Is Jacob Collier The Best We've Got?!
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- Опубліковано 26 лип 2023
- Today I'm reacting to Jacob Collier's latest song WELLLL. Jacob has been on my radar for a while now but I haven't reacted to any of his work before. He is considered one of the most talented musicians of his generations, being a multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer and also songwriter for other artists. Is here any one else quite like him in the industry right?
You can watch @jacobcollier's music video for WELLLL in full here: • Jacob Collier - WELLLL...
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If you are in Europe or USA you better come and see me singing on stage LIVE with The Darkness!! Well...you can actually do what you want, BUT I'd still like to see you there: www.thedarknesslive.com/tour-dates/
I want to do that, but my current economy keeps me away from travel outside Spain, but i swear you that if The Darkness comes here i will go until it be in Bilbao...which is the other extreme in the map of my city (800km) 😉❤️
we'd like to see you in Texas, but alas...did someone piss in your sopapillas last time?
Hey Justin. Love to hear what you think of Lovebites.
Speaking of The Darkness.... any chance of getting all the boys together on your channel for the 20th Anniversary? It would be awesome to see you all just hanging out shooting the sh1t about the past couple of decades.
Love what you do... keep it up😁👍
See you again and the boys in Glasgow later this year mate!
He is a guy who can do everything, knows more about music than i ever will or could, but every song of his sounds like a musical excerise rather than a good song in its own right.
In your opinion.
Have you heard his whole discography? I beg to differ for many of his songs on Djesse Vol. 3
I strongly disagree with regards to this track. Plenty of others, sure, especially his early work. But this? "Make Me Cry"? "It Don't Matter"? "In Too Deep"? "All Night Long"? "Ocean Wide, Canyon Deep"? "Lua"? Plenty of his music is complex without being forbidding.
i agree
@@murup4R4To quote Christopher Hitchens. "Guess who's saying it? That's a very clever thing to say ... would you prefer I uttered your opinion? What a fatuous remark."
So glad to hear you mention Louis Cole. That dude is a musical genius and I think he's actually an alien. He's a huge influence for me and I wish he could lay down some drums for my tunes!
So glad to see someone comment on this! Louis is just as much of a genius, just at the other end of the gritty/clinical scale to Jacob :)
Louis Cole is an example of how you can massive amounts of technical musical ability on many instruments, and a huge fucking in depth understanding of music theory and use it so make harmonically interesting and sonically complex tunes that are actually stobe-cold fucking bangers as well.
Louis Cole!
i loved the interview he did with the patreon guy where he opened up about his "flaws" and how he worked around them
for example how he feltlike he didn't have a sophisticated enough foot for soft bassdrumming like some jazz players could, so he made a decision on doubling down on just ramming it down all the way instead which kind of paved the way for the more electronic music kind of beats he does on acoustic lol
gives a real good insight into his method
and yeah louis cole understands fucking dirt and filth alright, lol clown core is fucking amazing
he has a good understanding of gritty drum & bass that would be done electronically in britain back in the day too lol
Went to see Makhia McCraven play, and he was the opener for Louis Cole, who I knew nothing about. What an unexpected surprise 🎉!
My friend looked at me and said she felt we just crashed a dance party!😂 such a great show! My only complaint was that I wish the sound guy would have cleaned up the vocals. They were hard to understand since I was not familiar with the songs.
He is amazing live. I don’t find myself listening to his recorded music much but his live show is amazing. So much energy and talent from Jacob and his band.
Yeah same, live was miles better
Agreed. I love his records but his live shows are another level
Agreed. I feel like he has yet to properly capture in the studio the energy he brings live
What's funny is that I remember when he first got some fame online for his videos, people were wondering how he could possibly be as good live as he was recorded. Now the narrative has reversed haha
Live was amazing
I like that his infinite positive energy allowed for a bit of heaviness this time around. I sometimes wish for a bit of brokenness and aching flaws in his music...this comes closer to that.
You are so fun and you are a genius as well - I love when you spontaneously come out with references (in this case, how quickly you say that riff sounds like Living Color or something like that).... Anyway, love your videos, attitude, intelligence, humor, all if it and appreciate all I learn from you. Cheers.
Watching this genuinely brought much joy. Then, when I clocked the t-shirt, the smile grew even wider. Absolute class, Sir.
His tiny desk concert was what hooked me, saw him live after that. Amazing musician for musicians. It's indeed a niche, but not everything needs to appeal to everyone.
I just love watching you pull apart a song. It is so fascinating watching how you hear a song, so differently from me, as in I don't notice half the stuff you do. What you hear is impressive. You're a LEGEND Justin! Nuff said.
Yep!
Apropos of nothing, do not EVER stop playing your theme song live. It's so good.
Rufus Wainwright rip off 😂
I see you Stewart Lee.
I'd still love to hear a Picardy third at the end of it, just once!
I had never heard of this artist until now. He reminds me a bit of Matt Mahaffey (Self). I never knew of Ren until you spoke of him. You have an amazing way of featuring the best, most unique artists while subtly displaying your own uniqueness. You’re great, Justin. ❤️
I lost my absolute mind with this new track!! Goddd I hope this is what we can expect for the next album bc I am so ready
I feel like the genre he plays in is "trained"
It's so contrived and constructed. Like an impressive building.
He is clearly capable and well studied
It's hard to critique without sounding like a hater. But his vibe so polished and clean...not my cup of tea
Its sounds like that because he has so much at his disposal but I’m pretty sure he could create whatever he hears in his head instantly. He seems to be as free with musical inspiration as anyone.
perfect comment.
Very well said. Thsi is exactly how I feel about jacob collier as well. I feel like there is some sort of contrast or friction missing, which most of us experience in life.
