New Stevie Wonder record

I've listened to it a couple of times. And i must say, that there's alot of Programmed stuff, that just kills me in pure boredom, The tunes is all great etc. but man... I miss those Dynamics more than everthing when i hear the tunes.

Anyways, those with real instruments on are really cool, most of tracks are done by Ricky Lawson - Teddy Campell does a few too. Nathan East on Bass etc. Some good earcandy there!.

But Again. When are this Programmed stuff gonna end, It doesn't even sound great to me, it has just been accepted as a producer'ish thing to use today. [img]graemlins/thumbs_down.gif[/img]

You know, after hearing some samples I would have to agree. I guess it was foolish of me to think that an accomplished musician like Stevie would stay away from "computerization" and over-production. I'll have to listen to the entire thing, but already I guess I'm a little disappointed. From your description it sounds like some of the tracks found on the Prince's "musicology". Hmmmh... [img]redface.gif[/img]

Remember, programmed drums upset mainly drummers. Normal people could care less. I have a nice drumset and microphones, but most of my studio work is playing electronic drums, using DFHs, and programming beats.
It's quick and easy to get a better sound from DFHs, easy to edit, and cheap. Maybe Stevie should get DFHs, cause it's very hard to tell the difference from real drums, especially when played thru a TD20.

I believe the new record was released today. Has anyone picked it up? I remember a sample of the first single being posted here some time ago. After this album has been pushed back so many times, I am really eager to go pick this up. I love Stevie~

I realize that flamtriplet, so I guess I can't really critisize the album for not satisfying my "demands" as a drummer. However, considering Stevie is a drummer himself, I was hoping for some great drum tracks from him, not a machine.

This over-produced computerization as you put it really annoys me too. I love R&B, and hip-hop, and neo-soul, the sound of one of those bands live is nothing else. Huge fat electic bass sound, nice big fusion kit, with a fat bass drum and a high pitched crisp cracking snare. Insanely fast powerfull tom fills. Nice airy synth or fender rhodes. Its the funkiest rhythm section you'll hear these days. It hits you right in the gut! You see these awesome R&B groups on TV with live rhythm sections like these, and you think 'man this sounds sweet' and you buy the CD, and its nothing but light-weight tinny little over-produced drum machine tracks and VST basses designed specifically not to induce any kind of emotion from the listener. BAH!

EDIT: Yes, sorry, Stevie is great whatever, a genious perhaps! I'm sure the album is top quality from a compositional standpoint regardless of how much his producer has screwed it over.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ October 19, 2005 07:24 AM: Message edited by: elpatricio ]</font>

The Tunes are well written, some great Harmonic ideas and phrasing etc. And it just saddens me that it doesn't get the Final touch of Dynamics and care from a Drummer. It's Soooo monotomous listening to.

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Originally posted by Suspiria:
I realize that flamtriplet, so I guess I can't really critisize the album for not satisfying my "demands" as a drummer. However, considering Stevie is a drummer himself, I was hoping for some great drum tracks from him, not a machine.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">For me, it dissappointing getting an accomplished artist's CD and it having computer drums. I can deal with it in rap and some pop. But in jazz, it wastes me.

I can name a few tracks on Vinnie's solo album, Jimmy Haslip's solo album (jazz?) with Erskine, Saint Germain's and Michael McDonald's Blink of an eye album with JR and Manu Katche combining electronic beats with live drums which are simply great. It is how you use it. I used to hate it but programmed alot for our band and started to like it.

Quote:

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Originally posted by elpatricio:
I love R&B, and hip-hop, and neo-soul, the sound of one of those bands live is nothing else. Huge fat electic bass sound, nice big fusion kit, with a fat bass drum and a high pitched crisp cracking snare. Insanely fast powerfull tom fills. Nice airy synth or fender rhodes. Its the funkiest rhythm section you'll hear these days. It hits you right in the gut! You see these awesome R&B groups on TV with live rhythm sections like these, and you think 'man this sounds sweet' and you buy the CD, and its nothing but light-weight tinny little over-produced drum machine tracks and VST basses designed specifically not to induce any kind of emotion from the listener. BAH!

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I couldnt have put it better. I highly recommend looking into live DVDs or CDs of rnb/hip hop acts. Both the live album of The Roots and Jill Scott should really be in your collection.