YYNOT re-recording the vocals (and drums?) on their albums

[sun dog]

If you haven't seen the recent post, YYNOT is apparently re-tracking the vocals on their albums with Adi Argelazi.

 

I've been a huge YYNOT fan since the beginning, and I think those albums are a truly remarkable body of work. If there are better Rush-adjacent originals out there, I'd love to hear about it, because I'm not aware of them. For the most part I've been rolling with the changes over the years, though the loss of Rocky hurt my heart, and it took me a while to get past that. As a fan, the only thing that's softened all of the personnel cycling is that of course every single one of the musicians has been amazing in his/her own right.

 

So I have nothing at all against Adi. I've seen her live multiple times and I think she's a wonderfully talented vocalist and a great performer. That having been said, I have real problem with replacing Rocky's vocals on those albums. I've always been a music-first listener. I'm all about what the guitar, bass and drums and anything else are doing, and then once I'm in, I work my way around to the vocals and lyrics. Rocky upended that for me. After years and years I suddenly found myself thinking about the quality of vocals and how that works within a piece of music.

 

If you listen to, say, Rocky's work on Precious Time, I just think there's something going on there that is profoundly special and unique. I'll be a fan from here on out. But it didn't work out, and I can accept that. It is however in my opinion a much, much bigger thing to effectively paper over those past collaborations, even if that's not the intent. I believe I also read that the drums would be re-tracked. Mike Hetzel is an incredible drummer, with a beautifully fluid style. But I wouldn't want the contributions of Chris Moore and Joel Stevenett to be overlooked.

 

Apart from my affinity for and loyalty to those original recordings, I think there's also the question of how such a move is perceived. Imagine if Rush had gone back and re-recorded the first album with Neil. No one would argue about who the better drummer was. But how would it come off? What would people have thought about Ged and Al basically writing Rutsey out of the script, further diminishing his role in the history of the triumvirate? I suspect that it would not have been a particularly good look.

 

Of course I'll always have those original recordings, and, I have no doubt that Adi and Mike would bring fresh and exciting takes to these projects.

 

I just think that music, like art, is a snapshot in time, and that altering it is something that should be done sparingly, if at all.

 

[grep]

They probably have very good reasons for doing this.  Maybe legal?   I can't imagine spending the money to do so, for no good reason. Esp for a band with their resources.


We're not talking Sharon Osbourne level of free cash. 

[HemiBeers]

Perhaps Tim can fill us in on the details since he's a member of TRF.

 

From my understanding, Rocky chose to leave to do her own thing. Her other material seems more folky, so not sure if she's really into Rush other than an occupation. Reading more about the situation, her leaving was kind of pissy. So re-recording with Adi is their way to wash their hands of Rocky. 

 

This was Billy and Tim's baby from the start, so another case of 'lead singer big head' syndrome. Adi's very professional and capable so no loss moving on from Rocky. Their recording is 'home brewed', so probably not too expensive to re-do the vocals.

 

Rocky wanted to do her own thing, but she's in another Rush tribute band. If she wanted to do her own thing, why is still hanging with another bunch of old dudes playing dad rock?

Edited September 24 by HemiBeers

[chemistry2024]

A shame the Rocky split couldn’t be amicable. I really like those albums.

 

But you have to move on from the drama. Not sure if this is how you do that, but it’ll solve any credit issues down the road.

[Relayer2112]

I'm guessing Sharon Osbourne is their manager.