That’s probably the best way to sum it up for people aren’t interesting in his music, I think there’s a fine line between liking and appreciating something
Exactly how I feel. I don't care if it's "smart" or whatever. It's so sterile to my ears.
I loved his tiny desk concert at home in 2020. Recording all the 4 or so parts and layering them. Crazy
I appreciated when he explains music in a new way. He said that any melody note can sit on top of any bassline, and you can decide what goes in between that to make that melody note have the feeling you want. It really changed how I view music all over again, and to be less afraid to get down and dirty with harmony.
Holy shit this is wholesome. I didn’t know you had a UA-cam page.
You’re the one voice I will remember from the 2000s and that’s saying a lot cuz there were alot of crazy good voices in the aughts.
His Glasto '23 performance with the whole 'crowd choir' thing was also brilliant
imogen heap has been doing crowd harmonies since 2010 and is also a musical genius, just sayin
@@kimbliboo she definitely is that
This feels like it could be AI. Technically perfect but hollow
Hollow is the word, no soul, just notes
yep, also his voice freaks me out, its like kermit is yawning and singing at the same time.
Yes I think lots feel the same. Many others have been hypnotised with the he's the best thing since sliced bread critics. In reality his music is bland.
'he wont hold you' is great. especially the version that he did at his house for some 'at home show'
He’s amazing! Saw him at the Blue Note in NYC back in 2017 and was blown away! His organisation of the crowd to be a choir is worth a look too! He’s a genius. Watch him playing with Snarky Puppy on Family Dinner 2 as well - sensational!
Back at the Blue Note NYC with Chris Thile October 2022...
ua-cam.com/video/wiCI6KEnh-M/v-deo.html
Thank you for the cool review and content. My 3rd Hawkins video watch and I've subscribed.
He's incredibly talented, but I have yet to hear a song of his that I enjoy.
There doesn't seem to be any life experience in his music, so he's really not got much to say. His music smells a little too much of privilege and juliard so to speak. That said, if he changed his lifestyle to be more rugged, allowed himself to be taught by people 'outside the prep school culture' and got involved in a project with the right leadership, he could certainly be a solid member of a cool musical ensemble!
@genericusername2783 I think the chances of that happening are nil unfortunately. He's too well known and the is the industry darling. His name is too big to take a collaborative job
Wow!! Then you need to listen to Djesse volumes 1 and 2 now! Djesse volume 2 is especially beautiful and full of gorgeously written music.
@@whitherandthitheryou need to listen to Djesse volume 2 immediately!
@@whitherandthither He needs his heart broken into bits or life needs to punch him straight in the teeth. I don't mean this in a nasty way, but I'd love to hear what kinda songs he writes after this happens.
His set at Glastonbury went largely unnoticed, but if you wanted to see an artist bursting with the joy of music then just watch it. He actually played the audience as an instrument at one point, absolutely stunning.
Are you sure you saw Collier? Tedious tripe!
He’s not for me. I prefer Marc Rebillet.
@@stukavonferno8858 'Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine'
He was running around the stage like an overactive toddler with ADHD not sure what instrument to play. A few crashes on a cymbal, some chords on a piano, a few notes on the bass, then running across the stage in his bare feet. He might have perfect pitch and be able to get a tune out of anything he lays his hands on but is he a great artist?
@@nick326697 wow, i bet you're fun at parties!
It was hard for me to get into him at first but after giving it time and more and more listens, i really enjoy his music.
He's great. I think he really writes some wacky stuff which puts people off because they want easy listening (he has a bunch of easy listening bangers too). I for one respect his inventiveness a lot and the guy undeniably knows his stuff.. seems like he writes for himself and it's from the heart.. rather than to appeal to anybody in particular - so makes sense why some people arent ready for that. Still the grammys speak for themselves!
I agree and disagree :) theres easy listening tiktok-music and theres complex music. Then there's the maximalist/minimalist dimension also. What i sometimes find off-putting about Jacob Collier is the amount of juice he tries to squeeze out of a song, not leaving out much space for silence. There's a sort of musical/harmonic inflation to it if you will. That being said, hes also beyond awesome!
That’s a really interesting comment - there’s rarely room given to pause in Jacib’s compositions.
If I’m honest a lot of the micro harmonies he writes go over my head.
If music was a sport Jacob would probably get 1st place... Is it a sport though? I'd say, no. You could argue that music is something LIKE a sport (to some people anyways)... but the sport-like qualities of it would be lower on the list of its highest purposes... and for someone like Jacob (of which there are very few "like him"),, there's this sense that with all that ability, I find myself wishing he'd use it more obviously for and more often for those highest of purposes (like other geniuses clearly have before him - fill in the blank with any number of musical geniuses who's musical works are what's adored first and foremost, not just their abilities - whether it be Bach or Thomas Newman or Herbie or Stevie or Thom Yorke even)..... but even I don't think my opinion about this is very important at all. Jacob is doing Jacob, and THAT is fine by me! He's just an interesting person to use as a jumping off point for thought.
And so with music... .and it being treating kind of as a sport.... I guess it depends on how you come at it... I suppose music can be anything anyone can make it into... and from what I've heard, Jacob makes music that makes me think about his talent and skill instantly.... and the best music (in my opinion) tends to make us think about LIFE... emotion... gives us something to both think and feel that's connected to the human experience, not the music experience... when music makes you think about the musician or the music itself, it's a sign that something is a bit off I think... I don't know... or maybe what he does just isn't for me:), which of course is fine!... but it really gets me thinking about it all...
