Accoustix I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is Over

[applesauc3]

I must say this quartets sound is phenomenal!

[megsdadj1]

Acoustix beat 139th St. Quartet by only 20 pts. in 1990.

Acoustix had 4586 and 139th St. had 4566. I do, however, agree with some of the comments saying you can't compare that many years difference. It changes way too much (the singing style, judging, arrangements, etc.)

[matrix86]

Acoustix is my first love...they're the ones who brought me to barbershop. But it's Max Q, Vocal Spectrum, and Crossroads that keep me here.

[sk8wilson123]

Masters of Artistry

[Icyveins906]

The damn "tap, tap" noise in some places in the vid is killing me. Can you clean the vid? Awesome nonetheless.

[Icyveins906]

Oh my god, my chorus is doing this exact arrangement. Masquerade tenor/lead parts can be so difficult because it sits on the break area in addition to note synergy being difficult. These guys are too perfect.

[Midnight2Magic]

I have such fond memories of listening to these guys perform and just this style of music altogether! I absolutley LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!

[lilmateo91690]

the ending tag progression isnt special...which is why at first i wasnt expecting anything..but the way these guys lock just blows me away. forEVER will they be one of the best quartets to be

[applesauc3]

@lilmateo91690

I completely agree.

[Cecilia402]

favorite video

[hifiestyone]

i got goosebumps...

these guys are amazing!

i love how the tenor backs off for balance... in my choir, the tenors are... well... bold...

[ChrisisBass13]

@hifiestyone thats... not good.

[kakaris75]

@hifiestyone Aren't Tenors always ...ahem... bold ...ahem...? haha jk :)

[skankinjay]

song that won them the finals. i wish i couldve been there for that.

[gordonice]

acoustix...................... oh my gosh.

[Bleep98]

does anyone have, or know where i can get a hold of this arrangement?

[bassinger07]

I believe it's been published by the Society.

[philbegas]

fuckin awseome and im a rap fan

[apreston2]

anyone know what acoustix scored to win? I've been trying to compare MaxQ's recent blow out to some of the dominant quartets of their years like Platinum who also won by about 400 pts.

[mywhitt]

you can view the 1990 International contest scoring summary at the harmonet reporter website and then click on SPEBSQSA contest scores, then 1990, etc. The judging categories were different back then compared to today's categories. They won by 20 pts.

[7zippos]

Acoustix scored 4586

[7zippos]

You know whats funnier!? in 1990 the top 10 quartets all scored around 4000+ mark. The difference in the 10th and 11th place quartet is over 2000 points! yes 2000... So no one scored in 3000 mark...

[largefella]

I know this is a year later, but I have an answer for you. There are three rounds. Quaterfinals (approx 50 quartets), semi's (the top 20), and finals (the top 10). The scores are added to each other each round. That is why there is such a difference between 10th and 11th place.

[Allinfun6789]

Looking at the numbers is irrelevant. Each year the talent level is so different. Some years are tougher than others. Listen to the top three quartets from 1988, 89, 90 and the top three in 2005. 06. 07 and you will see (hear) why MaxQ scored so high, they had no "real" competition. If you transported MaxQ back in time to the heavy competition in the early 90's they would not have even placed.

[merryohg]

Are you telling me that Max Q wouldn't have beaten the 139th Street Quartet, Bank Street, The Ritz, The Naturals,`Joker's Wild, Yesteryear, Marquis, or Standing Room Only? WOW! I think you need your ears checked for sure!

Also, scores aren't given based on competition, they are based on a scoring system. Even if the Platinum and Four Voices were in the competition this year, Max Q still would have scored the same.

Learn the system before you talk.

[Allinfun6789]

You cannot compare scores from year to year. I have judged singers on a muti panel system for 15 years. Each year, the group or person with the highest score wins, that is all. It is simply a matter of opinion from that particular panel. The panel of judges differs each year, so how can the score from one year be compared to any other?

[merryohg]

I am just saying that scores aren't based on the competition. Max Q's scores wouldn't go down if they had better competition, and that is what you seemed to be implying in your earlier post. You said Max Q scored so high because they had no real competition. That is an erroneous statement at best. I am saying that even if Max Q had AMAZING competition in Denver this year, they still would have scored the same from those 15 judges.

[merryohg]

And if you can't compare scores, how can you say that Max Q wouldn't have even placed in the early 90's? I thought we can't compare scores? Hmmm....

And again, Max Q would easily place in the early 90's. Look at who placed back then.

