I've never thought of the New Order vocals as typical "limp indie singing", even though I've often seen them characterised as such...I haven't listened to NO in AGES (and wouldn't call myself a fan by any means! in fact I only know about four NO songs, tops) but I don't think I ever actually particularly noticed the vocals, they always seemed kind of functional, carrying the melody, just there but not the focus. Like the Booka Shade vocals on their new album. But the NO vocals don't actively annoy me at all, despite the lack of character (and indeed the dreadful lyrics) - I think it's because they don't make a big deal out of their passiveness, they're like that only to get out of the way of the music. I might have to go back and listen with fresh ears.
I'm definitely interested in your ref to "a brit cultural taste for understatement as a mode of intense emoting" though, I've been thinking a bit about British vs American cultural preferences (and specifically the frequency with which I fall on the American side) but haven't got to a point of articulating it yet. Is this why Poptimists (the UK branch, anyway) seems so immune to my r&b divas? :(
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timeasmymeasure
Re: the vocals issue
Date: 2008-10-21 04:47 pm (UTC)I'm definitely interested in your ref to "a brit cultural taste for understatement as a mode of intense emoting" though, I've been thinking a bit about British vs American cultural preferences (and specifically the frequency with which I fall on the American side) but haven't got to a point of articulating it yet. Is this why Poptimists (the UK branch, anyway) seems so immune to my r&b divas? :(