Often when I hear Jacob's music it has a kind of exhibitionism to it.... a self-consciousness... it's too aware of itself... he's clearly having fun... and that part is cool... but I think all of that perceptual and imaginative genius he has seems to cloud up or drown out (or maybe crowd out?) the thing I come to music for the most... and for all the amazingness and incredible layers of layers of layers that Jacob crams into his music, it leaves me feeling very little other than a vague awe that is actually pretty disconnecting.... when I hear music that has that inexplicable special thing, I feel a connection... to something beyond the music... that the music carries or facilitates...... he hits that spot every now and then, but all too often right when he hits it, he leaves it......... he has these moments, but they're crowded or not recognized as more meaningful than the others. I'k sure his mind has trouble prioritizing things in such a way as to make it connect with those without his talent... genius can be alienating in this way.
For all the genius he has, his covers are (to me) still just lesser versions of the originals... he turns amazing songs into jungle gyms that he monkeys around on... not making them better but making them into an object to drape his genius upon.... which is a little.... I don't know, annoying?.... sometimes it's fun, I guess.... and fun is good.... but it just reminds me that there many forms of musical genius.... the breadth and width of his has something about it that makes the resulting music sound like you put the cuisines of 15 cultures into a blender and served it up assuming that because they're all good individually that mixing them together must be even better!!!.... I suppose I like prefer a more emotive/expressionistic genius that facilitates some kind of transcendence, where the music is just the mechanism, not the end unto itself (though I've made music like that for sure----and there isn't a hard line between the two, nor a right or wrong way to make or use music!)..... hmm.... for some reason I guess when you encounter genius like that you wonder "what would I do with all that?"... or "what SHOULD be done with all that?"... and I don't even know if those are good questions.
It's a subjective thing FOR SURE.... some people love his music (a lot of people)... and to me, that means it has value.... so I'm just pontificating and sharing an opinion.... because it's an interesting topic to me...... and even my opnion is subjective, but there's a layer of objectivity in it... as the saying goes "the exception proves the rule".... Jacob is an exceptional musician who, more often than not, proves that being musically impressive and exceptional isn't the highest level use of musical artistry... to me... and I think, objectively to others too.... Jacob is more known for (and talked about) relative to his genius than his actual songs.... which says something...
Hmm... It makes me wonder if I'm jealous at all... for over 3 decades I've worked super hard to be "good" at what I do... and some of that effort was wasted (especially early in life) at efforts to have an impressive skillset... sort of an ego based thing in some ways... but there's the other part of it: all the efforts I put in to learn how to make music a language I could use to express my inner experience.... and that was time totally not wasted... I believe the highest form of musical genius is when someone has both an incredible technical and perceptual ability AND uses it to express this higher transcendent thing through composition, improvisation, or the nuance of performance...
Jacob is having fun being awesome and he's a light in the world, and he's strikingly humble too, which is so so cool. It makes me wonder what music he would make (or will make) if/when he NEEDS to make music because he can't find the fun... when he needs music as a life-line... maybe that's presumptuous.... maybe he has made music from this place and I just haven't heard it... or, again, it's just not for me... Jacob's talent makes him a lightning rod.... and I don't wanna dehumanize him with all this; he's still a human being... and I appreciate and respect him... don't mean to objectify him.... but I guess maybe I have! Sorry Jacob... but you make me think about the meaning of music and the value of talent and skill and what it all means.... and maybe that's more what his music means to be; it's a starting point for larger conversations..... and by his music I see other music more for what it is! I don't know. I'm tired. - ok, bye.
@@adamwattsmusic Theres nothing stopping you from making music the way you described though. He's just making it the way he wants
@@BobGnarley. well, there might be something stopping me - a lack of sufficient talent haha - but that doesn't mean I don't or haven't tried (and both successes and failed at the efforts).... I've made lots of music, and continue to... my points are parallel and perpendicular to the one you just made... I find it interesting to think about this stuff.... does talent come with any kind of moral or ethical responsibility? It's similar to the question of, does wealth come with responsibility? Or intellect? Seems to me that Jacob isn't only doing what he wants, he's also doing what he feels he should as well... he's got a generous spirit about him... he teaches... he encourages other musicians...
I can't speak for ALL your fans, but I for one am very much looking forward to The Darkness: Voluminous Trousers tour
Yes, but girls just wanna get catsuits! 😂
@@raquelsnt and boys!
@@JustinHawkinsRidesAgain 😂😂😂😂😂
Voluminous Cat Suit tour...
@@JustinHawkinsRidesAgain you could go for the compromise - one voluminous leg, one tight legging.
I love him, but my partner also says his voice sounds a little clinical
But the voice game he does is cool
I love Jacob Collier's music. Every song is packed with these magical details. It's so fun to explore how densely packed these songs are. He is also superb live. If you ever get the chance to see him perform, you simply must!
That's exactly the reason many people (including me) don't click with his music. Too busy, too complex, layers over layers. I'd love him to be as minimalistic as he is a virtuoso.
@@davidgildegomezperez4364 yuup agree.. its sounds like someone who is very organized and follows the "rules" of music trying to be spontaneous. I can hear the thinking going on through out every one of his songs. Imagine Jacob makes a song that his actually pushes himself to his limits and it sounds like the song can fall off the track at any moment but it doesnt. Hes a super skilled musician so he plays in his comfort zone at lot.. just how I feel about his stuff, Great musician.. boooooring music.
@davidgildegomezperez4364 I get you. Outside of a handful of songs, most of his music is very maximalist. I love it because I find it's very rewarding to listen to time and time again, but I think for some people the excess can be exhausting. I think maybe 'Time to Rest Your Weary Head' and 'The Sun is in Your Eyes' are his most stripped back songs.
If I was to recommend a live performance, try searching 'In The Real Early Morning BBC Proms'. I think maybe this would show a more vulnerable side of Jacob than maybe some are used to hearing.
