Bunnies Back On Form??

[Crystal Days]

Well this performance bodes well. The voice sounds as good as I've heard it for a long time, and the band sound really tight.

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=QGzgX9QRAbM

[guitarplayer on here too]

I don't know. His vocals seem to have good days and bad days. After listening to this, he sounds on top form. But then listening to that Brazilian radio thing (on the official site), he sounded hoarse as usual. Even the recorded "Forgotten Fields" track off "The Fountain" played on that show, the vocals are very croakey despite being a pretty good song. The band do sound pretty tight though.

[withahip]

Hope it sounds better than that when I see them do Ocean Rain in New York City.
Seriously, can't the guy run on the treadmill twenty minutes a day and get a vocal coach?

[black francis]

That's actually really good compared to the last couple times I saw them live.

I'd second the treadmill comment but I could use 20 minutes a day myself.

[withahip]

That's actually really good compared to the last couple times I saw them live.

I'd second the treadmill comment but I could use 20 minutes a day myself.

Ain't no one paying to watch you sing. Seriously, though, physical health affects how well someone sings, supporting the notes and all that. Especially when you get crusty old.

[moondance]

Crusty old?!

[JackT]

Yeah, it was okay. It's sort of like watching someone walk a tightrope, though.

[Mr. Brian]

It was much better than some things I've heard recently from Mac. I guess I'd settle for that.

Typing that last sentence just made me sad.

[Frank The Bunny]

His voice is lacking the operatic drama it once had.
But is that for lack of ability or lack of trying?

I noticed on this he tried as he might to wail "hiiiim" near the end, but backed off.

Maybe a vocal coach is the key.

He's got to be made to realize that opening his throat up and letting out a clear tone is going to damage his vocal cords a lot less than the tight-sounding way he sings now.

And it's a lot easier to listen to, as well.

[JackT]

Yes, tight-sounding is a good description. So very careful, tiptoeing around the song. When certain notes come up, you sort of grit your teeth as you wonder if he's going to make it.

People wonder why he doesn't do this or that, and I think one reason is that fixing things often involves a period of looking bad before things get better, and he absolutely cannot allow that. So it's all defense and getting by and keeping up appearances as best one can.

I think I could tie him in a singing contest.

[Dr Cheese]

This is one of the reasons I don't want to see them do Ocean Rain, you might be lucky and get a decent performance out of Mac, knowing my luck I'd just get the standard sub-par one.

[tonywojo]

Yeah, it was okay. It's sort of like watching someone walk a tightrope, though.

Killing Moon is that type of song.

I think he still means it though.

Have you noticed they are all individuals - one wearing a suit?

That's exactly it - they are all individuals.

I think M is getting asthmatic, and he is getting into the old bingo-hall mumbling old man category.

But for me he's still an inspiration

[guitarplayer on here too]

Hearing him on that recent Brazilian radio show do a snippet of the track "The Fountain", the lower-range vocals sounded very Mac 1980s -- first time I'd heard that. But then he got to the chorus and couldn't hit the range and appeared to bottle out of singing it anymore.

[withahip]

God, I really hate seeing go to hell like this.

[Mr. Brian]

This is one of the reasons I don't want to see them do Ocean Rain, you might be lucky and get a decent performance out of Mac, knowing my luck I'd just get the standard sub-par one.

I know exactly what you mean. I can't bear to hear him honk through that and I am very nervous about the Radio City gig. yeah it's NYC and yeah it's with an orchestra and yeah it's a great venue but if the last thing I hear is him honking through Ocean Rain it will ruin the whole thing.