October 9, 2008

[Billy's Little Trip]

Try not singing like a twat.

That must be why he sounds flabbergasted.

[Reist]

nqotd: I'd like to try any genre, but my voice is too weak for all of them. I sometimes wish I could have a voice box transplant. Then I could do more metal, maybe some harder rock.

[fluffy]

If you push your voice in the direction you want it to go, it'll eventually adjust and get there.

[Smalltown Mike]

That's right. Just make sure to always have your Chorus plug-in on the "Deshead" setting.

[Caravan Ray]

I would love to pull of a tune where the vocals actually sounded ... right... that pop-almost nickelback but not sound.

Do you mean that great "I-am-so-constipated-that-I haven't-taken-a dump-in-five-days-and -my-anus-feels-like-it-has-a-cork-in-it"-style voice that that guy from Nickelback does so well? Yeah, that's great, isn't it....That's why Nickelback is soo cool.

[Leaf]

I can't stand Nickelback, but at the same time, that style of vocals is something I envy, cause it's not easy, and it's a tonal thing I believe. I don't think ANYONE can sound that way.... but what do I know about that. Hey, I happen to enjoy my vocals, or I wouldn't do it, but I realize that my sound is... not for everyone.

I suppose what I mean is to sing with a pure, full tone that has no nasal quality and is rich and ... yea , sumthang like that.

[Billy's Little Trip]

I happen to enjoy my vocals, or I wouldn't do it, but I realize that my sound is... not for everyone

Words to live by.
Did Niel Young quit singing when the perfect people said he sucks, NO! Now he's a legend.
Did Frank Black give up when Steve Albini said that Kim Deal should be the lead singer, NO! now he's an artist.
Did Joe Walsh give a shit when people told him he's a dumb fuck, nope! He just sings about how Life's Been Good.
..did that one guy stop when that one asshole said that thing to him, NO!! Now he's totally rad!
Feel free to help me here, Leaf. Who (or is it whom? *holds up pinky finger* Spud?) else was not recognized for their greatness in music?
Fuck conformity!
We're the new sound, get used to it.
~blt 2008

[Reist]

But there's a difference between a voice that grows on you and a voice that just isn't up to par.

And believe me, there is voice pushing going on to even get the dull, emotionless tone I get out of it now. I've had to stop singing for days in order to be able to speak properly again after singing too hard. That's probably due to poor technique, but the proper technique gives me the voice I used to sing with, which is fat and ugly.

I'm starting to think a voice is something you're born with.

Or maybe I'm just tired and pissed off that my vocals for In The Tank suck.

[fluffy]

Who (or is it whom? *holds up pinky finger* Spud?) else was not recognized for their greatness in music?

"Who" is the subject form, and "whom" is the object form. You use "who" where it'd be "he" if it were a statement, and "whom" where it'd be "him."

i.e. "He was not recognized for his greatness in music" -> "who was not recognized for their greatness in music" ('else' removed for clarity)

as opposed to "You gave it to whom?" (You gave it to him!) -> "whom did you give it to"

but really nobody gives a shit and you can generally just use "who" whenever you want.

Now my big pet peeve is when people use "I" when they mean "me" or the like. Like, "Today was stressful for my wife and I." That is wrong. Remove "my wife and" to see why.

But there's a difference between a voice that grows on you and a voice that just isn't up to par.

Dude, listen to what I was doing in 2001 compared to what I'm doing now. Okay so I'm still not the best singer around but I've definitely improved, and more importantly my timbre has changed a lot because I keep pushing myself in my upper range.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Damn, seems so obvious when you explanationalize it, Fluf. It's like I knew it, but couldn't use it. Is it possible that I'm a genius, but I had a curse shield put on my brain so that I couldn't help mankind? Seriously, I feel like I'm some kind of walking recipe book on how to serve mankind, but can't do anything but make delicious h'orderves. Gawd, I hope I'm not a recipe book on how to "serve" mankind. Cuz Fluffy would require all kinds of fancy herbs and expensive wine for deglazing, not to mention that I don't think I have a roasting pan big enough.

[Leaf]

But there's a difference between a voice that grows on you and a voice that just isn't up to par.

And believe me, there is voice pushing going on to even get the dull, emotionless tone I get out of it now. I've had to stop singing for days in order to be able to speak properly again after singing too hard. That's probably due to poor technique, but the proper technique gives me the voice I used to sing with, which is fat and ugly.

I'm starting to think a voice is something you're born with.

Or maybe I'm just tired and pissed off that my vocals for In The Tank suck.

