Some nice performances tonight. Could've done without the Connan Mockasin weirdness but otherwise it was great.
Yeah I just saw the Connan... performance. Dreadful crap. Loved the versions of Only Talking Sense and Four Seasons.
Dog woke me up at 3:30 and I saw the last bits along with 600 other wonderful people. OK, now that I know it starts at One AM in my parts, I think I can make it scheduled viewing!
Really? I love Connan Mockasin. More than makes up for Lorde 
I'm loving this week's webcast. Guitars (lots of them!), full drum kit, great band, Split Enz songs, Ska/Reggae, rap (bit too much, but A for effort), and Neil's rocking (despite the orange jacket). I've found myself grinning like a mad woman so many times.
And here's today's play list. Guest spots by Swidt and Jimmy Barnes (through Skype). Debut performances of two songs from 'Out of Silence' and another as yet unreleased song (not to be on the new album).
1 Last one standing
2 What's the matter with you
3 Hole in the ice
4 Rest of the day off
5 Weather with you (with SWIDT)
6 Player of the day (SWIDT performance)
7 Loose tongue (with SWIDT)
8 You still got it (unreleased song; sung by James Milne and EJ Barnes)
9 Serious in love
10 Mind over Matter
11 Shark Attack (with Jimmy Barnes through Skype)
12 I got you
13 Chameleon days (with SWIDT)
The band: Neil Finn (singing and guitar), Elroy Finn (drums), Finn Scholes (keyboards and trumpet), Delaney Davidson (guitar and lap steel), James Milne (bass and singing) with back-up singers EJ Barnes, Hollie Fullbrook, Amelia, Sandy, Harper Finn and Jimmy Metherell (also guitar).
I quite liked You still got it �� loved the old Split Enz songs tweaked Shark Attack was good considering the delay but I'll have to watch again for the rest. Rap isn't my thing but weather with you I was sold on. Gosh Neil is such a generous soul for allowing Swidit the floor #Itakemyhatof
Guy. posted:And here's today's play list. Guest spots by Swidt and Jimmy Barnes (through Skype). Debut performances of two songs from 'Out of Silence' and another as yet unreleased song (not to be on the new album).
1 Last one standing
2 What's the matter with you
3 Hole in the ice
4 Rest of the day off
5 Weather with you (with SWIDT)
6 Player of the day (SWIDT performance)
7 Loose tongue (with SWIDT)
8 You still got it (unreleased song; sung by James Milne and EJ Barnes)
9 Serious in love
10 Mind over Matter
11 Shark Attack (with Jimmy Barnes through Skype)
12 I got you
13 Chameleon days (with SWIDT)
The band: Neil Finn (singing and guitar), Elroy Finn (drums), Finn Scholes (keyboards and trumpet), Delaney Davidson (guitar and lap steel), James Milne (bass and singing) with back-up singers EJ Barnes, Hollie Fullbrook, Amelia, Sandy, Harper Finn and Jimmy Metherell (also guitar).
Haven't got to watch yet, but already excited! So "You Still Got It" is a Neil song, sung by Lawrence Arabia and EJ? Cool! And Harper is back, wish they would bring Elliot in. Girl had some pipes on the family Christmas show. And still no Sharon? Curious.
Yeah, it's a song written by Neil. He explained a demo recording was played as part of a play list in the studio. The title is supposedly just "Still Got It".
Okay, I've watched, and enjoyed this session. Glad to see that it at least appears that some songs on the new album will be more band-oriented than strings. I think the variety will be welcome, at least to me.
I also don't care for rap, but do like Neil having other artists on these "shows". Just kind of hope the final version of Chameleon Days doesn't include the rap. Nothing against the guys, Neil seems really fond of them, just doesn't appeal to me personally.
While not one of his best, I kind of liked You Still Got It and would love to see it turn up on the next Pajama Club disc sung with Sharon, if that ever happens. Could be that disc's answer to Tell Me What You Want.
I have also enjoyed the takes on non-Silence songs. It would be great if the best of them could be gathered onto a bonus disc version of the album, kind of like was done with the Upstairs disc for Intriguer.
Great idea Steve. I thought the version of Last One Standing was exceptional.
I had to dip in and out of this one, and I'll go pack and enjoy it in full. I was pleasantly surprised to hear some One Nil/All songs. Not 100% sold on the rap version of Weather, but I'm happy to hear a fresh take on it. I'm never a fan of rap crossovers tbh.
Really enjoyed the performance of You Still Got It.
I forget where I grabbed that rap version of WWY with Snoop and Dr Dre, a few years back? At least I was prepared for it. Nice gig, everyone!
And by the way, I fully realize that just because I'm not fond of it doesn't mean it shouldn't be done. If this is a way to pull in some younger fans, go for it, Neil! Just keep giving us great music!
Also not a fan of rap but I appreciated the enthusiasm and it was obvious a good time was had by all. I thought the songs off Try Whistling This and One Nil were particularly rocking! It was great that he played some lesser-played songs. Loose Tongue and Hole in the Ice sounded amazing.