@@AToolyTime it is more difficult to be minimalistic. Simple songs that generate a lot of emotions, for example "We Will Rock You" by Queen, are very difficult to come by. It is relatively easy to pretend to be interesting by just adding layers of complexity.
@davidgildegomezperez4364 I don't really agree with that, to be honest. I think both forms can be easy and difficult in their own right.
It is hard to balance a maximalist song, the dynamic range, and complexity without compromising clarity and emotion. Especially when you're flirting with ideas that are idiosyncratic. Likewise, a minimalistic song is difficult because it requires a good hook, lyrics, or musicianship to carry out the simplicity or maintain prolonged interest over repetition.
I would wager most songs favour more tried and true forms of song-writing but offer plenty of emotional weight. Especially in pop and rock.
Sir Justin of the Hawkins upon Surrey by way of Chertsey, you make every day better for me. 441k subs and growing. You've no doubt saved a few lives by your works. Light unto you, as light shines brightest amidst THE DARKNESS!
New to the channel but been catching up on tons of vids and I love the intro, gotta be the best intro on UA-cam
His next lebel abilities and understanding of music is beyond question. Ive never been so astonished by someones abilities, but left so cold by their music. ("Musician" here btw)
Edit: Louis Cole has similar musical knowledge and multi instrumental ability, but makes absolute fucking bangers.
I agree. There are people with far less musical ability or knowledge than Jacob that, in my opinion, make much better (or more listenable) music. I’ve always been baffled by him.
That's really interesting cause I like Louis Cole but I don't think his music is half as interesting as Jacob's.
@@patchworkpants - I'll take "good" over "interesting". 😄 Sorry, total troll comment.
Yeah Louis Cole definitely has more interesting ideas than Jacob, even if on initial listen both of their music just doesn't grab you. While Jacob's just stays grounded in complexity, Louis' takes off and grows on you.
@@floatingdisembodiedhead8975 I agree. Louis Cole's music is off-putting only by stylistic choice lol.
He’s technically incredible in so many musical avenues, and I’ve never really had his tunes get tied to my emotions and the point in my life I’m at- but he talks about playing music how I’ve always felt about playing music (in a way that I could never convey). Seeing him just talk and jam with Herbie Hancock gave me incredible amounts of respect for him.
I only just discovered him on here. No idea why I didn't get his music before, but his older songs are also fantastic. I've got the feeling I found him through George Collier who frequently does funny transcriptions of awesome solos, and I actually confused the two for a while, but they're really very different people. Maybe George Collier did a video about Jacob Collier? I don't know. Either way, he's amazing.
George is unrelated to Jacob, but in his early days most of his videos were Jacob transcriptions.
When I first heard Wellll! I thought it sounded like an XTC song (not a bad thing). I love Jacob Collier immensely - he really is a tremendous talent, and his music almost always has an ‘oh my!’ moment within it. However, I enjoy Louis Cole’s music a lot more - also a multi-instrumentalist, but a bit more narly, and with a real sense of groove, which sometimes Jacob’s music lacks. I’ve read somewhere though that they’ve played together? I’d love to see a full-on collab between these two!
Interesting! I like both too but find Cole is a human metronome while Collier is way more playful with time/swing. They have jammed together - saw it on YT! Peace!
The jam was quite some time ago: ua-cam.com/video/xRk8odHY4ZE/v-deo.html
I listened to JC's albums and found them "interesting" yet hardly memorable and after trying two times I'd had enough. I do not expect any of his music to last.
Louis Cole I can't get enough of, been to a concert recently hearing some new music. In a hundred years I expect him to be regarded as one of the great composers of the 21st century. Like Stevie Wonder quality.
Perhaps he’s trying to break the stylistic mould on rock dress code. Like a hardcore Timmy Mallet.
😂
Not exactly. He's just being himself. He talks a little about his style in his Rolling Stone UK interview. Basically he likes chaotic, colorful, and comfortable clothes.
Shout out to Louis Cole at the end! Nice as always Justin. Wish I could attend your upcoming show! Have fun as I know you will!
Thanks for that, Justkins! Jacob Collier is a once in a generation talent...period!
I've just gone about halfway down the Jacob Collier rabbit hole. Holy FXXK he is so diverse and his harmonies are so dense and complex his arrangements are mindblowing I cant get enough of him. Thanks Justin.
I’m hearing Yes and Queen mixed with George Martin and a choir, flavoured by hints of the wild and youthful Mozart… kind of a musical chop suey. The live shows look like a good time!! 😊
Complete with endless comments of "too many notes."😂
The fact that you list Jacob collier and Louis cole as the musicians of our time makes me respect you even more. You really know what’s good
Your clog point is spot on, he actually uses the WELLLL riff for the ad for his new line of crocs, which are the ones he wears in the vid.
Jacob just clearly has all the signs of being ahead of his time. The way he clearly isn't concerned with the heavy ego opinions that tried to hinder him and still follow him around, the contemporaries unabashedly giving him his roses over and over, the lifestyle and talent that build a single minded focus honed over a lifetime.
I am reminded of the Stem player Kanye released. One day, I bet every stereo will have the ability to isolate stems, and people who grow used to that level of customization will go back over Jacobs tracks a million different ways and it will almost be like he was among the first to have so many great versions that you could hear great renditions of his songs through multiple listens. Imagine having the stem analyzer on your stereo replay the same album for you with randomized stems from each track enabled, disabled, mixed to different levels for focus, jacob's tracks are like a huge audible rainbow. Just watching him break down his recording sessions it's obvious his songs could have a million versions of themselves within themselves and that is truly ahead of it's time.
The vocals initially reminded me of Close to The Edge, yes by Yes.
don't you ever disrespect YES like that ever again. pure blasphemy. YES is actual godly music. Jacob is pure cringe
❤😂 love the channel
Hey Justin, I'd love to hear more about your process when you wrote the Grace's Amazing Machines intro, my kid loves that show and the second I heard you singing I knew it was the Darkness that did it without having to look it up (although I did anyway, it's fun to be right).
