[Ulpian]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

As much as I respect SYW as a new studio album with loads of well-written and performed new material, I too was not a big fan of the engineering. The overall feel was dry and synthetic. I don't think the vocals were particularly weak. What I do notice is that without Christine, there was nothing to soften the harshness of the others' voices, which have gotten harder and more nasal with age--which is typical.

Lindsey and Stevie used to harmonize beautifully together, but since both of their voices dropped a register, there's a real need for a soft, soothing alto in the mix.

When Stevie sings on In Your Dreams, she sounds great, in part because the arrangements and instrumentation are built around her vocal style, and because she has her backup girls to soften certain edges. I do think, too, that there was a certain amount of studio wizzardry used on IYD to help smooth out her voice. And that note she holds at the end of "Italian Summer" is most certainly looped.

Yes, I agree with this. That's why I find BTLH and SYHA to be the easiest on the ear on Say You Will; there isn't the grating which occurs on other songs because Christine is there, albeit in a diminished role. She bridges the gap between Lindsey and Stevie's voices.