Agree sounds like a demo. Overall it is lacking "life". Since everything I have to assume was close mic'ed DI'ed or in dead rooms, you don't get that natural reverberance. Most pro recordings are done in large studios with rooms with great acoustics so that you can have a few microphones on the drums and get that big Led Zepplin sound. So, needs some ambience or reverb on the drums and vocals.
The drums are buried. The snare sounds pretty flat, the kick is an amorphous spot that you think it is but are not really sure that it happened until the snare hits again. Cymbals and hi-hat are barely there unless I crank the treble. I admit these are just computer speakers but I do a lot of listening on them so I have they decently tuned in. Again, lacking ambience.
I hate chorused bass, no in anymore, just sounds old and like the Cure or something. Also is that a fretless? Just not right for such simple songs. If you were doing Primus then it would be cool, but with just the little slap and slide it is not the right tool for the job. To me a Music Man bass would sound better here.
The guitar is quite sterile sounding. Flat, just there. Needs a better amp, something with more chime such as a Fender twin or a Vox AC-30 (fav's of mine). Second song works better with that edge of distortion on the rhythm part.
Singing is good, does have that Danny Elfman sound but not a connection that would be apparent to too many people these days.
As to the songs themselves, flip the order first off. The second one being shorter is better to get acquainted to your band with. The second song as you read had many people dropping out before the stop/go middle and I wonder if I am the only one who stayed through the slow, somewhat arty ending piece. That birthday song takes too long to say what it needs to say, cull out some of that first part or speed it up, nix one of those stops in the middle it gets tiresome and annoying, but the closing part is fine. Pretty much, it is a demo, you guys could use a producer who would help you get your thoughts into a better whole, another set of ears to check it out. Where did you record it?