I have my preferences when it comes to rap and hip-hop, I do like some, mostly old school but I just find the marriage of rap/hip-hop with pop/rock/country one of cliche these days. It always feels like an afterthought where the two styles sleep in separate beds. Blending the two must be hard.
I really liked Chameleon Days and hope we hear it without Swidt (although I enjoyed their energy and effort.)
Steve Shealy posted:
While not one of his best, I kind of liked You Still Got It and would love to see it turn up on the next Pajama Club disc sung with Sharon, if that ever happens. Could be that disc's answer to Tell Me What You Want.
I can hear that! My initial thought was Still Got It has an old-timey vibe and I can hear a young couple like Joseph Gordon-Levitt & Zoey Deschanel duetting the song. I wonder if James and EJ might actually get the song. (Does Neil give away songs to other artists?)
Couldn't watch this Friday live as I was on a plane.
Just watched it now and really enjoyed it.
Rap was good on WWY and LT but should just leave it there.
last One Standing was a highlight but I do really love that song.
looking forward to next week!!
Not hugely surprised to see an artist like SWIDT appear. Neil has said that some of the finest lyricists in modern music are rappers- he's clearly a fan of some exponents of the genre.
Ever since I heard this mix I wanted to hear a rap drum mix with Weather With You. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1A4Z2g Crowded House and Dr Dre
I've found a nice little Skype interview about the webcasts with the BBC:
Thanks for this Mika, hope you don't mind I've put it on twitter 
Strange and unfortunate that the session audio in the BBC video plays at the wrong pitch. Neil's voice isn't that deep!
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Some additional reporting & an interview with Neil about the webcasts & album recording with photos of webcast #2. Can't see it posted elsewhere, but apologies if I've managed to overlook it:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entert...reaming-my-new-album
Impressive history behind the studio A mixing desk, and some insight into the inspiration behind "Second Nature" (and that hairnet!)
Kittybear: Of course I don't mind 
The Ligature: That article is a great find, thanks!
Jaffaman posted:Strange and unfortunate that the session audio in the BBC video plays at the wrong pitch. Neil's voice isn't that deep!
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I thought that strange too. Hmmmm..
So will tomorrow be a marathon session? How many songs remain to be recorded?
This month has been a fabulous gift to the fans. Thank you, Team NF!
c.houser posted:So will tomorrow be a marathon session? How many songs remain to be recorded?
Neil said in today's BBC interview they have 3.5 hours, because that's how long they have the orchestra.
He also said on Twitter, they are still recording all 11 songs tomorrow, including the songs released as singles, just in case they can do even better. Then they will choose which versions to include on the finished album.
Confused!!!
When is the webcast?
I thought it Friday not Thursday????
Panics and signs in to a blank screen !!!
Friday New Zealand time - which for many of us is late night tomorrow! Where I live it's at midnight tomorrow.
slowpogo posted:c.houser posted:So will tomorrow be a marathon session? How many songs remain to be recorded?
Neil said in today's BBC interview they have 3.5 hours, because that's how long they have the orchestra.
He also said on Twitter, they are still recording all 11 songs tomorrow, including the songs released as singles, just in case they can do even better. Then they will choose which versions to include on the finished album.
Are they going to broadcast the entire 3.5 hours? I know they've had some "rehearsal time" in previous sessions that was not broadcast.
Steve Shealy posted:slowpogo posted:c.houser posted:So will tomorrow be a marathon session? How many songs remain to be recorded?
Neil said in today's BBC interview they have 3.5 hours, because that's how long they have the orchestra.
He also said on Twitter, they are still recording all 11 songs tomorrow, including the songs released as singles, just in case they can do even better. Then they will choose which versions to include on the finished album.
Are they going to broadcast the entire 3.5 hours? I know they've had some "rehearsal time" in previous sessions that was not broadcast.
Good question...don't know but hopefully anything meaningful is streamed. I'm guessing this time the only thing we won't see is sound check and warming up, that kind of stuff.
slowpogo posted:Good question...don't know but hopefully anything meaningful is streamed. I'm guessing this time the only thing we won't see is sound check and warming up, that kind of stuff.
Update...Neil tweeted that the stream starts one hour before the actual recording begins, so you can actually watch them prepare.
Half an hour early.
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Ahhhh. I tuned in about 10:30am UK time and it says it started streaming 3 hours ago. Is that right?
It started streaming at about 7:30 in the UK, yes.
While the webcast is still going on, I have to say: They are insanely well prepared, everything seems in place, barely a wrong note, the camera work is absolutely outstanding, and Team NF even manage to answer question on the youtube chat... The way they've handled this whole thing is just admirable.
I'm at work so I'm having to have a peek with no sound. 
Oh dear, at least it will be up on Youtube for you to watch afterwards... I'm "working" from home today (not written one word yet, obviously).
We're still streaming on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDSDBG68zHI . We reached Facebook's four hour limit.
Jeremy at Team NF
Just starting to watch, but I must say, I really expected to see some discussion on here about this session. Changes in songs, which versions preferred, new ones debuted, etc. Has no one watched yet, or still digesting?