Competition Update It may be January, but it’s time to start the spring competition season! CARA nom’s are on their way, Harmony Sweepstakes applications are due, and the Varsity Vocals competitions have already begun. Dave and Christopher highlight groups to watch for in your ICHSA and ICCA aca-brackets.
Classical Corner Christopher declares that even if you don’t love Renaissance music, you’ll still probably like Lumen Valo.
Names You Should Know Bobby McFerrin. The voice.
For a great peek inside McFerrin’s brain, click here to watch him at the World Science Festival.
New segment! Did You Know? Prolific music writer and critic Catherine Lewis makes her Mouth Off debut with a new guest segment highlighting the interesting history of frequently covered songs in a cappella. This week, Catherine traces the path of “Feelin’ Good” from its musical theatre roots through various interpretations to Michael Buble.
Album Review Mëdlz is a successful pro all-female group, which by itself is worthy of good press. But unfortunately on their latest album aufgetaucht, the group’s icy cool groove is overshadowed by some bland repetition and a bit of an identity crisis.
Around the Horn The ICCA/ICHSA begins, CARA nominations are on the way, win $25,000 singing the Folgers jingle, lots of aca-lumni on American Idol, The Choir comes to England, The Sing Off goes international?, Bill and Dio talk mastering on RARB, CASA.org features a great interview with Troy Horne, AcaPolitics is a riveting dramatic new novel about aca, LA/AF is THIS WEEKEND!, and Sing Off winners Nota will be headlining SingStrong!
My New Boyfriend Christopher can’t believe the arranging and vocal prowess of Overboard director, Nick Girard.
The Good Ol’ Days Dave tells us about the Grammy-decked, pioneering voices of Manhattan Transfer. It’s all about the music, baby.
I Just Gotta Say Christopher wants to know…where’s the bass? A short rant about the rumblings (or lack thereof) in recorded a cappella
Album Review: Momentum- Face The boys give a little bit of tough love to the Sing Off featured rockers from Colorado, Face. These guys want the big time, so there recordings need more oomph…big time.
Around the Horn The ICCA/ICHSA begins, CARA nominations are on the way, win $25,000 singing the Folgers jingle, lots of aca-lumni on American Idol, The Choir comes to England, The Sing Off goes international?, Bill and Dio talk mastering on RARB, CASA.org features a great interview with Troy Horne, AcaPolitics is a riveting dramatic new novel about aca, LA/AF is THIS WEEKEND!, and Sing Off winners Nota will be headlining SingStrong!
My New Boyfriend Christopher can’t believe the arranging and vocal prowess of Overboard director, Nick Girard.
The Good Ol’ Days Dave tells us about the Grammy-decked, pioneering voices of Manhattan Transfer. It’s all about the music, baby.
I Just Gotta Say Christopher wants to know…where’s the bass? A short rant about the rumblings (or lack thereof) in recorded a cappella.
Album Review: Momentum- Face The boys give a little bit of tough love to the Sing-Off-featured rockers from Colorado, Face. If these guys want the big time, their recordings need more oomph…big time.
Around the Horn The London A Cappella Festival, competition time babyyyy, aca American Idols, Chanticleer loves Leno’s chin, Blue Jupiter is auditioning lead tenors, is a cappella getting cooler?, Evan Feist’s interview with Sean Altman, songs collegiate groups should cover in 2010, Brad Stephenson’s arrangements are on sale, Wes Carroll is on Rock Band!, Exit 245 founder Danny Ozment has a new aca studio in DC, FOCS has BitH’s back, Dave will be at LA/AF!
Monster Mash Straight No Chaser knows how to mash up Stevie Wonder.
Arrangement Spotlight Wes Carroll is a brilliant songwriter and arranger. His song “Light of Stars” done by the House Jacks can teach us all a thing or three.
Listener Mailbag Calls and emails this week from all corners of the globe.
Album Review High school pioneers! Dave and Christopher review A Lesson in Tightropes, the latest album from the 18 Wheelers at the Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island.
In Your Earbuds Catchy hits are flowing into Dave’s ears from all directions. The Model Cars are jumpin’, and Maykish nailed it with Amanda Jenssen.
Head2Head Christopher pits University of Maryland PandemoniUM against Stanford Testimony in a best-of battle for Sia’s “Breathe Me.” Pandemonium got the 2009 BOCA nod for this track, but Testimony really converted Christopher.
This is Not an Instrument Cadence’s jazz knows no limits. Dave is thrilled by their vocal marimbas on Beady Belle’s “Game.”
Song Suggestion Christopher dares someone to tackle “The Gash” by the Flaming Lips. It’s a real doozy, but a killer studio aca version could be legendary.
Album Review Reigning ICCA Mid-Atlantic champs Ithacappella’s latest release Breakdown offers the boys much food for thought. As usual, Dave and Christopher disagree on much of the album, but the closing track “Down to Earth” wins them both over.
Happy New Year!
Around the Horn Acappellablog announces a 2010 ICCA bracket, LA-AF is the place to be and it’s coming up soon!, Mike Boxer releases the all-Jewish The KolCast, Euphonism releases EP Scene Stealers, Kettering Fairmont HS is seeking a headliner for their 2010 A Cappella Festival, advertisers love aca, AP piece on Straight No Chaser’s success, Pitch Perfect blog interviews Glee studio singer Chris Mann, Primarily A Cappella re-launches Primarily A Cappella Radio, Tunes to Teens is giving CDs away to people who help them give away CDs to middle- and high-school choirs.
LOL Aussie group Suade has Christopher laughing out loud with the song “Singin’ in My Underwear” from their all-original album Home Brew.
New segment! Five Minutes With… Alex Green. Dave sits down with aca mover and/or shaker and Christopher’s vocal boyfriend Alex Green from the Tufts Amalgamates, and the two chat up the group’s recent “teaser” recording release called Teaser, their pick for sing six: sunny-side up, lessons from the Soup2Nuts seminar, The Sing-Off, and Alex’s musical plans for the future. AND A FREE GIVEAWAY JUST FOR MOUTH OFF LISTENERS.
New segment! Praisacappella Christopher finds great inspiration from Stanford’s co-ed faith-based group Testimony. Their song “Dead Man” (opb Jars of Clay) from their album When You Say Go is good art with a good message.
Album Review Riltons Vänner is not only gorgeous, but their half-new release Japanmix is making waves well beyond Asia. Christopher thinks it’s sheer perfection, and he’s dead yet again. Dave thinks it’s beautiful, but not that repeatable.