Thanks for everything you do, I love this channel and the band.
JUSTIN FUCKING HAWKINS RIDES AGAINNNNN!!! 🎶🎶🎶
no offense to this dude, but I would rather listen to your music, Justin, ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. I connected to it immediately.
Agreed. There are some incredibly tallented musicians out there these days but a lot of them fail to move me at all. Each to their own though of course.
Following Jacob since many year. I was at a live concert this Year in Italy. I can confirm that he is the most talented musician in the entire world!
Haaa haaa i love the little 'dig' at the beginning Hawkins!! 😂😂😂😂
With all the layering of the vocals and the huge sound it reminds of the 90s era (Trevor Rabin) YES.
True! I never thought about that until you mentioned it!
Living Colour! Yes! They are still touring and making music. I really don't know why they did not take off in the 90s...
Like King' s X never did despite nearly every artist in heavy rock saying they are their favorite band since Beatles.
Inner turmoil played a part...in 1988, Cult of Personality was huge and by 1995, none of the band members could even agree in a direction to go in, so they disbanded....they have reunited and are touring, however...
Living Colour are on tour now in the States, coming to Europe and Australia later, headlining some, supporting Extreme at others.
His new song called little blue, is scaled back and more of a pop song, its absolutely beautiful
" ... that riff you heard Justin in the middle of thee song(Living Colour comment) sounds like Stone Temple Pilot's (S.T.P.) song "Vaseline" ... great guitar 🎸 riffage ... seen them on they're "Core Tour" on first album up here in Seattle area ... Rest In Peace Scott "
I was really hoping to hear your thoughts on this since this is the farthest he's gone into rock territory. I always knew rock was part of his musical DNA, but he hasn't really leaned into it. Perhaps he'll go metal soon. That bass line at the end is nasty (in the best way possible of course). Jason Fieler made a a transcription if anyone wants to dive into what's going on.
His song hideaway is gorgeous
Brilliant as per usual Mr Hawkins.......Ta mate! ✌
Great review as always dude, I came to see you guys at the OVO in February. It was honestly the best gig I've ever been to! Can't wait to go again. I was wondering if you were making any more space on your Patrion for singing lessons? I can see you're all booked up at the mo but I'd love to get some tips especially after watching your chat with the lady who does The Charismatic Voice. Hope you're well bro, Jake x
For me “too clinical” is an on point description of the song. But thanks for sharing it, Justin!
well he is a clinical musician to be fair
i would be bored shitless at a concert of his.
@@sixslinger9951 I thought that. Then checked him out at Glastonbury this year and it was amazing. His band are great and the show is full of energy and positivity.
@@sixslinger9951A JC show is a lot of things, but boring isn’t one of them.
I’m not really a fan of him as a recording artist either, but live is a different story.
@@sixslinger9951 you really wouldnt.
I’m a die hard fan of his, absolutely changed my perspective on music enjoyment as a whole, widened my horizons and understanding, definitely the best in my generation IMO
Allen Stone’s vocal’s, dressed by the Wiggles, channeling Faith No More through a mesh of late 80’s pop rock.
I got the FNM vibe. Epic era.
5:30 pretty much the Vasoline riff by STP. I know it's just two notes you can't really copyright two notes but it instantly reminded me of STP.
I love basically all of Jacobs music. Definitely my type of feel. I love to decipher the complexity in real-time. I have a strong engineer type of brain.
Every artist can be a master of their own instrument. Jacob is an amazing thinker and musician, but he is not the only amazingly talented musician. It just happens that he is also very good at social media and speaking about music. These aspects have tremendously helped with his notoriety.
I adore your Hasselhoff shirt!
Where can I get that?!
Cheers from Germany! 😉👍
The video is a work of art in itself brilliantly done
His talent is undeniable but his music does nothing for me - it just feels cold and empty. I've heard him described as a musician for musicians' musicians (three levels there) so, as someone with no background in music beyond listening to it, I appreciate that what he's doing maybe just goes completely over my head.
Honestly if you need a background in some form of study in music to truly appreciate something I don't think it's valid to say that it's good music under any circumstances. I have a music background but before that I was still into stuff like jazz and classical, knowing more about theory and appreciating the technicality of it all didn't improve my enjoyment of it at a deeper level at all besides maybe additional awe in just how difficult some of this stuff can be. The only thing that really matters at the end of the day is if it sounds good and it moves you in some way, and that can come from both a highly technical piece of music or something pretty simple. Academics and charlatans love to hide behind technical ability in absence of taste and creativity and just pretend everything else is beneath them. Not saying Collier does that but I think you get my point.
I don't like his stuff either, and i'm a virtuoso guitar player (Shameless plug, check me out). He's doing too much i think, that's the problem, i mean it's not bad per say, but it's hard to follow his music. Max Martin (as if he's some form of god, but he's right!). He said you need maximum 4 melodic ideas playing at the same time or else the listener might get confused. Jacob surpassed that long ago, so yeah there you go! Jacob falls in the same category as Polyphia or Dirty Loops for me. Amazing at their instruments, impressive technically, but not very musically pleasant, where's the hooky melodies?
Empty is a good way of describing it.
Sometimes artists let their talent get in the way and instead of trying to make feel something just try to impress you with their fancy talent and skills. That’s the type of artist that Jacob reminds me of. Sounds cool, feels like nothing.
@@MaxFury_Official Okay, I think throwing Polyphia under the same bus as Jacob is quite the stretch there. They may not be having the same "hooks" in the traditional sense but it's there. Also, the melodies do flow actually and are intuitive enough for anybody else to follow along despite the apparent display of complex techniques.
