Newsline: The A Cappella Book

By Mike Chin on January 28, 2012 in Newsline

The A Cappella Blog will publish The A Cappella Book this fall! We are currently raising funds to make the project a reality. People who invest in our Kickstarter campaign can earn exceptional rewards, including:

-advance copies of the book
-autographed copies of the book
-personalized critiques of your group
-getting a whole chapter of the book devoted to you or your group
-appearing on the cover of the book
-and much more!

The book itself will include chapters on singing solos, arranging music, vocal percussion, recording, competing, networking, and more. You can get all of the details and make your contribution here: [LINK]

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The 5s: Five ICCA Quarterfinals to Keep an Eye on in 2012

By Mike Chin on January 27, 2012 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. In this edition, we’re gearing up for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which kicks off this Saturday in St. Louis. We present to you (in chronological order) Five ICCA quarterfinals to keep an eye on in 2012.

1. January 28, Washington University of St. Louis The ICCA season is slated to kick off with a serious bang at WashU. This quarterfinal will include perennial ICCA threats like University of Illinois No Strings Attached and University of Minnesota 7 Days. In addition, those in attendance will hear the reigning Midwest ICCA champions, The Stereotypes, at home as they begin to defend their regional crowns and set their sights on a return trip to the biggest stage in collegiate a cappella—the ICCA Finals. The twist in our story? A little all-male outfit from Nebraska known as Rocktavo. The group competed in its first year in existence back in 2007 and not only won the ICCA Midwest, but placed second in The Finals. Now, the guys return to the tournament for the first time since that debut year. The entire group should have turned over by now, but the institutional memory should remain, which likely means we’re in for an opening round shoot-out wild, wild (mid)west.

The Unauthorized History of the Acapocalypse – Part 4

By Mike Chin on January 27, 2012 in The Unauthorized History of the Acapocalypse

Every a cappella group has a story. In this unique, episodic, narrative feature we will trace the formation and first, tumultuous year in the history of the fictional Acapocalypse.

The Acapocalypse hadn’t been able to secure a lecture hall for auditions like The Grand Standers did. In truth, without membership as an official student organization—which apparently took at least a semester, and usually a full year of waiting—they were hard pressed to secure any space at all. Amanda ended up brokering a deal through a girl in her philosophy class who was an RA. Josh hadn’t even known the school had residence halls, much less RAs, but was grateful for small favors. They secured a lounge space with a big whiteboard and a piano, which seemed pretty ample by that point.

And so, the two of them headed over early rearranged all of the couches and set up shop. After three weeks of communicating over Facebook and Gmail, the audition itself marked the first time Josh actually saw Amanda since graduation night, months before.

The 5s: Five Songs to Convince a Non-Believer

By Mike Chin on January 26, 2012 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. We recognize some of you are looking to recruit new a cappella fans to join you for an upcoming ICCA quarterfinal. We’ve got your hook up. In this edition, we’re gearing up for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which kicks off this Saturday in St. Louis, and presenting you with five songs to convince a non-believer to that a cappella is cool.

Hit them with the bad boys of collegiate a cappella…

“Through With You” by Rutgers University Casual Harmony, Spring 2005

… come at them with the drama…

“Crazy Ever After” by The University of Southern California SoCal VoCals, Spring 2010

The ACB ICCA Drinking Game - Updated for 2012

By Mike Chin on January 25, 2012 in Newsline

With the ICCAs kicking off this weekend, we consider an alternative way to enjoy the shows ahead. Please note that the ICCA Drinking Game is intended for entertainment purposes only. We do not encourage or condone irresponsible drinking or any consumption of alcohol that violates local laws or college/host facility policies. If you're going to play this game, we recommend you use soft drinks.

TAKE A DRINK WHENEVER YOU HEAR:
-someone blow a pitchpipe.
-a group sing the syllable "jigga."
-you hear a vocal percussionist use the sound "boom-chicka," "doom-chicka" or some variant thereof.
-a dude sings in a falsetto.
-a group counts off before starting a song.

The Run Off Results: "Animal"

By Mike Chin on January 25, 2012 in The Run Off

Across the country, and, indeed, around the world, there are numerous a cappella groups who have stumbled upon the very same songs to perform. In some cases it may just be a popular song of the moment. In others, it might be a unique album track that a number of music aficionados agree it might be neat to make their group’s own. Still yet, there are times when a song is just easy to arrange and is, therefore, subject to constant covering.

Whatever the case may be, in The Run Off, The A Cappella Blog brings together three to five different renderings of the same song, and, in the name of sharing different visions, and for the sake of friendly competition, puts them side by side for readers to vote for their favorites. Please feel free to post your rationale in the comments section. Winners will be announced three weeks after the polling begins.

In the most recent edition of The Run Off, we took a look at “Animal.”

The 5s: What To Do and What to Avoid in the ICCAs

By Mike Chin on January 24, 2012 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. In this edition, we’re gearing up for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which kicks off this Saturday in St. Louis. We present to you Five Points to Avoid in the ICCAs and Five Keys to Success in the ICCAs.

Five Points to Avoid in the ICCAs

1. Don’t imitate. YouTube is the devil. Now that virtually every winning ICCA set from the past year is online, it’s tempting to look up every past success story, mold your set after it, and expect the same results. The thing is, champions aren’t made based on any individual song selection, choreography choice, or arrangement—they are built upon the gestalt of these factors, and tailoring them to the precise talents of the group at hand. Groups that try to emulate what others have done before saddle themselves with the disadvantages of drawing immediate comparisons, and limiting themselves to, at best, a Xerox of the original. Regardless of the quality of your photocopier, that copy will never shine quite as bright.

CD Review The Octopodes Code Blue

By Mike Chin on January 23, 2012 in CD Reviews

So often, when strong live a cappella groups hit the studio, they leave behind the sheer gusto for performance that they ordinarily exhibit on stage, in favor of pristine tuning and effects. One of the most refreshing elements about Code Blue, the latest offering from The Johns Hopkins University Octopodes, is that the group brings its flair for drama straight into the CD for a finished product on which the group never sounds as though its phoning in a song, but rather like they’re attacking every note.

Indeed, emotion is the key hook for this album. The best example is an inspired cover of The Script’s “Breakeven,” in which the solo positively rips through verse after verse, while still somehow retaining enough umph to get progressively bigger on every chorus. The track is a case study in both intensity and control that really kicks the CD, on the whole, into gear. The group’s takes on “Uprising” and “The Clock” demonstrate similar vigor, compelling listeners through a real sense of urgency in the music.