OBQM -- sort of Rush meets Tool - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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coffeeintheface View Drop Down

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Joined: May 02 2005
Location: United States
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Points: 397

Topic: OBQM -- sort of Rush meets Tool
Posted: February 13 2010 at 20:56

Hey, my name is Zach Bibeault -- I've been a regular poster on Progarchives here in the past but this is the first time I've posted here in a while. Over the past couple years I've been writing prog music under the moniker OBQM (an acronym for One Big Question Mark) and over the last year I finally was able to record a version of an album I wrote, titled Blueprint of an Anamoly.

The music I guess would be classified progressive metal as it has quite a few metal riffs and double bass and stuff, but it's not exactly the operatic vocal/neoclassical type. No bass on it because I don't own one yet. Vocals are semi-rough (first time singing) and production is roughly demo-quality (first time recording/mixing/mastering).

Anyways, I have three main links if you guys wanna check the stuff out:

www.youtube.com/user/obqm
http://www.last.fm/music/OBQM [songs available for free download here]
www.myspace.com/obqm

Blueprint of an Anomaly's track listing:
1. Lay (23:15)
2. Voiceless (9:47)
3. Friends & Foes (11:55)
4. The Golden Endeavor (9:49)
5. Perseverance Unlimited (Instrumental) (13:27)
6. A Reflection (Instrumental) (3:35)
7. Semblance (17:41)

I'd love feedback if you've got it!
--Zach Bibeault

Edited by coffeeintheface - March 04 2010 at 22:39

OBQM: www.soundcloud.com/onebigquestionmark (solo project)
nQuixote: www.soundcloud.com/n-quixote (ambient + various musical ideas)

Basíleia

Forum Senior Member

Joined: April 22 2009
Location: The Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 283

Posted: February 17 2010 at 13:35

Well, first, let me compliment you, for this is absolutely going the right way! The songs definitely lack bass, but you're working on that, so that's not a problem and it would be nice if you'd add definitely some more key layers too, but that's just taste, I guess. Tongue

I've listened to "Lay", "A Reflection (Instrumental)" and "Semblance" so far and they sound really good! At the beginning of Lay, do I hear a clock ticking? It seems like there is and if so, it would be a really nice touch, though it should be stressed a lot more, IMHO - but maybe there isn't, I'm not sure Embarrassed

. Anyway, Lay is by far the best of the three - a real masterpiece and in a way comparable with the point in Rush's career, when they released Caress Of Steel or maybe even 2112. "A Reflection" is a nice piece of work, but I don't understand why it is a separate song: it doesn't have a special touch of its own and could easily have been incorporated in "Semblance", which in turn hasn't got a very interesting start but from about 7:00 on the song is actually really good and at times has the same feeling on me as DT's "The Best of Times".

Then one last thing: the vocals really discredit most of the music; you've got a beautiful voice, but you sound unsure and it just isn't powerful enough. The vocals are flat overall and tend to repeat themselves, I also can't hear what you're singing. - this is something to work on, IMO, but you're on the right track here, definitely!

Well, that's about it, as for my remarks and criticism, but hey, what the hell do I know about music LOL

I will definitely check out the rest of the songs later. Keep on proggin': this deserves some clappies! Clap

coffeeintheface View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 02 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 397

Posted: February 18 2010 at 16:44

Thanks a ton for the feedback, I really appreciate it!

So there's some interesting stories in response to your comments: I just graduated from college this December and I'm unfortunately stuck at my parents' house till I find a job. This is the first time I've sung on recording and at times I was trying to hush my vocals down because I'm still kinda self-conscious. I also strained to hit a few high notes (especially on the chorus of Lay). Make no mistake, I plan to re-record the vocals at some point in the future. Right now I'm just kind of rushing them out there.

I'd like to find ways to have more keys but I don't just want to have keys for the sake of keys: I mean, Rush knew that. They only had keyboard parts in the precise songs and song sections where they were necessary. I'd like to use keys in that way instead of a Dream Theater-like way where the keys are always in every song, even if there's no need for them. (I want to gig some of this material, and plan to find a bassist who can sing vocal harmonies with me AND switch to keys when necessary a la Geddy).

