Indiana's Straight No Chaser is an all-male a cappella ensemble known for their sophisticated vocal harmonies and popular holiday-themed albums. Taking an unconventional approach from their beginnings at Indiana University in 1996, the male a cappella ensemble Straight No Chaser worked up a repertoire that included not only traditional songs, but also modern pop tunes performed without the use of instruments. Various local performances, including a storied early-morning appearance at the university's annual 36-hour dance marathon, caught the public's attention and helped the ensemble gather a fan base on campus. The original lineup of the group released several albums, toured the Midwest, and even competed nationally at Carnegie Hall before the students graduated and went their separate ways.
Faith No More's 1997 release Album of the Year featured the talents of another new guitarist, Jon Hudson, who replaced Dean Menta (Menta only toured with the group in support of King for a Day before being dismissed). Like King for a Day, Album is more straightforward musically than past releases and remains one of FNM's most focused and concise works. Recorded in bassist Billy Gould's home studio, Album of the Year would turn out to be their last studio recording before splitting up in 1997. A trio of outstanding tracks - "Stripsearch," "Last Cup of Sorrow," and "Ashes to Ashes" - blend hard rock and pop melodicism the way only FNM can, while "Helpless" is an unpredictable composition that alternates between heavy guitar riffing and Mike Patton's tempered vocals…
2020 holiday release. Straight No Chaser is an all-male a Capella group from Indiana. The group formed during their college years at Indiana University in 1996 and have been together ever since. In 2008, Atlantic Records noticed a video for their 12 Days Of Christmas and signed the group immediately. SN