The Gracious Few, For Those Who Have Listened. Options

[SinfulEyes]

Tell me.

[livefan1999]

While there is obviously personal taste involved, from what you said it sounds like you aren't a fan of the vocal production on the TGF album.

Actually, no, your assumption that I am not "a fan of the vocal production on the TGF album" is not indicative of my personal view of the vocal production. I admitted in my reply to you that I was surprised, having followed a lot of the arguments for and against TGF on this site, that while having been a long-time Live fan, and Ed fan in general, that I could actually enjoy the TGF cd as much as I did. That would include my enjoying my introduction to Kevin Martin's vocals, even though I found them to be very different from Ed's style and from many of the vocalists I have followed over the years.

I did not realize until reading your background information that Kevin's vocals were intentionally kept in the background so as to encourage playing the cd loud. I don't need that encouragement, as I play all of my cd's loud. The only time I listen to cd's is when I am in my car, and I get many a strange glance as the music from my car likely annoys some due to its volume.

I wasn't aware that there was a deliberate vocal production on the TGF cd as you described in your post. As I mentioned in my response to you, this is my first exposure to Kevni Martin. I thought that perhaps he chose to keep his vocals in the background because this might be his style on all cd's he has recorded. The result of them being kept in the background, to me, made me think that his style is a little softer and not as full as some vocalists, Ed in particular. I did not say that I disliked his vocals, just that they were not "soaring" as were Ed's. I also put in my reply that "soaring" was not an appropriate word in the context I had intended. That Ed's vocals being fuller than Kevin's would be more descriptive of what I was trying to say.

Kevin's vocals are mixed quietly throughout the album on purpose. The quieter vocals makes the listener play the album louder and obviously the guys wanted people to listen to this album LOUD. Also, there are vocal effects used, but Kevin's voice is rarely if ever doubled (where two vocal tracks are used to make the vocals sound fuller).

While Live didn't use doubled vocals a lot until recently, Ed's album seems to use them frequently to make his voice sound stronger and give that effect you are describing.

I am glad to have this information, having not heard this explanation on Kevin's vocals before. I have heard of vocal doubling, but was unaware that Live/Ed had ever used such a technique in their recordings. Do you have concrete knowledge on Ed using this doubling effect or is that an assumption?

The reason I ask is because I have heard Ed acoustically and in his regular band/Live performances and his voice has always seemed very full/strong. I realize that mixing boards on the sound systems and a good engineer at the sound board can result in the vocals coming out stronger. Generally a strong/full vocal, again my opinion, would be required to achieve the effect I have heard at Ed's concerts. A weaker vocalist with an increased volume just wouldn't sound as full as Ed in his live perforances.

Just .2 cents from this guy. The two vocalists couldn't be more different, I just found "soaring" an interesting choice because Kevin has a higher range than Ed. He doesn't usually sing melodies that stay on one note for a long time so he doesn't abuse that (Sing being an exception)

Again, I have already admitted that "soaring" was a poor choice of words. I would have changed it, but having already been quoted, just admitting that in haste I chose the wrong word was in order.

Me? If Ed's singing a melody, staying on one note for a longer period of time constitutes abuse, I'm for it because I have enjoyed his performances for a very long time.

My first introduction to Kevin has been a good one and perhaps as he and TGF release more cd's, ep's, etc., I will have a better opportunity to know more about him and his style.

It is apparent that Kevin has someone who is willing to go out there and take on those who he deems as being critical of Kevin. Definitely was not my intent. Kevin is lucky to have such a devoted fan.

This post has been edited by livefan1999: Oct 16 2010, 7:10 am