And interesting story behind Semblance. The song-within-a-song part (the first 7 or so minutes) I actually wrote back in 2002 when I was in high school. When I set about programming drums for the album last summer, I knew I needed to finish Semblance. So I jammed a bit and found 2 motifs I loved and from those I was able to right the entire rest of Semblance. I also wrote Lay back in 2002. I've been meaning to record them for years but for a while I didn't know how to program drums. Once I learned, I started recording.

(Oh, and the "ticking" at the beginning of Lay is actually the drum metronome part I programmed in so I could keep time. I forgot to remove it, but it sounds cool anyways).

Again thanks so much for the feedback, much appreciated.
-Zach Bibeault

Edited by coffeeintheface - February 18 2010 at 16:47

OBQM: www.soundcloud.com/onebigquestionmark (solo project)
nQuixote: www.soundcloud.com/n-quixote (ambient + various musical ideas)

Basíleia

Forum Senior Member

Joined: April 22 2009
Location: The Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 283

Posted: February 19 2010 at 02:18

Well, as I've said before - Lay definitely is the best out of the three, I haven't listened to the rest, but I surely will! About the keys, you are right, of course, you shouldn't use keys for the sake of having keys, but I find the songs (those three, anyway) a bit too much alike, you know. And that's why I opted for keys, but if you don't feel the same way, or are planning to create more different guitar sounds, hey, it's your album - and a very fine one too!^^

As for the vocals, I really think your voice shouldn't be missed on the album, just arrange some nice melodies and cries and try to sound sure about the tone, whether you actually miss it or not, always pretend it is the right one - who knows what may be born this way, not on purpose.:P

The metronome really sounds nice, and I think you shouldn't try to remove it, then.

Joren

Oh, and could you send me some lyrics? Especially from "Lay" - I'm a lyricist (and a bit of a singer) myself and I'd love to read them.

coffeeintheface View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 02 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 397

Posted: February 20 2010 at 16:54

Will do. I don't think I'm too much of a lyricist and in some cases I actually just threw together random words that sounded cool.
I'm actually editing lyrics for two more songs, then I'll record and upload em (all songs are uploaded now except those two, Voiceless and The Golden Endeavor).

OBQM: www.soundcloud.com/onebigquestionmark (solo project)
nQuixote: www.soundcloud.com/n-quixote (ambient + various musical ideas)

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coffeeintheface Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 02 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 397	Topic: OBQM -- sort of Rush meets Tool Posted: February 13 2010 at 20:56
	Hey, my name is Zach Bibeault -- I've been a regular poster on Progarchives here in the past but this is the first time I've posted here in a while. Over the past couple years I've been writing prog music under the moniker OBQM (an acronym for One Big Question Mark) and over the last year I finally was able to record a version of an album I wrote, titled Blueprint of an Anamoly. The music I guess would be classified progressive metal as it has quite a few metal riffs and double bass and stuff, but it's not exactly the operatic vocal/neoclassical type. No bass on it because I don't own one yet. Vocals are semi-rough (first time singing) and production is roughly demo-quality (first time recording/mixing/mastering). Anyways, I have three main links if you guys wanna check the stuff out: www.youtube.com/user/obqm http://www.last.fm/music/OBQM [songs available for free download here] www.myspace.com/obqm Blueprint of an Anomaly's track listing: 1. Lay (23:15) 2. Voiceless (9:47) 3. Friends & Foes (11:55) 4. The Golden Endeavor (9:49) 5. Perseverance Unlimited (Instrumental) (13:27) 6. A Reflection (Instrumental) (3:35) 7. Semblance (17:41) I'd love feedback if you've got it! --Zach Bibeault Edited by coffeeintheface - March 04 2010 at 22:39
	OBQM: www.soundcloud.com/onebigquestionmark (solo project) nQuixote: www.soundcloud.com/n-quixote (ambient + various musical ideas)

