Fink — This Is The Thing
Album: Distance And TimeAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 882
Length: 4:24
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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I don't know if you notice anything different.
It's getting dark and it's getting cold and the nights are getting long
And I don't know if you even notice at all
That I'm long gone
And the things that keep us apart
Keep me alive
And the things that keep me alive
Keep me alone
This is the thing
I don't know if you notice anything missing
Like the leaves on the trees or my clothes all over the floor
And I don't know if you even notice at all
'Cause I was real quiet when I closed the door
And the things that keep us apart
Keep me alive
And the things that keep me alive
Keep me alone
This is the thing
And I don't know if you notice anything different
I don't know if you even notice at all
This is the thing
It's getting dark and it's getting cold and the nights are getting long
And I don't know if you even notice at all
That I'm long gone
And the things that keep us apart
Keep me alive
And the things that keep me alive
Keep me alone
This is the thing
I don't know if you notice anything missing
Like the leaves on the trees or my clothes all over the floor
And I don't know if you even notice at all
'Cause I was real quiet when I closed the door
And the things that keep us apart
Keep me alive
And the things that keep me alive
Keep me alone
This is the thing
And I don't know if you notice anything different
I don't know if you even notice at all
This is the thing
Comments (50)add comment
love me some Fink - this track slaps
I love Fink. IMHO, can't play too much Fink.
I like Warm Shadow quite a lot...but this is like half that track...
Though I like the song overall, it's not the screech that is annoying at times as much as the mottled handsaw going through a 2x6 that languishes in the background...or is it scrubbing clothes on a washboard? Cat coughing up a hairball in the next room?
Proclivities wrote:
Also, the squeak is much more pronounced when one slides movable chords (or triads) up and down the neck as opposed to changing open chord shapes from one hand position on the neck - in this recording he is doing much of the former.
"Blackbird" by The Beatles has audible string squeaking because McCartney was sliding chord shapes up and down the neck of the guitar. Most well-known acoustic guitar songs of the rock and folk genres are played with open chords within 0 to 4 frets of the headstock, and there is little movement up and down the neck, so the squeaking is not as pronounced - if at all present. Anyone who plays acoustic guitar should know that.
some people just think it's 'cool' - makes it sound more 'authentic' ...
Also, the squeak is much more pronounced when one slides movable chords (or triads) up and down the neck as opposed to changing open chord shapes from one hand position on the neck - in this recording he is doing much of the former.
"Blackbird" by The Beatles has audible string squeaking because McCartney was sliding chord shapes up and down the neck of the guitar. Most well-known acoustic guitar songs of the rock and folk genres are played with open chords within 0 to 4 frets of the headstock, and there is little movement up and down the neck, so the squeaking is not as pronounced - if at all present. Anyone who plays acoustic guitar should know that.
some people just think it's 'cool' - makes it sound more 'authentic' ...
Powerful lyrics. Makes me think of someone struggling with an addiction.
The thing that keeps me alive
Keeps me alone.
The thing that keeps me alive
Keeps me alone.
MrStatenIsle wrote:
Time to lighten up!
He likes tension!
Time to lighten up!
I love the line; "...the things that keep us apart keep me alive. The things that keep me alive keep me alone." So sad, beautiful and true.
Gorgeous
He likes tension!
sounds like Dave Matthews
Sounds like Ben Howard...both from Cornwall?
I am on the "no squeak" side of things here. Annoying, whether intentional or not.
easmann wrote:
(Expanding on Proclivities' point, and I'm pretty sure he knows this): You get that squeak on an unamplified acoustic guitar to which a microphone has been closely placed, a common practice. It happens when the fingers of the fret hand move quickly from one position to the next and drag across the ribs of the roundwound strings. It's true flatwound strings would reduce the squeaks (as another poster suggested) but they're rarely used on acoustic guitars (they're less bright tonally).
Some guitars have higher "action", a larger distance between the strings and frets, which requires increased finger pressure and leads to more and louder squeaking as do heavier gauge (thicker) strings. ...
Also, the squeak is much more pronounced when one slides movable chords (or triads) up and down the neck as opposed to changing open chord shapes from one hand position on the neck - in this recording he is doing much of the former.
"Blackbird" by The Beatles has audible string squeaking because McCartney was sliding chord shapes up and down the neck of the guitar. Most well-known acoustic guitar songs of the rock and folk genres are played with open chords within 0 to 4 frets of the headstock, and there is little movement up and down the neck, so the squeaking is not as pronounced - if at all present. Anyone who plays acoustic guitar should know that.
(Expanding on Proclivities' point, and I'm pretty sure he knows this): You get that squeak on an unamplified acoustic guitar to which a microphone has been closely placed, a common practice. It happens when the fingers of the fret hand move quickly from one position to the next and drag across the ribs of the roundwound strings. It's true flatwound strings would reduce the squeaks (as another poster suggested) but they're rarely used on acoustic guitars (they're less bright tonally).
Some guitars have higher "action", a larger distance between the strings and frets, which requires increased finger pressure and leads to more and louder squeaking as do heavier gauge (thicker) strings. ...
Also, the squeak is much more pronounced when one slides movable chords (or triads) up and down the neck as opposed to changing open chord shapes from one hand position on the neck - in this recording he is doing much of the former.
"Blackbird" by The Beatles has audible string squeaking because McCartney was sliding chord shapes up and down the neck of the guitar. Most well-known acoustic guitar songs of the rock and folk genres are played with open chords within 0 to 4 frets of the headstock, and there is little movement up and down the neck, so the squeaking is not as pronounced - if at all present. Anyone who plays acoustic guitar should know that.
Sloggydog wrote:
same here
Another new one on me and again I like it. Tuned in the right time today.
same here
Another new one on me and again I like it. Tuned in the right time today.
