice: music Bud: words

she drives a 20 year old Chevrolet
and lives in a 30 year old single wide
two grown kids who never found their way
reminders of a marriage that slowly died

she's one more of the long forgotten
just some fodder for the politicians
never read a single page of Walden
but she knows her own quiet desperation

too many hard years ’n not enough play
there's a wardrobe that no longer fits her
she dreams of when the guys would say
why, honey, you're pretty as a picture

she's one more of the long forgotten
just some fodder for the politicians
never read a single page of Walden
but she knows her own quiet desperation

another day working a double shift
another week waiting on welfare
another month's rent spent on daycare
another year living on the edge

repeat chorus
counterpoint chorus

Wow! This is totally amazing. Great production all round. Everything is spot on. Well done. All of you!

Wow this is so good. First loved the lyric. Janice vocal and harmonies were excellent. What a cool collaboration with Kenny. His harmonies and guitar are so cool. Mix was so professional and balance. Should be on the radio....

Thanks Joanne! Glad you liked it given that writing and producing a rock song is a struggle for us!

J&B

I absolutely adore this collaboration! You guys work so well together, and I hope you guys will make more together in the future. I certainly agree that the guitar "dances with the fiddle" on this one. And the lyrics are also amazing.

Excited for the next one!

Thank you Scott. We appreciate you mentioning the mix and Kenny's work.

J&B

I have heard this before obviously in production :), but it is a masterpiece.

Bravo.

Another sensational production from 'The Team'.

Actually, the material just jeeps getting better.

A powerful groove, and excellent lyrics & guitar instrumentation, all delivered with classy vocals makes this stand out.

Great job Team.

Love it!

Thanks for letting me be a part of it,

Thanks Scott, Ember, and all who mentioned my guitar work

Great song from two of my favs,

love the video too!

Kenny

Janice, Bud & Kenny,
An intro that grabs, lyrics that cut deep, the almost duelling fiddle/guitar sound and a tough-enough Janice vocal adds up to one of the best country rockers I`ve heard on this forum.
This is a sound that`s not easy to achieve so I appreciate the details on production...and commend your taking the time to get it right. You surely did!

Robert

Hey Everyone,

Super production! Tip of the hat to all. Kenny's licks are terrific; has Janice ever uttered a bad note - doubt it- Bud is a master "knob turner' and how can you go wrong with Noel and David as "advisors and influences?

The overall groove on this reminded me of early Trisha Yearwood. Regardless of who it might be similar to, it stands great on its own. The lyric is thought-provoking and oh-so-true.

Great song, production and delivery. Totally loved my listen. Hats off to all concerned.

Alan

Forgot to say ... the video was fantastic!

Hi Janice Bud and Kenny.
Most enjoyable with great clarity and definition.
Fantastic counterpoint chorus. Cheers.

Nice one guys!

I listened to the audio yesterday, watched the video this morning.

First of all, a great write! One of your best I think, Bud. And I did hear a bit of a John Mellencamp vibe happening, especially at the beginning.

Janice is great as usual, such great tone! And phrasing too, not the first time I've mentioned that!

Harmonies with Kenny work well, and some nice tasteful guitar work happening also.

I always enjoy hearing collaborations, well done!

Thanks Ember! Collaborations are a very special part of BiaB’s forum. Glad you liked it.

J&B

What a tune! What a fantastic collaboration - I wouldn't flinch hearing this on the radio among the modern country tunes on the billboards. It's fantastically written, and the production on here is near flawless. Not to mention, the arrangement of all the instruments here gives it a lot of character.

Great work here, and thanks so much for sharing

Thanks David for listening and most all the inspiration.

J&B

Great collaboration! Love the harmonies. Great job on the guitar, Kenny!

Love this.

Steve

Thorough and straight basic rock arrangement. Drums work very well.
Kenny's "screaming" guitars are a very nice addition.
Bud, you did a terrific job with the layering of the vocals, especially on the bridge.

Rob

We appreciate that! Thanks for noting the groove. We put considerable effort into trying to make it work.

J&B