Monicker

This guy was a complete shit stain on this forum since the day he joined. I figured it was only a matter of time before he'd get banned. I am surprised his sexist, racist, bigoted, and other problematic bullshit lasted this long. Good riddance.

Just one producer, David Kahne. Also, i have no way of knowing this with the lack of information we have, but i'm willing to bet that the AKA recordings on a song-to-song basis cost more than the songs on BTD that don't have strings.

Watching some of these live videos and i had a thought. I want to go back in time to, like, 1980 and tell people that one day concert goers will hold up telephones instead of lighters, and be laughed at and told that i'm crazy.

What a great way to open a show. Those first few minutes are gold. You can feel the anticipation and excitement even through a little youtube video.

There is a night and day difference between Auto-Tune and similar programs being used as effect (Kanye West) and as pitch correction (Y&B). They're not really comparable situations. In the case of the former, the listener is supposed to hear it because the software is purposely being misused to clearly alter the singer's voice, whereas when it's used to correct pitch, it is intended to be transparent, unnoticeable--though, of course, there are those situations where it slips through and it can be heard. In theory, i am not against the use of it. It is, after all, just another studio tool. I don't have a problem with "cheating" in the studio. There are plenty of tricks that have been used since the advent of recorded music to get a better sound or performance. It's just that, in practice, i think it sounds bad. Something happens to the voice when you run it through the software and drive it too hard. It has the tendency to strip away a lot of the nuance, the heart and soul of a vocal and make it sound sterile (even when that's not the intention). That's my problem with it when it's used not as an effect. And the thing is, i believe that even if the listener doesn't have the ear, experience, knowledge, terminology, etc. to detect details like this and determine and describe what exactly is going on with the vocal, that at a very fundamental level, most people can still feel that something is "off" without knowing what to attribute it to.

I was thinking yesterday of a way of saying something similar, about the visual aspect of the songs/albums, or more specifically, the thematic material. They are in very different ball parks, yet, let's say, in the same neighborhood. Not unlike, say, driving through a part of town, and from one street to the next, you can see the socioeconomic makeup change right before your eyes. Yet the area's citizens all share a sort of bond in that they call the same place home. Some of the culture finds its way into all facets of the neighborhood. That's a really good point you make about the production style fitting the themes and subject matter of BTD. As i've said before, there's something about how overproduced BTD is that i like and i can't entirely pinpoint why, though i wouldn't want more of that sound/style.

I can tell you for sure that it's the digital reverb they use on her vocals but i also just detected Auto-Tune, which i hadn't noticed on the first few listens. It's transparent throughout the whole song except for one section where it's especially noticeable, even blatant, on one word specifically, but i'm not going to say where and be that guy that ruins it for everyone

On the subject of Skyfall: I was really surprised by that recording. That’s how i wish Lana’s “big productions” were recorded, produced, and mixed. I hate to use the term because it’s such a cliche, but listen to how warm that production sounds compared to anything Lana has ever recorded. It was recorded at Abbey Road and you can tell instantly that it was recorded at a studio of that caliber. Listen to the piano, the drums, the bass. Listen to the reverb on her vocals. I don’t know the story behind the recording, but i’d bet a lot of cake that you’re hearing the classic Abbey Road echo chamber on those vocals. You hear me bitching all the time about the way they treat Lana’s vocals. Well, here’s a current day example of how i wish they’d handle her vocals. Play Skyfall and Y&B back to back, ignore the songs themselves (the composition, performance, etc.) and just pay attention only to the sound, the production, the way each instrument sounds and sits in the mix. If you don’t hear a huge difference between the two and how cheap Y&B sounds in comparison, well, i envy you

You do know that i knew what you meant and that this was a joke, right? Come on, evil, it’s funny. Don’t overthink the joke It is neat to think that the guy who produced Slayer 26 years ago also produced Ride though, isn't it?

She is singing about HARVEY WEINSTEIN in Cola? NO.

Is that what it really is? I've never been clear on this. And we are 100% certain that it's Harvey's in the sky? What the hell is that?

This orchestral version: great arrangement, bad mix. I'd probably be a little into the song if this was the version, if it was remixed, and if her vocals were processed differently. I can see why they’d want to go with the other version though for the soundtrack/single. I do hope Dan Heath and Rick Nowels are the two main people working with her for the next album because i think they've been doing great work. I’m pretty sure she said this was the case, no?

Because it’s fucking awesome and the world was in need of David Kahne and Rick Rubin coming together to create the ultimate Lana love baby. Ha, NO. That’s a thing that Slayer fans have been doing since the early ’80s. I just googled “slayer carved in arm” to find a photo

Alright, i couldn't pass up the opportunity to do this. EDIT: Ugh, it sounds like ass on vocaroo. Here's a download link because you know you want to download it in good quality

Why are misheard lyrics so unbelievably funny? I have a headache now from laughing. This is amazing. I want to make a song now called Ridin' His White Pony Named Kevin. This might be my very favorite misheard LDR lyric. This just reminded me of when BEEPERS were around and people would beep 143 as a code for "I love you." Oh my god, take me to the German pig. Another song i'm going to make. Me too.