The problem w. Jacob's music is that he can't even begin to do proper songwriting in the first place and he just always overcompensates stuff to the point that it just sounds so artificial. Polyphia has been consistently avoiding the same mistake/error.
Anybody can put side-by-side Jacob's "With The Love of My Heart" and Polyphia's "Playing God", it should be clear which one's easier to listen and follow along and which isn't.
Nice T-shirt!😉
The t-shirt alone is worthy of a like!!! The man, the legend!
You should check out the band "Dirty Loops" - the lead singer/keyboardist did a collaboration with Jacob Collier at a point. They are insanely talented and really does some out of the box thinking - mind-blowing stuff. Their style is a mix of so many genres so each songs sounds very different from the previous but at the same time they have a very distinct sound and you're always in for a surprise.
I loved the song Jacob and Jonah Nilsson did on Jonah's solo album. It's called 'Independent Girl'. Sooo good.
Justin loves the Hoff…😅
To me his music seems to be made specifically for musicians, his music theory knowledge is astounding and every song sounds like an experiment to see how much he can pack in to a song, it’s almost like a complex mathematical equation. It’s interesting, I don’t necessarily listen to his music to feel anything other than awe (like how maths doesn’t make me feel) but that’s valid I think. I listen to it with a very different mind frame than how I usually listen to music. Anyway sorry if that sounds like a dumb take, hope I explained it wellll enough
Yeah I’d very much consider him a “musician’s musician” as you need to really understand and know music to respect all that he’s doing, but you can still be a “musician’s musician” or a “producer’s producer” and make music that’s also appealing to a wider audience as well (Steely Dan, The 1975, etc.), which I feel like Jacob is incapable of.
It's music that appeals to a mostly white/suburban/overprivileged subset of musicians who are socio-culturally aloof, excessively narcissistic/superficial, and see music/art as forms of athleticism with discrete metrics for quality instead of the ever-amorphous mystery and spiritual calling that it actually is.
@@junzeroni I definitely get your point about the privileged aspect of it, I didn't get any of the opportunities that people like Collier got because my family aren't rich, I only started learning guitar 3 years ago at 18 because I managed to find a cheap one at a car boot sale lol and my music classes at school were just an excuse for everyone to piss around so there's no way I'm catching up to his level any time soon, but that's ok I just love playing it and making stuff. But I don't think he himself is a bad guy. Like I don't see him as a narcissist or anything he seems quite nice to me. And yes I don't think his music is any 'better' than less complex music at all, it's all subjective at the end of the day, and I have a love of cheesy pop punk stuff and bedroom pop like dayglow so I won't be judging anyone's music taste haha
Indeed. Music by numbers. Where those numbers are tensor calculus.
I’d say he makes music for himself first, in a good way. But he’s definitely inspired by other musicians and also enjoys throwing his ideas back at them.
3:53 now that’s some resentment for sticking to the gimmick, we love you big beans
Hey Justin, I know it was probably not a great time for you but I would LOVE to hear you talk about Hot Leg. Some of my favourite songs are on that album - Cocktails, Chickens, I've Met Jesus, Ashamed, Trojan Guitar, Prima Donna - it just doesn't miss and it's sorely underappreciated! Some of your best work! The people need to know!.
Same here! Great album!
I dig this kid. His foray into pop has been hit and miss for me. All I Need was my song of the summer a couple of years ago, but this song does zero for me. His covers of All Night Long and Moon River were brilliant and deserved all the praise they got. Sometimes I think he just tries to do too much, which I admire in some ways but it can also be a detriment. It comes off as a little scatterbrained at times, but I can only imagine what it must be like in that head of his.
You should watch a few lengthy interviews. They are very interesting and explain a lot.
@@Proghead88 Oh I have delved deep into the Collier well my friend. From the micro-tonal to plagal cadences to negative harmonies.
He is afraid to experiment - which is how you grow!
@@gr8tbigtreehugger I kinda disagree with that. The song featured it the video above is an attempt at rock/metal which is something he hasn't done before. He experiments all the time. He's experimented with everything from classical to hip-hop.
@@gr8tbigtreehugger hahahahaha Jacob Collier is the essence of experimentation. Listen to his last 4 albums.
How have I not heard of this guy.
Maybe because he's not really in the "rock" sphere. Enjoy the Collier rabbit hole. I recommend gravitating toward his live performances.
@@Marklar3 I listen to everything though, been singing forever and have musician friends. It's odd no one would mention this guy. I will. Thanks.
@@johnsuttoniiijs If you're open to any genre, then I have a few recommendations:
Moon River
In The Bleak Midwinter (And David Bruce's analysis if you're a music nerd)
The Paste Magazine studio live performance
The 2 Tiny Desk Performances
The "audience choir"
Snarky Puppy ft. Collier "Don't You Know"
"Lua" live
"Ocean Wide, Canyon Deep" for Mahogany sessions.
I was always imprazed (a word I created to denote 'impressed and amazed') but this is the first track I've REALLY dug.
And Hawkins has a “Brian Johnson” vibe today.
I appreciate Jacob as a paradigm more than a songwriter. Like I am happy he exists because that alone is enough to push all music forward, hes introduced novel concepts with how he uses temperament, microtonality and harmony but his songs are just ok IMO…
we need this massive talents to push the medium forward though
Perfectly said. I was frustrated about all the critics who judge him and his music on aspects that aren't what he's trying to achieve or what he likes doing. But yeah essentially, I love him too for existing, being unique and pushing certain aspects of music that I value forward. But we don't have to love his music at the same time.
Justin the air drummer 💪
07:45😄 In fact, I've enjoyed more the colorful video than the music itself, but it's quite good considering what music is the most played nowadays on the streaming platforms.
