Bobby McFerrin - VOCAbularies

[AudioDwebe]

What a musical treat Mr. McFerrin has just released.  This disc, with seven tracks ranging in length from 6:10 (shortest) to 11:22 (longest) takes the listener on a ride through a selection of tunes with a variety of flavors (world, African, jazz, choral (classical)) utilizing mainly vocalists, with a few musical instruments that provide, yet do not get in the way, of all the songs. 
 
It's the type of disc that forces you to close your eyes and listen to, and for, all the vocal intracacies that appear throughout the sound(head)stage.  The disc begins very slow, and melodically, picks up the pace, then ends the journey with "Brief Eternity", one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in a long while. 
 
Definitely worth checking out...at least on Amazon, to hear the snippets of the tracks.
 
Cheers.

 

[IPodPJ]

I love Bobby.  He is the king of A Capella.  I'll definitely check this out!  Thanks for the update.
 
Oh, and his production and mastering are some of the best out there.  Sound quality on most of his albums is superb.

 

[AudioDwebe]

If you "love" Bobby, you'll totally flip over this release, I think.  It's not just him on vocals, though.  He uses, like, 50 different vocalists throughout the recording.
 
It uses far less musical instruments than previous recordings, but I'm awed by the tapestry of the vocalists.
 
Let me know what you think once you've checked it out.
 
Cheers.

 

[GreatDane]

Thanks AD, I'll be checking this out and report back.

 

[IPodPJ]

Quote:

If you "love" Bobby, you'll totally flip over this release, I think.  It's not just him on vocals, though.  He uses, like, 50 different vocalists throughout the recording.
 
It uses far less musical instruments than previous recordings, but I'm awed by the tapestry of the vocalists.
 
Let me know what you think once you've checked it out.
 
Cheers.

Listened to part of it.  It's very good.  Sound quality is superb.  Parts of the bass from the vocals sounds like instruments, it's amazing.
 
Hot damn!  My 6000th post. 

  4 years and 2 months on Head-Fi, and my wallet is crying.

 

[GreatDane]

I'm on my second listen to this CD, V-DAC> Woo 3> DX1000.  I like it a lot.
 
The notes say this CD took over 7 years. Wow.
 
A small bit of the CD notes:
 
" The singers were recorded one at a time in small groups to create a virtual choir made up of over 1,400 vocal tracks. Over the course of many years and over 1,000 hours of studio time, the best performances were captured and sculpted into form...the final mix required over 100 gigs of audio memory to house the enormity of the musical material: intricate,overwhelming and yet vividly joyous"
 
The notes are a good read while listening.
 
Thanks! -- recommended listening.

 

[leeperry]

I prefer "circle songs".

 

[AudioDwebe]

 
Quote:

I'm on my second listen to this CD, V-DAC> Woo 3> DX1000.  I like it a lot.
 
The notes say this CD took over 7 years. Wow.
 
A small bit of the CD notes:
 
" The singers were recorded one at a time in small groups to create a virtual choir made up of over 1,400 vocal tracks. Over the course of many years and over 1,000 hours of studio time, the best performances were captured and sculpted into form...the final mix required over 100 gigs of audio memory to house the enormity of the musical material: intricate,overwhelming and yet vividly joyous"
 
The notes are a good read while listening.
 
Thanks! -- recommended listening.

Wow!!!
 
Simply, WOW!!!
 
I must read the notes on my next listen.
 

 

 

[IPodPJ]

Been listening to more of it.  Killer album.  Probably the best one I've ever heard from him.  Soundstage is awesome.  You can tell he put a TON of work into this album.
 
Other news, I just got an e-mail tonight from Thomas Dolby.  He's got an EP out now called Amerikana with 3 tracks on it only for his fan community.  It cost $3.  Pretty interesting.  Track 3 is the best, and has guitar by Mark Knopfler and was recorded in Knopfler's studio.  He will also have two full length albums coming out in 2010.
 
Here's the link if you want to read about it and purchase it:
 
http://thomasdolby.fanbridge.com/campaigns/show.php?id=632291&sid=125206794

 

[IPodPJ]

Just wanted to give VOCAbuLarieS another plug for anyone who hasn't heard it.
It's a masterpiece of vocal soundscapes.  It's among the best SQ you can find on a redbook CD.  He spent 7 years on it, 1400 vocal tracks.
He's always made incredible sounding albums, but this one is just a feast of gorgeous midrange and midbass.  It will give you goosebumps.  Listen nice and loud, and listen to it all!

 

[IPodPJ]

Here's the ofiicial music video of the track 'Say Ladeo' from the album VOCAbuLarieS.  It is so amazing!  Watch in 480p for best picture and sound quality.
I suggest going to the actual URL in your browser to view it in a larger size:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b__9YQLJSZo&feature=related
 

 

[IPodPJ]

I'm completely hooked on this CD. I can't remember the last time I got this obsessed about an album. I found out today (by reading an Amazon review) that three of the songs on the album, Baby, The Garden, and He Ran To The Train, are old songs from the album Medicine Man that have been revamped for VOCAbuLarieS. I really can't pick a favorite song. They are all so incredible.

 

[GreatDane]

Quote:

. I really can't pick a favorite song. They are all so incredible.

My fav has been Wailers. I plan to give the CD a serious listen with speakers which I haven't done yet...maybe a Friday night treat.

 

[IPodPJ]

Quote:

My fav has been Wailers. I plan to give the CD a serious listen with speakers which I haven't done yet...maybe a Friday night treat.

You'll enjoy it for sure.  Wailers was initially my favorite but then they all grew on me equally.  The only one I'm not overly thrilled about is He Ran To The Train, but it's still good.