Candi Staton: An Appreciation Axl Rose: Taking Questions, Taking Names

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No. 53: T-Pain, “Thr33 Ringz”

Suppose, if you were of radio-listening age in 1963, you disliked the productions of Phil Spector. Say you believed him to make all the singers on his records sound the same, and that in any case Dean Martin or Bukka White represented real music. With hindsight, would you not say that you were on the wrong side of history?


If you don’t like T-Pain now, you will be on the wrong side of history later. I don’t like Thr33 Ringz as much as I like last year’s Epiphany. But I’m sure that T-Pain’s wicked Autotune habit will sound better in five years than Spector’s often indistinct Wall of Sound method does to me now. In any case, Autotune only enhances T-Pain’s proclivity toward spiraling melodies: his grasp of harmony and song structure is one that no studio gimmickry can yet manufacture.

More importantly, he’s the most likable guy in pop music since, I dunno, Phil Collins? Grohl? The Biz? The likes of “Long Lap Dance” reveals that he knows the lengths a fellow can go to stretch a dollar at the club. Almost alone in the current hip-hop/R&B diaspora, T-Pain is there for the rest of us.

“Can’t Believe It” (ft. Lil Wayne) video [Dailymotion]
T-Pain [MySpace]
80 ‘08 (and Heartbreak)

 
By anonocritic at 10:00 AM on Tue Dec 16 2008
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  • Anono-Critic

    "anono-critic = idolator's autotune?"


    fuckin' A right, my good man!

  • Anonymous

    @Lucas Jensen:


    agreed.


    i really won't mind if i'm on the wrong side of history. autotune really doesn't seem to be as groundbreaking as spector's wall-of-sound. sure, it has pop music in a stranglehold just the same, but i think we'll look back on this period and laugh, not long for an autotune revival. it's a novelty.


    anono-critic = idolator's autotune?

  • Rock You Like An Iracane

    @Maciej: You want Khaled doing dumb things?


    Try him acting out "Out Here Grindin'":


  • Anthony Miccio

    Wait, Phil Collins is likable?

  • Mike P.

    ...you will be on the wrong side of history later.

    Don't knock it 'till you try it! :)

  • Anonymous

    The "Karaoke" video is maybe my favorite of the year, maybe just for Khaled yelling at old people.


  • Lucas Jensen

    While I like T-Pain, I'm not sure that Autotune will sound better than the Wall of Sound in five years. That's a pretty bold statement. I like that you made it, but, uh, I'll still take "Spanish Harlem" any day.

  • silkyjumbo

    boo, me. try this:

  • silkyjumbo

    i want to argue this selection, but truth be told, t-pain's musical ear is pretty strong. it's what wins me over.


    i think this song is a better example of his harmonies. also, you gotta love how he drags glitch-pop out of the mothballs of the late 90's and onto the charts.


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