Thank you, Justin (againnnnnnn), for this channel as you help many of us open our minds and discover new artists that maybe we could enjoy🫶.
PS: On the costume issue, you can wear whatever you want that makes you feel comfy on stage🕺🤸♂️. We love catsuits, but let me tell you that the last trousers you wore at your recent gigs fit you soooooooo well🤩. They made you look very stylish (until you put your particular mosquito repellent on😅...🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣)
Love ya'😇😘😘😘
Completely agree in the costume subject! But my own particular favourite Jussy's outfit is that one of the past tour which looked like inspired in a gypsy dress!
He Has so much insight to his music.....he uses his vocal harmonies as an orchesra would use violins, chello, etc.....and the bass line at the end! outro! picked it up from mum??!! No doubt
Reading these comments I think y'all need to see at least one Jacob Collier show live. I started of really appreciating his talent but not necessarily being able to listen to his albums front to back. But man i've seen a tonne of concerts in my day and both of his shows was a fucking experience. Brought me to tears more than once and it isn't cold, or calculated like some people seem to say his music feels like (i can't relate cause i don't feel that way). It was a proper production and you can tell he just wants to play for you. He doesn't care what you think but he sure as hell appreciates that you came and makes you feel that way. Seems like a really cool guy. only ever heard nice things about him from other musicians who have played with him.
Precisely this. I have many of his songs sort of sprinkled around different playlists, but I don't really listen to his albums front to back very much because they're often about a third gems, a third interesting and a third cacophonous. Hearing him play Hideaway live though, got to me emotionally in a way that nobody else ever has (although this is admittedly a bit of a complicated half-truth). It's a song that had already brought me to tears before, but the live performance was just incredible. I'd heard of people being brought to tears by songs from so many different artists on numerous occasions: The Beatles (my grandfather), Micheal Jackson (an old neighbor), Jimi Hendrix (an old friend), Taylor Swift (an ex-partner), Harry Styles (a friend) etc etc etc and I just never really got it. Jacob Collier though, really got to me somehow. There are very few other artists that have ever been able to do that to me. Just one song here or there (again, sorta complicated half-truth). But there's at least half a dozen songs of Collier's that really touched me and brought me to tears in some way.
It's just always been strange to me hearing someone say that **all** his music has no soul, is robotic, or too calculated. I've always associated the "no soul" label to something like Levitation 21 by Tigran Hamasyan. Something robotic or even straight up disruptive (on purpose). Someone listening to Hideaway or The Sun is in Your Eyes and coming away with "that song lacks emotion" is mind boggling to me. It's understandable to not connect with a song or even an artist, just like I don't connect at all with Jimi Hendrix's music, or Taylor Swift's. But I can at least recognize that their music isn't robotic or unmotivated.
.....just heard his tiny desk concert and wow
Love how much love surrounds Jacob and his music. Even if you dont get his music, you understand it's due to him being on another level, not it being bad music 😅
I don’t at all dislike his music, but complex music can be “bad music” (subjectively of course). You shouldn’t put talented people on a pedestal because just they’re talented, thereby censoring anybody who criticises their music. Have opinions.
Boring music is worse than bad music sometimes.
A lot of the vibe I've seen surrounding Collier's whole thing is what I'd consider 'toxic positivity'. I talk about music on a lot of different forums and have long gotten used to fans of his acting insufferable when people criticize or dismiss his work.
Looks like he's having fun. Good for you Jacob.
Yes yes…I totally got some living colour vibes off of that heavy section too….great spot my man…and by the way…great T-shirt….
Justin, you get yourself a pair of big red overalls and you wear them.
He's a firehose of musical ideas, and has monumental talent, but rarely if ever writes anything I'd listen to twice, except to remember the details of some interesting move he made. I hope he develops into a songwriter equal to his abilities.
He has a similar musical interest - musical mindset and philosophy even - to Mark Applebaum. It's not what's commercial, or accessible or necessarily even melodic, but rather what's interesting and intriguing, to compose and to perform. The purest form of art, perhaps.
@@polbecca It's pure, but as you point out in an "interesting and intriguing" way. It's music for the mind. As a Mathematician I already have lots of engagement for the mind. I want music to move me and Jacob's doesn't. One note from Mahalia Jackson or one chord from Chopin has more movement and power in it than everything I've ever heard from Jacob combined. His music makes me think but pretty much never makes me feel. This is especially disappointing when he re-harmonizes something, because invariably I find that I prefer the original, although there's no doubting his skill.
@@mathmusicstructure Tend to agree. Jacob's music is extremely clever, but I don't know enough music theory to fully understand what he's doing, so the density of the arrangements, however well contrived, makes for quite hard listening, when, as you similarly noted, what connects with me is often sparser, simpler and more gentle, but it depends how receptive I am in a given moment to busyness or complexity.
"dressing like a children's entertainer" 😂
That t-shirt, man... I need one. Thanks for the reaction.
Is it just me or would a collaboration of Justin and Jacob be absolutely phenomenal! 🤩
He's not the best songwriter by a long shot but he's not only the most gifted musician on the planet but he's also an incredible teacher. We can all use his brain to become better songwriters and I really appreciate that.
If his songwriting sucks then how would anyone learn to be a better songwriter themselves by learning from him? Oh... maybe if you take his songs as lessons in what _not_ to do..
@@SineEyed if you can’t get any interesting ideas from Jacobs ridiculous harmonic vocabulary then I’m afraid that you’re just not creative enough.
Yep he's a much better ambassador of music than he is an artist in his own right. I sometimes feel dazzled by his music but never moved. I can be more moved by a 2-chord Hank Williams song. But as a thinker/leader/ambassador of music and composition, I think Jacob is tough to beat. I think his own works would be better as film scores or ensemble compositions than as pop.
