I'm also not a fan of Autotune,
in theory, but it's important to be realistic, too.
For instance, in this day and age, there's basically no such thing as a true "live" album.
Metallica put out a live album a little while ago. They could do it.
Filled with overdubs.
How did grammy's performances sound to you? I think U2 did pretty well.
Some of the instrumental parts were pre-recorded. I couldn't tell about the vocals, but I'm guessing Bono was totally live.
Now, I'm not saying these bands are shams, but this is reality. I'm pretty sure that U2 relies a lot on pre-recorded parts nowadays, but I also know that in their day, they were one of the best live bands in the world - no tricks.
The Who recently released a live album, The Blues to the Bush. Tons of overdubs. They also released a two-disc version of Live at Leeds. Roger went back into the studio to fix some of his vocals on that, too.
Want 100% natural? Get a bootleg. It's the only way.
IMO, the problem isn't just that bands can't do it live anymore. I think it's also the pressure that if they're going to release something, it had better be
perfect. Long gone are the days when a major record label could release a record with a jacket that says "Crackling noises aren't the fault of your stereo!".
As much as people complain about "shitty pop music", blah blah etc etc, I think a part of the problem is that it's
true that there aren't as many bands these days who can really give you a show live. Kids want a good show just as badly as we do, and the vast majority of today's "nu-metal" bands can't deliver.
I generally don't go and see current acts, for this reason. If I go and see the Who, Jethro Tull, Robert Plant, or whoever, I know what I'm going to get. A couple summers ago, I went to see the Who when they came to Michigan. The ticket cost me $80, but you know what? The show was brilliant, and it was worth every penny.
One of my favorite singing-related quotes is from Roger Daltrey: "Gimme a bum note and a bead of sweat anyday." You can't get away with that nowadays. You'll get laughed out of the record company's office and onto the street.
I'll echo what somebody earlier said about Robert Plant. Amazing live. Get a bootleg from early 1969, before he started to lose his voice, and... oh, wow. Dude could scream like a cat. And it's funny, but he's getting better with age. When Page/Plant toured in 1997/98 or thereabouts, he actually was in his best vocal form since about 1973. No joke. The No Quarter tour was kinda Jimmy Page's spotlight, but Walking Into Clarksdale was all Robert.
I know this board is highly anti-pop, but don't think that a kid can't sing just because he's good looking. You pay Peter Frampton and Paul McCartney that respect - give today's artists equal consideration. It took a long time for people to realize what good musicians Duran Duran were. And you know what? N'Sync are excellent vocalists. I wouldn't actually want to go to one of their concerts, but in the television performances I've seen, they didn't lip-sync. And their vocals were damn good, especially amazing when you consider that their dance moves are the most taxing I've seen since Michael Jackson's (who does lipsync a lot of his performances).
Christina Aguilera is a disappointment, though. For the reputation that she has as a stellar vocalist, I've noticed that she'll sing her live parts live, until the song gets to a difficult part. Then it's pre-recorded. I noticed this a few times in her "My Reflection" TV special. "I Turn To You" is the only example I can think of offhand, but there were a couple of others. When the song reaches a huge climax - just when a great vocalist should shine - the camera goes to her back, and suddenly the vocals sound like they're coming from somewhere else,
exactly the same as on the record.
Same with her performance this year at the Grammies. In that song from Moulin Rouge, just before Christina sings her verse, she sings a "Hey, hey, heeee-e-e-ey" type thing, with a huge sweeping glissando. Brilliant. The only worthwhile part of the entire song. And in the performance, she didn't sing that part live. It was taped, and she started singing at the verse. I was disappointed beyond belief. "Today's best young vocalist" should be able to do better.
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