Bullshit. Your vocals sound good. I voted for your song buddy. What it is, is that YOU think they suck. Musician ego is very difficult. you can work your ass off trying to do something, and then people say ONE WORD and you are mesmerized by the opinion... and take action. Some players go into full on denial, right away. Some try to change to please their audience. Some etc etc etc. I thought you sounded great. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm the only one. BUT I STILL FUCKING LIKED IT.

I think the true trick is to be self centered. Seriously. If you loved what you did... then it's good. If someone says "dude you need to push the 1 k up 3 db to highlight you're cheekbones, " ... and this is news to you, then great. If they say "you are flat", this can be helpful.

If they say " you sound too whiny" or "I don't like xxx about your xxx"... well, then you're getting into how the art in your voice is affecting them. Or is that effecting? who fucking cares. Semantics can lick my little area between the.. but i digress. If you like, great. If you LOVE, then GREAT. The only OTHER trick is to realize... when you're making art, it's not going to work the same way for every person, especially with music. If someone isn't into country, don't you find their ears are closed before the song starts? Now, I was off topic agagin. mother fu. If no one EVER likes what you're doing, you're stuck deciding to keep doing it for yourself, (akin to masturbation, but who the fuck doesnt like masturbation?? ...snicker... ) right. BUT!!! the GLORIOUS moment is when someone DOES dig it!!!

I played my In The Tank for this guy I' working with. He didn't really like it. He didn't like Gert's Calm Down AT ALL. (I personally am loving these two tunes). He thought your tune was excellent, and the best one he had heard in the fight (he heard ALMOST all). so what does that mean? It means he get's your music, that's what. I'm fine with him not getting mine... cause I know others who are geniuely excited about some of the stuff I do or am a part of, whether it's recording, a gig or that thing I do when I look deep into your soul and don't flinch and then someone says "stop staring at me" and I'm like "I'm not staring" (but I am) and then they are like " it's weird the way you do that" and then I'm like thinking... stuff... and I make it clear I'mhaving cognizant thoughts and their ... I wonder who made it this far in this ramble? Bet Small town did. Cause he's a writer. and he's looking for tips and something to inspire his next story on dental hygeine... dude, dont' you get sick of prostituting your talent?? go on the road as jam toast.. I'll be your roadie, we'll make a mint and our wives will never get jealous cause ... wel... they''ll be no backstage groupies as your target audience is like 3 and ahalf to 7 so yeah.

Point is, the musician's ego, like anyone else's, is quite frail. It's when you meet a player, be it Sidney Crosby, or Des... (I fucking love using Des and an example for just about anything. I'm also in the middle of a couple of Canadians... so bear bare beer with me).

where was I... right, blah blah. Your vocals were better than you are giving yourself credit for. I liked!

[fluffy]

Cuz Fluffy would require all kinds of fancy herbs and expensive wine for deglazing, not to mention that I don't think I have a roasting pan big enough.

You don't use herbs in deglazing.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Cuz Fluffy would require all kinds of fancy herbs and expensive wine for deglazing, not to mention that I don't think I have a roasting pan big enough.

You don't use herbs in deglazing.

Of course not, but there are some in the bottom of the pan when.........hey why are you getting all Alton Brown on my deglazing? Just trim down so you can fit in my roasting pan, mo. << hehe, I learned that from Marcus

[erik]

But there's a difference between a voice that grows on you and a voice that just isn't up to par.

And believe me, there is voice pushing going on to even get the dull, emotionless tone I get out of it now. I've had to stop singing for days in order to be able to speak properly again after singing too hard. That's probably due to poor technique, but the proper technique gives me the voice I used to sing with, which is fat and ugly.

I'm starting to think a voice is something you're born with.

Or maybe I'm just tired and pissed off that my vocals for In The Tank suck.

Pushing one's voice helps one to get better at hitting the right note, and being able to hold it and crap like that.

Changing the tone of one's voice to get it to sound more emotional is a completely different thing that one can practice seperately and independently from improving one's technical singing ability.

[Rabid Garfunkel]

...I've had to stop singing for days in order to be able to speak properly again after singing too hard. That's probably due to poor technique, but the proper technique gives me the voice I used to sing with, which is fat and ugly...

Are you warming up your voice at all before recording? I've found monotone humming (loud enough to feel your throat vibrating for, like, the commute home or the drive to the venue) before tracking or performing to lessen the cripple effect greatly. Glenn Case likes the 'eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' technique, ask him to esplain, I can't do it justice, and he's a bad-ass mofo on the mike.

[Reist]

Changing the tone of one's voice to get it to sound more emotional is a completely different thing that one can practice seperately and independently from improving one's technical singing ability.

Are you talking about exercises that can help with this? Or is it something different altogether?

ps - thanks, Leaf.

[jack]

leaf's vocals sound fine. go listen to the bloody hams "gift with purchase" if you don't believe me.