Rockapella Sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Del
In the whole "People change..and so do groups" madness..someone
offered up a positive and tactful observation that seemed to be ignored by
all that seemed so pationate about this topic. Perhaps the passion was
really directed towards the idiocy of the prank, etc...but It did make me
scratch my head as to why the discussion didn't turn in this positive
direction.
Honestly, I love Rockapella. When I heard them on Spike Lee's PBS special I
thought they were the most original group that I had heard in the "Do-wopp
esque styled group doing pop-rock music" category. (I made that category up
BTW) LOL
I was then introduced to Scott Leonard via "From NY", "Vocalese" and the
follow-up CD's leading to Sean Altman's departure.
I really liked the Sean Altman(and sometimes friends) contribution to
Rockapella and was kind of into the Scott Leonard stuff.
Then Sean left to "Sing his own music", a telling statement he made in that
acappella radio interview he did. Then he reunites with the original guys
from Rockapella and starts the Groove Barbers...again..another telling
choice. IMHO that is...:-)
Then I heard the post-Altman work that Rockapella did and honestly felt like
the songwriting, maybe just for my taste, had lost the sparkle that I loved.
I also heard Sean Altman's CD that he released called "Seandamonium" (or
something like that) and realized where the sparkle went. Sure "Don't Tell
me you do" had some cool songs on it featuring some AWESOME work by Jeff
Thacher(with no T). :-) I just feel like they didn't have the same kind of
"If I were a record executive I would have heard this song and immediately
though CHA-CHING" appeal that songs like "Fly" by Sugar Ray, or "Real World"
by Matchbox 20 have(understand?).
Then "Rockapella 2" hit the shelves and I bought it hoping for the bigger
budget production(which I got), but again..the songwriting took a
nose-dive...IMHO..humbly spoken. :-)
I am looking forward to hearing this new Rockapella with George Baldi, who
IMHO is one of the best basses I have EVER heard. He will add a soul and
hippness to the basslines that, even though Barry is a MONSTER and I love
his huge sound, I felt he lacked that smoothness and hip-appeal that could
help them achieve the Big Deal..who knows? Jeff AND George groovin togehter
will be an awesome thing though big record deal /MTV exposure or not.
Truly...Scott Leonard has one of the best belt-tenor voices I have
heard..rock legends included(Dennis DeYoung, Steve Perry). I do think that
there may have been some creative tension there that helped Sean make the
decision to leave.
The "Scott Leonard Show"...hmmm...perceived as an ignorant comment, this
statement should have said.."Scott is the main lead now with Sean not there
as the other great lead singer." I would agree TOTALLY with that.
Kevin and Elliot are great singers but they seem to have an obvious role
that works perfectly for the group. They blend like butter with Scott and
they are not the creative force like Sean was, leaving a Too many
chiefs-free environment for the group to thrive in.
These statements I have made in a tactful manner could easily push the
buttons of many who don't see the group the way I do...GOOD...that's the
point of the discussion...To share different views as to educate and
enlighten each other furhter on a topic that we all find very interesting.
I see big things for Rockapella with George. I only hope that the new songs
will appeal to me more like the old stuff, as I REALLY wanna play their CD's
over and over again till my CD-player melts down like I used to.
How's that for a critique?
Let's talk .I am really interested in hearing the views of the many diverse
minds in hear.
I love the passion for a cappella that exists here!
Del Coy
Now in Cincinnati..
Hype...@cinci.rr.com <--Gotta love HIGH-SPEED!!
JessyPella
complete understatement. However, I don't it's all completely 'not as
good as when. . .' at the same time either.
When Sean was a member of the group, I believe the songwriting hat was
shared between both Sean and Scott and now resides mostly atop Scott's
head. I don't know why and I really don't wish to go and presume about
matters I know nothing about.
Yet, I also think that for whatever reason, there tended to be more
covers while Sean was with the group then after, but I could be
totally wrong. If I am, someone please correct me.
Comparing different lineups of the same group, especially with
Rockapella as they have had NUMEROUS different lineups over the 16+
years the group as itself has existed, can sometimes be hard,
especially when comparing a more recent lineup to an older one.
It's been about 5 years, give or take, since Sean left and so we can
look back and get a good look at what the group was like when Sean was
there. But until very recently, the line up that we are referring to
(with Barry Carl and not George Baldi, I'm assuming), it is somewhat
harder to put a sort of 'critical stance' on it. So let's give it some
time before we say definitely that the material was "better" (or
whatever word you wish to use) before Sean left.
