SrPab

I thought The Sing-Off forum here was put out to pasture after that big site change awhile back--for several days straight I searched for it to no avail. Whew! Nice to interact with you few again. My first contribution since rediscovering this forum comes via an FB reply from Ben Bram to someone wondering why PTX put out another album of cover music: Was wondering what any of you think of this? Personally, ever since I learned that it would be a cover album I thought about why they would go this route. Ben's reply speaks to some of my thinking. I'll add that I've read some stuff from Scott that this album represents a re-introduction to PTX (since they are now PTX 2.0), as well as it is an introduction to Matt Sallee. It was something they didn't have to agonize over as much as an album of original songs...so they could devote more energy integrating Matt into their dynamic and continue pursuing solo/duo projects (like gearing up for the Superfruit tour and Kirstin's B-way stint). I think they are writing original songs but they may not have enough material yet to choose the "...10 best ones to put on the album." I'd also like to know any thoughts you may have regarding PTX writing their own material versus having others write original songs for them--especially in today's music industry. I know that their self-titled album of mostly originals did credit non-PTX members as songwriters...but what do you think about them releasing an album of original music they didn't write themselves? For a (relatively) small fish in a big pond, would it make economic sense to get others to write songs for them? Would the general public think less of them, artistically, if they don't write their own songs?

...And last evening, their main YT channel topped 3 billion views!

"...including one of Deck The Halls wherein Scott, yet again, forgets the words..." Sometimes I wonder if he does that on purpose--to give the fandom something to natter over and laugh at. ;-) Also, this was announced last week. It makes sense, as it occurs during Kirstin's Broadway run...and also as a preview of a, perhaps, bigger Superfruit tour.

If you ever want to refer to, or acquaint yourself with, PTX's Billboard (U.S.) presence/chart history... Scroll down the page to the Chart History section. You can filter on entries such as Hot 100 or the Billboard 200 chart. Happy referencing!

Psst...upcoming PTX tv appearances, all on NBC: Nov 27 for their Xmas special, Nov 29 at the Rockefeller Center tree-lighting, Nov 30 on the TODAY Show (7 - 9 am ET slot).

Kirstin retweeted it; this is the source...

Great pic--I really like the composition of the shot! Also, if you guys don't already know, PTX will again be part of NBC's evening broadcast of the Rockefeller Center tree lighting on Nov. 29 (two days after the PTX Christmas special airs). (Are there any rumors of PTX appearing on The Voice to perform with Jennifer Hudson?)

Billboard's Holiday Digital Song Sales chart. It's not the Billboard Hot 100 or the Billboard 200, but PTX has the first 5 slots (and claims 12 of the 50 entries, overall) on this genre/sub chart.

That doesn't make you a bad fan. Is it lack of Avi? A 4-part arrangement? I tolerate the song, in general. I'm cool with PTX's version only because I like the vocals. But the song itself... How Great Thou Art is another song that I merely "like". We'll see if Jennifer's vocals/bombast make me appreciate it more, or less.

I guess not all of Leno's bridges with NBC were burned? Didn't his departure from The Tonight Show have some acrimony? And this is why he's on PTX's Christmas special. I wonder if he was brought on to introduce each song/segment (and maybe provide a bit of comic relief here and there). With Darci Lynn (she's a kid ventriloquist, right?) also appearing, this show feels more like a Christmas/variety special hybrid.

Too good an opportunity for NBC to pass up. But...Leno?

Just tried searching iTunes a minute ago...using search term 'pentatonix' did not return a result for the deluxe edition. But, when I searched using 'pentatonix christmas deluxe', it came up. Also, in PTX's tweet (and, I assume, their FB post) is a link to buy. Clicking on that link opens a page with buy options and one of them is iTunes. Clicking on iTunes from that page takes you directly to the A Pentatonix Christmas Deluxe page in iTunes. I'm prognosticating: The November video release will be How Great Thou Art ft. Jennifer Hudson; the December vid release will be Deck The Halls. Wishful thinking: Perhaps Jennifer Hudson will be on their Xmas tv special.

Matt's singing voice (when he sings lyrics) doesn't say "bass vocalist" to me. But in some of those YT vids with him, he's listed as the bass. I think his bass-iness comes through when he's doing a bass line/imitating a bass guitar, as opposed to singing lyrics in bass voice. By the way, Matt is on the Deck The Halls and How Great Thou Art tracks. An A Cappella Academy camper, Reno Selmser, is the bass on Let It Snow. I think Away In A Manger has no bass/is a 4-part song...and Hallelujah on this Deluxe edition has the String Mob.

That's what I think...considering the messaging about this seems to be carefully worded: "...joining us for our holiday tour...", "...taping our tv special...", "...you can hear him on Deck The Halls...". However, I also think this trial/probation period might go both ways. Team PTX and/or RCA may want to use these end-of-year activities to see if Matt really is a great fit--and a net positive for them. Likewise, Matt may use these experiences to consider if he can handle this huge change in his life and do a cost-benefit analysis to determine that being part of PTX long-term is a net positive for him. Either way, these are interesting times for the band and brand--and I don't mean that as a back-handed compliment.

That reminds me, in addition to kilomperrara's post above, I listened to this head/voice podcast awhile back. A lot of the same ground is covered in their talk with Ben but there are a few interesting tidbits. Evan and Kayla's interviewing technique could use some polish (and their questions could be worded more succinctly) but it's a decent SoundCloud podcast about a cappella, in general. The next season of Lip Sync Battle airs this coming January. Assuming no schedule changes, word is the PTX ep should air in Feb. 2018. ETA: Keep an eye out for a GRAMMY nominations announcement from the Recording Academy later this month. Will PTX get another nom (most likely in the Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella category)?