Live vs. Studio

Hello, there. Sorry it has taken so long to get this out there... I've had a few minor (non-emergency) setbacks this week. Any-hoo, thanks to the 8 of you who voted in the poll (myself NOT included, as I did not vote).

It was interesting to find that 6 of 8 people (75%) prefer studio versions of songs over live versions when listening to their digital media (ipods, etc). I myself am on the fence. There are times when I like one over the other. I think it mostly boils down to who and what the live version is. There are some jam bands out there that do a nice job live and most of their stuff is better live because they are extended an pure versions (DMB, OAR, Wilco, et al) - meaning that they usually improvise and lengthen the songs as they go, or they embody a little more heart and soul into their tunes playing off the energy of the crowd.

For the most part, however, I would say I am a studio version guy. I like the clean sound and sometimes I can't stand when the audience noise is in the background of a live version, or worse some asshole screams something like, "Freebird!". Totally ruins the experience for me. Look no further than the live version of "Outside" by Stain'd for a perfect example. Great acoustic live performance by Aaron Lewis that is interrupted by Fred Durst's annoying ass mouth.

This opens another can of worms - acoustic or "unplugged versions". I really wish I would have added this to the poll, but hindsight is always 20/20. If you think about it, it really is a separate category. Acoustic versions can also be either live or studio, so it really makes you wonder where your preferences lie. There are some great songs out there that work better acoustically, just because of the crispness and simplicity of a single guitar. Plus, they are usually slowed down or toned down with the vocals, so it makes for a calmer melody which is sometimes nice when you're in a chill mood (or high off your ass).

So that sums out pretty much how I feel about it. I am curious to hear your thoughts about why you voted the way you did, or just your general outlook on the topic. PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS...

New Poll!

A new poll is up on the blog! I haven't done one of these in awhile and the last one was pretty successful in terms of generating discussion. Once everyone (all 3 of you) has had a chance to vote, I will write a new post about it. Votes are confidential, so don't worry about privacy or your opinion getting slammed (until you comment on the follow-up post :) ).

The last poll topic was "What is the best baseball movie of all time?". You might remember it and you may have even voted in it! Lots of different opinions formed and were shared. I'm hoping this question does the same thing. The idea came to me today while listening to my own digital music and experiencing both versions.

Happy voting! And stay tuned for the response blog!