30 replies to this topic

[NewToREM]

I'm normally one to say it's definitely getting worse but I have to take that all back

I don't know what he's done but its certainly working.

[sycorax82]

IMO he's singing in a style that suits how his voice as it is now. The shouting on Discoverer made me sigh at first, thinking maybe everything was gonna be like that, but obviously I was soon proved wrong!

Oh My Heart is a particular favourite, vocally. Though hearing the clip of Marlon Brando, that's provided me with a new top moment, especially the way he sings 'their histories are lullabys...' (if that's the line), fantastic!

[Discoverer]

sycorax82, on 26 February 2011 - 06:08 PM, said:

IMO he's singing in a style that suits how his voice as it is now.

Yes, I agree. He's a vocalist and has been tearing up his lungs for the last 30 years. He doesnt sound nearly the same as he did in the early 90's but what he's doing works and I love it

[Milsean Cady]

I think he sounds great. I'm not a fan of the shouting business that happens on "All the Best" and "Discoverer," but I think that's more of a delivery issue than an actual vocal deficit. I was worried about Stipe's voice until I heard "Oh my Heart." He can still wail.

[stipeeyes]

He was sounding a bit gruff especially between 03 and 05.  But I still thought he sounded good.  I heard he quit his smoking habit but I don't know if that is true or not.

The vocals sound beautiful in the new songs.  Michael  in my opinion has a better voice than a lot of the new singers.

[chrome3d]

The usual explanation when the voice of the singer gets better is that they stopped smoking. There is so much more that you can do with your voice if the throat is clear and not covered with slime all the time. Cancersticks might have given him "depth" and "experience" in the past but there is always a limit to that. The voice sounds good to me now.

[Limnophilia]

Yeah, Ethan confirmed he stopped smoking a few years ago here:

http://www.murmurs.c...0-which-member/

I was waiting to see if this made a real difference. It did. He sounds great on CIN (minus the shouting in places, but hey...)

[kizmatica]

Yeah it's a hell of a lot better. Even during that weird David Bowie cover he did a few months ago, I noticed how his voice sounded purer.

Btw he has given up smoking. Thom Yorke noted this on his blog in 2008. Whether he's taken it back up I don't know, but I would be very surprised if he has.

[stipeeyes]

I'm glad he stopped smoking.  But at least like other smokers the few times I met him he never smelled like a life size ashtray.

March 8th really needs to get here.  

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

I agree Michael's voice sounds as good as it ever did, but what lifts this album way above the previous 3 is that you can really hear Mike's vox. It's been kinda smothered for later albums, which I always thought was a shame.
One of the most transcendent things about  REM's unique sound  happens when those 2 voices harmonize. It's  beautiful voodoo. I can hear Mike all over this and it's fucking fantastic. Take a bow, Mr Mills, it's great to have your singing and musicianship running through this album loud and proud.

[rocket21]

While I think Stipe's voice sounds better on Collapse Into Now than in Accelerate, I don't think it's nearly as good as it used to be.  That said, I think they've been able to add more Mills harmonies to counter it.

[wagtail]

I think I've come to realise that Michael's voice is the main reason I'm an REM fan, more so than his lyrics.  I love his singing on Up, but I think this album is on a par with that, at least.

I was messing around in garage band with IHT, and it made me realise how clever and thoughtful he is in the way he uses his voice.  It was actually quite confronting to take everything else out and just hear that vocal.  I added that bass drum heartbeat and immediately started crying.  [whoa.  I've been a bit emotional lately]

Also, I agree with Etty that Mike's contribution [particularly vocally] on this record is wonderful.

[rosie]

wagtail, on 07 March 2011 - 10:06 PM, said:

I think I've come to realise that Michael's voice is the main reason I'm an REM fan, more so than his lyrics.  I love his singing on Up, but I think this album is on a par with that, at least.

I was messing around in garage band with IHT, and it made me realise how clever and thoughtful he is in the way he uses his voice.  It was actually quite confronting to take everything else out and just hear that vocal.  I added that bass drum heartbeat and immediately started crying.  [whoa.  I've been a bit emotional lately]

Also, I agree with Etty that Mike's contribution [particularly vocally] on this record is wonderful.

i agree, the vocals on collapse into now are just wonderful.  michael's skill in knowing when and how to vary them according to the requirements of the song is breathtaking.  i think walk it back and marlon brando in particular are perfect examples of this.  there's nothing he could have done to better his delivery on these songs.

and for those who think his voice is not as great as it once was, surely the carnegie hall performance of saturn return would persuade them otherwise.

[2headedcow]

Michael's vocal on Walk it back are amazing.

[fanfan]

Michael sounds just fine, I love it.

[rocket21]

rosie, on 08 March 2011 - 01:52 AM, said:

and for those who think his voice is not as great as it once was, surely the carnegie hall performance of saturn return would persuade them otherwise.

I wasn't there, but I didn't think the recording I saw of it showed that his 1990s voice was back.  And don't call me Shirley.

[e-botti]

just beautiful, on songs as Uberlin, Walk It Back, Everyday Is Yours...just beautiful...

[stipeeyes]

2headedcow, on 08 March 2011 - 02:39 AM, said:

Michael's vocal on Walk it back are amazing.

This is very true.  I love that song.  I can't wait to get home and hear my CD.  I could of downloaded it last night from itunes, my pre-order was ready, but it was quite late when I got the email.  I regret not downloading it to hear it on my way to work.

[CUYACOAT]

rocket21, on 02 March 2011 - 04:09 AM, said:

While I think Stipe's voice sounds better on Collapse Into Now than in Accelerate, I don't think it's nearly as good as it used to be.  That said, I think they've been able to add more Mills harmonies to counter it.

Sadly, everything you say is spot on.

[Duplo]

I like his performance in this record.
in walk it back he shows a very deep voice. deep and warm.

CUYACOAT, on 08 March 2011 - 08:38 AM, said:

Sadly, everything you say is spot on.