Mouth Off

In the Basement Christopher is mildly obsessed with Naturally 7‘s bass Armand “Hops” Hutton. Music from the Future Dave is understandably stoked for BYU Noteworthy‘s upcoming album Defined. Listener Mailbag Follow-up chatter and suggestions from the Top 10 Episode, singing on stage with Rockapella, some listener love, and Christopher’s 15 seconds of fame on NPR with his idol Patti LuPone. Album Review The boys stop to review Pass Us By, the latest album from Columbia University’s co-ed Nonsequitur.

Listener Episode!! Better than the Original An email from a fan named Jared Arrington declares that the U.Va. New Dominions‘ version of “Homeless” is better than the Leona Lewis original.  Christopher and Dave debate. acaTube Christopher stops living under a rock and discovers the multitrack a cappella videos of Mike Tompkins, thanks to a tip from Cy Serrano. 5 Minutes with… Sam Weisman, creator of The Sing-Off on NBC.  Brought to us by Kevin Qian. The Good Ol’ Days Alex Swango, on behalf of the Scottish nation, shares a track from A cappella Vocal Band from 1992. No seriously, it’s all voices. Album Review After a good imploring by Matt Keller,  Dave and Christopher discuss Rockapella‘s latest album BANG. Final Thought James Ranson is sick-n-tired.

SOJAM ARE YOU READAYYYYYYYY??!!!!! That’s right, friends!  SoJam, the world-renowned a cappella festival, is right around the corner.  This year’s festival is a must-attend extravaganza of concerts headlined by Basix and Sonos, competitions, workshops, panels, parties, and afterparties, and it’s only a few weeks away!  Join your hosts, Dave Brown and Christopher Diaz, in Durham, North Carolina, along with the entire a cappella community on Nov. 12-14 for an event you’ll never forget.  For more info on hotels, classes, group discounts, and more, visit SoJam.net. Music from the Future The Contemporary A cappella League has a growing presence each year at SoJam, and this year will be no exception. To celebrate the League presence at SoJam, Dave shows off Euphonism‘s version of “Smooth Criminal” from their soon-to-be-released album. My New Boyfriend One of the headlining groups at this year’s event is the L.A.-based indie (but signed!) group Sonos. And, naturally, Christopher is in love with their vocal percussionist Ben McLain. Musical Mouthful Coming to SoJam all the way from Denmark, hunky sextet Basix will amaze you with their original, catchy tunes; and they can move their mouths like nobody in the business. Competition Update As producer of the SoJam collegiate competition, Christopher gives you the lowdown on everything you need to know to enter this prestigious melee. SoJam 2010 in 2:10 Christopher hits the streets (or the phones, actually) to get the inside SoJam scoop from people in the know.  Matt Emery, CASA membership director and SoJam instructor, talks about the fantastic workshops.  Paul Toms, former Firedrill! singer, shares his experience as a past SoJam performer.  Alexander Koutzoukis, former music director of the Tufts Beelzebubs, tells what he’s looking forward to when he attends this year as a first-timer.  And Mark Hines, Executive Producer of SoJam 2010, explains the history of the event and why this year’s SoJam will be better than ever.

Around the Horn The Essentials are Toronto’s #1 group, Overboard announces Free Track Tuesday, New releases from our girls Sara B and Ingrid M, Sing 7 submissions are DUE THIS WEEK, SoJam collegiate competition entries due Oct 1, 5 Questions with Basix, 5 Questions with Sonos, CASA.org has a baller new look, Las Vegas A cappella Summit is coming soon, AcappellaFest is coming soon (in 3 states), Prince/SF is looking for hot young aca boy bands, the BBC’s show The Choir pwns, Inception Trailer gets an aca makeover, top 10 fave links now posted, Lilli Lewis needs your help for her brilliant new album project. Better than the Original Bet or no bet, Dave proclaims that Florida State University All-Night Yahtzee‘s version of “You Found Me” is better than the original by The Fray. Yeeeehaw!! The Harvard Opportunes make country bumpkin Christopher proud with their take on Carrie Underwood’s “Last Name.” Did You Know? Catherine Lewis is back with more behind-the-scenes info, as she explains the story behind Leonard Cohen‘s much-covered song “Hallelujah.” Album Review Dave and Christopher break down Never Odd Or Even, the debut album from the young University of Oregon Mind the Gap.

Better than the Original What could possibly be better than Marc Broussard?  How about Mosaic AND Marc Broussard? Don’t Quit Your Day Job This Rent singer is no Nicole Scherzinger. Arrangement Spotlight How can an a cappella group re-create piano arpeggios in Alicia Keys’s “If I Ain’t Got You”? Dave shares examples from Cherry Hill High School Fermata, the Virginia Belles, the RPI Rusty Pipes, University of Toronto TBA, BYU Noteworthy, Business as Usual, and Firedrill!. 5 Minutes with… Amanda Aldag, Director of CASA’s Contemporary A cappella League. Album Review Dave and Christopher give their take on Another Song, You Say?, the latest album from the University of Maryland Treblemakers.

