One of my favs! Nice work!!!

One of my favorite 'Sleeve' tracks...nice writing...

Takes me down the many roads I myself have traveled.

FIRST let me apologize for the length of this comment. I was asked by Sleeve to do a thorough and "brutally Honest" review of this tune so here goes...

She's The Road is another GREAT example of great songwriting that pays attention to song form, arrangement, flawless production and mastering throughout. Sleeve and Rex definitely have a winner here, and in the Americana genre this song should rise to the top of the heap.

I promised Sleeve I would be brutally honest so I will and before I start please remember that the SONG is awesome! and so is everything about the arrangement and recording of it, so here is my humble opinion of the PROS of She's The Road.

1) Great intro. The Guitars are lush, crisp and very full sounding.

2) The hook coming in at 58 seconds is perfect. It reminds me of Steve Tyler's great quote when asked aabout his songwriting with Aerosmith. He said: "Get to the hook as fast as you can and then beat it to death!" I also really enjoyed the nice little turn around at the end of the hook.

3) Guitar solo @ 2:45 to 3:03. Again, perfect mix and sound keeping the solo short really lends a nice touch that this is a song that was well thought out. NO overplaying.

OK now on with the CONS as I see them:

1) The Vocals sound a bit dated. Not the lyrical content but the production.

2) Though I am in AWE of Rex's Production and Mastering style I feel that this song may be just a tad OVER produced. Again only my opinion here but what I hear on the radio that's hitting the charts today are songs that sound more raw or under produced.

Very little delay/reverb and especially on the vocals. I would bet that studios are using a HUGE amount of production to make it "sound" underproduced ironically, but this tune's production/mastering (though flawless) sounds 80's ish. a bit.

Take a listen to Nicklebacks new tune "Something In Your Mouth." which is an AWESOME song but it has a raw feel and the vocs sound like there is NOTHING on them giving them that in your face sound we hear so much these days.

3) I truly LOVE this song and the Americana Genre is perfect for it so again the ONLY constructive criticism I would have is that it is so perfectly and flawlessly recorded, Mixed and Mastered that it has an almost processed "sound" overall.
I fall into this same trap every time I record. My brother Johnny has to say to me..."Paulie, get up, back away from the mixing console, put down the mouse and step away!!" His motto? "Less is more."

CONCLUSION:

She's The Road is a truly great song. Well thought out, well played, recorded, produced, mixed and mastered with flawless precision. One can hear everything. The song form is great, it gets to the hook fast and tells the songs story in just over 3 minutes. The CODA is also great. The way they change the rythmn of the lyric using counterpoint with the words.."She's The Road that spins your wheels," overlapping each other has a nice effect.

Other than having a bit too much processing etc., in the final mastering, I think this tune should go a long way.

I've been a fan of both Sleeve and Rex for a while now and respect their opinions on music and would ask if they too would do a true "Brutally Honest" critique of my song: CROSS THE LINE, but keep in mind it has not been mastered or remixed yet. I invite anyone else to do so as well because I truly learn a bunch from your reviews and respect them all whether you hate my songs or love 'em. Either way anyone's thoughts on any of my tunes is welcome.

Later on Sleeve and Rex, great work here.

Hi Sleeve, I agree with my other friends that have just commented- I think that She's the Road is a beautiful song. Nice vocals, well-produced, instruments are awesome~~congratulations on an awesome song! Good luck with it!
GREG CALDWELL
"THE TEXAS TALKER"

Really dig this song! Takes me me back to the days when the road seemed like the hi-way to freedom from the dogma of growing up. Nice tune my brother....gene

This is awesome, heartfelt, classic, one as Owen said, to be played over and over---- I can FEEL this one!!!!!!

..This is true storytelling !!!This is an awesome song..Incredible Lyrics..and such a warm feel..Very well written and performed..Beautiful guitar solo
I love the easy flow, and the passion of the vocals
"She's The Road" reminds me of how songs we're written through the 70's & Eighties..Simplicity and Real passion
Sleeve, this is an awesome song, as all yours are..Very tasteful & meaningful
..and Rex, great work on this too..You both produced something wonderful together..
Good luck..xoxox

This is one of my favourite tracks, it really has a chris rea/bruce springsteen feel to it, it is definitely a classic track I would listen to over and over on long journeys, perfect for driving like some of the Fleetwood Mac classics. I love the conversational quality of the vocals.