Get your face out of the mic

So I was listening to "Set Free" my American Analog Set and I realized why I was so lukewarm about this record, compared to their previous ones -- it's because they changed their recording style, albeit ever-so-slightly, so now the lead singer is whispering all up in the mic and it drives me nuts!

This seems to be a trend of this decade, especially: get a really sensitive NPR-type mike and then sing into it so close that the listener can hear every breath, every weird glottal, nasal thing happaning in your mouth right up in their ear. Considering that so many people are on iPods one would think they would have gone the other way and taken a step back. Now I listen to certain records and it feels like I'm getting a wet willy.

Beck's cover of 'Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime' is another good example. I keep thinking 'I almost love this song but Beck's just a little too close for comfort.

Step away from the mic! I wouldn't let a guy whisper sweet nothing's right into my ear canal so why do I want to get that on a track? Can you think of other recent examples that exemplify this?