When i first heard Video Games i had no doubt the lyrics were irony. Then i started listening to more songs and getting into her and watching interviews, and i realized the song was very sincere. I also realized then that i like both interpretations. The song works in either context. That sort of "old fashioned" sincerity is an anomaly in a lot of today's music, and even in people in general, so i found that quality alone to be appealing and commendable.

We should totally make an acid simulation thread.

I believe everyone should be free. I believe in the country America used tod]aeo#)+9sw90e982838_+@"@: ahhkkksajkakakkaka[[]]''':

Early Rick Rubin SLAYER style! Gimme the brite lites, gimme the brite lites, gimme the ANGEL OF DEATH Quick, there's no time to waste, there's a secret back door out of here that i know of. Once you get out just keep running and don't stop. I'll distract the lynch mob and keep you covered for a while. Take this knife with you, it's all i've got. God bless.

I just realized an interesting comparison that can be made with an actual real life example: Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine album and its two versions. The original sessions, produced by Jon Brion, can be seen as an AKA of sorts, while the rerecorded version of the album, produced by Mike Elizondo, takes a more hip hop and commercial approach (though Elizondo is leagues better than Haynie). Even if you're not a fan of hers, it's fascinating to hear two completely different versions of the same (really amazing) album, and i highly recommend a listen to both. I think most Lana fans would be into both versions anyway, so it's a no brainer. Hell, i'm not even really a Fiona fan so much as i'm a fan of both versions of the album, especially the original (and her latest album too).

As far as what BTD would sound like if it had been recorded as Lizzy, i don't think you have to try too hard or look further than some, not all, of the BTD demos, like HLH, NA (nexus), DMD, and LO. I'm not saying they would sound just like that, but i think it's the easiest way to imagine them in a similar vein. They would just have more of a "band"/"live" sound. The BTD demos that are actually technically demos like VG, Carmen, WY, and MDM would not sound like that in an AKA mold. Demos like DP, SS, and TIWMUG are in a transitional style that's neither representative of AKA or BTD. As for AKA being recorded by Lana, i think it's pretty easy to imagine what anything going through the BTD Emile Haynie filter would sound like Did you like how i purposely used as many initialisms as i could?

Yeah, that's mostly how i feel. These lyrics sound like self-parody, and this isn’t, by any stretch, the first time that happens. It’s staggering how much her lyrical abilities have steadily declined over her career, even just since BTD. I really don’t know what happened to the creative lyricist in her I don’t think Y&B is necessarily a bad song, it just doesn’t do much for me, i really don't feel it. I guess my favorite aspect of the song is the arrangement (i do love the tube bells!) The bridge (lyrics aside) is better than the entire rest of the song. Some people have aptly noted that this song sounds like a kind of hybrid of a few different songs of hers, but the thing is, she already did those songs much better. Not only does this feel like a retread, but also like a leftover, an outtake. But my biggest issue with it, which i had prior to even hearing the whole song, is that it’s constructed around a clunky melody that i find neither interesting, memorable, engaging, or unusual. That the trite question in the lyrics is set to this melody just further brings it down. I don’t want to say too much about the production because it’s a low quality file (160 kbps and you can really hear a lot of compression) but it seems like a rather plastic and cold production. Yet not plastic and cold enough to be intentional. I feel like this is obviously supposed to be an emotional song, but it sounds more like going through the motions. Her vocals are more and more often taking on this sedated, drone-y quality that, i hate to say, i’m starting to find tiring. And i’ll keep saying this: i hate the cheap sounding digital reverb they always use on her vocals, i think it does a disservice to her voice. Someone please fucking run this woman’s vocals through a real echo chamber, i promise that everyone’s minds and hearts will melt. I think the orchestral version sounds much better and i'm interested in hearing that. But again, the lackluster melody and poor lyrics i feel are always going to get in the way of this being a good song. I’m very surprised to hear this being called one of her best songs. That’s a pretty lofty statement considering how much great material she has. I don’t know, i can’t help wonder if that’s just new release excitement talking. Maybe this one will be a grower? Lord, i really did not set out to write this much about this song--i've barely even felt anything listening to it. To make up for my long-winded dribble, let me leave you with a picture of some cute lambs wearing clothing:

I think Namira's question is a valid one--Lana's current circumstances are very different now than they were in her past, so prior motives may not necessarily apply now. I found the responses to the question a little defensive, not the other way around, and very idealist. I strongly doubt anyone has the answer at this time though. By the way, the "horse plant" and other things it's been called is topiary.

Jesus, did you hear how the second suspect was found? Tsarnaev was cornered late Friday as he was hiding on a boat in a backyard of Watertown, a suburb of Boston. Police were alerted to his whereabouts by a man who went outside after authorities lifted an order for residents to stay inside during the manhunt. The resident saw blood on a boat in the backyard, Davis said. He then lifted up the tarp covering the boat and "saw a man covered with blood," he said. Can you imagine? How fucking scary. I would NOT have lifted the tarp and instead ran back in the house and shit myself.