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 background vocals on FMRM
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -

USA
2953 Posts

Posted - 08/30/2006 :  18:52:40  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Does anyone find some of the background vocals on Frank's latest a bit lacking?

There are some good BGVs: Johnny Barleycorn, It's Just Not Your Moment. But sometimes it sounds slightly off pitch, or like they hired a bum with a "Will sing BGVs for food" sign to sing a line in one take.

For example:
"My Terrible Ways" chorus (at 1:15)
"Golden Shore" (at 2:20 / sounds off key)
"I'm Not Dead (I'm in Pittsburgh) (3:06 / kind of sloppy)

I don't mean to insult anyone. It's my opinion, that I don't think some of the background vox mesh with Frank's voice or match the rest of the production style. Seems like some could be a little more polished since Frank is back to multitracking. Or why not Frank do some of the BGV?

I want to know what you others think.

Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-

USA
5155 Posts

Posted - 08/30/2006 :  19:02:00  Show Profile  Visit Broken Face's Homepage  Reply with Quote
I think "Golden Shore" sounds great - i don't mind a little sloppy. As for "I'm Not Dead..." i sort of hear the influence of the co-writer, Reid Paley, on the BGVs - not that he was present, but i hear that style of vocals - once again, i don't think that they take away. I agree that "It's Just Not Your Moment" has some great harmonies (courtesy Violet). The 'gang' BGVs on "Johnny Barelycorn" remidns me of a video i saw once of the Band and Van Morrison singing the chorus to "Comfortably Numb" during a Roger Waters recreation of "The Wall" record in Berlin after the Berlin Wall fell. Grizzled and raw BGVs. I didn't really dig it on "Comfortably Numb," but i dig it for "Barelycorn."

-Brian - http://bvsrant.blogspot.com
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -

USA
2953 Posts

Posted - 08/30/2006 :  19:11:48  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I see what you are saying. And certainly sloppy has it's place in music. But I don't think the songs sound "raw enough" in other aspects to have those kind of background vocals.

And you can still sound rough/"bad" as a singer and sing in key (Tom Waits). Some of the BGV singers sound sharp or flat sometimes. Or maybe I'm imagining this...
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-

USA
5155 Posts

Posted - 08/30/2006 :  19:16:29  Show Profile  Visit Broken Face's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Good points, sir. However, i think that we are thinking about music in a certain style - indie rock, or college rock, or alternative rock, or whatever you choose to call it - in the folk-y world, BGVs are a totally different beast. Think of The Band (who i actually think FMRM most sounds like in parts) and their BGVs, or Dylan in the 60s/70s, and the BGVs are certainly not as polished as those other bands used.

-Brian - http://bvsrant.blogspot.com
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ScottP
= Cult of Ray =

USA
618 Posts

Posted - 08/30/2006 :  20:12:52  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yeah, I think the backups in this latest matl is more of an implied effect. It's definately more human sounding, and that's what I think they were going for here. You listen to this kind of stuff and say, "Those are people making music".

Actually, I think IJNYM is probably the closest FMRM comes to a perfect backup. And, doesn't Frank do some of his own backups somewhere, or maybe some doubles?

Somebody rub the magic Tiven lamp.
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -

Ireland
11546 Posts

Posted - 08/31/2006 :  04:30:18  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Broken Face

The 'gang' BGVs on "Johnny Barelycorn" remidns me of a video i saw once of the Band and Van Morrison singing the chorus to "Comfortably Numb" during a Roger Waters recreation of "The Wall" record in Berlin after the Berlin Wall fell. Grizzled and raw BGVs. I didn't really dig it on "Comfortably Numb," but i dig it for "Barelycorn."


That-or a rerecorded version?-appears in Martin Scorsese's The Departed. It can be heard in the trailer:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/thedeparted/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/soundtrack

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mr.biscuitdoughhead
* Dog in the Sand *

USA
1729 Posts

Posted - 09/01/2006 :  10:21:46  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The background vocals on Golden Shore remind me of that Ren and Stimpy song. The Canadian Lumberjack one (is that what it's called?). I used to know all the lyrics to that.

[edit]Oh yeah, I forgot to say that the bg vocals sound alright. But I don't listen to intently to them. Better than some of the Catholics vocals.


Vote Biscuitdoughhead For Mayor!!!!!

Edited by - mr.biscuitdoughhead on 09/02/2006 12:27:29
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Daisy Girl
~ Abstract Brain ~

Belize
5305 Posts

Posted - 09/01/2006 :  15:40:47  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
to me the back up vocals sound good.... I really don't have any pitch but nothing really jumped out at me. i do think it's really cool that violet was singing back up.
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Ziggy
* Dog in the Sand *

United Kingdom
2463 Posts

Posted - 09/02/2006 :  16:11:11  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The LA song, production wise, sound more atmospheric and polished, I think. IJNYM sounds brilliant.
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theonecontender
= Cult of Ray =

Canada
565 Posts

Posted - 09/04/2006 :  08:57:39  Show Profile  Visit theonecontender's Homepage  Reply with Quote
I think they sound killer.. and this completes my tour of posting on the forum. Yeah!

Yours forever, 1c
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