Proclivities wrote:
He's a pretty skilled guitar player, and some players do leave that sound on there deliberately. Sometimes that squeak bothers me, but not so much on this tune. I'm pretty sure it is deliberate on this song, but you never know.
that squeak has always appealed to me in songs. funny.
He's a pretty skilled guitar player, and some players do leave that sound on there deliberately. Sometimes that squeak bothers me, but not so much on this tune. I'm pretty sure it is deliberate on this song, but you never know.
that squeak has always appealed to me in songs. funny.
i really like this.
ick wrote:
What does such a string do? Decrease or stop the squeak and brush of playing fingers?
Sir, might I suggest a flat-wound string?
What does such a string do? Decrease or stop the squeak and brush of playing fingers?
oldfart48 wrote:
hear hear...or hopefully not to hear......
Great to hear the "Finkster" again
hear hear...or hopefully not to hear......
Great to hear the "Finkster" again
ick wrote:
hear hear...or hopefully not to hear......
Sir, might I suggest a flat-wound string?
hear hear...or hopefully not to hear......
scrubbrush wrote:
Agreed. I was waiting as well. I'm circling back now for another listen. The first really chorus draws you in and then... yup, still waiting.
I like the sound of this song, but it kind of never went anywhere...
Agreed. I was waiting as well. I'm circling back now for another listen. The first really chorus draws you in and then... yup, still waiting.
I like the sound of this song, but it kind of never went anywhere...
Sir, might I suggest a flat-wound string?
nice vocals
xenarocks wrote:
jt1 wrote:
perhaps a little harsh...I'd describe it as a at least a half-decent song pretty much ruined by the scraping sound.
I'm assuming that beause most guitarists don't do this (most of the time), it is deliberate?
He's a pretty skilled guitar player, and some players do leave that sound on there deliberately. Sometimes that squeak bothers me, but not so much on this tune. I'm pretty sure it is deliberate on this song, but you never know.
Perhaps he would be good if he could play the guitar. I hate that finger scraping sound on the strings.
jt1 wrote:
perhaps a little harsh...I'd describe it as a at least a half-decent song pretty much ruined by the scraping sound.
I'm assuming that beause most guitarists don't do this (most of the time), it is deliberate?
He's a pretty skilled guitar player, and some players do leave that sound on there deliberately. Sometimes that squeak bothers me, but not so much on this tune. I'm pretty sure it is deliberate on this song, but you never know.
Thanks for trying incidental...I'll give those songs a listen.
incidental wrote:
incidental wrote:
Great to hear Fink on RP, thanks Bill! Totally recommend his album ''Perfect Darkness''
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR1-lyOxEVE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR1-lyOxEVE
xenarocks wrote:
perhaps a little harsh...I'd describe it as a at least a half-decent song pretty much ruined by the scraping sound.
I'm assuming that beause most guitarists don't do this (most of the time), it is deliberate?
Perhaps he would be good if he could play the guitar. I hate that finger scraping sound on the strings.
perhaps a little harsh...I'd describe it as a at least a half-decent song pretty much ruined by the scraping sound.
I'm assuming that beause most guitarists don't do this (most of the time), it is deliberate?
Yet another great song discovery!
Perhaps he would be good if he could play the guitar. I hate that finger scraping sound on the strings.
Yeah, good to hear on RP!
An Apt follow on from John Martyn. Gets my vote.
Donde este Senor Poacher?
Have all his albums... Nice to hear him on RP!
Keep on playing!
Keep on playing!
From never heard to an instant 7.
Hey, we've all heard this voice before-He sings the vocals on Nitin Sawhney's track, " Dead Man."
Dig it big time!
kismet700 wrote:
Agreed. And I'm hearing a bit of Dave Matthews, too. I like both Drake and Matthews, so no complaints here (hear?).
Very Nick Drake like! Love it!
Agreed. And I'm hearing a bit of Dave Matthews, too. I like both Drake and Matthews, so no complaints here (hear?).
all hail an artist from Brighton!!
Hey, never heared this before!!! Very nice!
scraig wrote:
OK, you can't play this wonderful song and then leave us wanting more. Why is this the only song that's been uploaded? His website shows he has several albums, including one released in 2011. P.S. I think he sounds more like John Legend than Nick Drake.
OK, you can't play this wonderful song and then leave us wanting more. Why is this the only song that's been uploaded? His website shows he has several albums, including one released in 2011. P.S. I think he sounds more like John Legend than Nick Drake.
Yes very proffessional and quite folksy.. smackings of early John Martyn which is OK by me.
This didn't grab me at first, but it's quickly grown favor.
Very Nick Drake like! Love it!
... and the subtle and gentle spirit of Nick Drake lives on
Also, the squeak is much more pronounced when one slides movable chords (or triads) up and down the neck as opposed to changing open chord shapes from one hand position on the neck - in this recording he is doing much of the former.
"Blackbird" by The Beatles has audible string squeaking because McCartney was sliding chord shapes up and down the neck of the guitar. Most well-known acoustic guitar songs of the rock and folk genres are played with open chords within 0 to 4 frets of the headstock, and there is little movement up and down the neck, so the squeaking is not as pronounced - if at all present. Anyone who plays acoustic guitar should know that.
I find the squeaking here pronounced to the extent it detracts from the song -- startles the ears and jolts the brain a bit ("what was that?") Regardless of the players technique, chord position, playing style or string action, the volume and "sharpness" (treble EQ) could be adjusted in the mixing to be more in the background (as it is in Blackbird). It's pronounced here intentionally -- either performer or producer liked it to be as prominent as it is. As an armchair mixer, I would have mixed it differently but they had their reasons for getting the sound they wanted.