Young and Original Christopher loves the simple, feminine beauty of Natalie Wittig’s original “Let Me Go” on Clemson Takenote‘s legendary 2006 release, Now That We Have Your Attention. Music from the Future What’s better than Take 6? Take 6 singing Christmas songs! Dave is so excited to share a super sneak peek from the new Take 6 holiday album, Most Wonderful Time Of The Year. My New Girlfriend Christopher shares the vocal talents of a beautiful, clever, artsy, smarmy, silly girl that you may or may not have heard of before. Head2Head It’s a GaGa-palooza as Dave takes the Wellesley Widows‘ and JMU Bluestones‘ covers of Lady GaGa’s “Just Dance” head to head. Album Review The boys are delighted, perplexed, and disappointed in the well-arranged but juvenile sounding new release from the Boston University Allegrettos, Light, Airy and Moderately Fast In Tempo.

Top 10 Albums! Around the Horn Report: A Cappella Boot Camp Dave tells us all about his experience leading A Cappella Bootcamp with super-producer, Freddie Feldman of Vocomotion Studios. Top 10 Aca-Albums for Newbies Picture this: you’ve never heard a cappella music before, so you ask your friends Dave & Christopher what are the first 10 albums you should check out. They answer: Christopher’s Top 10 Aca-Albums for New Listeners 10. Cornell Chordials‘ Arrival 9. University of Oregon Divisi‘s Roots 8. Riltons Vänner‘s De vill att vi buger och niger 7. Best of Collegiate A Cappella (BOCA) 2004 6. Tufts Beelzebub‘s Play The Game 5. AACI‘s Sing 3: Mélange a Trois 4. Voices Only 2010 3. Cluster‘s Christmas Present 2. Duwende‘s Collective 1. Club For Five‘s You’re The Voice Dave’s Top 10 Aca-Albums for New Listeners 10. Duwende‘s Collective 9. The Real Group‘s The Real Album 8. Ascending Height’s Turn It Up 7. The Swingle Singer‘s Ferris Wheels 6. Cluster‘s Steps 5. Bobby McFerrin‘s The Voice 4. Club For Five‘s You’re The Voice 3. Firedrill!‘s Sings Without Music, Vol. III 2. Take 6‘s Take 6 1. Cadence‘s Twenty For One

Foreign Language Special! In Your Earbuds Thanks to Freddie Feldman, Dave has been listening to Austrian teachergroup Voxon.  And let’s not forget the Finnish folk group Rajaton. Sexypella Christopher thinks it’s sexy when Italian group Cluster sings in Portuguese. Praisappella Dave extols the virtues of the Vocal Choir, the lovely singers from Norway. Arrangement Spotlight Christopher was born in the wrong body.  He should’ve been born as a member of Riltons Vanner. Album Review The boys love the jazzy Latin grooves of Brazilian sextet BR6 and their latest album Musica Popular Brasileira A Cappella Vol 2.

LOL The Showtime quartet make us all laugh with the “Barbershopper of Seville.” Arrangement Spotlight Dave is haunted by m-pact‘s groovy version of “My Funny Valentine.” Girl Power The Maryland Treblemakers inspired Christopher before he was even born. Listener Mailbag An acanewbie’s request has Dave and Christopher searching their music libraries.  Meanwhile, Warren Bloom and Brad Stephenson fight for the Voicemail of the Year category in the Mouthy Awards. Album Review The boys weigh in on their impressions of Afterglow by Emory University’s Aural Pleasure.

Happy birthday, Christopher! Cool Chord of the Week Dave loves singing the dissonant 7th on the final chorus of the House Jacks‘ “From Sunday.” Classical Corner Christopher goes on and on about the Swingle Singers and their beautiful takes on Brahms’s “Hungarian Dance No. 5″ and Rossini’s William Tell overture. In the Basement J.D. Sumner is literally a record-setting bass.  You’ve never heard anything this low.  Unless you’re Christopher. In Your Earbuds Christopher loves new(ISH) tracks from Broken Social Scene, Janelle Monáe, Grizzly Bear, and Chris Thile. Album Review Naturally 7‘s new album Vocal Play (available aaaalmost worldwide) is super radio ready, pushing all definitions of a cappella out the window.  Dave worships the record, while Christopher laments the loss of albums.

Arrangement Spotlight OCD Christopher shares his list of reasons why the Tufts Amalgamates‘ “Warning Sign” is so amazing. Better than the Original Dave uses his weak lungs to name all the people who have covered Donny “Pitts” Hathaway’s modern classic “This Christmas.”  Wake Forest University’s Christian group Chi Rho‘s version is among the best. I Just Gotta Say Christopher declares: THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE MIXED GROUP. A Cappella Alumni Former Binghamtonics member Ingrid Michaelson is the face of the modern innocent pop movement. Album Review They may be a bit confused about their stylistic identity, but Purple Haze‘s latest album Feed the Sound is an authoritative statement about the best of the collegiate midwest.

