Talented artists use vocal effects as a tool. I think Kanye knows he isn't that great of a singer (though he'd probably never say it out loud) but he knows how to use studio effects to create the sound he's looking for. He's not a great singer, but he is a great artist, so he does what he has to do to get what he hears in his head out there.
Vernon is an example of a great artist and a great singer. He doesn't need vocal effects to sound good, but sometimes he needs them to get what he hears in his head out there.
Then there's people like T-Pain. Great singer, not a great artist. He didn't need vocal effects to sound good but he wanted to sound different from everyone else so he slapped on some auto-tune so he could kinda sound like a robot.
I'm sure this is well-written and thoughtful, but it's also way more words than anyone needs to read about John Mayer. If he was exceptionally bad or exceptionally good, sure, maybe. But he's so fucking milquetoast that he just doesn't warrant this. I stopped after the No Such Thing video jump.
All that aside, I laughed out loud super hard at Dave Mathews sounding like "a muppet on bath salts". So accurate. So funny.
God I can't upvote this hard enough. I'm a teacher but I drive for Uber in the summers and I spend all day everyday driving around with the GPS and music running simultaneously. If I couldn't charge and play music at the same time my phone would die after just a few hours.
Sorry, but Sugar Ray are easily one of the worst bands in the history of pop music and Every Morning is easily their worst song. Go back and pay attention to that melody. It's the most basic and simplistic thing you can possibly think of. And it's not "so simple it's actually genius". It's "so simple it's actually retarded". Seriously, that song sounds like it was written by mentally deficient 6 year old who was given a mallet and a xylophone against the better judgement of the music teacher. The early 2000s were the worst period for popular music and Sugar Ray is one of the many reasons why.
I can still get down with some 3EB tho.
I felt the same way about TV on the Radio. After Young Liars, Desperate Youth..., Cookie Mountain, and Dear Science, I thought they'd be the next Radiohead. A band you could count on to put out great music and continue touring for almost a lifetime. Then Nine Types of Light and Seeds were... ok.
Ooh, unless he comes to Treasure Island Fest between Portland and Santa Barbara! IDK, though. Traditionally the first day is more "rock" if that even means anything anymore and the second day is more electronic. He'll be in SB on day to and I think he played day 2 last time. Hmmmm...
This really sucks. His lead guitar was one of the best parts of Real Estate. I think I read a pitchfork review or maybe it was here where they said the band basically had two singers, Martin Courtney and Mondanile's guitar. That's a spot on description. I can't imagine they'll ever sound quite the same going forward.
It's not just that she doesn't like her record deal though. She was told by an exec that she needed to lose weight and he compared her to a refrigerator which exacerbated her eating disorder. Allegedly he also sexually assaulted her. And now she's legally required to work with him again on another album. I'd say this qualifies as an occasion worthy of that song.
Bummed they aren't touring with a string section. Greenwood's string arrangements are such an integral part of the new album I thought they might spring for it. I'm sure it's still gonna be amazing.
I think parody actually works better. The video isn't laugh out loud funny but there's definitely a sense of dark humor to it. They took this old British TV show that's supposed to be about how perfect and idyllic English country life was and satirized that idea by turning the villagers into sadistic crazy people demanding a human sacrifice.
Bass. Pay attention to the bass. Make sure you've got headphones or a good system and let it rumble through you. He basically fucks you with bass. When you see it live it's just incredible. Then when you get over the pure animalistic thrill of that you can enjoy how fucking pretty everything else is. It's also fun to see him live and laugh at the audible female swoon that happens every time he opens his mouth to sing.
I just finished listening to True Love Waits, it's twilight, a bird is softly chirping out my window, I click over to this review and watch that performance at exactly the right moment. It's so arresting! Just beautiful, thank you!
Also, I'm sure it took a great deal of self control to focus on this album to write a review with A Moon Shaped Pool sitting on the shelf tempting you. Well done and great review.
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