Formula

[steviespitfire.livejournal.com]

What's wrong (or right) with formula in pop? It seems to go hand in hand with the apparent 'disposability' of pop, really. I'm all for it: from Motown to, well, Lu Cont, I guess. On the other hand, I'm listening to the Coldplay remix and though I like it well enough, I do worry that JLC's just caning the same tried and tested formula again and again.

So, what do youse think? About formula? I'm sure Tom will have some stuff to say, what with all the 60s pop he's listening to for Popular. :)

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

It;s an asset for her, tho - she sounds like she's become a pop star through force of will. It also makes her more like the old pre-singing-lessons Madonna.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Yes I completely agree with this - Gwen's voice is fantastically suited to what she does. But it is not a great voice in the sense of being able to sing!

I remember last week someone on ILM took umbrage when I said that Cat Power had a limited voice - like, I love what she does too, but she has a range of three notes at most!

A PROUD BOAST

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I have never heard any Cat Power.

Re: A PROUD BOAST

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I think you might like 'Free'.

Re: A PROUD BOAST

[steviespitfire.livejournal.com]

Cat Power's alright.

I saw that thread, Lex. People are silly. I prefer Fiona Apple.

Re: A PROUD BOAST

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I prefer Fiona too! And Fiona gets much more kneejerk bad press because she was erroneously lumped in with Alanis Morissette at the start of her career.

Re: A PROUD BOAST

[steviespitfire.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've never understood that either. When the Pawn... is a wonderful album far more interesting (sonically, alone, tho the lyrics are great too.) than anything AM has done.

AM is just gash.

Re: A PROUD BOAST

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Fiona's always been fascinating sonically - the blend of jazz and hip hop and cabaret long before people like Nellie McKay happened. And of course she was Jon Brion's protege LONG before he got indie cred by doing soundtracks to boring films...(which is why I find people who suddenly like Extraordinary Machine but not When The Pawn or even Tidal quite suspicious).

[steviespitfire.livejournal.com]

Yeah, agreed.

I found an old NME review of New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies in a vinyl copy of the same once. The reviewer was raving about the whoops on Age of Consent and The Village and, yeah, i really enjoy vocals like that--perhaps not technically perfect (tho theres a place for that) but they hold the power to thrill you in a different way; a way in which surprise plays a larger part.

Apropos of the Specials YSI the other day, I think Terry Hall is a great vocalist.