So someone got to this site by searching for “does owl city use auto tune.” I would respond by searching for “does brax talk to that plant way too much?” Of course Owl City uses auto-tune, dude (or dudette)! Just because the guy doesn’t sound like T-Pain doesn’t mean he isn’t using it. Most of its worst offenders are actually quite subtle. And now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
I just read that Rolling Stone named Radiohead’s Kid A their Best Album of the Decade. I can’t believe I’m saying this since their writing has totally gone downhill in recent years, but I agree with Rolling Stone. The other day someone (their name will be withheld to save them from embarrassment and possible stoning) told me that Britney Spears was the artist of the decade. After withholding the urge to hurl, I quickly told them that if anyone deserved that moniker, it is Radiohead. In addition to dropping some amazing albums in the last 10 years, they’ve also managed to turn the entire industry on its head with their digital release of In Rainbows and paved the way for tons of indie folks to follow suit. For that alone they deserve serious props but their music is also awesome. Great job, guys!
Since the new year is approaching and you probably got a bunch of new awesome tunes for Christmas, why not get rid of some of the clutter? Dig through that old playlist you’re too embarrassed to play even for your mom and get some cash for it! Check out MP3Buyback.com today. The guy who designed it is awesome.
So Brax did an interview with our band, M.R.B. and it was going well at first. Then that stinking plant ruined everything. Well, Brax did because he kept talking to her like she actually had something to say. At first it was kind of cute and funny, now she’s stealing my spotlight. Anyways, check out the interview and our MySpace page. We’re working on getting some tracks done. Although I keep telling Brax no one cares about MySpace anymore. He just won’t listen.
So I used to think that Auto-Tune wasn’t that big of a deal, just a silly gimmick artists used to make their vocals pop or to prop them up during live performances since they couldn’t actually sing. Folks have been using it for years. Lately there seems to have been a resurgence thanks to hip hop artists such as T-Pain, Kanye West, and Black Eyed Peas but other folks such as the previously ranted against Owl City make liberal use of it as well. Then I was talking to some dude about Imogen Heap and he said she sucks because she just uses Autotune and I nearly lost my mind.
Imogen uses a vocoder. There is a big difference. While Auto-Tune uses vocoder technology, it does not require the use of a musical instrument to sound good. A vocoder requires a musical accompaniant to sound good and tremendous musical knowledge to sound great. It is a huge part of good electronic music and it is a sad day indeed when the overuse of freaking Auto-Tune has caused it to be dismissed. So please, the next time you tell your engineer to turn on the Auto-Tune, think twice. You’ll thank me later.
Yes, that is a full size Fender Strat Rock Band controller. Yes, it is $300. That baby isn’t plastic. It’s an actual Fender Stratocaster. Some guitar purists might balk at the idea of wasting a perfectly good REAL guitar and turning it into what is essentially a toy, but I say it’s awesome. No, I don’t care that you can buy an actual Strat (with Rock Band branding, no less) for about $300. That one doesn’t play Rock Band. How can a Manta Ray even play fake guitar? I’m awesome, that’s how. Merry Christmas everyone!
Dudes, I am not a beach ball!
So the lineup for Coachella is starting to shape up and I am beginning to think I might brave the sweaty masses of humans this time around. I haven’t been to Coachella since 2004 and that was pretty insane. I nearly lost a chunk of my fin during The Pixies and someone thought I was an inflatable toy during The Flaming Lips. But Devo is confirmed as well as Muse and Phoenix and if even a third of the “Heavily Rumored” bands show up, I will be in heaven. If Pavement is there I will go no matter what. Wowee Zowee indeed.
So apparently now everyone is an “electronic music fan” or something. Don’t believe me? Look at the iTunes charts and you’ll see that Owl City is selling like hot cakes. “So what, Manny? Shouldn’t you be happy that an electronic act is doing well?” you ask. I would be happy, if Owl City was any good. But good does not seem to sell albums. Catchy sells albums. Watered down versions of good bands sell albums. Some dude puts auto-tuned vocals to Garage Band quality tracks and suddenly he is a huge selling Electronic artist. Meanwhile few know who Ohm’s Law are and countless other electronic artists who can actually make a decent track are struggling just to pay the rent. This is what is wrong with music today. I honestly have no solution besides support your local artists, don’t buy into the hype. I mean, really, this dude sounds like Savage Garden but gussied up for a new decade. Also, he totally ripped off The Postal Service. Yeah, think about it.