Amazing job guys! You all killed it, I love those solos and love hearing how those first two songs had a lot of empty space filled with parts that fit like puzzle pieces. Stellar work!
The Kenny G and Chuck Mangione of this era. No, of course it’s not a compliment. Easy-listening schlock with great technique. Except the cringe level is a bit higher than it was for G or Mangione because Wong tries too hard to act cool. Plus, Mangione and G sounded of their times - ‘70s and ‘80s. Wong sounds like their time. Great example of musicianship, but soft pop-fusion is as corny as music can get. His fans will say he’s successful and sells-out venues, therefore I’m wrong; as if music has to be good for it to be successful and appreciated en masse. Bad music sells. The worst music sells the most, arguably, generally speaking. So don’t try to excuse this schmalz with its success. Like it all you want, praise it, just as I don’t have to. Great musicianship, bad songs/music. Somebody had to say it. Okay, nobody HAD to. Wait, yes…someone had to.
I'd normally say it's better to remain silent than be critical, but as a Wong fan who is not bothering with this current tour, I hate to say I agree - every subsequent record is increasingly more technically accomplished, but more and more overproduced, and just fundamentally duller and duller musically. Huge respect to all these musicians for their phenomenal hard work, but where has the soul gone? Is recording with Metropole Orkest now the funk equivalent of jumping the shark?
@ No, the music doesn’t sell because it’s bad. That’s an oversimplification, and “bad” is relative and subjective, of course. It’s bad to me. And what I think is bad is what appeals to the masses. I think 99.9% of what’s on Billboard charts and the like is bad, for example. There are always exceptions. “Accessible” is also relative and depends on context. There’s physically accessible: mass-marketed, industry-standard production. And there is mentally accessible: unchallenging to the listener, overly-derivative and formulaic, unoriginal, lack of creativity, familiar. To the industry, those two things are a mandate for commercial success. Those are the goals of the project. The mass-marketed listener may or may not know this, may not even care. I do care, I do not appreciate those goals and generally do not appreciate those products. When those goals are combined, the chances for commercial success are far greater. I’m not susceptible to either. Not since late adolescence, anyway. And Wong’s offering’s over the last few years have been getting further away from creative, soulful art to formulaic, industry-standard, easy-listening, commercial entertainment. If you or others like it, good for you all. But I don’t, and that’s why.
funk always brings happiness,thats for sure
Oh the bass is insane!! I love everything!
bass sounds omg !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Drums sound awesome in that room.
I love watching Kevin play. Petar- the solo that made it in the video was killer, the other take must've been insane 😂
Holy crap that mix though... 🔥
Thank you Cory Wong! I so very appreciate what you bring to our musical experience in life! I share your amazing contribution daily ! :)
give big bonuses to mixing engineers!!!!!
Yohannes, damn!! 🙌
Amazing job guys! You all killed it, I love those solos and love hearing how those first two songs had a lot of empty space filled with parts that fit like puzzle pieces. Stellar work!
I love this band, I love ebmm
Amazing video. Thank you to all involved!
feels so weird to see cory so laidback and not running off of a 9V battery like always 😭😭 hope he comes to bangalore India on his tour next year
He uses active pickups?
@@Ottophil i meant in the sense how he's so active in all his performances 😭 he uses Seymour Duncans tho
Laid back funk also have its own merit.
Ohhhhhh!! Gotcha. So energizer bunny type shit. I won't lie, that threw me off too, but you _are_ right!
That’s an amazing fender commercial. I definitely want to buy that Strat
Amazing melodies
There’s something very lovely about the mix on this. Yohannes more punchy? Crystal clear Petar? Warmer Cory?
It’s a Cory Wong mix - but more
Transcended Cory mix
Soft launch of Adam McPhail in the band rotation?? Recently found him through Petar's Uncle Bronco, great player!
DAMN. Crushing. 🔨
Tasty.....TasTy,,,,,TAS-TY !!! Damn I love me these guys !! Cheers !!
Not the dry mix Cory usually favours, but I love it.
That team sports bass is like pulling spaghetti outa wet paint, just drippin!
Oooooooh!!! So slap guitar is on the rise!!!
Or am I just late? 😅
Cory hit that there thang with the Abraham LORIEL!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Sheeeeeeesh
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
4:57 So funky, it glitched
4th wall funk
Sounds MASSIVE! Love that bass tone. What strings are on the bass?
Uncle bronco
Ronaldinho on bass
7:25 😜
Gosh this is loud asf !!
The Kenny G and Chuck Mangione of this era. No, of course it’s not a compliment. Easy-listening schlock with great technique. Except the cringe level is a bit higher than it was for G or Mangione because Wong tries too hard to act cool. Plus, Mangione and G sounded of their times - ‘70s and ‘80s. Wong sounds like their time. Great example of musicianship, but soft pop-fusion is as corny as music can get. His fans will say he’s successful and sells-out venues, therefore I’m wrong; as if music has to be good for it to be successful and appreciated en masse. Bad music sells. The worst music sells the most, arguably, generally speaking. So don’t try to excuse this schmalz with its success. Like it all you want, praise it, just as I don’t have to. Great musicianship, bad songs/music. Somebody had to say it. Okay, nobody HAD to. Wait, yes…someone had to.
I'd normally say it's better to remain silent than be critical, but as a Wong fan who is not bothering with this current tour, I hate to say I agree - every subsequent record is increasingly more technically accomplished, but more and more overproduced, and just fundamentally duller and duller musically. Huge respect to all these musicians for their phenomenal hard work, but where has the soul gone? Is recording with Metropole Orkest now the funk equivalent of jumping the shark?
You make some interesting analogies. Any examples of new stuff that particularly floats your boat?
@ Well said, “where has the soul gone?”
Interesting. So the music sells because it's bad? Is it impossible for good music to be easily accessible?
@ No, the music doesn’t sell because it’s bad. That’s an oversimplification, and “bad” is relative and subjective, of course. It’s bad to me. And what I think is bad is what appeals to the masses. I think 99.9% of what’s on Billboard charts and the like is bad, for example. There are always exceptions. “Accessible” is also relative and depends on context. There’s physically accessible: mass-marketed, industry-standard production. And there is mentally accessible: unchallenging to the listener, overly-derivative and formulaic, unoriginal, lack of creativity, familiar. To the industry, those two things are a mandate for commercial success. Those are the goals of the project. The mass-marketed listener may or may not know this, may not even care. I do care, I do not appreciate those goals and generally do not appreciate those products. When those goals are combined, the chances for commercial success are far greater. I’m not susceptible to either. Not since late adolescence, anyway. And Wong’s offering’s over the last few years have been getting further away from creative, soulful art to formulaic, industry-standard, easy-listening, commercial entertainment. If you or others like it, good for you all. But I don’t, and that’s why.