sure, I'll be glad to tell you what i think. i've been writing songs for almost 10 years now and i can honestly say you're probably better at 21 than i was.
while the structure of the song "Asleep at the Wheel" is very well conceived, i'd remove a couple of the refrains. make your listener want to hear more, and give them only just enough. that's my philosophy anyway.
also, it does remind me of Dashboard. and that is totally cool. when i first started writing songs they all sounded like The Cure. but i didn't really begin to grow musically until i started trusting my muse- no matter where it led me-as opposed to only emulating my favorites. but we're all going to do that. i think it was Bono who said all good artists are thieves. you're on the right path. i even heard some shades of early Aaron Sprinkle in "Asleep at the Wheel."
you've got good skills dude, just trust your judgement and mix it up. and always remember this: if it doesn't move you, it won't move anybody else; and, (as Eddie Van Halen once said) if it sounds good to you, then on some level it is good; even if you're the only one who "gets" it.
and motivation is EVERYTHING. write because you want to, and because you need to. don't write for an "audience," unless that audience is God, or a really cute girl that you want to ask out.
don't write to get money or a pat on the back either; it must be in your blood because you're going to face a lot of rejection before things start to "pay off" in the respect department. so writing to "get respected" is bad motivation. write because you'd die inside if you didn't.
i think if you keep things up and hone your talent over the years you're going to write some really great stuff. i bet you're best songs are still waiting to be written, and trust me, that's a good thing.
keep up the good work!