@@SineEyedthat's because most people love his songwriting.
@@deputyrock3489you should listen to Jacob's simple stuff... he's got very simple songs too. "Never Gonna Be Alone" for example, basically only uses 2 chords for the most part. He pours out his soul into all his songs, but this includes child-like exploration and chasing excitement as part of a sonic journey, and most people take that for granted as fuck, especially in adults and they get distracted sometimes if they don't have the emotional intelligence to see the common thread between all of these expressions, whether they are serious, light, complex, or simple.
His first album is still my favourite :) Not sure what changed, but I guess it's quite clear he is exploring a lot of different genres and vibes
Love his ethos his philosophy to music
If you have not seen him live…you need to. When he turns the audience into a choir at the end of the show it is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.
Imogen Heap
Oh he’s THAT guy! Wondered why the name was ringing a bell! Thanks! 🙏🏻
And Bobby McFerrin.
All these people mentioning others that do it, or have done it before. smh. Just because someone has played an instrument live, done a loop live etc. etc. doesn't mean other people are forbidden to do it or appreciate it!
I experienced it myself at his gig and the psychological effect is extremely uncanny.
he can play songs while he closes his eyes.
That last guy you interviewed last week that's a special musician.
That's really not a big deal.
Yeah, once one has ability over an instrument, it’s not uncommon for someone, whether singing and playing other instruments, to close their eyes.
I think he’s been very intelligent, with how he built the UA-cam channel, cultivated relationships with other musicians, and made his own thing.
Yet, his own songs just aren’t very good, in my opinion. It’s better than most pop music that comes around, but he’s really not doing anything new, in performance. The crowd choir, the vocal effects, on his voice and keyboard, have been things in jazz, and other genres here and there.
Lookup Imogen Heap Audience choir. She has done a similar thing for many years, and there are Damien Rice has some live songs that use a lot of similar vocal effects, while he also has an amazing natural voice.
Check cold Water live, and look for one with a full band.
sorry dave,& Corb forgot to tag it he can play songs while he closes his eyes. .. 😁
@@red_z8069
Well it was too subtle for me. Playing instruments with eyes closed does seem to be a thing that overly impresses people who don't play instruments.
However talented this guy is, I can't listen to him.
First time hearing a Jacob Collier song. Although not really my thing (I did like the heavier bit), it's obviously incredible. The guy has musical talent for days.
The Living Colour-esque riff (as JH referenced) reminds me of STP's "Vaseline", It's almost too dead on.
Heard this the other day, and it's the first time I've actually tolerated, and ultimately enjoyed something of his. It's funny; this track isn't actually that far-removed from something a band like Mr. Big would have done 30-35 years ago.
More people seem to be responding to this than his previous releases. I bet someone had a word with him!
Outrageously talented but his music is about as exciting as boiled chicken
The fact that you mentioned Louis Cole! My two favorite artists are Collier & Cole. They feel in a similar wheelhouse, to my ears.
But when I saw Louis Cole a month or so ago, some musicians asked how I'd heard of him. I said that I listened to Jacob Collier and Vulfpeck, and that Spotify probably recommended Cole based off of that. They were surprised by that answer.
Wellll is kind of a banger but i find most of his output pretty vapid and forgettable. He's obviously a genius but I'm not sure a lot of his music will be remembered.
I agree with you so much !!!! Finally someone had to say it
He's definitely a Musicians' musician. He's undeniably one of the most talented musicians in existence at the minute; his ability to play seemingly any instrument no matter how obscure, unrestrained creativity and unreal understanding and mastery of music theory - but yeah ultimately the majority of his songs definitely aren't the most listenable, memorable or relatable... Great for one or two listens to be impressed but I don't find myself listening to many of them casually. Sometimes less is more and it couldn't be more true with music. I think he'll struggle to find mainstream listeners because he can be quite overwhelming. He's undeniably brilliant, but he's like a Michelin Star Restaurant - exceptionally good, but you wouldn't want to eat there every single night; sometimes a simple plate of cheesy chips is all you need to feel great.
I don't really love his voice. This song might be a banger if he gave it to someone else to sing
I often think he wants/needs to capitalize as much as possible from new media and social. But in that moment there is a shift from “ composing meaningful music “ to “ showing entertaining music “. But this happen to a lot of artists ! The only exception I know among the virtuoso musician group is Daniele Gottardo.
His latest work is really challenging,
difficult and absolutely not “mainstream wanna be “.
I truly truly admire Jacob Collier as a musician but after hearing “ Hideaway “ I haven’t found any song that touched me or challenged my listening so much. I don’t really feel like listen to the new stuff for more than 1 or 2 times. I have the feeling that is a product with the intent of “ ohhhhhh “ effect from people who have a general understanding of music. It’s more acrobatic stuff rather than a ballet or a dancing. I can clearly see a deep musician but I can’t feel the man behind the music. A good musician- even if he is really talented - is not necessarily a good artist. And again I say this with the maximum respect because listening to Hideway song I felt that there was so much potential.
Another critique I want to point out is his overall sound. It’s rooted too much on digital processor. And this thing affects tremendously the acoustic heart of the music. He wants to be a one man band and therefor he needs computers, processors, loops, filter bla bla bla. I understand the strategy but the result is comparable to a photo with so much “ filter “. So much that it looks beautifully fake. Concentrate on acoustic instruments Jacob !!! Don’t waste your time plugging the voice into a harmonizer !! It all ends up in a sort of cheesy baroque jazz vibe! There is no tension but just “ chords filling “ wich is nice when episodical.
This is just my humble opinion
All the best
Yes he has talent but not anything thousands of musicians couldn't do. Nothing memorable at all.