Another vocal exercise
 

Someone posted a bunch of videos on YouTube showcasing Jon's vocals by removing the instruments. I've seen a bunch of these done before in the past but not from the most recent albums. I just listed to two songs, one from 1986 and one from 2009 just to compare the studio differences. To be honest, they actually matched up pretty well. You could definitely hear some auto-tune in the '09 chorus but I was actually surprised. It's not the world of difference that I was expecting.

Take a listen for yourself... curious to get other opinions.

Looking to rate:
Tone
Strength
Range

We Weren't Born To Follow:

Never Say Goodbye:

NSG has beautiful, warm harmonizing between Jon and Richie. Born to follow has robot Jon and robot Richie exchanging binary codes in the form of vocal melodies. It sounds so disgusting it makes me want to stick a fork in my ear.

NSG is vocally much more demanding than Born to, but Jon could still muster up a nice, passionate rasp back in '09. Though it's cluttered in echo, unlike the NSG vocal.

Thanks Lampinen. That was the exact type of response i was looking for. I really don't have an ear for these things and I need someone to break it down for me.

Yes, I think the rasps are making me hear the similarities.

Is there a robotic thing going on during the verses too on '09?

I need to hear a vocal from '02, before Shanks to really compare.

There are multi tracks from both Bounce and This Left Feels Right. The isolated vocals sound far less processed than since Shanks got involved.

I can sense in the future albums the vocals will be even MORE overproduced and compressed if this is what the producers and engineers have to work with:

I can't help but laugh at how tragically bad this is.

That sounds so horrible that I just have to laugh.

The greatest difference between the two examples is the breathing. On NSG Jon seems to effortlessly singing the phrases and high notes without any trouble, but WWBTF is a patch job of about million different takes and he still sounds out of breath. Not to mention the range...

Ice

How does a singer forget how to breathe properly? It's not like he is out of shape, and he's constantly touring, so he should be in "touring mode" constantly. What gives?

Agreed. And if the story is true and WWBTF was the last song recorded for The Circle, he shouldn't sound like he hasn't sung in months.

Like others, I laughed.

That is awful, and it comes from one of the worlds greatest ever front men. It´s indefensible in my opinion.