[Allinfun6789]

Maybe so. But I was not comparing scores, I was comparing the sound of the Accoustix with the sound of MaxQ. That was my original complaint about MaxQ..even though they share the same bass.

[merryohg]

Oh really? Because I thought you were saying that Max Q wouldn't place in the early 90's. My bad for reading the words and not knowing what you intended to say.

[jcirmsa]

haha!

[BuzzinCuzzins]

@Allinfun6789 You're silly. Singing is markedly better now that it ever has been (Crossroads). The difference you are hearing is the musicality.

Very similar to golf. They work mostly on singing (hitting the driver) and not as many quartets want to spend their time on making the music MUSICAL (the chipping and putting). Check out ur local golf course: lots of people on the driving range, not so many on the putting green. Quartets work on singing more than musicality these days, in my opinion

[largefella]

I think that is probably the most ridiculous thing I have EVER heard. The only reason Max Q might have had issues in the early 90's is the changes in the categories. They would of had to "dumb down" their repitoire, but would of KILLED with the stuff like "If I had my Way"...etc.

[crwv]

@Allinfun6789

That's absolutely ridiculous.

Are you listening to the same MaxQ?

[Icyveins906]

@crwv in my opinion acoustix has the better blend, but Tony DeRosa simply is beyond all reproach. Him plus Oxley was just unfair to all competition XD.

[plumbarb]

Try not to mix up the various singing and performing styles and genre.

If you like to sing and perform, find a barbershop chorus near you and join them.

Review this video in six months and see how you feel then

[Allinfun6789]

It is very difficult to produce the sound they have. Each singer is just perfect for their part and possess extreme skill in blend and harmony. The bass is always the anchor of the group. And I have yet to hear a bass with the range he has. He could make it on Broadway if he can act.

[hognabbt]

Have you got any clue about Oxleys vocal limits? I've also heard he has a wide range, but the highest I've heard from him is a f# in "Stars and stripes forever" and it sounded quite like his upper limit. Downwards i don't know, but i assume he easily hits the bottom C, perhaps even down in the contra-octave. It would be interesting to know what he can do...

[merryohg]

Wide range indeed! Check out his solo on "Moondance" with Max Q and also "You've Got A Friend In Me." He does the entire solo for "Moondance" AND the scat bass part in the middle. He has a HUGE range. Plus, he sometimes fills in on LEAD for Acoustix! He is amazing.

[jakethewoz]

i am pretty sure that the bass solo is all Gary. i know Ox has a low D like nothing, and the voice in the solo really bottoms out way higher than that.

he sings a low D in the intro to You Can Fly.

[merryohg]

Nope. I have emailed Greg Clancy on this in the past. Jeff sings the solo AND the bass solo. Sorry. Listen to the end of the bass solo and how, while the other three parts are holding over, he goes to the high "Can I just have one more..." It is Jeff all the way.

[bassgirlie41]

Who care what note he can sing...Jeff is yummy....no matter what he is singing...

[kubbshopbass]

It definitely is Jeff, even listed in the CD insert and I also talked to Gary and Jeff about it. He is the bomb.

[chumbley1]

Man,some of you guys msut be on drugs, I agree with you schlagboy, still no one quartet has ever assembled, sang together for a mere 6 months and then go on to win the gold. The best barbershop will ever have!!!!!!! Sheeeeeeeeeee

[plumbarb]

Clearly don't know what you are talking about!

[BlehSwe]

i do know what im talking about.. yeah they sing very good.. but they do the same move with ther hands constanly wich buggs me.. plus throughout the whole vid they look like they have poles up their arses.. i mean seriously look at them!

[Allinfun6789]

You do not know what you are talking about. The arm and hand gestures are a part of the barbershop tradition. The "poll up their ass" as you call it, is their attention to blend. The way they move actually indicates their level of professionalism. Bottom line, they won the International Quartet Champions of SPEBSQSA. That means the best barbershop in America.

[Ivanite]

barber poles? How perfect.

JK

I shan't join the argument even though I have loads to say! haha

[kirbybandnerd]

Very very very very good singers. I'm an instrumentalist by nature but I would love to start a barbershop quartet sometime soon. Anyways, VERY GOOD! Many props, etc. 5/5, subscribed, etc.

[schlagboy]

Jeff Oxley is God.

[bigbadbrownybadger]

Props. I love his blessing ofthe Max Q song "Somebody stole my gal." Absolutely amazing. Barbershop's very own Zeus.

[schlagboy]

and you really need to practice on paying respect to the best barbershop quartet in the history of acapella =S