Basíleia Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: April 22 2009 Location: The Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 283	Posted: February 17 2010 at 13:35
	Well, first, let me compliment you, for this is absolutely going the right way! The songs definitely lack bass, but you're working on that, so that's not a problem and it would be nice if you'd add definitely some more key layers too, but that's just taste, I guess. I've listened to "Lay", "A Reflection (Instrumental)" and "Semblance" so far and they sound really good! At the beginning of Lay, do I hear a clock ticking? It seems like there is and if so, it would be a really nice touch, though it should be stressed a lot more, IMHO - but maybe there isn't, I'm not sure. Anyway, Lay is by far the best of the three - a real masterpiece and in a way comparable with the point in Rush's career, when they released Caress Of Steel or maybe even 2112. "A Reflection" is a nice piece of work, but I don't understand why it is a separate song: it doesn't have a special touch of its own and could easily have been incorporated in "Semblance", which in turn hasn't got a very interesting start but from about 7:00 on the song is actually really good and at times has the same feeling on me as DT's "The Best of Times". Then one last thing: the vocals really discredit most of the music; you've got a beautiful voice, but you sound unsure and it just isn't powerful enough. The vocals are flat overall and tend to repeat themselves, I also can't hear what you're singing. - this is something to work on, IMO, but you're on the right track here, definitely! Well, that's about it, as for my remarks and criticism, but hey, what the hell do I know about music I will definitely check out the rest of the songs later. Keep on proggin': this deserves some clappies!

coffeeintheface Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 02 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 397	Posted: February 18 2010 at 16:44
	Thanks a ton for the feedback, I really appreciate it! So there's some interesting stories in response to your comments: I just graduated from college this December and I'm unfortunately stuck at my parents' house till I find a job. This is the first time I've sung on recording and at times I was trying to hush my vocals down because I'm still kinda self-conscious. I also strained to hit a few high notes (especially on the chorus of Lay). Make no mistake, I plan to re-record the vocals at some point in the future. Right now I'm just kind of rushing them out there. I'd like to find ways to have more keys but I don't just want to have keys for the sake of keys: I mean, Rush knew that. They only had keyboard parts in the precise songs and song sections where they were necessary. I'd like to use keys in that way instead of a Dream Theater-like way where the keys are always in every song, even if there's no need for them. (I want to gig some of this material, and plan to find a bassist who can sing vocal harmonies with me AND switch to keys when necessary a la Geddy). And interesting story behind Semblance. The song-within-a-song part (the first 7 or so minutes) I actually wrote back in 2002 when I was in high school. When I set about programming drums for the album last summer, I knew I needed to finish Semblance. So I jammed a bit and found 2 motifs I loved and from those I was able to right the entire rest of Semblance. I also wrote Lay back in 2002. I've been meaning to record them for years but for a while I didn't know how to program drums. Once I learned, I started recording. (Oh, and the "ticking" at the beginning of Lay is actually the drum metronome part I programmed in so I could keep time. I forgot to remove it, but it sounds cool anyways). Again thanks so much for the feedback, much appreciated. -Zach Bibeault Edited by coffeeintheface - February 18 2010 at 16:47
	OBQM: www.soundcloud.com/onebigquestionmark (solo project) nQuixote: www.soundcloud.com/n-quixote (ambient + various musical ideas)

Basíleia Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: April 22 2009 Location: The Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 283	Posted: February 19 2010 at 02:18
	Well, as I've said before - Lay definitely is the best out of the three, I haven't listened to the rest, but I surely will! About the keys, you are right, of course, you shouldn't use keys for the sake of having keys, but I find the songs (those three, anyway) a bit too much alike, you know. And that's why I opted for keys, but if you don't feel the same way, or are planning to create more different guitar sounds, hey, it's your album - and a very fine one too!^^ As for the vocals, I really think your voice shouldn't be missed on the album, just arrange some nice melodies and cries and try to sound sure about the tone, whether you actually miss it or not, always pretend it is the right one - who knows what may be born this way, not on purpose.:P The metronome really sounds nice, and I think you shouldn't try to remove it, then. Joren Oh, and could you send me some lyrics? Especially from "Lay" - I'm a lyricist (and a bit of a singer) myself and I'd love to read them.

coffeeintheface Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 02 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 397	Posted: February 20 2010 at 16:54
	Will do. I don't think I'm too much of a lyricist and in some cases I actually just threw together random words that sounded cool. I'm actually editing lyrics for two more songs, then I'll record and upload em (all songs are uploaded now except those two, Voiceless and The Golden Endeavor).
	OBQM: www.soundcloud.com/onebigquestionmark (solo project) nQuixote: www.soundcloud.com/n-quixote (ambient + various musical ideas)