Mouth Off 12.13.09
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Around The Horn Ripple Effect: Constructive Interference is out!, CARA Nominating has begun, Guys doing GaGa = awesomesauce, VEVO launches this week, Ithacappella has a new album, UMichigan Dicks & Janes duke it out PBS style with Michigan State’s Capital Green, and The Sing-Off on NBC starts tomorrow!
Sing-Off Preview The boys give an overview of the Tufts Beelzebubs, Voices of Lee, BYU Noteworthy, the SoCals, Maxx Factor, Face, Solo, and Nota, along with each group’s strengths and weaknesses. Show arranger Deke Sharon gives some insights behind the production, and judge Ben Folds shares his view from the judging bench.
New segment! Girl Power “Opera of the Bells” by R&B female legends Destiny’s Child is just the right mix of sass, style and power. No wonder they continue to sell MILLIONS of records.
Arrangement Spotlight Check out Dave’s spotlight of the only Grinch cover (via the ever-incredible Rockapella) that might compete with the original for its sheer style.
Album Review The guys have a jolly ol’ time checking out Christmas Cheers, the newest release from YouTube sensation turned major label group Straight No Chaser. Dave and Xtopher agree that what the album lacks in production value, it more than makes up for with creativity, energy, charm and humor!
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I bought DC3′s Christmas album the day it came out and was excited to hear it because of the track titles – yet when I listened to it I was disappointed as well. Wouldn’t it make sense to add those 4 more days just to have more opportunity for all those heavenly, ridiculous runs and amazing vocals, right?
Oh, and I bought Straight No Chaser’s album…I put the Christmas Can-Can on repeat. I LOVE IT!! Definitely agree about the production value, but all the other factors (humor, arranging, etc.), I think, outshines it.
Dave, I’m watching the mail. I can’t wait to get my Christmas present!!!
Dude, why didn’t you send it early so I could play it all month instead of…what did I pick up? Singing Jell-O, oh, I mean Johnny Mathis.
HAHAHA I guess the cat’s out of the bag. Okay, okay I’ll send it right away!
-DB
I REALLY wish there was an a cappella expert among the judges. It would also be nice if all of them were sentient; the Pussycat Doll must have been chosen for her . . . hair length?
Also, I think the costumes visually type-cast each group before they even open their mouths. Ladyblazers? String ties? Gap crap? No.
Snark aside, I enjoyed the first episode. I’ve already developed a soft spot for Nota.
And even though Solo was musically weak (and badly named; it’s a GROUP, y’all), I would have liked to see them stick around, get some coaching, and improve. I’d rather see a bootstrap group like Solo beat the odds than a well-coached collegiate group remain preppy and poppy. What can I say; I root for underdogs.
Which is why I’m glad there’s a cappella on prime time.
My call:
Nota, Maxx Factor, Bubs, Noteworthy, Voices of Lee, SoCals
I’m hazy on Noteworthy and Voices of Lee, both of which could surprise me, but it’s clear that Nota and Maxx Factor are audience favorites. I just think that in the end, Maxx Factor will lose out to the more “hip” sound of Nota.
I’m hoping it’s just my admittedly poor sound system, but is the live mixing as bad as it sounds for me on The Sing-Off? Sometimes the bass is almost non-existent, sometimes the leads are lost, and the vocal perc is almost always under-mic’ed.
Of course, I’ve only watched the first episode, maybe the’ll get better at it.
“I’m hoping it’s just my admittedly poor sound system, but is the live mixing as bad as it sounds for me on The Sing-Off? Sometimes the bass is almost non-existent, sometimes the leads are lost, and the vocal perc is almost always under-mic’ed.
Of course, I’ve only watched the first episode, maybe the’ll get better at it.”
The mixing for the pre-show background pieces is better than the live show.
Nota’s mix sounded MUCH better, no doubt less for the sound guys to puzzle over since they only have 6 members….
The mix got MUCH better in the third episode. (And yes, I’m listening through a good sound system.) Assuming that the episodes were taped several days apart, I was envisioning some NBC executive watching a playback of the first two episodes before they taped the third, and that exec thinking “Hmm, maybe a musical showcase should have a sound mix that doesn’t suck.” MUCH stronger bass the third time around, which obviously is important in group singing but is practically 50% of what separates good pop a-cappella from bad.