I can say, on the side of your arguement, that Elliott and Barry would
get at least one solo song on almost every import CD (that's just an
estimate). That, obviously, is not the case anymore. There could be
many reasons for why this occurred around the time of Sean's
departure. Right now, the only ones who know the answer why are the
members of the group. I would very much like to see Elliott's solo
"Don't Do It" appear on a CD, but as I've been told recently, that is
looking unlikely. I would have been thrilled to have had "Big Bad
John" recorded before Bear made his final bows with the group, but
again, it didn't happen.
Unfortunately, and the Stones hit it right on the head with their
song, we can't always get what we want. The way I see it, and I could
be wrong, the only thing we can do right now is just voice our
comments in a positive manner to the right people and hope something
comes of it.
JessyPella
Padgie RPholic
But, I'd come back to them after having lost them for four (five?)
years after Carmen (I moved and never knew they were a group being I
was in 5th grade). So I didn't get totally attatched then. (They
were "the funny guys from Carmen") Anyway, I see them again a few
days after September 11th (PBS promo) and became immediately attached.
I heard WITWICS and found "the funny guys" again. I went right away
and bought the cd. I didn't know that Sean had left the group, and
when I found out, I couldn't figure out who in their right mind would
leave such a fantastic group.
Some people were probably totally ticked off that Sean left (that's
very understandable) and Sean left a very helpful note welcoming Kevin
into the group and that we'd have a "more handsome and buff"
(something to that effect) guy taking his place. And, if I heard
correctly, Sean was there for Bear's farewell (this is what I've
heard, so it may be wrong).
The newer people who are introduced to this group will probably (as I
did) have the mind set that this version of the group was better than
the earlier ones. I do not agree with that. I think that the group
w/ Sean and the group with Kevin are and were terrific. I do not
think either one was better than the others, but they brought a
different style along with them.
Now that Bear's gone, I know I will miss his style (and I find his
voice comforting on both the CD and the different downloads from his
site), George will bring a new flavor to the group. I have high hopes
for him. Though he has big shoes to fill (literally... but I'm sure
he'll make up for that), I'm sure he's going to do great. Rockapella
may be better than before, or it may be just as great but different.
Only time will tell.
I think I'm wearing out my CD's as well as my CD player from all their
music playing on repeat day after day. Once I think I hear a CD skip,
I take it out and put in a different one. (Whether it be w/ Sean or
w/ Kevin). That's my personal preference. And I think it's good that
you were able to voice yours.
You may not have melt downs as often (hope it starts up again!) but
maybe when George gets here, other people will too (if that made
sense).
ROCKAPELLA'S AWESOME :)
~Padgie-RPholic
I've got high speed too! It's freakin awesome!
"Del" <Hype...@cinci.rr.com> wrote in message news:<lLn09.169578$CJ2.20...@twister.neo.rr.com>...
Jess
that's come of this all, is that it's brought people out of the
woodwork (myself included). I'll never claim to be an expert on any
of this, as I am just learning a lot myself, but I would like to take
a moment to play devil's advocate on this one.
First of all, I really like the way the group has evolved. I used to
really like the old stuff a lot better, but the more I listen and the
more I see them live, the more i appreciate the newer stuff. I must
say that both Sean and Scott are brilliant songwriters and both have
very distinct styles that are tough to mix. I clearly know nothing
about all of the reasons why Sean chose to leave, but I can't help but
think that most of it was just wanting to take his songwriting to a
new level--in his own style's direction. Comparing the two and saying
one is better than the other--well, that's just a matter of personal
taste. I think we'd all also agree that when it comes to a really
talented group, even songs that are not personal favorites can at
least be appreciated.
Secondly, I wanted to respond to the whole "Scott Leonard Show" bit,
just because I think it's kind of a misunderstanding. Once again, I'm
not speaking from any expertise here, only an opinion, but I don't
think Scott is trying to make it that way. I admit that when I first
saw them, I was slightly inclined to find him obnoxious. However, by
the end of the show, I came to realize that he's not necessarily on an
ego trip or in love with himself--he's in love with the music and with
performing--two things which make very much sense to me and probably a
lot of others here.