Music from the Future Dave gazes into his crystal ball and predicts that Naturally 7′s new album Vocal Play will be amahzing, once it’s finally released in the United States. acaTube Christopher wants to be in the Swingle Singers and star in viral videos featuring the group performing on the tube. Monster Mash Mouth Off best friend Catherine Papworth SANGS a killer mashup of John Lennon’s “Imagine” and the traditional hymn “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.”  The mp3 is available as a free download for a limited time RIGHT HERE. Listener Mailbag Alli Brooks fires back, and world-renowned sound man Tony Huerta shares music from his secret stash. Album Review The boys are almost totally in love with A Fifth, the latest album from the University of Oregon’s all-male group On the Rocks.  Stellar arranging, killer singing, thoughtful production work, original tunes, thoughtful MDs, collaborations, and more.

SpinSpinSpin You begged, you pleaded.  It’s finally here! Last year, Dave’s sister Jules asked him very publicly for an a cappella playlist she could use in her spin class at the gym.  Dozens of you sent in your playlist suggestions, and dozens more have been asking for the final list. Well, friends. Here it is.  In this episode, the boys proudly present the SpinSpinSpin Class Playlist! “Ready or Not” Naturally 7 Vocal Play “Sing a Song” University of Oregon On the Rocks A Fifth “Said I Wanna Go My Way” Basix Diversity “Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong With That” Wellesley Tupelos Little Red’s Hood “Not Giving Up” UNCG Sapphires Tempest “Disturbia” NYU N’Harmonics Balls to the Wall “Closer” Ithaca College Ithacappella Breakdown “Mothership” Kid Beyond Amplivate “Jai Ho” Middlebury Stuck in the Middle clap. stomp. “UFB (Unidentified Flying Banana)” Riltons Vanner Japanmix “Workin’ Day and Night” firedrill! …Sings Without Music Vol. II “Smooth Criminal” FORK Helsinki “Spice Up Your Pop” OSU Outspoken Do Not Disturb “You’re the Voice” Club for Five You’re the Voice

Around the Horn July 4th was acappellatastic, free download from Cartoon Johnny was a big hit, Papworthy free genius download, Suade wants to party All Night Long in Asia with a new single, The Sing-Off is going to be good, Deke Sharon tells you How to Get on the Sing-Off Next Year, CARA awards are now open for submissions, SING is now open for submissions, Storm Front takes top barbershop quartet honors, Duwende has yet aNOTHer killer singer from Casual Harmony, Acappella Boot Camp still has some spots available, Erik Abi-Khattar available for cheap amazing custom arrangements, acaPolitics is awesome (at chapter 20!), RARB forum merges with CASA into one super mega aca forum. 5 Minutes With… Bill Hare.  Maybe you’ve heard of him. He’s building a CASA Advisory Panel and just recorded freaking Nota. And he’s famous. Head 2 Head Christopher pits UCLA Random Voices against firedrill! to see who has the best version of Alicia Keys’s killer tune “If I Ain’t Got You.” New segment! Behind the Music How the heck did Northwestern Purple Haze make those cool sounds on their version of “The Process”?  Christopher gets on the phone with producer Ben Lieberman, who explains The Process step by step by step. Album Review Port Washington HS Limited Edition put up a killer set to win ICHSA Finals this year, but their new record Road to New York leaves a bit to be desired.

Song Suggestion Dave is in love with the debut full-length album Let Loose the Horses from aca-lumnus Gabe Mann’s band The Rescues. “We’re OK” from that album could be an EPIC song choice for a big ol’ co-ed collegiate group. Cool Chord of the Week Christopher points out a very cool chord in the song “Where the Streets Have No Name” by Cornell Last Call. Did You Know? Catherine Lewis is back with another edition of this popular music history segment. This time she celebrates Independence Day by sharing the story behind “America, the Beautiful,” complete with the world premiere of Cartoon Johnny‘s unique take on this patriotic anthem. Check it: Cartoon Johnny is offering a free download of this track over the next two days to all their Facebook fans. Jump on the bandwagon by visiting their Facebook page. Hippity Hop Christopher is obsessed with Tye Taveres from Emory Aural Pleasure. Her soulful voice on their cover of Chris Brown’s “Kiss Kiss” can only be topped by her RAPPING on the very same track. Wowsers. Album Review The boys celebrate America by reviewing the latest album from a Canadian quartet!  Nothing but Blue by The Essentials is, in fact, pretty blue. Dave likes some of the solos, and Christopher likes the original songs, but neither is impressed by the boring arrangements or the old-fashioned (actual!) drum track.