"Awesome" Starship Trooper Cover

[Aquaman]

Hey all, I tracked and mixed a cover of Yes's "Starship Trooper" a little while ago, performed by local NW band "Awesome" as a special request.

It's fully epic, clocking in at 9:30 and featuring all the instruments played by the 7-piece band, including accordion, theremin, banjo, mandolin, trumpet, etc along with 5-part harmony.

The mix was a big challenge, but I think it came out pretty well. It even holds its own against the original, IMHO.

If you like prog rock cover versions, give this a listen! And if you like what you hear, check out the most recent album, "The Beehive Sessions", produced by local legend Jon Auer.

Starship Trooper by "Awesome"

[Rodgre]

That was, errr... awesome.

That's one of my all-time favorite songs, by the way.

Roger

[ubertar]

Wow, what a challenge. They/you did a great job. The only things that bugged me at all were the banjo and guitar sounds were a bit thin, and the singer using falsetto for stuff Jon Anderson didn't need to, but hey, I can't think of anyone else (male, anyway) who could hit those notes without falsetto. The distorted guitar that comes in toward the end sounded fuller-- I like that sound. Nice work!

[Electricide]

prob my fav song too, I'll take a listen.

I didn't think Jon's vocals were all that high in the original though...

[Aquaman]

Thanks for the feedback! Definitely the biggest mixing challenge for me so far.

There are two singers, and the one was right at the top of his range - he was a little bummed at the breaks into falsetto, but there was no way around it. Since it was just a "one-off" project, he decided to live with it rather than train for a few days and get his voice into fightin' shape.

Good tips on the guitar and banjo - I'll pay closer attention on the next go 'round. Thanks all!

[Electricide]

I've heard the song so many times that whenever a drum fill or rhythm is any different at all from the album I'm all "ooh, nooo, totally screwed that part up!!!!"

[RefD]

i enjoyed listening to that!

[Jay Reynolds]

I might like that better than the original setting.
And did I hear a Baker St. quote on clarinet at the end?

[Aquaman]

Yes, you did! Gerry Rafferty lives.

[lancebug]

Love the lick trading during Wurm. Very nicely interpreted!

[kepnerb]

Ugh my computer will not let me play it! It is my favorite Yes song too and Yes is one of my favorite bands...

[Glide]

Great Job!