As for Kev and El, they blend perfectly. Both can definitely hold
their own as solo singers, but I think the most amazing thing about
the two of them is their ability to fill up the harmonies without
sticking out.
I can't wait to see what the new incarnation brings. I have yet to
hear George sing (soon to be remedied), but I've heard nothing but
raving reviews. Hopefully his presence will bring yet another new
twist to the group's style--after all, change really is half the fun.
Apologies to everyone for my somewhat immature and rash response
before... it was too late at night to be thinking rationally, and I
suppose we are all allowed knee-jerk reactions sometimes....
Peace everyone.
Jess.
SuperSixOne
> very understandable) and Sean left a very helpful note welcoming Kevin
> into the group and that we'd have a "more handsome and buff"
> (something to that effect) guy taking his place. And, if I heard
> correctly, Sean was there for Bear's farewell (this is what I've
> heard, so it may be wrong).
Sean was at BB King - Barry's last show in NYC - but was not there at
the Starlight Bowl, which was his last performance overall. I was
lucky enough to be in attendance at both shows :)
~Rachel
Jaime Lynn
Granted, it may not be what "the majority" want to hear, but I've
never been one to go along with everyone else...
I admit I'm a bigger fan of the "older" RP sound (i.e. when Sean was a
member of the group). That is NOT to say I dislike Kevin, or the
group's current sound; I LOVE it. However, it's my opinion that Sean
added a certain "punch" that is no longer evident. And yes, since I
was introduced to RP via "WITWICS?", I may be a little biased. *G*
Honestly, though, it isn't fair to Scott to compare his songwriting to
Sean's, because they're two different people. Of course it's not
going to be the same.
As far as the remarks concerning "The Scott Leonard Show:" I noticed
on RP's import albums that Sean and Scott each sang lead on an almost
equal number of tracks. I remember when I purchased "Rockapella Two,"
back in 2000, being a little miffed because the CD, to me, was too
"Scott-heavy." I wondered why Elliott and Barry (who, on the imports,
usually sang lead on one song each) only had a line each on "Tempted."
Of course, only the group knows why things happened that way, and I
don't wish to presume things that may be untrue.
I haven't met Scott, but from what I've heard and read, I feel he
doesn't exert a superior attitude, nor is he trying to overshadow the
other members of the group. As another poster said, he loves
performing, and that's very evident. Granted, I feel Elliott should
have more solos in concert, but maybe there's a reason he doesn't that
we, as fans, don't know about.
While I'll miss Barry, to be sure, I'm looking forward to hearing
George. I trust RP has chosen a fabulous bass to fill the shoes of
"The Bear."
-Jaime
Jade K
going to change the whole thing.. did that make any sense? So from as
far back as Steve Keys and that crowd, as each diffrent member left,
the Rockapella sound changed and formed into 'the rockapella sound'.
For Sean, I really like his writting. His lyrics are quirky and
comical even when they're used to convey a really dark topic. I
really like his music but I consider it his style. I really like
Rockapella's sound now, with Scott being the main arranger and song
writer.
I agree I would *love* to hear Elliott on more leads, his voice is so
creamy! And this is coming from CSL4's 3 or 4th biggest fan but as I
understand Scott is extreamly talented and has a wonderful voice and I
enjoy seeing him bop around the stage like a manical jack in the box,
I'd like to hear more from El, Kevin and George. (granted I've yet to
hear George but I hear good things...) Let's here Jeff sing! How
awesome would that be. That one line is such a tease!
I've lost my self and have compeletly forgotten *why* I started
posting.
Yeah, I like Sean, Yeah I like the Rockapella sound better now, altho
I miss like Funky Monkey and the cute songs like that... Um.. Yeah
more El, Kev, and George...
I'll go back to lurking now..
-Jade K
Layne Stein
awesome would that be. That one line is such a tease!**
If you have ever heard Jeff, you would find out he has a great voice! He
doesn't sing because it's "not his role". For this, he deserves a swift kick
in the ass. I'm sure one of the other guys could fill in a bit of
percussion. :)
Layne
"Jade K" <jdedch...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c6f0adcf.02072...@posting.google.com...
JessyPella
said something to the effect of "don't expect anything anytime soon"
and that he had "too much to worry about on stage as is". Though, on a
more positive level, he also told me that he'd may put together some
solo thing "just for fun".
JessyPella